MLB Should Probably Figure Out Where Blue Jays Are Going to Play in 2020
By Michael Luciano
The Toronto Blue Jays had it hard enough playing games without fans in the stands, but they might be forced to move their scheduled contests to America due to Canadian COVID-19 restrictions.
On top of the fact the Rogers Centre is currently being used as a food bank, Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro confirmed that they have not received the OK from the city to resume play in Toronto, which could force them to play home games at an alternate site.
There's not yet clarity on where Blue Jays will play or train this year per team president Mark Shapiro
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) June 26, 2020
Jays have been in contact with the city, provincial & federal gov'ts. "Our preference was to play our games in Toronto ... we understood & were deferential to public health"
While the US has millions more coronavirus cases than our neighbors up north, the Canadian government has continued to be overly cautious with regards to reopening the country.
Two potential alternatives if Toronto is not a feasible location include home stadiums for Toronto's minor league affiliates. Dunedin, where the Blue Jays host Spring Training and a Class-A affiliate, is looking less viable due to the recent outbreak of cases in Florida. Buffalo, home of the Toronto's Triple-A affiliate, makes a lot of sense given the downturn in cases in New York state and proximity to Toronto.
Dunedin or Buffalo
— R33D (@iReedifer) June 26, 2020
Not only will games be played in front of empty stadiums, but Canada's only MLB might need to go stateside to play their games. This is truly the strangest MLB season on record.