While Major League Baseball and all other major sports in the United States remain paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, commissioner Rob Manfred was incredibly optimistic on Monday about baseball's potential return in 2020.

"I fully anticipate baseball will return this season," Manfred wrote in a letter to baseball operations employees, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Manfred has been understandably guarded with his words over the last month-plus as the sport has weighed different scenarios it could proceed with if/when it returns.

Of the scenarios the league has pondered, three have come to light:

The "Arizona Plan" has seemed to gain the most traction and has initial support from Dr. Anthony Fauci and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Under the Arizona plan, all 30 teams would play in and around Phoenix in empty ballparks. The plan would mean players and support staff living in a bubble of sorts in hotels in Arizona. It would also likely have a coronavirus testing element.
The "Cactus and Grapefruit League" plan would mean teams playing in Arizona and Florida, split up depending on where their spring training sites are. This plan would mean no National League and American League for 2020 and would almost certainly mean the universal DH being implemented for this season. The plan would also necessitate new "divisions" for 2020, which would likely lead to an unbalanced and potentially unfair schedule.
The most recent plan to be reported is one that has hubs for teams in Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Under that plan, teams in each area would have major league and minor league ballparks to use, including at least one ballpark in each area with a roof.

When it comes to the potential start of a very likely shortened 2020 season, MLB could potentially look to emulate some of what the KBO (South Korean baseball league) has put into place.

The KBO, with Opening Day set for May 5, is attempting to play its entire 144-game schedule, will be playing games in empty ballparks, and will have other measures in place -- including umpires wearing facemasks and a no-spitting rule.

Officially, the earliest the MLB season will begin is May 10.

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