2024 Major League Baseball season

The 2024 Major League Baseball season (MLB) is scheduled to begin on March 20–21 with a two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres held in Seoul, South Korea before the regular season proper runs from March 28 to September 29.[1] The 94th All-Star Game is planned for July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The postseason is then scheduled to begin on October 1 with a potential World Series Game 7 set for November 2.

2024 MLB season
LeagueMajor League Baseball
SportBaseball
DurationMarch 20 – September 29, 2024
Number of games162
Number of teams30
TV partner(s)Fox/FS1
TBS
ESPN/ABC
MLB Network
Apple TV+
Draft
Regular season
Postseason
World Series

The Oakland Athletics plan to play their last season in Oakland, pending the other MLB owners approving their relocation to Las Vegas by 2025.[2]

Schedule

On July 13, 2023, Major League Baseball released its 2024 schedule. There are 162 games scheduled for all teams. This will be the second year that every team will play against every other team in both leagues.[3][1]

As part of the "MLB World Tour", the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres are scheduled to open the season in Seoul on March 20–21, in the first-ever MLB regular season games played in South Korea. Opening Day on the U.S. mainland is then planned for March 28, with all 30 clubs in action. Other MLB World Tour series include the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in Mexico City on April 27–28, and the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at London Stadium in London on June 8–9.[3][1]

The San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals are scheduled to play at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on June 20, in a game honoring the Negro leagues and hall of fame outfielder Willie Mays. The 94th All-Star Game is planned for July 16, hosted by the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The MLB Little League Classic at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is scheduled for August 18 with the New York Yankees taking on the Detroit Tigers.[3][1]

Managerial changes

Off-season
Team Former GM Reason For Leaving New GM Notes
Chicago White Sox Rick Hahn Fired Chris Getz On August 22, 2023, Hahn and Executive Vice President Kenny Williams who both held their previous titles since 2012 were fired. On August 31, Chris Getz was named the new general manager and senior vice president of the team.[4]
Boston Red Sox Brian O'Halloran Reassigned TBA On September 14, 2023, O'Halloran accepted the position of senior vice president of baseball operations with the team.[5]
New York Mets Billy Eppler Resigned TBA On October 5, 2023, Eppler resigned as general manager as a result of MLB opening an investigation into his potentially improper use of the injured list.[6]
Miami Marlins Kim Ng Resigned TBA On October 16, 2023, Ng resigned as general manager after three years. The Marlins made one postseason appearance during her tenure.[7]

Off-season
Team Former Manager Interim Manager Reason For Leaving New Manager Notes
San Francisco Giants Gabe Kapler Kai Correa Fired Bob Melvin On September 29, 2023, the Giants fired Kapler. After four seasons with the team, he compiled a record of 161–163 (.497) and only made the playoffs just once in 2021. Bench coach Kai Correa was named interim manager for the final three games of the 2023 season.[8]

Melvin was hired on October 25. This will be his fifth managerial position, previously managing in Seattle, Arizona, Oakland, and San Diego, compiling a lifetime managerial record of 1,517–1,425 (.516).[9]

New York Mets Buck Showalter N/A TBA On October 1, 2023, Showalter announced that he would not be returning to manage the Mets for the 2024 season. According to team owner Steve Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler, the Mets informed Showalter that they did not plan to bring him back for next season, even though he has one year left on his contract. He compiled a record of 176–148 (.543) in two seasons with the team with one playoff appearance.[10]
Los Angeles Angels Phil Nevin Option not picked up TBA On October 2, 2023, the Angels announced they would not be picking up Nevin's option for 2024. After taking over as manager in June 2022, he compiled a record of 119–149 (.444) with no playoff appearances.[11]
Cleveland Guardians Terry Francona Resigned TBA On October 3, 2023, Francona announced he was stepping away as manager of the Guardians. In 11 seasons with Cleveland, he compiled a record of 921–757 (.549) with six playoff appearances, three AL Central division titles, and a World Series appearance.[12]
San Diego Padres Bob Melvin Hired by the San Francisco Giants TBA Melvin was granted permission from the Padres to become the manager of the San Francisco Giants on October 24, 2023. In his tenure with the Padres, he compiled a record of 171–153 (.528), with one playoff appearance, advancing to the NLCS in 2022.[9]
Houston Astros Dusty Baker Retired TBA On October 25, 2023, Baker announced his retirement after four seasons with the Astros and 26 years overall as a manager. He finished his tenure with the Astros with a 320–226 (.586) record, winning the 2022 World Series.[13]

Uniforms

Anniversaries and special events
Team Special occasion
All Teams Jackie Robinson Day (April 15)
Pink Ribbons for breast cancer awareness (May 12, Mother's Day)
Patch for Armed Forces Day (May 20) and Camouflage caps for Armed Force's Day Weekend (May 19–21)
Poppy for Memorial Day (May 27)
"4–ALS" patch for Lou Gehrig Day (June 2)
"Play Ball" patch in partnership with USA Baseball and USA Softball (June 7–9)
Blue Ribbons for prostate cancer (June 16, Father's Day)
Gold Ribbons for childhood cancer (September 1)
#21 patch for Roberto Clemente Day day (September 15)
"MLB Debut" patch for players who play their first Major League game
Baltimore Orioles 70th Anniversary Season
Boston Red Sox 20th Anniversary of 2004 World Series Championship
Detroit Tigers 40th Anniversary of 1984 World Series Championship
New York Mets 55th Anniversary of 1969 World Series Championship
New York Yankees 15th Anniversary of 2009 World Series Championship
25th Anniversary of 1999 World Series Championship
Oakland Athletics 35th Anniversary of 1989 World Series Championship
50th Anniversary of 1974 World Series Championship
Philadelphia Phillies 20th Anniversary of Citizens Bank Park
Pittsburgh Pirates 45th Anniversary of 1979 World Series Championship
San Diego Padres 20th Anniversary of Petco Park
San Francisco Giants 10th Anniversary of 2014 World Series Championship
St. Louis Cardinals 60th Anniversary of 1964 World Series Championship
Texas Rangers 2024 MLB All-Star Game
Washington Nationals 5th Anniversary of 2019 World Series Championship

Venues

The Oakland Athletics lease with the Oakland Coliseum expires after the end of the 2024 season. On June 15, 2023, the team officially announced they would begin the relocation process to Las Vegas. If approved by the other MLB owners, the Athletics would move into a new 30,000-seat partially retractable ballpark by the 2028 season.[2]

Broadcast rights

National

This is the third year of the existing seven-year deals with ESPN, Fox, TBS, Apple TV+, and MLB Network.[14]

Linear television
Streaming
  • This will be the first regular season that the streaming service Max will have live access to TBS' games on its Bleacher Report Sports Add-on tier.[19]
  • Apple TV+ continues to hold the rights to Friday Night Baseball, Apple has the option to opt out of this deal prior to this season, however if it doesn’t opt out it will not be able to exit the deal until it expires in 2028 season.[14][20]
  • NBC Sports' deal for MLB Sunday Leadoff has not yet been renewed.[21]
Postseason

During the postseason, the ESPN networks, including ABC (with Spanish–language simulcasts on ESPN Deportes) will air all four Wild Card Series.[17] TBS (with Spanish-language simulcasts on MLB Network) will then broadcast the American League Division Series and the American League Championship Series,[16] and Fox Sports (Fox and FS1, with Spanish-language simulcasts on Fox Deportes) will broadcast the National League Division Series, the National League Championship Series, and the World Series.[15]

AT&T Sportsnet closure

Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to wind down its AT&T SportsNet regional sports network business prior to the start of the 2024 season.[22] With AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain expected to close, the Colorado Rockies would have to sign a new deal with another broadcaster.[23] The Houston Astros and the NBA's Houston Rockets will take over AT&T SportsNet Southwest and rebrand it to Space City Home Network on October 3, 2023.[24] Fenway Sports Group will take over AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, rebranding it SportsNet Pittsburgh on October 2, 2023;[25] however, the Pittsburgh Pirates may seek another broadcaster.[23]

Diamond Sports bankruptcy
See also: Diamond Sports Group § Bankruptcy

This would be the second season affected by the February 2023 bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group, owners of the Bally Sports regional sports networks. Diamond Sports Group may cut ties with additional teams it previously had deals with. The rights of those teams that Major League Baseball took over from Diamond midway through the 2023 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres, could also change in 2024.[26] Diamond's deal with the Minnesota Twins also expires before the season.[27]

Retired numbers
  • Dwight Gooden will have his No. 16 retired by the New York Mets. This will be the eighth number to be retired by the team.[28]
  • Darryl Strawberry will have his No. 18 retired by the New York Mets. This will be the ninth number to be retired by the team.[28]

References
  1. "MLB releases 2024 schedule; all 30 teams play March 28". ESPN.com. July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  2. "Nevada governor signs A's stadium funding bill". KLAS. June 15, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  3. "MLB Unveils 2024 Schedule Packed With Marquee Matchups". MLB.com. July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  4. Merkin, Scott (August 22, 2023). "White Sox Part Ways With Hahn And Williams". MLB.com. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  5. "Brian OHallon Accepts Position As Red Sox Executive VP Of Baseball Operations". BostonGolbe.com. September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  6. "Eppler steps down as Mets general manager". MLB.com. October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  7. DeNicola, Christina (October 16, 2023). "Kim Ng won't return as Marlins general manager". MLB.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  8. "Giants Fire Manager Gabe Kapler After Disappointing 2023 season". NBCSportsbayarea.com. September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  9. Guardado, Maria (October 25, 2023). "Giants officially name Melvin next manager". MLB.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  10. "Showalter will not return as Mets' manager in 2024". MLB.com. October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  11. "Phil Nevin will not return as Angels manager". MLB.com. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  12. "Guardians manager Terry Francona announces he's stepping away from Guardians". Yahoo Sports. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  13. Nightengale, Bob (October 25, 2023). "Exclusive: Dusty Baker retires after 26 seasons as MLB manager". USA Today. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  14. Ozanian, Mike (March 9, 2022). "MLB Deals With Apple And NBC Sports Are Worth A Combined $115 Million Annually". Forbes. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  15. "MLB, Fox complete multiyear agreement". MLB Advanced Media. September 24, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  16. Brown, Maury (September 24, 2020). "TBS And MLB Reach TV Rights Extension For 2022-28 Reportedly Worth $3.75 Billion". Forbes. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  17. Brown, Maury (May 14, 2020). "ESPN's 7 Year 392 Billion Renewal With MLB Starts In 2022". Forbes. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  18. Paulsen (September 18, 2022). "News: Gus Johnson, Pac-12, LIV Tour and more". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  19. "Max will start offering a live sports tier in October". The Verge. September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  20. Ozanian, Mike. "MLB Deals With Apple And NBC Sports Are Worth A Combined $115 Million Annually". Forbes. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  21. Bassam, Tom (April 7, 2022). "MLB and NBC confirm 'US$30m a year' Peacock streaming deal". Sports Pro Media. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  22. Lucia, Joe (April 10, 2023). "Warner Bros. Discovery, MLB nearing a deal to keep RSNs running through 2023 season". Awful Announcing. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  23. "Sports Media: WBD Sports closer to exit from nearly all of its RSN business". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  24. "Astros, Rockets acquire AT&T SportsNet Southwest, give it a new name". KHOU. September 29, 2023.
  25. "Penguins Announce 'SportsNet Pittsburgh' as Regional Sports Network". NHL.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  26. Mackie, Theo (July 18, 2023). "Diamondbacks games no longer to be carried on Bally Sports; MLB moving them to new outlets". AzCentral. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  27. Harrison, Jonathan (July 3, 2023). "Twins games to stay on Bally Sports North through end of season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  28. DiComo, Anthony. "Mets to retire Strawberry and Gooden's numbers in 2024". MLB.com.
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