The Rangers want to hold camp at Globe Life Field so they can get acclimated to the new ballparkGETTY IMAGES
If MLB does commit to restarting its season, Rangers President of Baseball Operations & GM Jon Daniels said that it was the "club's desire to train at Globe Life Field" in Arlington, according to Evan Grant of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. A second Spring Training camp "could start in early June with a target date for opening the season around July 4." Daniels yesterday said, "My understanding -- at least at this point -- is that we'd get the ability to decide. If that holds, we would hold it here." Grant notes the Rangers "would like to get accustomed to their new stadium at Globe Life Field," in addition to avoiding the hot weather in Arizona. Daniels said that there have been "at least some preliminary conversations with other clubs about potentially playing some exhibition games either in Arlington or at another club's home stadium" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/20). Daniels said he is "optimistic" MLB will resume its season. But he added, "The first and most important is health and safety for everybody. If that can be worked out, the other item in the bucket, the financial element, I think will fall into place." Rangers SS Elvis Andrus said, "We want to be safe, but we also want to put a good product on the field for people. We want to feel free to play the game. We feel like with all the risk we are taking, we've earned the right to do things our way" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/20).
ARIZONA-CALIFORNIA CONNECTION: Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said that he "wasn't sure anything would change in the short term at the team's Camelback Ranch complex" in Glendale, even with Arizona easing restrictions. In California, Bill Plunkett notes a proposal was sent to the MLBPA last week that included "numerous physical changes to the way dugouts and clubhouses are set up." But Friedman said that the Dodgers "have not begun to put any of those into place." Friedman: "Once we get a final document, obviously we'll kick into gear to make sure our clubhouse can facilitate the new protocol" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 5/20).
