The MLB lockout is over, and a new CBA has been signed.
Free agency can resume, and spring training can start on Sunday, with Opening Day being scheduled for April 7.
Fans and players around the world can rejoice as the longest work stoppage since the 1994-95 strike has finally come to an end.
But despite a new CBA being agreed upon, there are still some hoops to jump through, and they have nothing to do with the labor battle.
COVID-19 may be on the decline, but it still remains a factor, and players who are unvaccinated against the virus have a tricky situation to deal with in Toronto.
Veteran @mlb player tells me and an MLB Official confirms. … unvaccinated players can’t play in Canada and under new CBA they will not be paid or receive service time for those games missed in Canada #wcvb
— Duke Castiglione (@DukeCastiglione) March 11, 2022
Trouble For The Jays?
As the tweet shows, unvaccinated players will be unable to play in Canada under the new CBA.
That means players may lose out on service time when their team travels north of the border.
Of course, this would not be a major problem if certain players get vaccinated.
This may also affect the Blue Jays in general based on Canada’s COVID rules.
If the Blue Jays have any unvaccinated players, specifically with any of their star players, then that may hurt their chances of contending.
On paper, they look like the favorites in the AL East after the signing of Kevin Gausman, but potentially having players who did not receive the COVID vaccine creates a major problem for them.
Toronto has also not seen their Blue Jays in action at Rogers Centre very much since COVID hit.
We’ll see if this affects the Blue Jays in any way going forward.
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