Royals could be eyeing Kauffman Stadium for ‘spring training’ as MLB negotiates return
The Royals left their spring training facility in Arizona nearly two and a half months ago in the wake of the spreading COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. If Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reach an agreement paving the way to an abbreviated season this summer, the club could remain in Kansas City for a second spring training.
MLB teams have been given the option of holding a second spring training — expected to last approximately three weeks — at their spring training facilities (in the Royals’ case, in Arizona) or at their home ballparks.
The Royals haven’t made a final decision yet, and they’d have to clear any relevant local health and safety guidelines, but Kauffman Stadium is a strong possibility and likely the club’s preference for a spring training site, according to a major-league official with knowledge of the club’s plans.
Of course, that’s assuming the MLB and the players’ union can reach agreement about how a season would be structured.
Last week, MLB presented its 76-page proposal on health and safety protocols to the MLBPA, and this week the union received an accompanying economic proposal, including a proposed pay structure for an abbreviated season without fans in attendance due to ongoing coronavirus concerns.
Negotiations between the union and MLB continue this week.
“Currently, Major League Baseball and the players’ association are still having discussions, and we’re very hopeful that we’ll be able play baseball at some point in time,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said when reached by The Star.
Moore also said that as of Wednesday, no players, staff, scouts, coaches or any of the 218 employees in the Royals’ baseball operations department had contracted the coronavirus.
MLB announced on March 31 that all minor-league players would continue to be paid — the minimum stipend is believed to have been $400 per week — and receive medical benefits through May 31.
With the minor-league season in serious doubt, Sports Illustrated reported that the Oakland Athletics informed their minor-league players this week that they would not be paid after May 31. Meanwhile, Baseball America reported the Miami Marlins will continue to pay players through the end of what would have been the minor-league season.
The Royals are still sorting through options for continuing to pay their minor-leaguers.
“We’re working through that,” Moore said. “(Royals CEO and chairman) John Sherman has been very thoughtful about the economic condition of our organization and how that affects our employees and players. We’re still working through some of those details.”
Sherman, a longtime Kansas City businessman and former minority partner in the Cleveland Indians ownership group, headed an ownership group that purchased the Royals in November for $1 billion.
The club announced its ticket refund/exchange policy at the end of April. The Royals have committed to paying their full-time employees through the end of May.
MLB claimed the Royals would lose $113 million if a shortened, 82-game season is played in empty ballparks, according to figures provided by MLB to the players’ union, per the Associated Press.
Each MLB team, including the Royals, in March pledged $1 million toward paying stadium workers, though it’s unclear how and when that money was to be distributed.
