Brian Cashman says no Yankees are expected to opt out of playing at this point: “The crew is all in”

Oct 3, 2018; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees executive Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone (17) talk before the game against the Oakland Athletics in the 2018 American League wild card playoff baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Coronavirus has impacted our lives in ways we didn’t imagine at the start of the year. Lives and job positions lost often take the headlines, but our everyday dynamics have also been altered one way or another. And, for those of us who love baseball, we have had to endure several months of rumors, negotiations and bad blood between MLB and the union trying to figure out the details for the sport to return this year. Everything is behind us, for now, and we will get to see our beloved New York Yankees soon enough… if COVID-19 allows the season to start and end.

Speaking of COVID-19, it still represents a huge health risk that some players aren’t comfortable taking at this point. That’s why prominent players such as pitchers Mike Leake and Joe Ross, infielder Ryan Zimmerman and outfielder Ian Desmond had opted out of playing in the MLB 2020 season.

Will any Yankees players opt out of playing at some point?

That raises the question: Will any New York Yankees’ players take a similar path? Our own Alexander Wilson examined that possibility a couple of days ago, and while it remains possible that some Bombers jump out of the ship at some point before or during the season, it seems like most, if not all of them, will stay and seek championship number 28.

According to what Brian Cashman told James Wagner of the New York Times, no players have given him the indication that they will not play the season because of concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The crew is all in at this stage,” Cashman said. The Yankees did lose minor league signing and cancer survivor Chad Bettis, who elected to retire as opposed to trying to make the team as a non-roster invitee.

The Yankees’ baseball decisions leader also said that his understanding is that clubs won’t be able to disclose when players go on the COVID-19 injured list (IL) in the season. That will surely lead to speculation and confusion.