So much for sticking together, though that's still what the Texas Rangers want to do.
Major League Baseball, however, has told all teams that their players must go home.
Rangers players began the process of leaving Arizona on Sunday afternoon, packing up their belongings and checking out of their rental accommodations, less than 48 hours after they unanimously decided to stay for a week and then come to Arlington to work out at Globe Life Field.
MLB, citing the "social distancing" protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a means to combat the coronavirus pandemic, strongly recommended in a memo to all 30 teams that players not continue organized workouts.
The Rangers are going their separate ways Monday.
"Some guys are going home, some guys are going to Dallas and some people that live here are staying here," right fielder Joey Gallo said via text message. "I don't know what workouts are going to be yet. It's pretty much just like the offseason now."
He expects that a "good group" will be headed to the Metroplex even though the Surprise Recreation campus must remain open for players on the 40-man roster. Gallo, Elvis Andrus and Shin-Soo Choo are among the players who live locally, and players expected to be on the Opening Day roster likely have made living arrangements.
Non-roster invitees to camp must leave, unless they live in high-risk areas or require treatment. Clubs were advised to help those players find accommodations.
MLB said in a memo it circulated to clubs that it will hold a conference call Monday to further the discussion on how to advise players on staying healthy. So far, Rangers players have been told repeatedly to frequently wash their hands, to not drink alcohol, to avoid stressful situations and to not spend much time in public.
But it was only Friday afternoon in Arizona when the Rangers met to mull three options given to them by MLB and the MLB Players Association: Go home, stay in Arizona for workouts or go to Arlington for workouts.
Every player voted against going home.
The Rangers worked out Saturday morning but had a scheduled off day Sunday. As of Sunday afternoon, they aren't sure what workouts will look like and they have no idea when the MLB season will begin.
MLB canceled the remainder of spring training games Thursday and delayed Opening Day to at least April 9. A day later, they gave players their three options, indicating that April 9 was a long shot.
Rangers players are guessing the season will begin May 1, but that might also be a generous estimate.
