St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martínez is under fire for violating COVID-19 restrictions in the Dominican Republic over the weekend. The right-hander was participating in an event with a popular music artist in his hometown of Puerto Plata. A photo of Martínez on a motorcycle with the singer on the back stirred up controversy on social media since neither wore masks and their presence drew a crowd. Both were in violation of an executive mandate on social distancing. The Cards released a statement saying they are aware of the situation and that Martínez wasn’t arrested and isn’t facing charges.
The Tampa Bay Rays could be reportedly interested in moving pitching ace Blake Snell. According to MLB dot com, Tampa Bay is open to moving Snell as they try to shed payroll following fallout from losses due to COVID-19. Snell has three years and 39-million dollars remaining on his contract. The pitcher helped guide the Rays to their second AL Pennant this season before falling to the Dodgers in six games in the World Series.
The New York Mets are sticking with Luis Rojas. The team announced Monday that Rojas will serve as manager in 2021. He took over the Mets this past season after the abrupt firing of Carlos Beltran following his involvement in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Rojas finished 26-and-34 in his first season as a big league manager.
The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees are getting another chance to play at the Field of Dreams next year. MLB announced yesterday that the teams are tentatively scheduled to meet August 12th in Dyersville, Iowa, in an eight-thousand seat temporary ballpark built on the farm where the Oscar-nominated 1989 film “Field of Dreams” was shot. It will be the first MLB game ever played in Iowa. The Sox and Yankees were originally scheduled to play in Dyersville in 2020, but MLB reconfigured its schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic.