Matt York/Associated PressPhoenix Suns center Aron Baynes confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19.Baynes told Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium he remains hopeful of rejoining the Suns for the restart of the 2019-20 season but that he hasn’t “touched a basketball for over 30 days.”Shams Charania @ShamsCharaniaPhoenix Suns center Aron Baynes (@AronBaynes) tells me…
Aron Baynes Says He Tested Positive for COVID-19, Hopes to Join Suns in Orlando —
The Red Sox’s starting rotation already had plenty of question marks surrounding it after the departures of Rick Porcello and David Price, coupled with the injury to Chris Sale. Sale, of course, still remains with the Sox after undergoing successful Tommy John surgery in March. But Porcello now is a member of the New York…
Darwinzon Hernandez Cleared To Join Red Sox After Positive COVID-19 Test — NESN.com
NFL players are publicly pleading with the league to address several health and safety concerns on the eve of training camp. The league informed teams on Saturday that training camps will open on time even though discussions with the players’ union regarding testing for the coronavirus and other health and safety protocols are ongoing. Rookies…
NFL players plead with league to address health, safety concerns — Daily News
One strike and Toronto is out as a home for the Blue Jays in the 2020 Major League Baseball season. Read More
Blue Jays strike out in bid to have home games played in Toronto — Toronto SunOne strike and Toronto is out as a home for the Blue Jays in the 2020 Major League Baseball season.
In a statement on Saturday afternoon, federal Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced that the government has rejected the Jays return to play proposal, denying the club the opportunity to have 30 home games hosted at the Rogers Centre.
“Unlike preseason training, regular season games would require repeated cross-border travel of Blue Jays players and staff, as well as opponent teams into and out of Canada,” Mendicino said in a statement revealed by the Associated Press. “Of particular concern, the Toronto Blue Jays would be required to play in locations where the risk of virus transmission remains high.”
The Jays had previously received clearance from the Ontario provincial government and the City of Toronto but the feds have the final say on border issues.
“Based on the best-available public health advice, we have concluded the cross-border travel required for MLB regular season play would not adequately protect Canadians’ health and safety,” Mendicino said. “As a result, Canada will not be issuing a National Interest Exemption for the MLB’s regular season at this time.”
The Jays had put together an exhaustive protocol plan that went above and beyond MLB’s thorough guidelines but ultimately the federal government denied the press.
The frontrunner for 30 home games remains Sahlen Field in Buffalo, home of the Jays triple A affiliate Bisons.
The announcement comes less than a week before the Jays begin the 2020 season next Friday against Tampa Bay. The home opener, wherever that will be, is scheduled for July 29.
Previously, the team had been granted permission from the feds to conduct training camp at the Rogers Centre where it has been for the past two weeks. The Jays players and staff have been quarantined in the Marriott Hotel attached to the Rogers Centre.
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After almost a week stuck in a room, beat reporter Kyle Goon looks ahead to a new normal in the NBA ‘Bubble’
Bubble Dribble: What I Can’t Wait For Outside of NBA Quarantine — Pasadena Star News
Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth said Friday he and members of his family tested positive for the coronavirus, and called the scare a lesson for NFL players going into the scheduled start of training camps in less than two weeks. Speaking on a video chat by NFL Players Association leaders with pro football reporters, Whitworth indicated…
Rams’ Andrew Whitworth says he and his family had coronavirus — Press Telegram
Puig just announced his positive test result on Twitter
Yasiel Puig has tested positive for COVID-19 — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
By Craig CalcaterraJul 17, 2020, 3:02 PM EDT1 Comment
Next up on your 2020 bingo card: Yasiel Puig tests positive for COVID-19. And, Ken Rosenthal reports, he will not be signing with the Atlanta Braves as a result.
Puig, who was reported to be in agreement with the Braves on a deal, but whose signing had not yet been officially announced, tweeted moments ago that, while he is asymptomatic, he has tested positive for COVID-19. He said “I feel absolutely fine. I will be quarantined until I receive two negative test results, which I hope will arrive shortly.”
Puig goes on to say, “I am sad that this has happened, but I believe that everything is in God’s timing and that my return to MLB will happen in His perfect plan and timing for me. When I return to the field I will do so knowing that I will have one less hurdle to overcome.”
Puig hit .252/.302/.475 (92 OPS+) for the Reds last year before being traded to the Indians at the deadline. Once in Cleveland his performance improved, as he hit .297/.377/.423 (109 OPS+). His reported deal with the Braves comes on the heels of Braves outfielder Nick Markakis opting out of the 2020 season and after Braves star first baseman Freddie Freeman was laid up with fairly serious symptoms of COVID-19 himself.
Yasiel Puig tests positive for COVID-19, according to Puig:
— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) July 17, 2020
Earlier today Major League Baseball announced that it had collected 10,548 samples over the past week, but just six (0.05 percent) returned as new positives. Whether that includes Puig or not is not clear. This could be a new one that came in after the report was issued.
To date, the league has collected 17,949 monitoring samples and 23 new positives (18 players, five staff members), which equals 0.1 percent. When combining ongoing monitoring testing and intake screening that began June 27, there have been 93 positive tests (80 players) among 21,701 samples, which translates to 0.4 percent. Twenty-eight of the league’s 30 teams have had at least one positive. Again, whether that includes Puig is not known.
Follow @craigcalcaterraTags: Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, Yasiel Puig
SAN FRANCISCO — In a season that’s already been shortened by more than 100 games due to the coronavirus pandemic and labor disagreements between owners and the MLB Players Association, simply getting to the finish line will be an accomplishment. Players, coaches, team staffers and executives across the sport all share the same goal of…
SF Giants explain when they’ll wear face masks on field, push umpires to mask up — Times-Standard
Rays outfielder Austin Meadows has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been placed on the injured list. His status for Opening Day is unknown.
Austin Meadows tests positive for COVID-19 — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Rays outfielder Austin Meadows has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been placed on the injured list. Meadows, who gave the Rays permission to disclose his test results, hadn’t been with the team for their workouts after initially passing intake testing.
Meadows, 25, broke out in a big way for the Rays last season, batting .291/.364/.558 with 33 home runs, 89 RBI, 83 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 591 plate appearances. He was named to the AL All-Star roster and received a handful of down-ballot votes for the AL MVP Award.
To replace Meadows on the 40-man roster, the Rays added lefty reliever Aaron Loup. Loup missed most of the 2019 season due to an elbow injury, registering just 3 1/3 innings with the Padres.
It is not known how the virus has impacted Meadows specifically, so it is still unknown whether or not he will be ready to rejoin the Rays in time for Opening Day on July 24. The Rays open the season hosting the Blue Jays. In the event Meadows isn’t ready to start the season, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo could play in left field regularly. Manuel Margot could also be considered.
Gregorius has a chronic kidney condition which makes him high risk.
Didi Gregorius will wear a mask during games — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
FILE PHOTO: The NBA logo is displayed as people pass by the NBA Store in New York City, U.S., October 7, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidBecause of a concern for false positives with coronavirus testing, the NBA on Wednesday authored a memo that added antibody testing to its return-to-play protocol, ESPN reported. Since dead coronavirus cells can…
NBA adds antibody testing to protocols — Climax News Room
An uncertain year for Bobby Dalbec got even more uncertain in early June.
Red Sox prospect Bobby Dalbec discusses return after recovering from COVID-19 — Boston Herald
The view from left field 