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MLB's Spring Training Schedule to Start Feb. 19 — if There Is Labor Peace
MLB says all 30 teams are set for exhibition games as talks continue over a new labor deal and a possible lockout.
Major League Baseball announced all 30 teams will play exhibition games on the same day, with the Athletics hosting the Chicago Cubs on Feb. 19 at Hohokam Park for their final spring training before relocating to Las Vegas.
The Athletics' initial schedule features 31 games, including 16 at Hohokam Park in Mesa, Ariz., with matchups against the Colorado Rockies on Feb. 23 and Milwaukee Brewers on Feb. 25 at Hohokam Stadium.
With the collective bargaining agreement expiring Dec. 1, management is expected to impose a lockout that could disrupt the season. The players' association has rejected a proposed salary cap, echoing the 7 1/2-month strike during 1994-95.
In 2022, stalled labor negotiations forced opening day back from March 31 to April 7, demonstrating labor instability's impact on schedules. Spring training workouts are currently slated to begin Feb. 9 but face similar uncertainty.
This year's schedule excludes games at Las Vegas Ballpark for the annual Big League Weekend, while exhibition matchups include Boston at San Francisco and the Freeway Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels from March 20-23.