TORONTO – The Blue Jays headquarters told their players that Pittsburgh and Baltimore are likely for the team to host the games at home this year after the Canadian government banned the club from playing in Toronto amid the coronavirus pandemic. Outfielder Randal Grichuk said Tuesday.
Canada denied the Blue Jays’ request to play at the Rogers Center because the regular season schedule would require frequent round-trip travel from the United States, where COVID-19 cases are emerging. The other 29 major league teams plan to play the pandemic-shortened 60-game season at their local baseball stadiums, with no spectators.
Toronto begins the season at Tampa Bay on Friday and is slated to play its first home game on July 29 against defending champion Washington Nationals.
Grichuk said the players want to play at a major league stadium, but they have also been told that their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, New York is a possibility.
“We have listened to Buffalo. We have listened to Baltimore possibly. We have listened to Pittsburgh possibly,” Grichuk said before an exhibition game in Boston.
“So far I haven’t heard a definitive place to play. It’s still up in the air. Which is crazy so close to opening day. Fortunately we started down the road. But yeah, that’s what we’re hearing. Pittsburgh Possibility or Baltimore. The worst case scenario, Buffalo. “
Grichuk said players want the amenities that come with a major league ballpark, such as the hot and cold tub and the major league-level training and weight rooms.
“If we have to go (to Buffalo) we would obviously go there, but we would love to be in a major league baseball stadium and have all that goes with it,” he said.
“It is going to be a difficult year all year. I think that would make things more difficult? I do. But it is something that we will have to go through this year and I hope that things will return to normal in 2021.”
Pirates president Travis Williams confirmed the talks with the Blue Jays on Monday and appeared ready to welcome the club if it could be done safely amid the pandemic.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the team has more than five contingency plans and was in talks with other clubs. He has refused to name them.
Atkins said that if the Blue Jays can’t find a major league park, their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo would be their most likely site for home games.
The team had been considering playing at home at its spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, but that’s one of the states that are hotspots for the virus.
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