2021 Major League Baseball season

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is planned to begin on April 1 and end on October 3. The 91st All-Star Game is scheduled to be played on July 13 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.[1] The World Series is scheduled to begin on October 26 and a potential Game 7 is scheduled for November 3. The entire schedule was released on July 9, 2020.[2]

2021 MLB season
LeagueMajor League Baseball
SportBaseball
DurationApril 1 – November 3
Number of games162
Number of teams30
Draft
Top draft pickTBD
Picked byPittsburgh Pirates
Regular season
World Series

This season will be the final season of Cleveland's team competing as the Indians after years of controversy involving the name. On December 14, 2020, the team announced that they would unveil their new moniker and associated uniform and stadium changes before the 2022 season to replace the 106 year-old nickname.[3]

Schedule

Major League Baseball announced the 2021 regular season schedule on July 9, 2020.[4] A full 162-game season is planned. Interleague play will feature AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central, and AL West vs. NL West.

The MLB at Field of Dreams game, originally scheduled for 2020 but cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will feature a matchup between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox at a purpose-built ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa on August 12.

The 2021 MLB Little League Classic will feature a matchup between the Los Angeles Angels and the Cleveland Indians at BB&T Ballpark in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on August 22.

Managerial changes

Offseason
Team Former GM Reason For Leaving New GM Notes
Los Angeles Angels Billy Eppler Fired Perry Minasian On September 27, 2020, the Angels fired Billy Eppler after five seasons as general manager just after the 2020 season, with one year remaining on his contract after they were quietly extended over the summer.[5] Eppler was hired after the 2015 season. Under his tenure, the Angels had five straight losing seasons with no playoffs appearance. On November 12, the Angels hired Perry Minasian as his replacement.[6]
Philadelphia Phillies Matt Klentak Resigned Sam Fuld On October 3, 2020, Matt Klentak stepped down after a third straight September collapse left the team out of the postseason for the ninth consecutive season. The 40-year-old was reassigned to another position in the organization, and Ned Rice will serve as interim general manager until the Phillies hire someone to run baseball operations.[7] On December 22, Fuld was announced as the next GM of the Phillies.[8]
New York Mets Brodie Van Wagenen Fired Jared Porter On November 6, 2020, the Mets parted ways with Brodie Van Wagenen after two seasons as general manager, hours after Steve Cohen became the new owner of the team.[9] On December 13, the Mets announced Jared Porter as their new general manager.[10]
Jared Porter Zack Scott (interim) On January 18, ESPN revealed that Porter had sent inappropriate images to a female reporter. On January 19, Steve Cohen tweeted that Porter had been fired.[11] On January 27, the Mets named Zack Scott as acting general manager.[12]
Miami Marlins Michael Hill Contract Not Renewed Kim Ng Michael Hill was not retained by the Marlins after the 2020 season. On November 13, 2020, the Marlins hired Kim Ng as his replacement, making her the first female and Asian-American general manager in league history.[13]
Chicago Cubs Jed Hoyer Promoted TBA On November 17, 2020, Theo Epstein announced that he will step down from his role with the Cubs. Jed Hoyer was promoted to take his place.[14]
Texas Rangers Jon Daniels Resigned Chris Young On December 4, 2020, Jon Daniels, who remains president of baseball operations, announced that he step down from his role as general manager. Chris Young was hired to take his place.[15]

Offseason
Team Former Manager Interim Manager Reason For Leaving New Manager Notes
Detroit Tigers Ron Gardenhire Lloyd McClendon Retired A. J. Hinch On September 19, 2020, Gardenhire announced his retirement due to health concerns. Lloyd McClendon was named interim manager for the rest of the season that same day. Gardenhire finished with a 132–241 (.354) record in just under three seasons. The Tigers did not make the playoffs during his tenure.[16] The Tigers hired A.J. Hinch on October 30 as their new manager.[17] In seven seasons, Hinch has accumulated a 570–472 (.547) record while managing the Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks. He led the Astros to two World Series appearances, winning in 2017 against the Los Angeles Dodgers and losing in 2019 to the Washington Nationals, both in seven games.
Boston Red Sox Ron Roenicke None Contract Not Renewed Alex Cora On September 27, 2020, the Red Sox announced that Roenicke would not be retained for the 2021 season after only one season following the team and Alex Cora parting ways.[18] Roenicke finished his only season with a 24–36 (.400) record and did not make the postseason. Cora was re-hired on November 6 after serving a one-year suspension imposed by MLB for his role in the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal.[19] Prior to his suspension, Cora was 192–132 (.593) in two seasons with the Red Sox, leading the team to a World Series win in his first season.
Chicago White Sox Rick Renteria Fired Tony La Russa On October 12, 2020, the White Sox announced that Renteria will not return, ending his tenure with the team after four years with one year remaining on his contract. Renteria finished with a record of 236–309 (.433) and one playoff appearance.[20] On October 29, it was announced that Tony La Russa would return to the White Sox as manager. La Russa managed the White Sox from 1979–1986, compiling a 522–510 (.506) and one playoff appearance. At the age of 76, La Russa became the oldest manager in the majors. He has not managed any team since the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.[21]

Uniforms

Anniversaries and special events
  • All dates as scheduled and subject to change.
Team Special occasion
All Teams #42 Patch for Jackie Robinson Day (April 15)
Pink Ribbons for breast cancer awareness (May 9, Mother's Day)
"Play Ball" patch in partnership with USA Baseball and USA Softball (June 5–7)
Blue Ribbons for prostate cancer (June 20, Father's Day)
Gold Ribbons for childhood cancer (August 27)
Arizona Diamondbacks 20th Anniversary of 2001 World Series Championship
Atlanta Braves In memory of Hank Aaron
In memory of Phil Niekro
2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
150th Anniversary Season
Baltimore Orioles 55th Anniversary of 1966 World Series Championship
Cincinnati Reds In memory of Joe Morgan
45th Anniversary of 1976 World Series Championship
Los Angeles Dodgers 40th Anniversary of 1981 World Series Championship
2020 World Series Championship (April 9)
In memory of Tommy Lasorda
In memory of Don Sutton
Los Angeles Angels 60th Anniversary Season
Milwaukee Brewers In memory of Hank Aaron
Minnesota Twins 30th Anniversary of 1991 World Series Championship
New York Mets 35th Anniversary of 1986 World Series Championship
New York Yankees 25th Anniversary of 1996 World Series Championship
65th anniversary of 1956 World Series Championship
Pittsburgh Pirates 50th Anniversary of 1971 World Series Championship
San Francisco Giants 100th Anniversary of 1921 World Series Championship
St. Louis Cardinals 15th Anniversary of 2006 World Series Championship
10th Anniversary of 2011 World Series Championship
In memory of Bob Gibson

Venues

The Milwaukee Brewers' Miller Park was renamed American Family Field after Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance outbid the Miller Brewing Company for the ballpark's naming rights renewal contract. Miller's 20-year contract expired at the end of the 2020 season.[22][23]

Broadcast rights

National

This will be the eighth and final year of the current contracts with Fox, ESPN, and TBS before the new seven-year deals begin in 2022. FS1 will televise games on Tuesday nights and on Saturday, both during the afternoon and evening. Fox will air some Saturday night games leading up to the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. ESPN will televise games on its flagship Sunday Night Baseball as well as Monday and Wednesday night games and holiday games on Memorial Day and Labor Day. Fox and ESPN Sunday Night Baseball telecasts will be exclusive.

TBS will televise 13 straight weeks of Sunday afternoon games and will also televise the National League Postseason (NL Wild Card Game (barring any postseason format changes), the NLDS, and the NLCS). The American League Postseason will be broadcast among ESPN, Fox, FS1, and MLB Network (AL Wild Card on ESPN (barring any postseason format changes), the ALDS split between FS1 and MLB Network, and the ALCS on Fox and FS1). For the 22nd straight year, the 2021 World Series will air exclusively on Fox.

Local

National

ESPN Radio will air its 24th season of National Coverage, including Sunday Night Baseball Saturday Games, Opening Day games, and Hoilday Games including Memorial Day and Labor Day games and the entire postseason.

Local

See also

References
  1. "It's Official Atlanta Awarded 2021 MLB-All Star Game". Ballparkdigest.com. May 30, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  2. "All 30 Teams Open April 1, 2021". ESPN.com. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  3. "Owner Paul Dolan says Cleveland Indians to keep name through 2021 season". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  4. "MLB announces 2021 regular-season schedule". MLB.com. July 9, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  5. "Los Angeles Angels fire general manager Billy Eppler in fifth year". ESPN.com. September 27, 2020.
  6. "Los Angeles Angels make Perry Minasian general manager". ESPN.com. November 12, 2020.
  7. "Philadelphia Phillies GM Matt Klentak steps down, will be reassigned to new role". ESPN.com. October 3, 2020.
  8. "Philadelphia Phillies promote Sam Fuld to GM". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  9. "Hours after becoming Mets new owner, Steve Cohen fires GM Brodie Van Wagenen, entire front office". sports.yahoo.com. November 6, 2020.
  10. "Mets name Jared Porter general manager". MLB.com. December 13, 2020.
  11. "New York Mets GM Jared Porter fired for sending explicit texts, images to reporter". ESPN. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  12. DiComo, Anthony (January 27, 2021). "Mets name Zack Scott acting GM". MLB.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  13. "Miami Marlins hire Kim Ng as MLB's first female general manager". ESPN.com. November 13, 2020.
  14. Bastian, Jordan (November 17, 2020). "'Incredibly grateful' Epstein steps down". MLB.com. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  15. Sullivan, T.R. (December 4, 2020). "Rangers name Chris Young general manager". MLB.com. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  16. "Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire retires immediately to focus on health". ESPN.com. AP. September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  17. Beck, Jason (October 30, 2020). "Hinch: 'The good times are coming' to Detroit". MLB.com.
  18. "Ron Roenicke Fired By Red Sox After One Season". NBCSports.com. AP. September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  19. Browne, Ian (November 6, 2020). "Cora back as Red Sox skipper on 2-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  20. Duber, Vinnie. "Sox part ways with Renteria, will have new manager in 2021". NBC Sports Chicago.
  21. Merkin, Scott (October 29, 2020). "Tony La Russa named White Sox manager". MLB.com.
  22. Nelson, Jim. "American Family Insurance to replace Miller Brewing Co. as naming rights sponsor for Brewers stadium". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  23. "Brewers' ballpark will be called American Family Field starting in 2021". Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  24. "Jon 'Boog' Sciambi to call play-by-play on Chicago Cubs broadcasts". Associated Press. ESPN.com. January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  25. Dachman, Jason. "NESN Keeps Its Eye on the 4K HDR Ball With Launch of New Studio". Sports Video Group. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  26. Balderston, Michael (January 27, 2021). "Sinclair, Bally Reveal Bally Sports Rebrand for RSNs". TVTechnology. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  27. "Farewell, Fox Sports West. Hello, Bally Sports". Los Angeles Times. November 19, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  28. Feder, Robert (4 December 2020). "Cubs TV announcer Len Kasper named radio voice of White Sox on ESPN 1000". Retrieved 7 December 2020.
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