Washington Nationals VP to resign over COVID-19 vaccine mandate: reports

Washington Nationals Vice President Bob Boone will resign over the team’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to multiple reports Wednesday. 

Boone informed the team that he will resign instead of complying with the mandate, which applies to all non-uniformed employees, sources told ESPN and The Washington Post. 

Boone, who was a star catcher for decades before becoming a manager and executive, served with the Nationals since 2005, and is currently vice president and senior adviser to general manager Mike Rizzo. He is the father of former professional baseball players Bret Boone and Aaron Boone, who now manages the New York Yankees. 

The Nationals’ vaccine mandate went into effect Aug. 12, according to ESPN. It was one of the first teams to require staff to be vaccinated.

Non-playing full-time employees, such as coaches, executives and staff, had until Aug. 26 to provide proof of their first vaccination or apply for an exemption.

According to the Post, which first reported Boone’s resignation, employees who have not complied are on unpaid administrative leave. They now have until Sept. 15 to comply or have their contracts terminated.

Boone told the newspaper that he and team are “unfortunately” parting ways.

But Boone is not the only shake-up for the team. According to the Post, the Nationals also told eight scouts that their contracts will not be renewed next season, two because of unwillingness to comply with the mandate.