Though free to leave, many Nats plan to stay and work out

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Though Major League Baseball officially announced the immediate suspension of all spring training operations this evening, many Nationals players intend to remain here and conduct informal workouts during baseball's coronavirus-induced hiatus.

MLB and the MLB Players Association, after meeting earlier today, jointly informed clubs that players are being encouraged to travel to either the team's home city or their own hometowns, though anyone who wants to stay in their spring training towns may do so.

"This step is in the best interests of players, employees and the communities who host spring training," the league said in its announcement. "MLB will continue to monitor ongoing events and undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts. We send our best wishes to all the individuals and communities who have been impacted by coronavirus."

Despite the message league officials have sent, several Nationals players said this evening they expect much of the team to stay in West Palm Beach and continue to work out as a group. The team will meet Saturday morning at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches to map out a plan, but the players expect to hold some type of workouts for now.

Players who choose to stay will continue to receive their meal and housing funds from the club, per sources, and they'll be able to use the spring training facility to work out and take advantage of whatever training and medical staff remains.

Players from teams across the majors are making decisions on their own whether to stay in Florida and Arizona or leave, but Nationals players say they've been told it's safer for them to stay together here than travel around the country or even internationally.

"Players want to stay put so they aren't risking their health during travel and so we can stay somewhat ready once we get the green light to resume the season," one Nationals player said.

The players cautioned that all plans are subject to change based on new information and recommendations from health experts and governments officials, but for now they intend to continue preparing for the season, even though nobody knows when the season will actually begin.

In announcing the suspension of spring training games Thursday afternoon, MLB said the start of the regular season would be delayed at least two weeks. That would make April 9 the earliest possible opening day, but today's announcement from the league allowing players to head home suggests officials expect this break to last for some time.

Once teams are told it's safe to resume full operations again, there will need to be some type of formal spring training, with some number of exhibition games played before the regular season can begin. In order to make an April 9 target date, spring training games probably would need to resume no later than April 1, which seems unlikely if players are now allowed to head home.

Unlikely or not, it appears most of the Nationals intend to proceed as a group here in West Palm Beach and leave themselves in a better position to ramp up activities once they officially are cleared to do so.

"We want the group to stay together," manager Davey Martinez said Thursday afternoon, when MLB had only just suspended spring training games. "We're going to work out. We're going to prepare and get ready for whenever the season starts."