Looking at the 2020 Major League Baseball season, things are quite weird. In recent news, the first known player to opt-out of the 2020 big league season has been announced. Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Leake has chosen to sit out the 2020 season.
The news and coverage of this announcement were from Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. Some of the information released is as follows:
Mike Leake is opting out of the 2020 season, per Mike Hazen.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZHBuchanan) June 29, 2020
A statement from Mike Leake’s agent, Danny Horwits of Beverly Hills Sports Council: pic.twitter.com/bQctIlUTml
— Zach Buchanan (@ZHBuchanan) June 29, 2020
Mike Leake is the first known player to opt-out of playing during the 2020 season, and he will likely not be the last to make this announcement. According to the reports, Leake will be walking away from his salary in 2020 to sit out but will maintain his option and buyout for the 2021 season.
With the new challenges that come from the implementation of a 2020 MLB season, Leake’s announcement is not very surprising. Ultimately, Leake was traded to the Diamondbacks at last year’s trade deadline in a deal with the Seattle Mariners.
Leake will opt to go into free agency after this season after sitting out the 2020 season. It is a tough decision for any player to make, but at the end of the day, it’s ultimately best for Leake. This is a new reality that comes along with all of the new stipulations and changes that have been brought to the 2020 MLB season and this country during the COVID-19 outbreak.
