Major League Baseball is reportedly devising a plan that would help save the 2020 season. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the league is increasingly optimistic that the Opening Day might even take place in May.
The 2020 MLB season has been suspended indefinitely in March due to concerns over coronavirus pandemic. And while the league and MLB Players Association agreed to a plan that covers the possible canceled or shortened season, both sides would like to play as many games as possible.
Passan reports that MLB plans to have all 30 teams play their games at stadiums in Arizona, in a greater area of Phoenix. The players would live in isolation in nearby hotels and travel only to games and practices. Also, the fans would not be able to attend any games.
The reason why both MLB and the players are optimistic about this plan is the fact that several notable health officials backed it up and expressed the belief that the league can “safely operate amid the coronavirus pandemic.” If the league manages to adhere to isolation and social distancing rules, it is believed that it will receive support from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health as well.
MLB’s plan is far from finalized and there are multiple obstacles that the league needs to overcome in order to make things work. This includes mass testing, rule tweaking, and even the player’s willingness to spend almost five months in quarantine. But, there is a belief among the team officials that things could fall in place if there is enough commitment and that baseball will resume in the next two months.
