Latest MLB Agreement on Player Safety Does Not Bode Well for 2020 Season But Has One Silver Lining
By Michael Luciano
MLB is still quite a ways away from resuming play due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down most major American sports, and the latest benchmarks that the players and league agreed must be reached before league play resumes paints a grim picture of the earliest date that play will resume.
The 2020 season will not begin until all bans on mass gatherings have been lifted, there are no restrictions on travel, and medical experts confirm that games do not post a major risk to the health of both teams and players.
The players and league agreed the 2020 MLB season won't begin until:
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2020
- There are no bans on mass gatherings that limit the ability to play in front of fans*
- There are no travel restrictions
- Medical experts determine games will not pose a risk to health of teams and fans
This certainly doesn't look good for baseball fans hoping that the league would eventually return to action in April or May.
There is a catch, however. The players and the league agreed to consider the possibility of playing games at neutral sites, as well as playing in empty stadiums, if the national situation dictates.
* The caveat agreed to by the players and league is that they will consider playing games at neutral sites instead of home ballparks -- and will consider the feasibility of playing in empty stadiums and just how proper a solution it may be for both sides and especially fans.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2020
Baseball isn't going to start any time soon, as the virus is still in the process of spreading across America. All we can do as fans is stay inside and practice social distancing in order to curb the spread of this pandemic, which will bring us our beloved baseball back.