Camp Jobless

[weams]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/secretive-free-agent-camp-opens-today.html

Quote

According to Johnston, IMG is a sprawling facility, “almost Disney World-like where you can’t see anything unless you are inside.”  There is a fenced-in, guarded gate.  When Johnston inquired with a guard if he might wait around the perimeter, his reply was, “We were vehemently told there would be no public access.  No one gets in there.  No one.”

From what Johnston could tell, the players are housed on-site, so they can’t be spotted driving in or out.  No other media or fans were present.  Johnston concluded, “If they wanted total lockdown, they appear to have achieved that goal.” That’s also the sense that team personnel are evidently being given. As Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets, a club exec tells him that a special assistant sent to scout “was asked to leave the workout” and “escorted out” of the IMG facility.

Based on Johnston’s account, the MLBPA’s free agent camp is not some kind of 31st spring training camp.  In fact, the situation at IMG runs directly counter to the laid-back, relatively accessible vibes of a typical spring training facility.

Why did the MLBPA decide to conduct their camp this way?  I’d have asked director of communications Greg Bouris for comment, but he resigned this week  ...

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[jamalshw]

I understand keeping it closed off to media. That makes some sense as agents and teams are currently negotiating and they shouldn't have to deal with continual questions about why they're not signed or the latest rumors, etc. I get that.

What doesn't make sense to me, however, is why club execs and special assistance are being kept out. If it's going to remain that closed off, what's the incentive for players to go there rather than continue training on their own? It would make sense to have it be a sort of showcase, no?

[Redskins Rick]

19 minutes ago, weams said:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/secretive-free-agent-camp-opens-today.html

 

This makes even less sense, than what the Oriole's FO is doing/not doing.

[Number5]

 

[weams]

1 hour ago, jamalshw said:

I understand keeping it closed off to media. That makes some sense as agents and teams are currently negotiating and they shouldn't have to deal with continual questions about why they're not signed or the latest rumors, etc. I get that.

What doesn't make sense to me, however, is why club execs and special assistance are being kept out. If it's going to remain that closed off, what's the incentive for players to go there rather than continue training on their own? It would make sense to have it be a sort of showcase, no?

It's not a showcase. They are doing cardio.

[weams]

1 hour ago, weams said:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/secretive-free-agent-camp-opens-today.html

 

When they say Greg resigned they don't mean that he Re. Signed. 

[Rich Mac]

I heard that Tom Cruise and John Travolta were seen patrolling the perimeter.

[atomic]

This is hilarious.  Probably the only players there are guys like Matusz and Reimold who are dying for anyone to see them play.   

 

[jabba72]

From what 've read none of the top free agents are there, just mostly Free Agents hoping to get a one or two year deal at this point, but far from getting one. They dont want to come off as a camp of washed up vets nobody wants. 

[weams]

 

Quote

It’s Camp Jobless, the players are calling it, the loneliest place in baseball.

Here, on the pristine, 450-acre IMG campus in Bradenton, is where 20 professional baseball players congregated Wednesday morning, behind guarded gates, behind security officials stretched around the compound, and perhaps more important, before precious few probing eyes.

 

[weams]

 

[weams]

 

[weams]

 

[Birdfan21]

This is your game DD.  First spring game for Os is next Friday.  Time to swoop in and sign a couple guys...

[weams]