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Coronavirus and Sports

MLB's July Return Proposal Brings Optimism, But Some Hurdles Remain

Some clubs have suggested that players prepare for a Spring Training that could begin as early as June 10GETTY IMAGES

MLB expects to "offer a return-to-play proposal" to the MLBPA within a week, as teams have "begun to encourage players to prepare for a 'spring' training that could begin in mid-June and a season that could start in early July," according to sources cited by Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. A "significant number of hurdles remain and some industry leaders believe June and July return dates are overly optimistic," but ownership's "approval of a plan and dialogue about specifics with the union would mark two vital steps toward baseball's return." Some clubs have suggested that players "prepare for a spring training that could begin as early as June 10 and a season that could begin July 1." But sources indicate that other clubs are being "more general in their timetables, understanding the complications that hard dates can cause and wanting instead to nudge players toward being in game shape." Sources added that the possibility of "holding a three- or four-week spring training" at teams' home ballparks "appeals to a number of stakeholders." There is "momentum toward the league trying to play games" in home venues as well. Three player representatives believe that the union "would be more receptive to such a plan because players could spend half their games at home and with their families." Passan reported the length of the '20 season "could be from 80 to 100 games" (ESPN.com, 5/6).

WORK TO BE DONE: In N.Y., Joel Sherman writes for MLB, the obstacles to returning to play "remain significant." There still is "much to settle between MLB and the union, nothing bigger than: 1. Can MLB present a plan that brings confidence to the players that a return can be done with limited health risk and 2. how will the players be paid?" MLB is "expected to propose a pay scale in the coming days," but the MLBPA "almost certainly will reject it and this will be one of those items that needs time to be negotiated in the coming weeks." There is going to be "so much more that needs to be covered" as well, including the DH in the NL this year, roster size and playoff format. As such, "expect the length of the season to become an area of conflict" (N.Y. POST, 5/7). Yankees President Randy Levine yesterday acknowledged that having fans at the ballparks, at least in the early stages, "isn’t going to be possible" either. On Long Island, David Lennon writes given that gate-generated revenue accounts for 40-50% of a club's income, if a season does happen, it is a "safe assumption that MLB hopes to gradually allow fans." Levine is on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's reopening committee, along with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, and is "optimistic about not only hosting MLB games again but getting the paying customers back in the ballparks." He explained, “You start with no fans, you watch the progression of the virus ... and then you maybe start with a limited number of fans, see where it goes and then increase it" (NEWSDAY, 5/7).

ROCK & A HARD PLACE: YAHOO SPORTS' Jack Baer wrote, "So MLB can choose between a potentially uneven and unsafe season by moving between cities, or an unpopular and unpleasant option for players by setting up a quarantine league." Either way, players "could potentially refuse to play given the sacrifices of increased COVID-19 risk or isolation." MLB also is going to "need an enormous amount of coronavirus testing to pull any plan off" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/6). In Seattle, Ryan Divish writes there are "obviously complications to any plan," as the "circumstances of each state in terms of the number of cases and how it is trending, official guidelines and shelter-in-place rules would also have an impact." MLB "would need strict guidelines to be followed with an advanced testing policy," and as of now, they "might not even have the resources to make it work" (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/7).

PLANNING PERIOD: Twins President & CEO Dave St. Peter said that MLB has been in "close contact with each club about financial planning during the shutdown." St. Peter: "At this point the clubs are doing a lot of financial modeling and trying to get a better understanding of just what the impact is going to be with the potential for a reduced or lost 2020 season. Those are discussions that are ongoing with Major League Baseball" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/7).

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