MLB

MLB Weekly Digest July 20th Edition: Toronto Blue Jays Denied Approval to Host Games in Canada

By Chris Lacey

Posted on July 20, 2020

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The last week in MLB was about a club in the American League who will not be allowed to play in their home ballpark in the upcoming season.

A team in the National League will release a pair of relievers, and a player will not be joining a team because of testing positive for COVID-19.

Toronto Blue Jays Denied Approval to Host Games in Canada

The Toronto Blue Jays will not be playing home games at Rogers Centre this season as they have been denied approval by the Canadian government due to the coronavirus pandemic, per Rob Gillies of The Associated Press.

TORONTO (AP) _ AP source says Blue Jays denied Canadian government approval to play games in Toronto amid pandemic.

— Rob Gillies (@rgilliescanada) July 18, 2020

This marks the first time there will be no regular-season games in Canada since 1968.

The Blue Jays were given an exemption by the government to hold spring training at the ballpark and isolate at a hotel within the stadium, but having regular-season games is entirely different.

Marco Mendicino, who is Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, said, “Unlike preseason training, regular season games would require cross-border travel of the Blue Jays players and staff, as well as opponent teams into and out of Canada.

Of particular concern, the Toronto Blue Jays would be required to play in locations where the risk of virus transmission remains high.”

“Based on the best available public health advice, we have concluded the cross-border travel required for MLB regular season-play would not adequately protect Canadians’ health and safety. As a result Canada will not be issuing a national interest exemption for the MLB’s regular season at this time.”

The Canadian government has a responsibility to the people who live there to keep them safe.

The Blue Jays are in a tight spot with the 2020 season beginning later this week.

The team does have options for home games, as they could play in either Buffalo, New York, or at their spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida.

There are problems with each location as Sahlen Field in Buffalo needs to have lighting that is fit for MLB games and to ensure replay infrastructure can exist.

Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro said that Sahlen Field’s smaller dimensions would make it more challenging to adhere to MLB’s safety protocols, per Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.

On challenges of Buffalo: Space to adhere to MLB protocol is an issue. "It's not a major league facility and the teams we are playing against are playing in major league facilities."

— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) July 18, 2020

Dunedin would be a much smoother transition for the team, but there are health concerns, Longley added.

Shapiro said Dunedin is the only option that is 100 per cent seamless and ready to go but from a player health standpoint has issues (obviously.)

— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) July 18, 2020

Hopefully, the Blue Jays can resolve this issue and find a location where they can host games.

Colorado Rockies Will Release Relievers Bryan Shaw, Jake McGee

The Colorado Rockies have placed relievers Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee on waivers with the intent to release them, per Thomas Harding of MLB.com.

#Rockies expevlcted to soon announce releases of RHP Bryan Shaw, LHP Jake McGee

— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) July 17, 2020

Shaw and McGee are each set to make $9 million in 2020 and have a $9-million vesting option for 2021 based on the number of appearances this season.

The team would have automatically picked up the 2021 option for either reliever if they made 23 appearances this season, per Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY.

If Jake McGee and/or Bryan Shaw had pitched in 23 games this season for the #Rockies, their $9 million options in 2021 would have been automatically guaranteed.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 17, 2020

If a team were to pick up either reliever, the vesting option would disappear and pay them the prorated minimum of a little over $200,000, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Correction: If Shaw or McGee were released, the vesting option would go away and teams could just pick them up for the prorated minimum of a little bit more than $200,000.

This will be all for adventure time with relievers who try to pitch in Denver. Thank you.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 17, 2020

Shaw and McGee were signed to identical three-year, $27-million contracts before the 2018 season to bolster the Rockies bullpen.

However, the signing of both relievers has not panned out.

Shaw, in two seasons with the Rockies, has compiled a 5.61 ERA and 5.07 FIP in 131 appearances.

The right-hander was outstanding before signing with the Rockies, as he posted a 3.52 ERA and led MLB with 79 appearances in 2017 with the Cleveland Indians.

McGee has not had much experienced much success with the Rockies either.

The left-hander in four years with the club has authored a 4.78 ERA and 4.65 FIP.

A silver lining is the Rockies informed pitcher Daniel Bard a couple of days ago he made their Opening Day roster.

In case you forgot, Bard has not pitched in the majors since 2013.

Daniel Bard hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2013.

Today he was informed he made the Rockies Opening Day roster.

Never give up on your dreams, folks. 🙌

📷: @Rockies pic.twitter.com/FJpW1WXzry

— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2020

This a reminder to never give up on your dreams.

Outfielder Yasiel Puig Tests Positive for COVID-19, Won’t Sign with Atlanta Braves

Yasiel Puig will not be signing a deal with the Atlanta Braves as he tested positive for COVID-19, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Freeman returns, but Puig tests positive for COVID-19, will not be signing with Braves. Story: https://t.co/j84iL3yfTK

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 17, 2020

Puig and the Braves had reportedly agreed to a deal earlier in the week, but both sides did not reach a formal agreement.

The talks would only advance if Puig tested negative, sources told Rosenthal.

Puig on the same team with Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies would have been exciting.