Yankees, Mets Offering Refunds for April and May Games Due to Coronavirus

The New York Yankees and New York Mets are offering credits or refunds to fans who purchased tickets for home games in April or May, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

The Yanks and Mets join other MLB teams who have offered similar options to their fans in light of the 2020 regular season being delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of note, the Cincinnati Reds, per WLWT NBC 5, and the St. Louis Cardinals, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, are providing the same credit-or-refund offer to their fans.

According to Darren Rovell of The Action Network, the Detroit Tigers are giving a 30 percent bonus to fans who choose a credit. The Los Angeles Dodgers will tack on a 10 percent bonus for their credits, per Rovell.

As for when MLB may return, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the most realistic range for Opening Day is between mid-June and July 4. Heyman reported Thursday that early July is MLB's target time for a debut.

In the meantime, MLB teams have been forced to make difficult decisions with baseball's first month (and perhaps the entire first half) postponed.

Per Rosenthal, the Oakland Athletics are considering "extensive layoffs." Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic reported that Pittsburgh Pirates' baseball operations staff members have seen their retirement benefits suspended. And Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported that the Tampa Bay Rays will furlough some staff and cut pay for others.

Hope does exist for the game's return in 2020, although that does come with caveats, Heyman reported Thursday:

"There's growing optimism there will be an MLB season, w/states starting to open up and some improving data. But health remains the overriding factor and plans are predicated on having ample testing. MLB also doesn't seek or want to be seen as having preferential testing treatment."

ESPN's Jeff Passan offered the same cautious optimism on April 27:

"Over the past two weeks, as states have begun to plan their reopenings, nearly everyone along the decision-making continuum -- league officials, players, union leaders, owners, doctors, politicians, TV power brokers, team executives -- has grown increasingly optimistic that there will be baseball this year.

"This optimism is guarded and cautious and laden with caveats. It exists in a reality twisted by the coronavirus -- one that acknowledges what seems possible today may not necessarily be tomorrow. There are a million questions."

As for what the league might look like in 2020, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that sources believe a 100-game (or more) season is possible.

The league would split into three 10-team divisions by geography to limit travel. Games would occur at home stadiums but sans fans.