Today, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake became the first MLB player to announce he would not participate in the 2020 MLB season due to COVID-19 concerns. Although Leake's agent did not get into specifics it is known that Leake's father Chris was paralyzed after falling of his roof in 2013 and as such has a compromised autoimmune system.
Leake, 32, is a 10-year big league veteran who came to MLB straight from Arizona State University has pitched with the Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners before being acquired mid-season in 2019 by the D-Backs and has a record of 105-98 with a 4.05 ERA earning a Gold Glove last season. Leake and the D'Backs have a mutual option for the 2021 season.
Shortly after Leake's announcement two members of the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals announced they would not play in 2020. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross both indicated the team would have to defend their World Series title without them. The 35-year old Zimmerman has played his entire 15 year big league career with the Nationals cited both a newborn child and his mother who has MS and did not want to subject either to the risk of COVID-19. Ross, who turned 27 last month, has spent his entire 5-year big league career in D.C. While he will forego his salary in 2020 he remains eligible for arbitration in 2021.
The question is how many other players will follow suit over the next three weeks before the abbreviated 60 game season is scheduled to commence. Should marquee players like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge and Mookie Betts opt out then all bets may be off on the 2020 season altogether.
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