A’s players seeking some clarity before planning next steps

With spring training shut down, A’s players are figuring out their next steps.

On Friday, MLB announced that players had the option of staying at their spring training facility, going home or relocating to their majorleague team’s city.

A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt said in a text to The Chronicle on Saturday that most players would take the weekend to decide whether to stay at the team’s spring facility in Mesa or go home.

“Everything is foreign for what we are going through,” Bassitt said. “A lot of moving pieces currently.”

Pitcher Daniel Mengden struck a similar note, saying players are: “Basically in a holding pattern.”

“We have heard that most organizations have told guys to go home,” Mengden said in a text to The Chronicle. “I was supposed to start throwing soon so I also don’t know what the plan is moving forward.

“We are all sitting back and waiting for more clarity.”

Another player, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, said in a text that the “majority of players” have decided to stay in Arizona to train and condition and hoped for clarity “within the next few days.”

At least one A’s player appeared to be preparing to leave camp. Vimael Machin, a candidate for a roster spot this spring, tweeted Saturday: “Puerto Rico tomorrow.” MLB announced Friday that it was suspending all spring training camps one day after canceling spring games and delaying Opening Day by at least two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Darryl Webb/ Special to The Chronicle A’s fans (from left) Scott, Andrew and Jesse Peterson head out of Arizona after losing the chance to see spring games.