Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
If the Giants want to return to Scottsdale for a second spring training, the state will be open to them.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Tuesday that as part of the state’s limited re-opening, major league sports can resume without fans on Saturday. The decision opens up Scottsdale, the Giants’ spring home, for the two or three weeks in June that Major League Baseball hopes can see a second spring training occur before an early July start to an abbreviated season.
Under the current (and fluid) plans, teams would have the option to host the camp at their spring or regular-season home, and Arizona surely would want to entice teams like the Giants into a second visit. San Francisco extended its stay-at-home orders through May, and another extension is possible. It is unclear where the Giants would prefer to play.
Of course, this assumes there will be a season to prepare for. Officials with MLB and the Players Association met virtually Tuesday without a deal being reached a day after the owners extended their first offer. They would like to play about 82 games in home stadiums, so Oracle Park would host regular-season games, at least beginning without fans in stands (and likely extending the length of the season). The Giants would play only NL and AL West teams to cut down on travel.
President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler have stayed in Arizona through the coronavirus shutdown, and several players have remained there as well. Scottsdale Stadium has more fields and space that make it appealing, yet staggering the workouts of players in a second camp and a desire for as many home reps as possible would make Oracle Park at least an option.