Free agents with no spring camp to call home will get their own place to train when pitchers and catchers report next week.
The Major League Baseball Players Association will stage a camp for unsigned free agents at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., according to a memo the MLBPA sent to agents Thursday and obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
As MLB's winter freeze on free agents extends to reporting dates that commence Tuesday, the dozens of free agents still unsigned can work out under the eye of former Houston Astros manager Bo Porter.
However, players cannot use their own trainers and coaches. Some free agents may opt to stick with their own personnel, such as clients of agent Scott Boras, who has training facilities in California and Florida.
Boras represents unsigned pitcher Jake Arrieta and slugger J.D. Martinez.
The first workout will be Wednesday.
Thursday's revelation comes a day after MLBPA executive director Tony Clark and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred exchanged their most pointed comments to date on a lack of movement in this free agent class, in which six of the consensus top 10 players remain unsigned. Clark has not raised the specter of collusion among MLB owners, although prominent agent Brodie Van Wagenen implied as much in a Friday tweet and suggested players might boycott spring training.
Instead, those without a job will have a chance to stay in shape among their unsigned brethren.
Such a camp is not unprecedented. Free agents held a showcase camp in Homestead, Fla. in 1995, after the eight-month labor stoppage that canceled the 1994 World Series concluded.
