Manfred, Clark talk about virus
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke with union leader Tony Clark on Friday about the importance of players following the league's coronavirus protocols, according to a person familiar with the conversation.
Manfred and Clark also talked about what needs to be done to finish the season, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
The conversation between Manfred and Clark, which was first reported by ESPN, comes amid growing concern about baseball's ability to keep playing in the middle of a pandemic.
Six major league teams were idle Friday because of the coronavirus.
Two weekend series – Nationals at Marlins, and Blue Jays at Phillies – were called off earlier.
The Marlins were hit with a virus outbreak in Philadelphia that infected 20 members of their traveling party, and both Miami and the Phillies are sidelined for at least a week.
The schedules of the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles have also been scrambled a week into a season that had already been delayed and curtailed because of the pandemic, and now may be in jeopardy.
“That's a concern of mine,” said Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who was out with the virus earlier. “I speak for the entire Rockies team – we want to go out and play.
“Anything that pops up negatively, in terms of this virus situation, could hinder that. So yeah, I'm concerned. I would rather not see any more positive cases.”
The six idled teams Friday represented 20 percent of MLB.
Chapman returns: Closer Aroldis Chapman was cleared to return to the New York Yankees following a bout with the coronavirus.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Chapman's return and said he wasn't sure when the hardthrowing left-hander would be ready for game action.
“The good thing was he was never really sick,” Boone said.