PHOENIX (AP) — It’s a stressful time of year for all 30 major league general managers, who are comparing talent, juggling monetary implications and looking for tactics to improve their groups as Tuesday’s industry deadline approaches.
Now, there is something about the calculation of the wheel and the sale: the COVID-19 vaccination status.
“It’s definitely one of the novelties you didn’t have to think about,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. new global and there are non-public options. “
These potential non-public options are vital because MLB’s COVID-19 regulates all 30 groups differently.
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said the prestige of vaccinating players affects industry negotiations “to some extent, but he doesn’t think it’s a decisive thing in many deals, especially for groups that don’t have to travel to Canada in the near future. “future.
Hazen added that the prestige of vaccination is part of a player’s medical history, so there should be no secrets, as groups are on the loose to talk about those details.
As the only MLB team located in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays have by far the most serious limitations. Foreign nationals who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 cannot enter Canada, for limited ions that require a 14-day quarantine.
Unvaccinated players are placed on the short list, where they are paid and accumulate service time in the major leagues.
That means any updates for the Blue Jays, who are right in the middle of the Race for the American League playoffs, will almost have to be vaccinated. It also means that groups traveling to Toronto for the rest of the normal season want to know if they are willing to put up a player who may only miss a very important series.
The Yankees, Guardians, Rays, Orioles, Red Sox, Angels and Cubs play in Toronto after the Aug. 2 deadline. Toronto general manager Ross Atkins declined an interview request with a team spokesman.
Several teams have gone to Canada this season without some of their most productive players. The Kansas City Royals were the ultimate example, wasting 10 players before their north of the U. S. border. USA
Several of those players, in addition to hitters Andrew Benintendi and Whit Merrifield, have reportedly been the subject of industry negotiations. if that means betting postseason games in Toronto.
Unless all those unvaccinated players replace their minds, this turns out to be a credit to the Blue Jays. They have a 34-21 record in Toronto and only 23-24 away from home this season.
Missing normal season games is problematic, the playoffs are even more important.
The Blue Jays are on track to make the playoffs, so in theory, the path to a World Series name may be only through Canada. For a team like the Yankees, that would put them at a disadvantage.
Benintendi said he would be vaccinated.
“I’m open-minded about this,” Benintendi said after the exchange. meet the guys and win baseball games. “
It is also conceivable that Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions will continue in the coming years, which may have effects on long-term agreements. The assumptions are almost endless.
Of course, there’s also the possibility that the Blue Jays will pull out of the playoff race and none of the apocalyptic scenarios will soon come into play. Many have taken the position of Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who said he did not discuss vaccines with Benintendi the day after the July 27 operation.
“We will build this bridge when necessary,” Boone said.