The New York Yankees are moving north. During the coronavirus pandemic, several Yankee players remained at the George M. Steinbrenner training complex in Florida. Those at the complex reportedly were Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Tyler Wade, and a few others. They will now train with other Yankee players at Yankee Stadium as Governor Andrew Cuomo welcomes the Yankees and New York Mets back to New York.
Both Florida and Arizona are seeing increased positives, whereas New York has shown a constant decrease in new infections and hospitalizations. Both Florida and Arizona opened their economies much earlier than New York even started phase one. This does not mean that the COVID-19 virus’s ugly head won’t rear up and shut down spring training or the whole baseball season if a second wave is dangerous enough.
MLB has shut down spring training in Florida and Arizona after teams started to report players coming down with the coronavirus, the Philadelphia Phillies reported the worst outbreak with eight cases including five players. Some of the other teams with positive cases include the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and the Toronto Blue Jays, among others.
The New York Yankees it has been learned has four cases of the virus in and around the Tampa complex, but none are players. Two members work at George M. Steinbrenner Field, and two have ties to the nearby minor league complex that is less than a mile away. The members were not identified by name or exact job descriptions, nor was it known when they were tested. One of those who tested positive has not been at the complex in some time. Back in March, they had two cases at the minor league field causing that complex to be closed. Both of those players were quarantined and have recovered.
As the New York Yankees travel back to New York City for training, there have not been any reported positive tests for those working at Yankee Stadium. But with increasing tests that is likely to change.
The New York Yankees George M. Steinbrenner training complex is a huge complex of eight fields where players can spread out. Now going back to Yankee Stadium, they will all have to jam into one stadium. It is expected that even more stringent precautions will be taken.
Governor Andrew Cuomo, in a daily news briefing, welcomed back the Yankees and the New York Mets back to New York for spring training. He said, “play ball” and vowed to “ work with them (the baseball teams) to come up with a plan that works,†he said. “This is a state that’s ready, willing, and able to partner with sports teams safely.â€
Meanwhile, 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.
MLBPA will delay voting on 60 game plan
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the players will delay taking a vote on #MLB’s 60-game proposal for several days while gathering information on the safety and health protocols in light of all spring training camps being shut down because of the rash of COVID-19 positive tests.