Major League Baseball has seemingly made hourly changes for the plan moving forward in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
After suspending the rest of Spring Training and the start of the regular season for at least two weeks, the next question became what lied ahead for players as they continue to get ready for the 2020 season that will eventually be played.
MLB answered that on Friday when they announced all Spring Training operations will be suspended for the time being. Players were given the option to stay at their Spring Training facility, travel to their team’s city, or return home.
What that means for the Los Angeles Dodgers players remains to be seen. “We’re in the process of wrapping our arms around that,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.
“Scott Akasaki is reaching out to all of our players in Major League camp to try and get a better handle on that.”
Friedman added they have no preference for players and will allow them to make their own decisions.
“I think right now the health and well being of everybody and their families — some guys have their families here and are going to want to stay,” he said. “Others are going to want to go home, some are going to want to go to L.A. From our standpoint, it’s about facilitating whatever our guys choose to do and support them the best that we can as we continue to learn more.”
For the players that do want to stay, Camelback Ranch will be open and available for them. “Not only can they, it’s incumbent upon us to have a staff in place to help facilitate that,” Friedman said.
Players also have the ability to train at Dodger Stadium if they choose, so the staff will eventually have to split up.
“That’s what we’re trying to wrap our arms around: who’s going where, and figure out how to set things up in the best way,” Friedman noted.
As has been the case with other Spring Training facilities, Camelback Ranch has been cleaned so players can be safe from the virus while they continue their preparation for the season.
The Dodgers’ regular Spring Training was expected to go through next week before heading back to L.A. for the Freeway Exhibition Series and then Opening Day. Since the players were scheduled to be in Arizona until then anyway, Friedman believes most will stay.
“That’s what I would suspect a good number will do, (but) I’m not sure yet. We will obviously read and react,” he said. “We don’t have full clarity on that yet.”
As for Friedman himself, he plans on remaining in Arizona as well for the time being. “My mindset right now is to be here for a little while,” he concluded.
“I guess I also will read and react based on what’s going on. But I’m of the mindset of being here for as far as I can see out.”
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