When Major League Baseball cancelled remaining Spring Training games and delayed the start of the season, Opening Day was only pushed back two weeks. However, in effort to comply with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the start of the season was indefinitely delayed.
While the CDC recommended against mass gatherings of 50 or more people at least until May 10, the league has begun to explore scenarios with which to begin the 2020 regular season. Two possibilities were made public over recent weeks, with both involving Arizona.
One scenario had all 30 teams heading to The Grand Canyon State, where Spring Training facilities and Chase Field would be utilized. Another option called for division realignment within the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues.
Now a third potential plan has been made public, as according to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports, MLB has given thought to basing teams in the states of Arizona, Florida and Texas, to take advantage of domed stadiums:
On Monday, multiple league sources informed CBS Sports about a different idea that has been discussed in recent days. In this arrangement, the league would have teams stationed in one of three hubs: Florida, Arizona or Texas. The clubs would then make use of the local major- and minor-league (or spring training) facilities.
One source even expressed guarded optimism about the idea’s chances of coming to fruition.
Although there would be plenty of details to be sorted out, MLB’s best path to beginning a season appears to lie with some form of teams being centralized to a location. Of course, that brings up another obstacle in players likely needing to be quarantined.
Clayton Kershaw has already made it clear he would not leave his family for several months. But his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Kenley Jansen, Gavin Lux, Justin Turner and Alex Wood are among those who have said they would accept the terms.
While three plans have made their way from reported discussions to media reports, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has continued to emphasize the league is not near any sort of decision.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey publicly stated he is open to hosting the MLB season however Manfred and public health officials see it fit.
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