Pirates GM Ben Cherington: Team is going to be 'flexible' about spring training site

General manager Ben Cherington said the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be “flexible” about the site of a potential spring training and are “comforted” by the level of attention state government officials are giving toward plans to reopen businesses.

Cherington made the comments during a 22-minute guest appearance with Bucco Talk host Dan Zangrilli on Saturday morning on 93.7 FM, the Pirates’ flagship station.

MLB is considering multiple scenarios to restart the season amid the coronavirus crisis. USA Today reported Thursday that teams could have spring training at home ballparks such as PNC Park. The Pirates also could return to Pirate City or LECOM Park, their spring training headquarters and stadium in Bradenton, Fla.

“I think our preference would be to start,” Cherington said. “First and foremost, our players, our staff, our organization would go anywhere that is safe and where there would be a reasonable facility and environment to work in. We’re going to be flexible.

“There’s potential advantages to any of the scenarios, whether it’s training at PNC, whether it’s training at Bradenton or somewhere else. Certainly, if you’re at Bradenton or PNC there’s more of a familiarity with the facility, so there’s a little less of a learning curve in terms of how to use the space. So there’s an advantage to either of those places.”

Cherington, however, said health and safety conditions are primary concerns, but teams also have to consider factors such as weather, the facilities, transportation and how to handle not only players and coaches but the support staff.

Complicating the potential of playing at PNC Park is southwestern Pennsylvania remains in the red phase of Gov. Wolf’s plans to reopen the state, preventing sporting events until Allegheny and surrounding counties reach a green phase.

Cherington said the Pirates have maintained a “consistent dialogue” with health experts from the team’s partnership with Allegheny Health Network to state and MLB officials, as well as those in Manatee County, home to their spring training site. Cherington called it a “big, collaborative web.”

“It certainly feels like the state government in Pennsylvania has got a really thoughtful step-by-step plan to potentially reopen and really thoughtfully targeting certain areas,” said Cherington, who added he is “comforted with the level of thought and attention that’s going toward it.”