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2020 MLB Season: Tracking COVID-Positive Players and Opt-Out

By Manny Gómez

DETROIT, MI - JULY 05: A detailed view of an official Major League Baseball with a surgical mask placed on it sitting on the dugout during the Detroit Tigers Summer Workouts at Comerica Park on July 5, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JULY 05: A detailed view of an official Major League Baseball with a surgical mask placed on it sitting on the dugout during the Detroit Tigers Summer Workouts at Comerica Park on July 5, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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10Here is a list of players who have chosen to opt-out of the 2020 MLB season.

After COVID-19 took the world by storm back in mid-March, shutting down nearly all American professional sports for close to 4-months, the 2020 MLB season finally has a start date: July 23. In an effort to assist in the tracking of players who have chosen to opt-out of the season we have decided to create a list along with confirmed sources.

This list will be updated daily.

  1. Mike Leake (ARZ) – Call to the Pen story here!
  2. Ryan Zimmerman (WSN) – Call to the Pen story here!
  3. Joe Ross (WSN) – See Zimmerman’s story.
  4. Ian Desmond (COL) – Call to the Pen story here!
  5. Felix Hernandez (ATL) – Call to the Pen story here!
  6. Nick Markakis (ATL) – Call to the Pen story here!
  7. David Price (LAD) – Call to the Pen story here!
  8. Tyson Ross (FA) – Per MLB Network insider Jon Heyman
  9. Buster Posey (SFG) – Call to the Pen story here!
  10. Hector Noesi (PIT) – Per Stephen J. Nesbit of The Athletic.
  11. Michael Kopech (CHW) – Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
  12. Wellington Castillo (WSN) – Per Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post.
  13. Jordan Hicks (STL) – Call to the Pen story here!
  14. Joe Smith (HOU)*
  15. Colin McHugh
  16. Lorenzo Cain

*Originally, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported that Joe Smith had opted out of the season. That tween has since been deleted. Mark Berman has reported that Smith has not reported to camp, but has not officially opted out of the season yet.

Known players who been placed on the IL for COVID-related reasons for the 2020 MLB season.

Per an agreement between the MLBPA and the Commissioner’s office, players who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have come in contact with someone with the disease will need to quarantine for 14-days and will not be eligible to return until they have tested negative twice in a 24-our span.

The names of these players cannot be published without the permission of said players. Below, you’ll find a list of confirmed players who are on the COVID-IL.

  • Free Agents
  • Arizona Diamondbacks
    • Junior Guerra
    • Silvino Bracho
  • Atlanta Braves – Call to the Pen story here!
  • Boston Red Sox
    • Bobby Dalbec
    • Eduardo Rodriguez
    • Josh Taylor
    • Darwinzon Hernandez
  • Colorado Rockies – Call to the Pen story here!
    • Charlie Blackmon**
    • Phillip Diehl
    • MiLB player Ryan Castellani
  • Milwaukee Brewers
    • Luis Urias
    • Angel Perdomo
    • Eric Lauer (Not positive, but came into contact with COVID positive person)
  • Minnesota Twins –
    • Willians Astudillo
    • Nick Gordon
    • Edwar Colina
    • Miguel Sano
  • New York Yankees
  • Oakland Athletics
    • Jesus Luzardo
  • Philadelphia Phillies
    • Scott Kingery
  • Pittsburgh Pirates
    • Socrates Brito
    • Blake Cederlind
  • San Diego Padres
  • San Francisco Giants
    • Hunter Bishop
  • Texas Rangers
    • Joey Gallo
  • Washington Nationals
    • Juan Soto (out because he came in contact w/ one of these players.)

**Denotes any players who have officially returned to their teams.

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