LOS ANGELES _ As government officials evaluate the medical and societal impacts of reopening parts of the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Baseball must decide whether bringing its sport back and televising it to home-bound fans is a worthwhile risk.
Support is mounting for MLB to spearhead the return to pseudo-normalcy. Some believe games could start by late June and that the abbreviated season could feature 100 games. Getting to that point would require some finesse.
It seems the only safe way to stage baseball this year would be with no fans in attendance. Any model likely would not include the minor leagues, would expand MLB rosters from their current 26 players and would require a taxi squad of reserves in case of injury. Virus testing would be necessary for anyone expected to enter a stadium. And players would require at least three weeks of spring training to prepare for the abbreviated season.
With that in mind, let's look at three spectator-free proposals MLB is reportedly considering: a realignment that would allow teams to operate in their respective cities, an enclosed 30-team operation in Arizona, and a three-state hub.
