A representative for Major League Baseball encouraged members of the Cactus League to write a letter to commissioner Rob Manfred voicing a desire to delay the start of spring training, according to people with direct knowledge of a Jan. 13 meeting conducted via Zoom.
The letter, which surfaced Monday morning and was signed by Cactus League executive director Bridget Binsbacher along with six mayors, two city managers and a president of a Native American tribal community in Arizona, says that members of the task force “believe it is wise to delay the start of spring training to allow for the COVID-19 situation to improve here.” The letter cites the fact that Maricopa County has one of the nation’s highest infection rates, and also references data from the University of Washington that projects a decline in infections in mid-March. As of now, Cactus League games are scheduled to begin Feb. 27.
“Basically, the position that the league stated on…
