Cincinnati Reds news: Most realistic option could see season start in July

While Major League Baseball has hit the pause button on the 2020 season, it appears as though Reds Country may see baseball in July.

While Cincinnati Reds fans eagerly await some word of when the 2020 baseball season will begin, it appears that they’ll have to wait a bit longer. Due to the recent pandemic, Cincinnati and every team throughout Major League Baseball ceased operations back in March. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, starting the season in July appears to be the most realistic option.

Nothing is set in stone at this point, but according to Passan, it appears as though MLB is hopeful to hammer out an agreement with the players association by the end of May. Passan suggests that this timeline will allow players to report for an abbreviated spring training in June with an 80-to 100-game season to played in July, August, September and October.

But, with the Reds roster adding the likes of Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas, Cincinnati is looking like a playoff contender. What about the postseason, you ask? Well, it appears as though that may be held at neutral sites during the month of November. Obviously, MLB would look towards warm-weather sites or stadiums with roofs.

A lot of fans may not like the idea of not having a playoff game in their home stadium, but the harsh reality is, seeing fans in the seats during a baseball game in 2020 looks bleak. Every proposal is likely to keep the stadiums empty.

Now, what does that look like for the Cincinnati Reds? Eh, it’s hard to say. As several states begin to lift their “stay-at-home” and “shelter-in-place” orders, it’s not clear where the Reds 2020 season may begin. However, Passan sees the “Arizona plan” as unlikely due to the logistics and skepticism surrounding the idea.

So, whether the Reds begin the 2020 season in Arizona, Texas or Cincinnati, the good news is that it appears baseball is working hard towards resuming the game we all love. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred recently said that he fully anticipates baseball will return in 2020. That’s music to the ears of fans throughout Reds Country, but the question still remains…when?