Ryan Zimmerman leads list of players opting out of 2020 MLB season

Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond made headlines last week when he chose to opt out of the upcoming 60-game MLB season, citing various health, social, and political issues as reasons for staying home. He was not the first player to do so, and he probably won’t be the last. Here are some of the key players we know of that will be sitting out the truncated 2020 campaign.

Mike Leake

Diamondbacks starter Mike Leake became the first MLB player to opt out of this season on June 29. His reasoning was not abundantly clear, but agent Danny Horwits said "countless" factors were taken into consideration.

"It definitely impacts us," Arizona general manager Mike Hazen told ESPN. "Certainly, he’s a good major league starting pitcher. To what extent it’s going to impact us, it’s hard to say. I think I would probably have a different answer if it was over 162 [games] as opposed to if it was over 60."

David Price

Five-time All-Star and 2012 AL Cy Young winner David Price is perhaps the most accomplished player opting out of the 2020 campaign. He was supposed to make his Dodgers debut after being dealt away by Boston as part of the Mookie Betts trade.

"After considerable thought and discussion with my family and the Dodgers, I have decided it is in the best interest of my health and my family's health to not play this season," he wrote on Twitter. "I will miss my teammates and will be cheering for them throughout the season and on to a World Series victory. I’m sorry I won’t be playing for you this year, but look forward to representing you next year."

Ryan Zimmerman & Joe Ross

The defending champion Nationals’ road back to the World Series got a little bumpier last Monday when it was revealed that both first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and swingman Joe Ross will sit out the season.

"I have a 3-week-old baby," Zimmerman wrote for the AP. "My mother has multiple sclerosis and is super high-risk; if I end up playing, I can pretty much throw out the idea of seeing her until weeks after the season is over. There’s a lot of factors that I and others have to consider. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer; it’s everybody’s individual choice."

Nick Markakis and Felix Hernandez

Freddie Freeman and four additional Braves players tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced on July 4. Right fielder Nick Markakis talked with Freeman after his diagnosis and called the conversation, "tough and eye opening... he didn’t sound good." Markakis added, "the decision I’m making to sit out this year is the right one for me and my family."

As for Felix Hernandez, who was trying to make the club as a fifth starter, manager Brian Snitker surmised that Hernandez opted out due to health and family concerns, telling ESPN, "As tests come in and outbreaks and things like that, I think it’s just human nature to process these things as you have family members involved and children and things like that. Things like that aren’t a reality until we get here and live it."

Tyson Ross

Joe Ross’ older brother Tyson, currently a free agent, has opted out of the 2020 campaign.

His best days appear to be behind him, but Ross could have been a depth piece for some team’s pitching staff. 

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