SARASOTA, Florida—Major League Baseball announced that spring training operations ended on Friday.  Players will be allowed to leave their spring training cities if they wish in response to the coronavirus pandemic. MLB announced

In an agreement between the Players Association and MLB, players will be allowed to return to their homes, and families, or to the cities where they play if they don’t want to remain at spring training sites.

They also can remain at training facilities, but there will be no formal workouts.

Earlier on Friday, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said in a conference call: “We are very intent on keeping everyone here until told otherwise. Preventing unnecessary travel, keeping everyone in the area, keeping everyone in close contact with us is the best way to go.”