Major League Baseball teams, if they’re able to play this year, are preparing for the possibility of resuming spring training at their regular-season ballparks instead of returning to spring training sites in Florida and Arizona, four team executives told USA TODAY Sports.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because no decision has been reached by MLB.
The move would be driven by an interest in saving time and money, with training camps expected to last three weeks before the start of the truncated regular season.
Training in their home ballparks would largely eliminate the need for hotel rooms and per diem for the players during Spring Training 2.0. It would also save time in this shortened season, with everyone in place for the start of the regular season instead of traveling back from spring training sites.
The biggest disadvantage, the executives said, would be having the use of only one field instead of the usual six at their spring training sites. Teams would also be mostly limited to playing intrasquad games during the three weeks, particularly those located outside of two-team cities. Teams in certain regions could also face weather uncertainty.
Club executives have also been told that traveling parties will likely be limited during the season to only essential employees, citing safety and medical concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coaching, training and video staffs would be reduced for road games.
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