Each MLB club faces a difficult task in launching and maintaining a 2020 season. But the Blue Jays face some unique challenges as the only affiliate organization located outside of the United States.
The Toronto organization announced today that it will gather its players and staff at its Dunedin, Florida facility. The club says it will “begin the admission and isolation screening process” there.
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The Jays’ next step will depend on the views of the relevant Canadian authorities. If approval is granted, the club says it will charter a flight to train in Toronto “under a modified quarantine, isolated from the general public.” If not, you will keep your employees at the Dunedin facility and conduct summer training there.
Just ten days ago, the Blue Jays halted activities at their spring complex when coronavirus cases affected neighboring Phillies facilities and skyrocketed in the state of Florida overall. In fact, there was cause for concern as several players and staff members ended up testing positive for COVID-19 infections.
That mini outbreak served to highlight the need for strict measures if this campaign were to be conducted in a reasonably safe manner. That’s all the truer for the Jays. With cases within the organization, and the situation in Florida only getting worse, the Dunedin meeting will have to be done carefully.
Surely the Blue Jays are aware of all that and plan accordingly. The team’s stated preference is to train and play in Toronto, which will mean convincing Canada’s federal, provincial and local governments that it can be done without unreasonable risk. As Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reported on Twitter today, it appears that process is moving toward a favorable outcome for the Jays.
