COVID-19 protocols sideline more Astros players
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Five days before breaking camp, the Astros are again saddled with COVID-19 concerns, stalling construction of their opening day roster and inviting worry whether their starting center fielder will be available for the season-opener.
Myles Straw, Abraham Toro and Garrett Stubbs are away from the club due to what the team is calling “health and safety protocols.” On Saturday, a person with knowledge of the team’s situation told the Chronicle there is a presumed positive test keeping the trio in isolation and, possibly, off of the opening day roster.
On Sunday, manager Dusty Baker said the team hoped Straw, Stubbs and Toro could be cleared by Monday or Tuesday. Baker also acknowledged opening day could be in jeopardy for all three.
“It’s always a possibility, yeah,” Baker said when asked if the trio could miss opening day. “But don’t speculate. We’re hoping to find out tomorrow or Tuesday.”
The presumed positive test must be confirmed, according to a person with knowledge of the team’s situation. If it is, close contact of the positive case may face a mandatory seven-day, according to the league’s operations manual. Presuming that isolation began on Saturday, all three players would be absent for opening day on April 1 against the A’s.
Major League Baseball’s operations manual defines two types of contacts to COVID-19 positives: close contacts and “extra scrutiny contacts.” The league defines extra scrutiny contacts as individuals “not determined to be close contacts but still had some significant interaction with the infected individual.”
Close contacts must quarantine for seven days, according to the league’s operations manual. Extra scrutiny contacts can continue working, but only if they test negative for the virus and are completely asymptomatic. Extra scrutiny contacts must quarantine until results of their tests arrive.
It is unknown which of the three Astros fall into what category. Missing Straw would leave the Astros without their starting center fielder — and no clear replacement for him on the 40-man roster.
The only other true outfielder on Houston’s roster, Chas McCormick, profiles as a corner outfielder. The Astros have played right fielder Kyle Tucker in center late in Grapefruit League play, too, including on Saturday when Straw was scratched from the lineup. McCormick played center field during a ‘B’ game on Sunday against the Marlins.
Non-roster invitee Jose Siri is a true center fielder, and viewed as an elite defender, but not on the Astros’ 40-man roster. The club has a full 40-man with no obvious candidates to designate for assignment, a roster crunch that is only complicating these matters.
Baker intimated on Sunday that general manager James Click is exploring outside help for both the outfield and pitching staff, scanning the waiver wires for players who were cut by other teams across the spot as opening day nears.