After MLB closes spring training, most Rangers players want to return to Texas
The Texas Rangers will soon be on the move, and the majority of players are leaning toward relocating to Dallas-Fort Worth until getting a clearer picture on when the 2020 MLB season might start.
General manager Jon Daniels said players will inform the club officials of their decision on Saturday. They also have the option of staying in Arizona to continue training at the Surprise Recreation Complex on a limited basis or returning to their hometowns.
However, with no guidance as to when the coronavirus pandemic will wane and the season will begin, players have been given the freedom to move about the country, or beyond its borders for players from Latin America.
“A lot has transpired in the last few days with what we’re dealing with as part of a much larger public health issue in the country as well as the world,” Daniels said. “We’re keeping that the priority here.”
MLB on Thursday canceled all remaining spring-training games and pushed the start of the regular season back at least two weeks, from March 26 to April 9. They closed all spring camps on Friday after consulting with the MLB Players Association.
The Rangers have postponed all public events, including tours, at Globe Life Field and Globe Life Park.
Minor League Baseball has also pushed back the start of its season, which was scheduled for April 9. Rangers minor-league players have the option of going home or staying in Arizona for limited workouts, though some are being encouraged to leave.
No Rangers players have been tested for coronavirus or even met the criteria to be tested. No player is currently showing symptoms of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.
Players who plan to leave Arizona are likely to linger in town for up to a week before heading elsewhere, manager Chris Woodward said. The five members of the projected starting pitching rotation are likely to stay longer in an effort to maintain their arm strength.
“That’s probably the one thing I’m most worried about is our pitching staff,” Woodward said. “We need to keep those guys throwing. We need to keep them somewhat built up.”
Daniels said that Globe Life Field wouldn’t be ready to give players all the amenities they need. Namely, more time is needed to make sure the playing surface is right.
The Rangers made use of the Urban Youth Academy in Dallas during the offseason and could return there.
Globe Life Field was scheduled to host its first game March 23 in an exhibition against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“It is partially operational,” Daniels said. “The field is not fully ready. The bullpens, batting cages and the weight room, things of that nature, are either done or just about done. It’s probably another week or 10 days before it’s fully operational.”
With players told they can return home and not given a date to return to spring camp, an April 9 start seems unrealistic. Some teams are reportedly bracing for the delay to run through April.
The Rangers have not received any indication on when their season might begin, but Woodward expects that the team will have some variety of spring training once a new Opening Day is announced.
“I think MLB is pretty aware that you can’t just give us a week,” Woodward said. “I would say three to four weeks we would need a heads-up. Hopefully sooner than later they will give us a start date. Until then, we’ve just go to make sure our pitchers continue to throw.”
At that point, the question becomes if the full 162-game schedule can be played. Theoretically, off days could be reduced, doubleheaders could be scheduled and the All-Star Game could be nixed to help make up games.
A 144-game schedule was played in 1995 because of a player strike. Opening Day was April 25, and the regular-season ended Oct. 1.
None of that, though, has been broached.
“It’s a great question, but one that we don’t have the answer to,” Daniels said. “We have not really been given any ideas beyond here this weekend. I think we all have enough to deal with short-term.”
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 10:09 PM.
