Arizona's Mike Leake Opts Out of Major League Baseball Return (Ryan Zimmerman, Too)
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
— CAA Baseball (@CAA_Baseball) June 29, 2020
