Second NY Met opts out of MLB season

A second player for the New York Mets is opting out of the shortened 2020 Major League Baseball season because of concerns over the coronavirus, with starting pitcher Marcus Stroman following outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

“This is not something that I wanted,” Stroman said in a Monday statement. “This was a collective decision for my family, for our best interests. Because I’m such a competitor, it was incredibly hard to finally come up with this decision.”  

Stroman, 29, had been attempting to recover from a preseason calf injury. 

The news comes as MLB has dealt with two outbreaks on the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals.

The outbreaks have led both teams to postpone several games.

The baseball season began in late July. Unlike the NBA and NHL, which are having their teams play in “bubble” locations, the baseball teams are traveling between cities and stadiums.