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Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon gave sports fans some hope Wednesday when he said the "best-case scenario" for Major League Baseball's return would be in four-to-six weeks, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
The league is reportedly exploring the idea of playing in Arizona without fans to start the 2020 season, but Maddon said he told MLB officials he would also prefer using domed stadiums in Florida and Texas, as well as ballparks in Southern California, Topkin noted.
The 66-year-old skipper added that multiple sites would be better for resembling a season, provide variety, and allow for games in different time zones.
Maddon also believes players and staff should be allowed to have their families with them if they were to play baseball in isolation. Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Zack Wheeler, among other players, have all expressed concerns about potentially being separated from their loved ones for a period of months.
"A lot of things from the human side I think would be important,'' Maddon said. "The big part of that is you have to include families, I think, to really make this amenable to the group.''
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Tuesday that all MLB teams can play in the state at the "right time." Dr. Anthony Fauci added Wednesday that he believes sports can return in 2020 but in empty stadiums.
