Blue Jays: Baseball is back if pandemic cooperates

The Toronto Blue Jays will be back for 60 games if the pandemic cooperates.

So it appears, we will finally have Blue Jays baseball again albeit if it is only for 60 games as the league instituted the ruling yesterday. The MLB and MLBPA went back and forth tirelessly but in the end, they were unable to come up with a joint resolution that worked for both sides.

The start of the season may still revolve around the Corona-19 pandemic as the United States has seen a stark increase in cases among players over the past week. The league shut down all their minor league facilities following an outbreak in Clearwater. There have been over 40 reported cases of players contracting the virus around the league.

As is stands, teams will play 40 games within their division and 20 interleague games. Both leagues will employ a universal designated hitter and will carry an active roster of 26-30 players. Teams will also be permitted to carry a taxi roster up to 60 players in the event of injury or demotions.

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Players will report to their respective camps by July 01st with sights set on a July 23rd or 24th Opening Day. They will receive 100% of their prorated salary for the 37% of the season.

Aside from the regular injured list, there will be a special Covid-19 reserve for players who test positive or come in contact with the virus. Players will be required to spend a certain number of required days on this list to quarantine.

It is still up in the air where the Blue Jays will even play their home games as Dunedin now seems out of the picture. The brain trust is rallying for games to be played in Toronto, however, there have also been rumblings they may play in Tropicana Field with the Rays.

In a perfect world, the Jays could play their home games north of the border but the logistics of that with the border crossing may be an unrealistic goal. Regardless, there will be baseball…..maybe.