After Marlins Covid-19 outbreak, status of Jays' first Buffalo opponent uncertain

The Marlins had four players absent for Sunday's 11-6 win in Philadelphia due to positive coronavirus tests, and the situation got appreciably worse Monday morning.

According to ESPN, seven more players and two coaches have tested positive. That brings the total of cases in their clubhouse to 13.  

MLB had a scheduled conference call with its 30 owners Monday afternoon and multiple reports said the season will proceed, although it's uncertain if there will be further postponements in the coming days. MLB issued a brief statement that said additional testing was taking place and added: "Major League Baseball has been coordinating with the Major League Baseball Players Association; the Marlins; the Orioles; the Marlins' weekend opponent, the Phillies; and Club medical staffs, and will continue to provide updates as appropriate."

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted this morning: "I have already contacted NYS and the Buffalo Bisons leadership regarding the Marlins Covid-19 outbreak. While I support the Blue Jays playing in Buffalo, it must be done safely and cannot put our community at risk. No community should be put at risk just for sports."

The Bisons referred any inquiries about the Marlins' situation to the Blue Jays and MLB. Said Rich Baseball Operations president Mike Buczkowski: "We've had ongoing dialogue with the county executive and the mayor and we will continue to have that." 

Said Blue Jays president/CEO Mark Shapiro in an interview Monday afternoon on Sportsnet 590 The Fan in Toronto: "My only concern is within the players' health and the players' well-being, the community health and the community well-being, which we've always said is at the forefront. Very, very obviously concerning news but certainly within the realm of possibilities as we move forward within this world."

I have already contacted NYS and @BuffaloBisons leadership regarding the @Marlins COVID-19 outbreak. While I support the @BlueJays playing in Buffalo, it must be done safely and cannot put out community at risk. No community should be put at risk just for sports.

— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) July 27, 2020

The impact of the Marlins' situation clearly could be far-reaching for the sport.

In the short term, you would imagine the Phillies are concerned about exposure for their players and staff – and the Blue Jays are scheduled to be in Philadelphia for three games Friday night.

Meanwhile, the New York Yankees were set to open a series tonight in Citizens Bank Park and would be using the same visitors' clubhouse the Marlins just spent the last three days in as well. But Monday night's game was postponed around 10:30 a.m.

The Athletic is reporting that the Phillies have opted to quarantine their entire visiting clubhouse staff after exposure to the Marlins and that the Yankees brought their own clubhouse staff from New York on the trip.

When he appeared July 2 on the "Dan Patrick Show," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made it clear what it would take for baseball to step back from its season.

"If we have a team or two that's really decimated with a number of people who had the virus and can't play for any significant period of time," Manfred said pointedly. "It could have a real impact on the competition and we'd have to think very, very hard about what we're doing."

MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported the four positive tests Sunday were pitcher Jose Urena, first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper, outfielder Harold Ramirez and catcher Jorge Alfaro. Urena was scratched as Sunday's scheduled starter. There is no word on the identities of the latest positive tests for the team, which is owned by former Yankees legend Derek Jeter and managed by another former Yankees star, longtime first baseman Don Mattingly.

In a statement issued Monday, Jeter said: "The health of our players and staff has been and will continue to be our primary focus as we navigate through these unchartered waters. After a successful Spring 2.0, we have no experienced challenges once we went on the road and left Miami. Postponing tonight's home opener was the correct decision to ensure we take a collective pause and try to properly grasp the totality of this situation.

"We have conducted another round of testing for our players and staff, and our team will remain in Philadelphia pending the results of those tests, which we expect later today. We will provide additional information as soon as it becomes available."

pic.twitter.com/kLfBiic706

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 27, 2020

Speaking on his regular pregame Zoom call from Washington Monday afternoon, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said his coaches have spread the word among his team to be vigilant.

"My heart goes out to that team and anybody who was infected," Montoyo said. "Of course, there's concern. The moment we left Canada, there was concern. We've got to follow the guidelines. It's not going to be easy. We were going to Florida (to open the season at Tampa Bay). That's a hot spot. We talk about it all the time. We meet with the coaches every day and just communicate to the guys to be careful and follow the guidelines."

The Marlins are still more than two weeks away from coming to Buffalo. Their schedule looks like this:

July 27-30: Four games vs. Baltimore (two home, two away)

July 31/Aug. 1-2: vs. Washington

Aug. 4-6: vs. Philadelphia

Aug. 7-9: At New York Mets

Aug. 10: Off

Aug. 11-12: vs. Toronto at Buffalo

The Marlins canceled their flight home from Philadelphia on Sunday night and planned a 9 a.m. return Monday but that flight was canceled and they remained in Philly.

MLB has strict protocols after positive tests, as players and staff members are not allowed to travel or access club facilities following a positive test until after they have two negative tests at least 24 hours apart, show no fever for at least 72 hours, complete an antibody test and are cleared by a team physician as well as the MLB Covid-19 joint committee.