The Blue Jays likely will head back to Dunedin, Fla., for their player training GETTY IMAGES
MLB opting not to go with a hub-city model for its '20 season may force the Blue Jays to "find a venue outside Canada to play home games," according to the CP. When asked about the Blue Jays training or playing games in Toronto during the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam "did not raise the possibility of waiving quarantine rules." Canada has "waived the 14-day quarantine for Vancouver, Edmonton or Toronto being a potential NHL hub city, agreeing to a cohort quarantine where teams stay in an essential bubble during the Stanley Cup tournament." But with teams entering and exiting Canada regularly during a 60-game baseball season without fans, the NHL approach "would be impossible to duplicate." Dunedin, Fla., the Blue Jays' Spring Training home, and Tropicana Field, home of the Rays, both have been "mentioned as potential home venues" (CP, 6/23). In Toronto, Mark Zwolinski reports there "likely isn't time for the Jays to hold spring training at the Rogers Centre," so the club's intentions at the moment are to "head back to Dunedin." The Blue Jays "might not have time to hold spring training in Toronto, even if they get permission," as they "would have just a week to arrange cross-border travel, travel documents and visas, hotels and more." If the team is unable to train in Toronto, it "would be the only one in MLB unable to hold spring training in its home ballpark" (TORONTO STAR, 6/24).
