Blue Jays could join Raptors in opening season in Florida

The Blue Jays could join the Raptors as Toronto teams making their temporary regular-season home in the Tampa Bay area.

If coronavirus travel restrictions prevent the Jays from returning home for the start of the majorleague season in April, their most likely option appears to be playing at their spring training stadium in Dunedin, Fla.

In doing so, the Jays would have use of TD Ballpark, which re-opened in spring 2020 after extensive upgrades, as well as their recently completed stateof-the-art player development center, which has major-league training, medical and conditioning facilities and equipment.

When the Jays were prohibited from playing in Toronto for the delayed 2020 season, they explored numerous options, including Dunedin, before deciding to play in Buffalo, N.Y., the site of their Triple-a team.

That move required considerable expense in relocating medical, training and clubhouse equipment to Buffalo, then back to Toronto. The Jays have all that equipment in Dunedin and wouldn’t need to move it twice, which makes for simpler logistics, especially if they are cleared to return home during the season. Plus, the full squad already will be together in Dunedin for spring training, which is slated to start on time in mid-february, and a number of players and staff have homes in the area.

Another factor is that the Triple-a team will be playing in Buffalo this year — there was no minor-league season in 2020. The Blue Jays do have a Class A team in Dunedin, but the lowerlevel minor-league seasons are expected to be delayed.