STROP VIOLATES COVID PROTOCOLS
Reliever isolated after dining at restaurant Friday
MESA, Ariz. — Right-hander Pedro Strop is away from the Cubs after violating COVID-19 protocols, according to a source. Strop must isolate from the team before he’s allowed to resume baseball activities at the Cubs’ complex.
Strop was tagged in a post with Indians outfielder Franmil Reyes and others dining indoors at a restaurant. The post has since been deleted.
“To be honest with you, it’s a good reminder that we need to continue to follow protocols. It’s easy to get into this environment and relax,” manager David Ross said. “We did such a good job last year following the protocols. It’s just a reminder — a reminder for him, for us.
“We’ll make an announcement again tomorrow to the guys when they’re all here together. We’ve got to continue to stay diligent. It’s real, and we’ve got to follow protocols.”
According to the joint MLB and MLBPA guidelines, players may not attend indoor gatherings of 10 or more people, indoor restaurants, bars and lounges, fitness and wellness centers, entertainment venues, gaming venues (i.e., casinos) or any other activity that is prohibited by state or local government.
On Wednesday, MLB adjusted COVID-19 protocols to allow players to take part in outdoor dining for the first time since the protocols were put in place last season.
“It’s unfortunate,” starter Jake Arrieta said. “I think [we] gotta take it upon ourselves to continue to be diligent with this, follow the protocols. Everyone understands that it is tough to be in the situation that we’re in, but there’s not much we can do about it. The most important thing is to keep everybody safe, make sure that we don’t have to put guys on the COVID list to where they miss time, or there are setbacks where they can’t get ready for the season.”
The Cubs didn’t have a protocol violation last season and were one of just eight teams that didn’t have a player test positive for the virus during the season. Left-hander Kyle Ryan was placed on the COVID-19 list earlier this spring.
It’s still unclear at this point how long Strop will be required to isolate from the team, but he likely will have to produce a negative test before returning to camp. The Cubs have begun contact tracing, and they should have an idea in the coming days whether anybody was around Strop since the violation.
Strop is unlikely to receive any further punishment from the Cubs outside of the league-mandated isolation. For a player in camp as a non-roster invitee, that could be the difference in making a roster and looking for work elsewhere.
“I think it’s a setback,” Ross said. “I don’t think there is [any further punishment], from what I understand. It’s just, you’re gonna have to sit out, which is almost punishment enough for a guy who’s trying to make a team, right? That’s a big deal.
“I talked to him late last night when I found out the news and he’s pretty disappointed, but I think he understands.”
Major League Baseball is entering its second season since the onset of the pandemic. After completing last year’s 60-game season, getting back to the full 162 games will take even more discipline and vigilance from teams and players.
The recent incident comes the same week several teams around MLB announced fans will be allowed into ballparks for Opening
Day.
The Cubs and the city of Chicago have not yet decided if fans will be allowed to come to Wrigley Field in a limited capacity.