The Blue Jays' front office is working to find a major league ballpark for the team to use this year after Canada's government barred Toronto from playing in its home stadium amid the coronavirus pandemic, pitcher Anthony Bass said Sunday.
Canada denied the Blue Jays' request to play at Rogers Centre because the regular-season schedule would require frequent travel back and forth from the United States, where COVID-19 cases are surging. The other 29 major league teams plan to play the pandemic-shortened, 60-game season in their home ballparks, without spectators.
Toronto begins the season at Tampa Bay on Friday and is scheduled to play its first home game on July 29 against the defending champion Washington Nationals.
Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., left, watches teammate Teoscar Hernandez, right, spray sanitizer in the dugout during the first inning of an intersquad baseball action in Toronto on Friday, July 17, 2020. The Blue Jays have been denied approval by the Canadian government to play in Toronto amid the coronavirus pandemic.(Nathan DenetteThe Canadian Press via AP)
Bass said he spoke with general manager Ross Atkins and emphasized that players prefer a big league stadium.
“I just said, ‘Look, we want to play in a major league ballpark. We feel that’s the best opportunity for us,’ and he agreed and said, ‘I listened to you guys loud and clear and that’s what we’re going to do for you because that’s what the team wants,’” Bass said.
The veteran right-handed reliever, who's in his first season with the Blue Jays, added that players are willing to share a home venue with another team and make other sacrifices.
A photographer covers the game in an empty stadium during fourth-inning intrasquad baseball game action in Toronto, Friday, July 17, 2020. (Nathan DenetteThe Canadian Press via AP)
“That was pretty much echoed throughout the clubhouse that we want to be in a major league ballpark, wherever that is. That’s really our focus right now,” Bass said.
The team has considered playing home games at its training facility in Dunedin, Florida, which is among the states that are virus hotspots, or Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, which is home to Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate and just across the Niagara River from Canada. Both locations have their shortcomings.
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said Saturday player health is a concern in Florida. He said the team has spent more time examining Buffalo in recent days but said the stadium has numerous infrastructure challenges.
Shapiro said the team was looking at other options but did not specify what they were.
Bass said players didn't want to use a stadium in a place hit hard by the virus.
“That’s definitely a big concern for myself and I feel like all the players. We don’t want to be in a place where there is a hotspot,” he said. “We want to be where it is safe, a place in the United States where cases are going down or very low. That’s definitely a concern of ours.”
Bass said he was encouraged that Atkins and Shapiro were listening to players' concerns. He added that players were disappointed they can't play in Toronto but he respects the Canadian government's decision.
Outfielder Teoscar Hernández also said he would prefer a major league park.
"It’s really sad but it is what it is. We need to keep going and try to do our best wherever field and city they decide to go,” Hernández said.
Manager Charlie Montoyo said players are anxious to find out where their temporary home will be.
“I bet every team in this division hopes it’s a big league park, but if not, they have no choice,” Montoyo said. “They are going to have to come wherever that place is.”
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