Arizona Diamondbacks: Mike Leake opts out of 2020

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake has chosen to opt of the season because of the pandemic.

If you were offered $5M to play baseball during the COVID-19 pandemic, would you? I know most of you would, but for Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake, the answer is no!

Earlier today, D-Backs beat writer for MLB Steve Gilbert reported that Leake had chosen to opt-out of the 2020 season because of the current pandemic. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, he walks away from $5M in the final year of his deal.

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He does have a mutual option in his contract, according to Spotrac, which includes a $5M buyout of the 2021 MLB season.

In opting out of 2020, Leake becomes the first known player to walk away from the game during the pandemic. He was set to make $15M according to the terms of his 5-year, $80M signed with the St. Louis Cardinals back in 2016.

Leake is a 10-year veteran of the league and a journeyman pitcher. In his career, he has pitched with five teams altogether, including the Reds, Mariners, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Giants.

In all, his stat sheet portrays him out to be an average pitcher. Through 296 career starts, he has a 4.05 ERA, 4.24 FIP, and 1.281 WHIP.

Last season, Leake had one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. As a result, this season he was essentially vying for a spot at the back end of the team’s rotation.

Now, given the team’s playoff odds, according to Odds Shark, the Arizona Diamondbacks have little playoff potential. Especially with a heavily improved Los Angeles Dodgers team.

So one can assume that risking one’s health during a shortened season in which your team might not even compete played into Mike Leake’s decision. However, we will wait until we get more information about  Leake’s decision to opt-out of the season.