NEWSLETTER
With Spring Training scheduled to begin officially in just over a month, players will soon arrive in Arizona and Florida to begin work – as many do each year – before Spring Training begins. I’ve raised this issue so many times over the past few weeks: since we know that about players, the league and the union need to get on firm ground about precisely when Spring Training is going to begin so that players don’t show up now and then find out the season is getting punted a month.
Well, MLB has now solved that issue in a modified way: it told teams not to allow players to show up early this year.
MLB sent a detailed memo to every teams restricting access to their facilities and limiting voluntary workouts before the start of spring training. https://t.co/oQkakqfS9L
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) January 5, 2021
Without clear guidelines in place and finalized on how/whether to conduct voluntary workouts at team facilities (we saw some spread last spring when teams tried to let guys keep working out after things got shut down), MLB rightly doesn’t want teams urging players to show up early. Basically, unless you already live right there near the facility, are receiving specific medical treatment, or are part of an instructional camp included in the CBA, you can’t go to Spring Training early this year.
From the MLB statement to teams, via USA Today:
We have been informed that some clubs intend to increase the number of players at their Spring Training facilities in January and February prior to the commencement of spring training. As you are all aware, COVID-19 is surging in the United States, and conditions may worsen after the holiday season. We have not yet received firm guidance from our medical experts on whether it is safe to conduct organized workouts in Club facilities under current conditions, and the protocols that would be required to conduct such workouts safely.
We also have not yet negotiated with the Players Association over the health and safety protocols that will be applicable to 2021 Spring Training and the 2021 season. Finally, the intensive COVID-19 testing protocol that we utilized in 2020, which is necessary when the risk of community transmission is high, will not be available to clubs from central baseball until the start of Spring Training.
As a result, until the commencement of spring training … clubs may not direct, encourage, or request (even on a voluntary basis) that players travel from their present locations to the club’s spring training site for the purpose of utilizing club facilities.
This now leaves open a much smoother path to delaying the start of the season if it comes to that, though that will require extensive negotiations with the players (which will not go well if financials get involved – you just know it). I kinda hate that guys who want to have access to team facilities early – where training is better and safer (in terms of injuries) – can’t do it, but, well, pandemic.
As of today, Spring Training is slated to begin officially around February 17, with pitchers and catchers reporting. At last check, the league and players still expect to begin at that time. There’s more on the protocols currently in place (and those that are not) here in the USA Today report.
