Shortly after the 2020 Cactus League and Grapefruit League Spring Training seasons were suspended and the 2020 regular season postponed for (then) two weeks due to the emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association negotiated an agreement on unprecedented contingency plans. According to reports on March 28, those plans included three predicates that must be met (or modified through collective bargaining) before a regular or postseason game could be played:

1. No government edicts on mass gatherings that would prevent teams from playing in their home stadiums;
2. No travel restrictions in the United States or Canada;
3. The determination that playing does not expose players, staff, or fans to health risks (bolding added for emphasis).

With increased speculation that Major League Baseball will attempt to reopen Spring Training 2020, perhaps as soon as June 10, and start the regular season some three weeks later, there is renewed interest in Dodgers baseball.

Considering that MLB has yet to submit a proposal to the Players Association for opening camps, playing a reduced number of regular-season games, possibly a different type of postseason tournament, and a World Series in November that may have to be played in a warm-weather (or domed stadium) neutral site, there are many more questions than answers at this point:

• Will all Dodgers players show up at Camelback Ranch when/if camp opens?

ESPN’s Jeff Passan has reported that some unnamed MLB players have asked the union if they can elect to sit out the 2020 season due to concerns for their own safety and/or family health issues during these uncertain times. Passan noted that there are active MLB players with existing medical issues that put them into the COVID-19 high-risk category; such as heart conditions like that of Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen or the asthma of Cardinals closer Carlos Martinez, or a player who is undergoing cancer treatments like Orioles infielder/outfielder Trey Mancini. Then there are players who are healthy but have at-risk family members to consider.

Not to be overlooked are on-field managers, coaches, trainers, support staff, and umpires whose age put them into the high-risk category. New soon-to-be 71-year-old (on June 15) Astros manager Dusty Baker and new 66-year-old Angeles manager Joe Maddon, for example, are in that category.

• How many players will be on the active roster?

With an abbreviated Spring Training-2 and the potential of playing every day (and/or frequent double-headers), it is likely that rosters will be expanded from 26-players to 30, or more. And with the uncertainty of minor league baseball being played at any level, teams may have taxi squads of an additional 10 to 20 players. The Dodgers are exceptionally well positioned for an expanded roster considering their depth of quality players.

• What happens when a player or member of coaching staff tests positive for COVID-19?

Obviously, they would be quarantined, but what about the rest of the players on the team who have been exposed? What about umpires who may have been exposed and/or the opposing team’s players and coaches? Expedited testing may be an option for on-field personnel, but what about their families? It becomes even more problematic if player(s) test positive during the postseason tournament – including the World Series.

• Will the Union agree to play under any MLB proposal?

To be determined. Anything is possible in collective bargaining and there may be pressure from the players to start the season as soon as possible considering the economic impact to them if the season is canceled.

More questions than answers right now, but let us hope that decisions are made with the best interests at heart for the players, coaches, support staff, and umpires rather than purely economic considerations.

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