On Saturday afternoon, Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen hosted a conference call with media members. Among the topics Van Wagenen touched on was whether or not players are planning on staying in Port St, Lucie, the Donovan Mitchell Sr. testing situation, and whether or not the Mets anticipate this being longer that just a two-week delay to start the season.
Here are the five biggest takeaways from Van Wagenen's conference call:
On whether or not the Mets will be staying in Port St. Lucie
On Friday night, MLB informed clubs that players can elect to return home, remain in their spring training cities, or return to their team's home city.
Van Wagenen didn't yet have a clear answer on how many Mets would be staying in Port St. Lucie, but he stressed the fact that each player must do what's best for the health and safety of their own families.
"We are obviously aware of Major League Baseball's three options for the players and our first primary focus of concern is our players, our staff's safety, obviously the safety of our fans and everybody that's part of the Mets and baseball community here," said Van Wagenen. "A number of our players are going through their own thought processes to determine what their immediate plans will be. Our focus and our encouragement is first and foremost about player and family well-being and we are encouraging people to talk to their families and make sure they're focusing on their health and safety above and beyond the competition of baseball activities.
"We are in the process of working through schedules and accommodations to make sure all of our players have all of the resources that they need here in St. Lucie or in New York if they decide to travel and stay in New York, and we'll be working very closely with the players who are returning home in conjunction with our health and performance and development staff."
On the Donovan Mitchell Sr. situation and if anyone else in the organization has been tested
After Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell tested positive for the coronavirus, his father, who works for the Mets as a director of player relations and community engagement, was tested as well, and the results were negative.
Van Wagenen said that no one else from the team's operation in Florida has been tested at this point.
"Short version is no, no one else in the organization has been tested, at least as it relates to the baseball operations St. Lucie staff down here," Van Wagenen explained. "From a testing standpoint with Donovan, we all were very pleased and happy for Donovan and his family that his test came back negative, and I know there was as sigh of relief to a degree from our players and staff here, but again, we'll continue to monitor and work with our health and performance and medical professionals as well as state and local authorities to make sure all of our people on site are as safe as possible."
On whether Mets are anticipating more than just a two-week delay
As of now, all of spring training is suspended and there is a delay of at least two weeks to the start of the regular season.
Van Wagenen and the Mets, like everyone else, are unsure as to exactly how long this situation will last.
"At this point, our focus is on today's activities," said Van Wagenen. "We met with players remaining in Port St. Lucie this morning and have outlined the message that we want them to have, which I'll reiterate is to focus on their own safety, health, and that of their family. We will fill the schedule in the coming hours of how many players intend to be at the facility tomorrow, but right now we've asked the players to stay in close communication with us on their plans.
"Given the pace at which information is coming in and circumstances are changing, we really are only focused on this afternoon, today's schedule, the number of people that will be in camp with us tomorrow, and then mapping out their day tomorrow, rather than focus on the start of the season or dates or anything of that matter."
On Mets' immediate plans for players who are still currently at the facility
As for right now, the Mets are still figuring out what players will be staying in Florida, and the team will go from there.
"Today we do have players that are here on site that are getting treatment from our training room, players that are working out in the weight room and players that are participating in some baseball activities today," said Van Wagenen.
"The plan for each player will vary. What I can say is that we are not having extended simulated games or live BP sessions where pitchers are throwing to hitters today. As information comes in, we'll start to schedule the agenda for the days that are coming, but again, we're operating right now that this is bigger than baseball. This is not about preparing for competition today as much as it is making sure that players are considering their circumstances, because naturally each player has a different circumstance from one another, and we're encouraging players to be thoughtful and to be measured in considering their personal and their family situations, and then we can accommodate them from a baseball standpoint as we have a better handle on players' individual decision-making."
On whether or not the Mets will continue to pay hourly workers affected by this stoppage
Some other pro teams have already announced plans to continue paying hourly workers who are being affected by this stoppage. When asked about that topic, Van Wagenen said he doesn't have any info on that, as of now.
"I don't have that information at hand," Van Wagenen said. "My focus, as you might imagine, has been on our players, our staff and our front office operation here, as well as the fans and the media's safety here in the immediate term."