The New York Yankees have closed down the George M. Steinbrenner spring training complex along with all teams spring training facilities as ordered by MLB per CBS Sports. The closure is over the COVID-19 coronavirus. The move came in the wake of the Philadelphia Phillies announcing Friday five players had tested positive for COVID-19.
A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press the spring complexes in Florida and Arizona will temporarily close because of recent events. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because there wasn’t an official statement. The facilities will undergo a deep cleaning and disinfecting. No one will be permitted back inside without a negative test for the virus.
The closure apparently came about overnight after several teams said they had players testing positive or family members. Those teams include the Blue Jays, the Giants, the Rangers, and the Houston Astros. With the Philadelphia Phillies having five positive tests, MLB decided the move was necessary to protect players. At this time, no New York Yankee cases have been reported.
Florida has experienced rising incidents of new cases and rates of those testing positive for COVID-19. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases in Florida has increased by 1,422.7, or 144.4%. Arizona also has had a recent spike in cases, hitting a record for new daily cases.
MLB set to impose baseball Schedule if players vote no!
John Heyman, an insider at the MLB Network, has reported, “If players vote no on the famed 60-game framework deal as seems quite possible, Manfred is indeed planning to set the schedule for 50-60 games. So there will be baseball — unless the COVID numbers worsen to the point where it’s considered unsafe.
With the latest move by MLB to close spring training camps amidst players catching the virus and with 18 states now reporting increased cases of the virus a baseball season of any kind seems to be becoming increasingly murkier. With the contentious MLB MLBPA going on for weeks now, it appeared the sides were closer to making it happen. But that suggestion seemed to hit a roadblock when the owners proposed a 60 day season with 100% of the prorated salaries paid to players.
In the most recent move, the Players Union countered with a 70 game season, which the owners immediately rejected. MLB wants to get in the season before the virus has a second wave in the fall, as suggested by Dr. Tony Fauci, the leading virus expert. There is a possibility that as states open their economies, that wave may already be on the horizon. In the end, MLB or MLBPA may have nothing to say about a baseball season.
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