PHOENIX — San Francisco catcher Buster Posey became the latest well-known player to opt out of the abbreviated 2020 season, joining Dodgers pitcher David Price and Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the sidelines.
Others like Texas slugger Joey Gallo and San Diego outfielder Tommy Pham provided good news: They can get back on the field after previously testing positive for coronavirus.
One week into Major League Baseball’s strange summer camp, the constant churn of rosters is one of the few constants.
Posey — a six-time All-Star and 2012 NL MVP — said his family finalized the adoption of identical twin girls this week. The babies were born prematurely and Posey said after consultations with his wife and doctor he decided skipping the season was in his family’s best interest.
“These babies, being as fragile as they are for the next four months minimum, this wasn’t ultimately that difficult a decision for me,” he said.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo has developed a straightforward strategy to deal with his changing situation in the middle of a stress-filled pandemic. The Diamondbacks have had multiple players test positive for COVID-19, including pitcher Junior Guerra, outfielder Kole Calhoun and young prospect Seth Beer. Guerra and Beer have already been allowed to return.
“I get something at the beginning of the day or at the end of the day that says ‘This is who’s available, and this is who’s not available,’” Lovullo said. “So it’s kind of a boring answer.”
But trying to keep things simple has been paramount as MLB continues its cautious journey to a 60-game regular season that’s scheduled to begin on July 23. The first seven days of camp were anything but dull: Several players across the sport tested positive for COVID-19, results for some tests were delayed and a slow trickle of players have decided to opt out of the season, citing personal, health or family reasons.
While some have opted out of the season, others have carefully weighed the risks and decided to play. Baltimore pitcher Alex Cobb has a young family to care for, including a newborn, so he wasn’t so sure about participating in the delayed season.
But after consulting with his wife, pediatricians and doctors, Cobb joined the rebuilding Orioles.
“There’s just no guarantee that if I opted out and stayed home that we wouldn’t get it,” he said this week, wearing a mask during a Zoom call from Camden Yards. “This is a great opportunity for me personally — especially since I missed all last year — to go out and get a season in.”
Then there are players like Milwaukee Brewers utilityman Brock Holt, who don’t have the luxury of a big contract when making a decision. Holt has a young family and his wife is pregnant, but he decided to leave them at home while he went to Milwaukee for the next three months.
“I’m not in a position to opt out of a season,” Holt said earlier this week. “I feel like if I didn’t play this year, my baseball career would be over. If I didn’t play, it would be hard for me to find a job next year.”
In the middle of the uncertainty there have occasionally been rays of hope: Gallo returned to camp on Friday after missing the first week following a positive COVID-19 test. Padres manager Jayce Tingler said Pham has also been cleared through MLB and was due at Friday’s practice. Pham tested positive during intake and was asymptomatic.
The actual baseball part of summer camp has progressed fairly well for many teams. Marlins manager Don Mattingly said three weeks is enough time for players to get ready. Braves manager Brian Snitker agreed that on-the-field concerns had lessened.
“After a week, we’re a little farther along to where I probably thought we would be when we started,” Snitker said Friday.
The Braves endured a jolting start to camp. First baseman and team leader Freddie Freeman, premier reliever Will Smith, right-hander Touki Toussaint and infielder Pete Kozma tested positive for coronavirus. Outfielder Nick Markakis, veteran right-hander Félix Hernández and first base coach Eric Young Sr. opted out.
There is no update as to when Freeman and the other three will rejoin the team.
“I’m still not counting Freddie out,” Snitker said.
SOUNDS OF SUMMER, SORT OF
The Red Sox joined the teams test driving prerecorded, piped-in crowd noise tracks during their intrasquad scrimmage at Fenway Park on Friday.
Similar to the sounds being used by leagues in Taiwan and Korea since they returned to play during the pandemic, the tracks included the constant, running chatter of fans talking in the stands that is typically heard during a game — though at a subdued level. The Rangers are also experimenting with a similar plan.
The sounds also featured fan reactions, such as when Andrew Benintendi sliced a double into right field to lead off the game. There were also applause-backed cheers of fans, like when Martin Pérez walked in a run with the bases loaded.
MEANS GETS NOD
The Orioles announced that left-hander John Means will start for the Orioles in their July 24 opener in Boston. Means went 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA for Baltimore last season, accounting for nearly a quarter of the last place team’s 54 wins. He was the Orioles’ lone representative in the All-Star game and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year balloting.
VLAD JR. ON THE MOVE
The Blue Jays say they’re moving young slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. across the diamond from third base to first base.
Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said Guerrero feels comfortable at first and the team has Travis Shaw ready to play third. The 21-year-old hit .272 with 15 home runs and 69 RBIs as a rookie. He’s the son of Hall of Fame outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.
