The length of the MLB lockout led to some challenging schedule changes for the Giants. It also robbed them of what would have been the most interesting trip of the 2022 season.
The Giants and Miami Marlins were making plans to play two games in Mexico City in June, but that short trip was canceled when the lockout forced alterations in MLB's schedule. It's one the Giants haven't given up on, though.
On Monday's Giants Talk Podcast, team president and CEO Larry Baer said the club hopes to make an international trip as soon as next season. The new CBA calls for games in Mexico City the next four years and Baer said he's "pretty confident the Giants will be in one or more of those years."
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"We really anticipate being involved and we are very disappointed that the Mexico City (trip) was taken off the boards," Baer said, smiling. "It was nobody's fault, it was just because of the condensed season and putting 162 games into fewer days. International travel just became too difficult and we totally understand that, but we're pushing hard to be right back in 2023 either in Mexico City -- if the schedule works -- or somewhere internationally."
The organization was excited about the proposed trip this season, even sending several team employees down to Mexico City during the offseason to start planning and figuring out logistics. It was going to be a tricky trip before it was canceled; the Giants and Marlins were supposed to play two games in Miami on June 2-3 and then fly to Mexico for two more over the weekend.
That would have been a rough end to what was already a three-city trip, but Giants employees were looking forward to the unique experience. It's one they should get to take part in as soon as next year. As part of the new CBA, MLB will annually hold games or tours in Asia, the Dominican Republic, London, Mexico, Paris and Puerto Rico over the next four seasons.
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Baer is part of MLB's international committee and said the addition to the new CBA aimed to help grow the game internationally. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox played in London in 2019 and MLB was supposed to have games in London, Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2020 before the pandemic hit.
"There was a fantastic reception to baseball in London," Baer said. "(They're) focusing on Paris and you have the Olympics coming to Paris in (2024). I think baseball really has a renewed effort to grow the game internationally and as we come out of the pandemic it's going to be sort of a full-court press in that area."