On Monday, MLB owners approved a proposal for baseball to return next month – with a potential start of the season around July 1 – and agreed to pass it to the players’ union for them to review it. That means that, while nothing is set in stone yet, a gigantic step forward was taken today, and we might actually get to see the New York Yankees play this year.
MLB decided to halt the start of the season and all operations in mid-March after concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic that is still ongoing. However, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.
One of the most concerning things about a possible return to play would be what to do if a player tests positive for the coronavirus. That would mean that the rest of the team roster and even member of the other team, not to mention staffers and workers, would be at risk.
SNY reported on Monday that an MLB executive detailed what they would do if a player tests positive for the coronavirus.
According to Andy Martino, who covers the Yankees and Mets, such a scenario wouldn’t necessarily mean that the season would need to be halted again.
Here is MLB’s plan, per SNY
“The player who tests positive would be isolated, with the entire team all receiving immediate coronavirus tests. At that point, any players found to have the virus would also be isolated and replaced by a member of the team’s large taxi squad (which could consist of roughly 20 players). Players who do not test positive would continue to play.”
If the players’ union agrees with the conditions, the Yankees might be able to make a run for a title that hasn’t been possible since 2009.
The plan outlined by the MLB and approved by owners would have a second “spring” training beginning around June 10, with opening day expected around the start of July.