Phillies

Arizona’s Mike Leake Opts Out of Major League Baseball Return (Ryan Zimmerman, Too)

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jun 29th, 2020 · 2:34 PM EDT

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Oh my God cancel the season!

Steve Gilbert was first:

Hearing that #Dbacks RHP Mike Leake will opt out of participating during the 2020 MLB season.

— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) June 29, 2020

Jeff Passan at ESPN shared a statement from Leake’s agent, explaining that the Diamondbacks’ pitcher took “countless factors into consideration, many of which are personal to him and his family.”

Leake is a 32-year-old veteran who would have been maybe the third or fourth starter behind Madison Bumgarner and Robbie Ray this season. He’s been a durable, league-average pitcher for a while now and was scheduled to make $5 million during the prorated portion of the year. Starting pitchers are in line to throw something like 12-13 games during a shortened, 60-game campaign.

EDIT –

Couple of Nats also opting out:

Can confirm that Nationals players Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross have opted out of the coming season.

— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) June 29, 2020

pic.twitter.com/xlWn1V9sLP

— CAA Baseball (@CAA_Baseball) June 29, 2020