Cherington: 'I believe we're going to play games'

There is no light at the end of the tunnel for Major League Baseball or the Pirates yet.

As the COVID-19 shutdown continues, there is no planned or proposed scenario set for when the season could start, or even when teams can reconvene. Discussions have centered around starting the season in June or July in either each team's spring training facility or just Arizona, and then playing games later into the year to make up for lost time. However, there is concern that the public health situation will not get better in time and the season could ultimately be cancelled.

The Pirates have been preparing for a variety of scenarios for what the upcoming year might look like, and they are optimistic that it involves a season.

“I wake up every day believing we are going to play games," Ben Cherington said in a conference call Tuesday afternoon. "I’m probably optimistic by nature, so I generally, most days, I kind of think about how things are going to get better and not in the other direction. Maybe that influences how I think about how [we'll] potentially [play] a season in 2020.

"But I do believe we’re going to play games. That doesn’t mean I know we will. We’ve got to plan for every scenario, but we’re spending more of our energy – maybe that’s because we’re optimistic – trying to think about how to prepare for those games, not knowing when or where or how exactly they’ll be played."



The goal is to be as prepared as possible when they emerge from this unprecedented start to the season, including modifying plans based on how long the delay goes.

"Every conversation we’re having with major-league coaches, with our players, with our performance staff certainly around our major-league group – and this extends to our minor-league group, too, in conversations with Larry Broadway and his staff and minor-league players – it’s all around how do we stay appropriately prepared for an increase in activity that may lead to regular-season games at some time," Cherington said. "I think we prefer to keep our energy focused on that."

As general manager, Cherington is a unique spot where he can participate in league conference calls and talk to players. In the league calls, Cherington noted there is "an incredible level of motivation" to play in 2020.

"There’s a similar and equal amount of motivation amongst players, at least the players I’m talking to," Cherington said. "Amongst Pirates players I haven’t heard a single thing that suggests that any of them aren’t really motivated to play."

Cherington said he does not expect resistance from players if they can come up with a safe option. He is not partial to any particular plan, saying that while the familiarity of Pittsburgh or Bradenton would be an advantage, he wants public health experts to help make the decision since health is paramount.

That includes not just the health of the players and staff, but to make sure the return of baseball to an area does not create any additional risks to the public health situation either.

"Everything else to me feels like a logistic that can be figured out," Cherington said. "Not saying they’re all easy questions... But the health issues are – by far, first and foremost – the primary issue and I think that will guide whatever plan is ultimately developed and the pace of implementation of whatever plan is ultimately developed.”

More from Cherington:

• One of the most pressing questions the league is facing is how long will players need to get back into game shape.

"In simple terms, it’s really just we’re trying to help our players stay at a ready state where you’re not starting from scratch," Cherington said.

A normal spring training is usually 6-7 weeks, though Cherington does not believe it will take that long to get players ready.

"There’s going to be some variance with where everybody is in terms of readiness. But overall I feel confident they’re in a close-to-ready state where we can continue to build up in less time than you’d normally use in spring training."

• The players and league both want games to resume, but the two sides will have to work out how to split the revenue pie. While some owners have advocated for prorated salaries, players will likely have to make many concessions already to get the season started, including being separated from their families.

There will be problems they have to work out, but Cherington is still optimistic.

"When you have two groups that are that motivated you have a better chance to find solutions," he said.

• The Pirates will continue to pay their employees their full salaries through at least May 31, but they have temporarily cut retirement benefits during the shutdown to lower expenses.

“We did identify the retirement contributions, at least temporarily, as an opportunity, an area where we might find some savings without too much impact on people and their everyday lives,” Cherington said.

There is more on this here.

• While MLB could return this year, the minor league season could be in trouble. A coach within the Pirates organization expressed doubt to DK Pittsburgh Sports this month that there would be a minor-league season in 2020. If that was to happen, it could impact the development of some of the team's best minor-leaguers, including Ke'Bryan Hayes and Cole Tucker.

That could factor into those players being promoted sooner, especially if rosters are expanded.

"We’ve been thinking a lot about development as it relates to playing time," Cherington said about possibly promoting those players. "This is something every team is facing. The vast majority of players are at points their careers where going a full calendar year without playing live baseball against high-level competition would be the last thing you’d prescribe. Whatever we thought was optimal for Player A or Player B is not going to look like that in 2020. We’ve got to figure out ways to make up for that as best we can in safe ways."