Now that we can finally take a deep breath since the MLB is officially back after a nerve racking offseason lockout, there are still some other issues that could be huge focal points for this upcoming season.
New York City’s stiff vaccine protocols would mean that any unvaccinated player for either the New York Yankees or New York Mets, would not be allowed to play home games in the upcoming season.
The current rule states that:
“Businesses may not allow any unvaccinated workers to work at their workplace.
A workplace is considered any location, including a vehicle, where you work in the presence of at least one other person.”
We’ve already seen issues with Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets, as he’s still unvaccinated and continues to not be allowed to play in home games (he can’t sit courtside however…)
The team even received a $50,000 fine from the NBA for allowing Irving in the locker room following a home game.
With that being said, things could get very interesting in this upcoming season, considering that Yankees star players Anthony Rizzo and seemingly Aaron Judge were both unvaccinated all last season (Judge refused to say if he was or wasn’t), and the Mets were only one of six teams to not meet the 85% vaccinated threshold last season.
In fact, the Mets were barely above 50% of their team and staff being vaccinated last year.
Of course, all of that could change and the players may be vaccinated by now, or could before the beginning of the season on April 7th.
The Yankees released a statement on the situation via the New York Post:
“On behalf of the New York Yankees, (team president) Randy Levine is working with city hall and all other appropriate officials on this matter. We will have no further comment.”
Stay tuned…
