In the midst of the issues created by COVID-19 for sporting events, Major League Baseball is trying to find a way to play the 2020 season. It is unlikely that games can be played as usual, with teams traveling back and forth from places like Los Angeles and New York City not happening any time soon.
MLB has come up with a plan that would allow them to play, but it will be very different. The arrangement would include having teams stationed in one of three states – Florida, Arizona, or Texas. Teams would use major league, minor league, and spring training facilities to practice and play regular-season games. These games will be carried out behind closed doors, without fans.
There are parks in each of these locations that have retractable roofs, allowing games to be played there without the threat of rainouts. They would also consider playing multiple games from one site in a day.
This is just another leaked plan that could have potential, but not all players are excited about it. This scenario would have players isolated from their families for several months, which Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw have spoken against.
“From our perspective, we don’t have a plan, we have lots of ideas,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told Fox Business. “What ideas come to fruition depends on what the restrictions are, what the public health situation is, but we are intent on the idea of making baseball a part of the economic recovery and sort of a milestone on the return to normalcy.”
Majority of MLB Teams Continuing to Pay Ops Staff
COVID-19 has resulted in many Americans losing their jobs, sports very much included. Most teams have assured their employees payment through May; others have not.
According to ESPN sources, the following teams have informed baseball operations employees that they will receive paychecks through May: Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays.
But some of the highest market teams, the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles Dodgers have not made these promises as of yet.
Marlins CEO Derek Jeter has given up his $5 million salary to ensure that workers in the organization are taking care of as much as possible. High-ranking officials in the Texas Rangers offices have also reportedly cut their salaries in hopes that others wouldn’t lose their jobs.
The San Diego Padres have announced that they will pay their employees through the end of the season, although some will be taking reasonable pay cuts.
With the MLB discussing ways to continue the season, hopefully, some of these issues can be solved soon. Rob Manfred has said he fully expects there to be baseball this year. Fans are just waiting to see in what way that will happen.
