The Rockies have Ian Desmond’s back.
A day after the veteran outfielder posted an honest and moving post on Instagram announcing that he would not be playing baseball this season while the coronavirus is still unleashing, Desmond’s teammates gave him their support.
“It means a lot to our team and we will miss him,” star shortstop Trevor Story said Tuesday. “He has our full support. It will still play a big part in what we do this year, I know. “
Nolan Arenado, third added star star: “I spoke to Ian and he told me that this was his decision a couple of days ago. I respect Ian. I always have and I respect your decision. Whatever you feel in your heart, do it. “
Desmond, 34, spoke on many topics, including racism in the United States and issues within the baseball culture, in his nine-page Instagram post.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has made this baseball season one that is a risk I’m not comfortable with,” he wrote. “But that doesn’t mean I quit baseball for a year. I will be here in my old Little League, and I am working with everyone involved to make sure that Sarasota (Florida) returns to normal.
“With a pregnant wife and four children who have many questions about what is happening in the world, home is where I need to be right now. Home to my wife, Chelsey. Home to help. Start to guide. At home to answer questions from my three older children about the coronavirus and civil rights and life. At home to be her father.
General manager Jeff Bridich, who had two conversations with Desmond before Desmond’s announcement, called Desmond’s decision “sincere.”
“I didn’t know Ian was going to write something as thoughtful and thorough as that,” said Bridich. “But I am not surprised. He thought about that a lot and talked to many people about the decision that he and his family wanted to make. ”
Because Desmond is not considered a “high risk” player, he will not receive his pro rata pay for the 60-game season ($ 5.5 million of his $ 15 million salary) or accrue service time. This is the fourth year of his five-year, $ 70 million contract with the Rockies. Desmond is owed $ 8 million next year, and his contract includes a $ 15 million equipment option for 2022 with a purchase of $ 2 million. Bridich said Desmond’s decision to unsubscribe this season will not affect his contract in the future.
In addition to revealing his thoughts on racism and police brutality, Desmond also bluntly wrote about the problems baseball faces: “Think about it: Right now in baseball we have a labor war. We have rampant individualism on the field. In clubs, we have racist, sexist, homophobic or outright jokes. We have traps. We have a top-down minority problem. An African American GM. Two African American managers. Less than 8% of black players. There are no black majority team owners.
When asked if he thought Desmond’s comments negatively reflected the Rockies clubhouse’s current culture, Bridich said: “That is a direct question for Ian. He is the best man to answer that.
