Blue Jays looking to play in Toronto
Finally, the wait is over. Major League Baseball and the Players’ Association were able to reach an agreement to play a 60-game season this year earlier this week. However, even with an agreement in place between the league and the players, there are still several other details that need to be worked out before teams can officially start returning to action.
One such example is the Toronto Blue Jays’ situation. The Blue Jays remain the only Canadian team in MLB and the only club playing their home games outside of the United States. Given the travel restrictions currently in place and mandatory quarantine periods for those crossing the boarder, it remains to be seen whether the Blue Jays will be able to play their home games in Toronto in 2020.
On Wednesday, the league confirmed they have officially submitted a proposal to the Canadian government to try and get permission for the Blue Jays to play at Rogers Centre – their home stadium since June 1989. Health authorities are currently examining the proposal.
“The resumption of activities in Canada must be undertaken in adherence to Canada’s plan to mitigate the importation and spread of COVID-19,” said spokesman for the Public Health Agency of Canada Anna Maddison to The Associated Press.
“The Public Health Agency of Canada has received, and is currently assessing, a restart plan from Major League Baseball,” she continued.
Maddison also mentioned that along with the approval of the federal government, the league would also require the support of the Ontario provincial government as well. While fans and players may be eager to have baseball back in Canada, many health professionals are not so sure given the current spike in cases we are seeing in the United States.
“The current situation in the U.S. right now is a disaster. It’s a total disaster and it’s most of a disaster in the South and West. Baseball players are included in that disaster,” said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health NetworMorris, via ESPN.
“There’s no way that having people coming and going from the U.S. is in any way a good idea because you are going to be bringing in people with COVID into the country.”
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that multiple Blue Jays’ players and staff have tested positive for COVID-19. The confirmations come as no real surprise considering the club was forced to shut down their spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida, less than a week ago after a player was exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
The news that several players and staff have tested positive may not be a shock to most, but it certainly will not help ease any concerns with playing MLB games in Toronto. The Blue Jays are far from the only team to have players or staff members test positive either, with the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox all confirming positive cases on Wednesday as well.
“It’s not a good idea,” Morris continued. “I can’t see them allowing this. It’s based on public health principles. When I last checked, pro sports isn’t in the category of essential services. And I’m a big sports fan. It’s a hard sell.”
