Robbie Ray doesn’t go with sailors to the Toronto series

Toronto, ONT – Sailor left-hander Robbie Ray is not joining Seattle for a series in Toronto this week, losing the chance to celebrate the Sai Young Award he won with the Blue Jays last season amid border restrictions related to the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Sunday in New York, Ray played against the Mets and then stayed in the US, while teammates traveled to Canada for the start of the series on Monday.

The Toronto Sailors Club did not have a locker for Ray. Manager Scott Servais said Ray will rejoin the team in Boston on Thursday in a four-game series against the Red Sox. He did not specify the absence of the left-hander.

To enter the country, the Canadian government requires a person to receive a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine – or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson – at least 14 days before entry.

Under the March agreement between the Major League Baseball and the Players Association, players who are banned because they are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are not paid or accrued time in the Major League.

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The agreement also stipulates that a pitcher who has made at least four innings in a row in the game cannot be replaced on the active roster unless three days have passed.

The Sailors took advantage of the weekend of May 12 to change their rotation, so Ray started Sunday in New York City, where he allowed five runs in six innings, increasing the score to 4-3.

Ray went 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA and 248 strikeouts in 32 starts in Toronto last season when professional athletes were exempted from the COVID-19 border rules.

Ray then signed a $ 115 million five-year contract with Seattle in November. He would have lost $ 346,154 if he had been included in the restricted rights list for not having the right to accompany the team to Canada. In January, the border benefits for athletes ended.

On Monday, the Sailors did add Drew Steckenrider to the list of restricted rights, which could cost more than $ 51,099 from his $ 3.1 million salary. Steckenrider – 0-1 with two saves and a 4.85 ERA in 14 highlights. The series is Seattle’s only visit to Toronto in the regular season.

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Seattle have chosen a contract with left-hander Ronis Elias of Triple-A Tacoma. On Sunday, he joined the Mariners at City Field, awaiting joining the active list of the major leagues.

On April 1, Elias signed a contract in the lower league with the Mariners. He previously played for Seattle in 2014 and 2015, as well as in 2018 and 2019. He also advocated for Boston and Washington.

The 33-year-old Elias last competed in the major competitions with the national team in 2019. He had a 4.30 ERA for one start and 10 relief appearances in the Triple-A Tacoma, striking out 11 and knocking out four in 14 2/3 innings.

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