USA TODAY International Edition
New York City vaccine mandate now at- bat
Unvaccinated Yankees, Mets can’t play at home
Yankees and Mets players are subject to New York City’s private employer vaccine mandate – meaning unvaccinated Yankees and Mets will not be able to play in home games – the mayor’s office confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday.
Yankees star Aaron Judge brushed off a vaccination question at spring training in Florida on Tuesday. “I’m just so focused on getting to the first game of spring training so I think we’ll cross that bridge whenever the time comes,” Judge told reporters. “But right now, so many things could change so I’m not really too worried about that right now.”
The Yankees said Tuesday that the team is “working with city hall and all other appropriate officials on this matter” while the Mets declined to comment.
Most notably, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, has not been able to play in home NBA games at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center or road games at the New York Knicks’ Madison Square Garden.
On Monday, the NBA fined the Nets $ 50,000 for “for violating local New York City law and league health and safety protocols” when they “permitted Kyrie Irving, who was in attendance at the game, to enter the team’s locker room,” according to the league.
The policy has been criticized because it allows for unvaccinated opponents to play in games in New York City. Nets star Kevin Durant called out New York Mayor Eric Adams after Brooklyn’s victory against New York on Sunday.
“There’s unvaxxed people in this building already,” Durant told reporters. “We got a guy who can come in the building. Are they fearing our safety? I don’t get it. We’re all confused. Pretty much everybody in the world is confused at this point. Early on in the season people didn’t understand what was going on, but now it just looks stupid. So hopefully, Eric, you got to figure this out.”
But on Monday, Durant walked back his comments with a statement: “The last two years have been a difficult time for New Yorkers, as well as a very confusing time with the changing landscape of rules and mandates. I do appreciate the task the Mayor has in front of him with all the city has been through. My frustration with the situation doesn’t change the fact that I will always be committed to helping the communities and cities I live in, and play in.”
Adams has praised the mandate, saying it has helped reduce COVID- 19 rates in the city, and it does not appear public pressure will compel him to drop the policy.
There is hope with the Nets organization that the policy will be dropped by the time the postseason begins in nearly a month, which coincides with the start of MLB’s regular season.