National Post (National Edition)
Jays could pay price in becoming free birds
$750K fine for violating quarantine
TORONTO • Toronto Blue Jays players could be facing a $750,000 fine if caught breaking quarantine And some players aren’t too happy about it, as their tweets in reply to the news getting out indicated.
“Here is what’s going to keep #BlueJays players in their stadium/hotel bubble this summer,” TSN’s Scott Mitchell reported on Friday.
“Per multiple sources, players have been told penalty if seen outside ballpark is $750,000 fine and potential jail time.”
New Jays first baseman Travis Shaw, who was signed as a free agent, was the first to reply, though some tweets were later deleted.
“We were told two weeks... not all summer... all summer is a bit much,” Shaw tweeted in reply to Mitchell’s tweet.
“All summer isn’t gonna happen. Not an option.”
Outfielder Randal Grichuk tried to bring some clarity from the player’s side: “I wanna make it clear, we’re not asking for special treatment,” Grichuk tweeted.
“We understand that we need to stay in a “quarantine bubble”. We wanna make sure everyone is safe. The toughest part is them not allowing our family to come with us. That’s what makes it tough for a lot of guys.”
Shaw deleted a couple of tweets.
“1)Let me be clear. We are on board with the TWO week quarantine,” read one of them. “I currently have a PAID for condo a block away from the stadium that I can’t use. At no point would I risk public safety or not follow rules. Is it wrong to want to live in a place that I’ve already paid for...”
The second deleted Shaw tweet read:
“to be able to go on a walk (WITH A MASK) to be able to get fresh air walk to go get takeout food (not eat inside). We aren’t looking to party, hit the patios, go out at night, anything like that. Public safety is priority number 1...”
Former Jays star pitcher Marcus Stroman, now of the New York Mets, tried to bring some levity:
“Guys are going to be walking around in full disguises. Lol,” Stroman tweeted.
Major League Baseball’s current plan for a 60-game season has the Jays travelling to various American locales for their 30 road games, even though the U.S. is in the midst of record COVID-19 cases, with the pandemic’s spread showing no signs of abating.