Athletics’ spring training schedule to start Feb. 19 — if there is labor peace

Athletics’ spring training schedule set to open Feb. 19 contingent on labor peace Major League Baseball announced Friday that all 30 clubs are slated to hold spring training games in Florida and Arizona as part of the buildup to the season’s March 24 opener. The league warned, however, that the current collective‑bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1 and a lockout is expected, which would stall off‑season trades and free‑agent signings. MLB has projected instituting a wage cap for the first time since the 7½‑month work stoppage of 1994‑95, a move the players’ association says it will never accept. Spring training workouts are scheduled to begin Feb. 9. The Athletics will launch their camp by hosting the Chicago Cubs on Feb. 19 at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. The Athletics’ initial spring slate lists 31 games, 16 of which are to be played at Hohokam Stadium. The schedule does not feature any contests at Las Vegas Ballpark for the venue’s annual Big League Weekend, though this year’s Las Vegas spring training games were included on the original spring training roster. In 2022, a labor agreement was not reached until March 10, pushing Opening Day from March 31 to April 7. That year’s spring training games had been set to start Feb. 25 and conclude with the opener on March 17. This year’s spring training schedule includes several regular‑season‑venue matchups from March 20‑23, such as Boston at San Francisco, Toronto and Detroit at Tampa Bay, and the Freeway Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels. The Athletics’ full schedule is as follows: **February** - Feb. 19 – Chicago Cubs, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - Feb. 20 – Texas Rangers, Surprise Stadium, Surprise, Ariz. - Feb. 21 – Arizona Diamondbacks, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - Feb. 22 – Colorado Rockies, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - Feb. 23 – Seattle Mariners, Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria, Ariz. - Feb. 24 – San Francisco Giants, Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale, Ariz. - Feb. 25 – Milwaukee Brewers, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - Feb. 26 – Los Angeles Dodgers, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - Feb. 27 – Los Angeles Angels, Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, Ariz. - Feb. 28 – Seattle Mariners, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. **March** - March 1 – San Diego Padres, Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria, Ariz. - March 3 – San Francisco Giants, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - March 4 – Cincinnati Reds, Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Ariz. - March 5 – Chicago White Sox, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - March 6 – Cleveland Guardians, Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Ariz. - March 7 – Texas Rangers, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - March 8 – Arizona Diamondbacks, Salt River Fields, Scottsdale, Ariz. - March 9 – San Diego Padres, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - March 10 – Chicago Cubs, Sloan Park, Mesa, Ariz. - March 11 – Kansas City Royals, Surprise Stadium, Surprise, Ariz. - March 12 – Colorado Rockies, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - March 13 – Cleveland Guardians, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - March 14 – Chicago Cubs, Sloan Park, Mesa, Ariz. - March 15 – Milwaukee Brewers, American Family Fields of Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz. - March 17 – Colorado Rockies, Salt River Fields, Scottsdale, Ariz. - March 17 – Cincinnati Reds, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. (split squad) - March 18 – Los Angeles Angels, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - March 19 – Los Angeles Dodgers, Camelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz. - March 20 – Kansas City Royals, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. - March 21 – Chicago White Sox, Camelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz. - March 22 – Cleveland Guardians, Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Ariz. *The Associated Press contributed to this report.*