Masahiro Tanaka among Yankees waiting to see if MLB sends players home from spring training

MLB's latest memo banned group workouts to practice better "social distancing"

3/15/2020, 6:33 PM
Mar 8, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) tips his hat to the crowd as he is taken out during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports / Kim Klement
Mar 8, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) tips his hat to the crowd as he is taken out during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports / Kim Klement

Like every other team around the league, the Yankees will be affected by the latest memo MLB released regarding player and staff safety due to the coronavirus. 

The new protocols are banning group workouts at any facility, as the league wants teams to practice "social distancing" as best they can. Brett Gardner and DJ LeMahieu were among Yankees that got together on Saturday to put in work during an informal workout. 

But soon players on the 40-man roster may be told to leave the facility, just as minor leaguers have been instructed to do league-wide. The Yankees also have the first known coronavirus case in MLB in their system, as multiple reports say a minor leaguer tested positive and was quarantined on Friday. 

For now, though, players like Masahiro Tanaka will stay and wait. Newsday's Erik Boland spoke to Tanaka outside George M. Steinbrenner Field, where the veteran said he will stay in Tampa "for now" after tossing a bullpen. 

Zack Britton also discussed the Yankees' plans before the memo went down with The Post's Ken Davidoff, saying there was a normally scheduled off-day on Monday and then the team would get back into its normal routine on Tuesday. He added that a "vast majority" of the players were still at the facility. 

But, of course, that will all change now. The players and the rest of the league will be on standby waiting for the next wave of protocols that the league could release on Monday after a conference call between the commissioner's office and the clubs. 


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