As Major League Baseball attempts to play a 60-game 2020 MLB season during the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of players have announced that they will not be participating.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake was the first player to announce he would sit out, with Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond and David Price among the notable names to follow soon after. Here is a complete running list of the rostered players who will not be playing for their teams this season.
Arizona Diamondbacks (Depth chart)
Mike Leake: The specific reasons for Leake's decision were not made public.
Atlanta Braves (Depth chart)
Felix Hernandez: After signing a minor league deal to compete for a rotation spot in Atlanta, the former Cy Young winner announced through his agent that he would not participate this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nick Markakis: The veteran outfielder said he made his decision after an "eye-opening talk" with teammate Freddie Freeman, who recently tested positive for COVID-19.
UPDATE: Markakis reversed coursed and opted in to playing in 2020 on July 29.
Boston Red Sox (Depth chart)
Collin McHugh: The right-hander had been trying to get into pitching shape after an offseason elbow procedure, but with his arm failing to respond the way he had hoped, McHugh decided it was better for him to be at home with his family.
Chicago White Sox (Depth chart)
Michael Kopech: The 24-year-old right-hander, making his way back from 2018 Tommy John surgery, informed his team he would opt out after missing the start of summer camp due to what GM Rick Hahn had called a personal matter.
Colorado Rockies (Depth chart)
Ian Desmond: Desmond announced he would not be playing this season in a detailed Instagram post.
Los Angeles Dodgers (Depth chart)
David Price: In a social media message to Dodgers fans, Price said that he "decided it is in the best interest of my health and my family's health for me to not play this season."
Miami Marlins (Depth chart)
Isan Diaz: With the Marlins at the center of baseball's biggest coronavirus outbreak, second-year infielder Isan Diaz was the first member of the team to opt out. In an Instagram post, Diaz said, "This has been a tough week to see so many of my teammates come down with this virus, and see how quickly it spreads. After much deliberation and thought, I have made the difficult choice of opting out for the remainder of the 2020 season. This has been a decision that I have discussed with my family, and I feel it's the best one for me and my overall well-being. I will deeply miss my teammates and competing on the field. I wish my brothers the best and look forward to taking the field again with them soon!!"
Milwaukee Brewers (Depth chart)
Lorenzo Cain: A two-time All-Star outfielder who is a married father of three young sons, Cain decided not to play the remainder of the 60-game schedule after "careful consideration" with his family. "With all of the uncertainty and unknowns surrounding our game at this time, I feel that this is the best decision for me, my wife, and our three kids," Cain said in a statement. The Brewers' weekend series with St. Louis was postponed because of positive tests on the Cardinals.
New York Mets (Depth chart)
Yoenis Cespedes: Cespedes opted out after failing to report to Truist Park for the Mets' Aug. 2 game against the Braves, according to general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. The general manager said Cespedes was doing so over "COVID-related issues" and that the team had not previously known of the possibility that he would opt out. "We support everybody and every player's right to make this type of decision. This is a challenging time for everyone," Van Wagenen said.
Marcus Stroman: New York Mets starting pitcher Marcus Stroman announced that he is opting out of the 2020 season on Aug. 10. Stroman has not pitched this season because of a torn calf muscle and accrued enough service time to qualify for free agency after this season.
St. Louis Cardinals (Depth chart)
Jordan Hicks: The hard-throwing reliever for the Cards opted out on July 13. Hicks, already recovering from a Tommy John surgery he had in June 2019, has Type 1 diabetes. He cited preexisting health concerns as the reason for his decision.
San Francisco Giants (Depth chart)
Buster Posey: The three-time World Series champion, 2010 National League Rookie of the Year and 2012 NL MVP told reporters he had decided to opt out after his family's recent adoption of twin girls who were born prematurely.
Washington Nationals (Depth chart)
Joe Ross: A statement released by the Nationals said that Ross would not play the 2020 season for the personal health and safety of himself and loved ones. Ross' brother, Tyson, who is currently a free-agent pitcher, also will sit out the season.
Ryan Zimmerman: The longtime Nationals infielder cited family risks, including having a 3-week-old child, in a statement announcing he would sit out.
Welington Castillo: The veteran catcher became the third Nationals player to opt out, with manager Dave Martinez saying Castillo was uncomfortable playing because he has young children.