Major League Baseball remains committed to playing a full slate of spring training games and starting its regular season on time, but it joined the NBA in closing locker rooms to media to prevent the potential spread of the coronavirus.
During a conference call with ownership Monday evening, the league continued with its plan to stay on schedule for a March 26 opening to the season.
MLB acknowledged that its tack could change at any time and tasked teams with drawing up contingency plans, including the possibility of playing games in alternate locations, should the virus strongly affect a particular metropolitan area, sources told ESPN.
The closure of clubhouses to media will be temporary, sources said, and will be replaced by media conferences. Further access to players will be possible, but they will be advised to keep a distance of 6 feet from reporters during interviews.
The NBA, NHL and Major League Soccer will likewise close access to locker rooms and clubhouses to all non-essential personnel, the leagues announced in a joint statement Monday night.
Additionally, MLB plans to develop and distribute industrywide travel standards for nonplaying personnel, sources said. For the near future, it could severely restrict international travel for scouts, who often travel to Japan, South Korea and the Dominican Republic.
Nippon Professional Baseball, the top league in Japan, on Monday postponed the opening of its season, which was scheduled for March 20.