Managers told to expect on-time start to spring
Officials optimistic, but are also prepared to adjust
Big league managers say Major League Baseball instructed them to prepare for spring training to start on time in mid-february despite uncertainty around the coronavirus.
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that commissioner Rob Manfred had a meeting with managers Tuesday and expressed optimism about opening spring camps as scheduled.
“That message has been fairly consistent,” Cash said. “We’ll continue to plan and prepare until if we are told otherwise.”
Managers have said this week during digital Winter Meetings press availabilities that they expect health protocols to remain in place to prevent COVID -19 outbreaks. Teams instituted a number of policies during a pandemic-shortened 60-game regular season in 2020 that produced better results as the year went on, largely keeping players and staff safe even as teams traveled around the country.
“I think Major League Baseball was somewhat the petri dish,” Cash said. “We were the first real big sport to really get going outside of a bubble. Obviously if you look at last year’s situation, Major League Baseball, everybody adjusted on the fly. Now there’s more sports that have done things, accomplished things.”
There’s concern that if opening day is delayed, pitchers in particular could risk overextending themselves by ramping up too soon.
“The pitchers need to get on a pretty structured throwing program to be ready for the first day of spring training,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “Even though we’ll have six weeks to get ready for the first regular-season game, there’s a build up prior to spring training. It’s important to pitchers.”
“At the end of the day, we have to do the right thing, and it’s always been about the health and safety, well-being of players and fans and everybody included here as we deal with the issues surrounding the pandemic,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “So right now we’re going as scheduled, with planning on playing a 162game season, but you have to be
adaptable. That’s one thing I’ve learned about 2020 and we know it’s going to play into 2021 a little bit as well.”
A vaccine for the novel coronavirus is likely to be made available to teams sometime during the 2021 season, and while managers say they plan to be inoculated, no manager or team has said it will mandate vaccines for players. Most said they were eager to provide information to players, but not to issue directions.
“I don’t think it would be right for me to point the finger and say, you’ve got to do this,” Cash said. “We just don’t operate like that. We’ll lean on the experts to give us as much information as possible so individuals can make the best decisions for themselves and families.”
“I think we’ll have a lot more information and clarity and direction in a couple of months, if and when that conversation becomes a reality,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I don’t feel equipped to have that conversation today.”
Giants: Right-hander Anthony Desclafani signed a $6 million, one-year contract with San Francisco, giving the club a veteran option for the rotation. In his sixth season with the Reds, Desclafani went 1-2 with a 7.22 ERA over nine games — seven starts — spanning 33 2/3 innings in 2020. Desclafani missed all of 2017 with a right elbow injury but has otherwise been fairly durable, making at least 20
starts in 2015, ’16, ’18 and ’19. The 30-year-old Desclafani can earn an additional $250,000 in performance bonuses based on innings pitched. He could make $62,500 each for 140, 160, 180 and 200 innings.
Rays: Tampa Bay signed free agent catcher Mike Zunino to a $2 million, one-year contract that includes a club option for 2022. The option is worth $4 million, could reach $7 million with incentives and includes a $1 million buyout.
Mariners: Seattle continued its bullpen overhaul by signing right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton. The 27-year-old appeared in 13 games last season with the Los Angeles Angels as he continued to work his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent during the 2018 season. Middleton has appeared in just 24 major league games over the past two seasons.
Angels: Left-handed reliever Alex Claudio has agreed to a one-year, $1.125 million contract with Los Angeles. The Angels announced the deal Wednesday. The sidearm reliever has appeared in 239 games over the past four seasons with Texas and Milwaukee.
Fishel Award: Minnesota communications boss Dustin Morse has been awarded the Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence by Major League Baseball. The Twins senior director of communications completed his 20th season in MLB and 15th with the Twins in 2020. He started out as an intern with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and has also worked for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres. MLB announced the award Wednesday. In addition to leading player, media and alumni relations, Morse hosted a special on Fox Sports North about Twins outfielder Max Kepler that won a Midwest Regional Emmy.