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Plan to start in Feb. https://t.co/z4N2XVDuE2 — Stephen R Brooks (@sbrooksbaseball) December 19, 2015

Throughout their history, the Jays have played their home games on artificial turf, with dirt cutouts around the bases and pitcher’s mound. Mark Shapiro, the club’s new president and CEO, told reporters Thursday that a dirt infield is “possible” for 2016 but did not elaborate.

The new infield presumably would follow the standard contours found on dirt-and-grass fields elsewhere. That design is in place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the Tampa Bay Rays also play on AstroTurf. The Jays and Rays have the only artificial playing surfaces in Major League Baseball.

On several occasions in the past year, Jays officials have mentioned the possibility of a dirt infield for 2016. During a session with reporters on Thursday, Shapiro was asked about it in passing after he raised doubts about the popular proposal to install a natural-grass playing surface under the dome by 2018.

While the University of Guelph works on a feasibility study, Shapiro said it’s impossible to know whether grass can thrive in the dome and how much it would cost to complete major renovations to accommodate irrigation, drainage and ventilation, among other challenges. Guelph scientists are scheduled to submit a progress report next May.

Shapiro said the natural-grass project could be among the array of stadium improvements under consideration for the next few years, but refused to list it as a priority. He said he expects to take a new plan for capital spending to owner Rogers Communications by the end of this year.