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MLB owners held a conference call on Monday, but there was no consideration to canceling the season despite a COVID-19 outbreak on the Miami Marlins.
At least 13 Marlins, including 11 players and two coaches, have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days. However, MLB will continue on:
Commish Office will redouble health directives, e.g. players must wear masks in clubhouses, & reinforce on-field behavior prohibitions against high-fiving, spitting.
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) July 27, 2020
The Marlins were forced to postpone their home opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. The Philadelphia Phillies' game against the New York Yankees was also postponed after the Marlins played the Phillies on Sunday.
Marlins players decided it was okay to play Sunday despite a known outbreak forming, according to Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Marlins manager Don Mattingly turned to shortstop Miguel Rojas to take the lead on the decision, and the players talked it over in a group text before deciding to play. The Phillies were alerted to the situation and took their own precautions. They never considered not playing.
The Marlins and MLB both released statements on the ongoing situation:
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 27, 2020
Statement from MLB pic.twitter.com/nP1xvOe8hU
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 27, 2020
The Orioles flew back to Baltimore, and MLB is hoping that the Marlins will be able to travel there to play later in the week:
The #MLB hope is to regroup today as #Marlins remain quarantined in Philly &, depending on today's test results, team would bus to Baltimore & play tomorrow's game there instead of Miami w/others from "taxi squad" joining club there and subbing in, according to industry sources
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) July 27, 2020
Miami will obviously need replacement players for the guys currently sidelined due to this outbreak.
This whole situation is an early reminder of how difficult it will be to finish this MLB season. While the NBA and NHL are showing positive early results in their respective bubbles, MLB teams not being in a bubble and traveling to different cities will be a challenging endeavor when it comes to keeping the coronavirus in check.
For now, it looks like MLB is going to attempt to power through this. If there are more outbreaks, though, perhaps the 2020 season will truly be in jeopardy. At this point, we'll just have to wait and see how it goes.
