When Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred used his power to impose a 60-game regular-season last month, certain components of framework previously discussed by team owners and the MLBPA were taken off the table.
Among the intriguing ideas scrapped included an expanded postseason format for the 2020 season. Such eliminated the possibility of 16 teams qualifying for the playoffs this year, which would have put the league in position to sell additional TV rights.
However, MLB and the Players Association revisited those negotiations and have come to terms for an expanded postseason this year. Now 16 teams will make the playoffs, beginning with eight best-of-three Wild Card Series.