Leadership announces no one sick yet; players are welcome to leave

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The recent coronavirus outbreak has sent much of the country into operation shutdown.

Major League Baseball joined the rest of the major professional sports leagues Thursday afternoon with its decision to suspend spring training and the first two weeks of the season. On Friday, Red Sox president Sam Kennedy, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, and general manager Brian O'Halloran outlined how the team will press forward.

“None of us here at the Red Sox have ever lived through anything like this,” Kennedy said via conference call. “Hopefully we'll never have to experience anything like it ever again. When these things happen, there's no script, there's no playbook. For the Red Sox right now, we're guided by one thing, and that's public safety.”

The organization met with players Friday morning to map out what's considered a fluid plan. At that time, it was unclear if players would be allowed to go home if they chose; the league and the MLB Player Association granted them that opportunity later Friday. If players decide to stay, they can utilize the JetBlue Park facilities, with no restrictions as of this point relating to on-field workouts.

“Obviously we're going to continue to intensify all the precautions we take to make sure this is a clean and safe environment for everybody,”

Bloom said. “It's a new situation for all of us. We wanted to make sure that we were keeping everybody informed. We're all adjusting on the fly here as we learn more about what this means for the country and what this means for our industry.”

The sudden halt also puts a stop to the players' progression. Nate Eovaldi, for instance, had at least two more Grapefruit League starts. The work stoppage will set not just him, but all the pitchers back. Once the Sox can resume play, Bloom acknowledged that there will once again have to be a build-up process, or, in simpler terms, a second spring training. He thinks it would take the players a few weeks to get back into playing shape.

Particularly for the pitchers, it will be tricky.

“This is one of the tougher questions every club is going to have to answer, because a lot of preparation for the season is usually working backward from a known and defined start date, and we don't have that right now,” Bloom said. “[Pitching coach] Dave Bush and our other staff have been communicating with players on this. Given the news today that we know some players may choose to leave, that might change the guidance a little bit. It will be different, case by case.”

Chris Sale still hasn't thrown. This layoff might give the Red Sox a bit more time to determine if he's healthy enough to take the mound this season.

“Right now for Chris, strictly from a medical perspective, nothing really changes with that because we knew that he would be unable to pitch in a game for a while,” Bloom said. “Obviously there's uncertainty over his pitching status generally, and we're still going to want to resolve that. We're still going to want to progress him.”

Back in Boston, the Sox are taking every precaution necessary. They have told workers, with the exception of security, to stay home, and said they have hired Aramark to perform a three-day deep cleaning of Fenway Park.

The MLB season is currently scheduled to begin April 9, when the Sox are slated to play the Seattle Mariners at their place. Not only is that date a stretch, Washington has a ban on events with more than 250 people through the end of March.

Regardless of when the season starts, Kennedy said MLB has a soft plan in place to make up lost games.

“The current thinking is that MLB games missed before the schedule starts will be added on at the end of this season,” Kennedy said. “Subject to change, but [that] means the regular season would be pushed into October.”

Kennedy added that the club has thought of every scenario, including playing in empty stadiums.

“We'll see what happens,” Kennedy said. “Certainly no firm plans. Obviously, we'll have to be in agreement on whatever plan we come up with. Whatever final plan we come up with, there needs to be a mutual understanding with the Players Association. I'm confident everyone will pull together.”