Report: MLB encouraged Cactus League to request delay to spring training

A Major League Baseball representative encouraged the Cactus League during a Jan. 13 Zoom meeting to submit a letter requesting a delay of spring training, Alex Coffey of The Athletic reports.

Cactus League officials sent a letter to MLB and commissioner Rob Manfred on Monday, which cited a surge in COVID-19 cases specifically in Arizona's Maricopa County.

"Basically, the position that the league stated on the call was that they were open to delaying and that the players were not," one source told Coffey. "And that a document like the letter may help push negotiations along and allow what you guys would like, which is a 30-day delay."

A second source added that the current collective bargaining agreement would need to be altered in order for such a change to occur. The MLB representative reportedly supported the letter as a means to apply pressure on the players to postpone spring training by a month.

The source added that the owners made it clear they were supportive of the letter.

MLB has denied any part in pushing for the delay.

"It is categorically untrue that MLB requested the letter from the Cactus League," a league spokesperson told Coffey. " The author of the letter will confirm this fact. And, there was no need for such a request because officials from the Cactus League had publicly stated their desire for a delay prior to the meeting. In the meeting, MLB officials, consistent with our prior public statements, expressed a willingness to re-evaluate our plan to open camps on time in light of the public health situation. Also consistent with our prior public statements, we acknowledged the need to work with the MLBPA which has opposed any delay."

Cactus League executive director Bridget Binsbacher echoed the spokesperson, stating there was no pressure from anyone to write the letter.

The first spring training games in Arizona are currently scheduled to take place Feb. 27.