PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Major League Baseball and its players' union had discussions Monday about the possibility of playing games in Arizona, according to reports from ESPN and the Associated Press.
According to ESPN, the key element is the availability of mass testing with quick results that wouldn't affect national availability. If that's feasible, then it seems like at least players and other baseball staff would have to sequester under strict guidelines.
ESPN reported officials from the CDC and National Institute of Health support the idea.
If they can pull it off, ESPN says the season could start as early as May.
This would mean that all 30 teams would play in empty ballparks. No fans would be allowed at these games.MLB released a statement after the reports surfaced that read, in part, "MLB has been actively considering numerous contingency plans that would allow play to commence once the public health situation has improved to the point it is safe to do so. While we have discussed the idea of staging games at one location as one potential option, we have not settled on that option or developed a detailed plan. While we continue to interact regularly with governmental and public health officials, we have not sought or received approval of any plan from from federal, state and local officials, or the Players Association."
Here's the full statement https://t.co/fOVndqbJTa
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 7, 2020After emphasizing safety is a high priority, the leagued added, "... we are not ready at this time to endorse any particular format for staging games in light of the rapidly changing public health situation caused by the coronavirus."
Baseball's season had been set to start March 26 but spring training was halted on March 12. After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended restricting events of more than 50 people for eight weeks, MLB said it would not open until mid-May at the earliest.
MLB and the union reached a deal March 26 to advance $170 million in salary to players for the first 60 days of the season. As part of the deal, players would get only prorated portions of their salaries if the regular season is cut from its usual 162 games and would receive no additional salary if the season is scrapped.
Both sides have agreed to attempt to play as full a season as is possible, and this plan would enable the season to start while waiting for health and government officials to determine whether it is safe to resume play in regular-season ballparks, with the travel that would entail.
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AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.
