San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants announced Tuesday they have suspended workouts while they await results of their latest COVID-19 tests.

This has become an issue across the league, as the Houston Astros, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals were all forced to cancel workouts Monday because they did not receive their results in time, according to Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated.

MLB announced 31 players and seven staff members tested positive for the coronavirus upon initial testing when all teams arrived to camp July 1, but Apstein noted 10 teams hadn't finished testing when that announcement was made. Nine clubs still had not completed testing by Sunday.

The league has issued protocols that include testing for all players every other day during summer camp, but several teams are behind.

Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant said some players weren't tested again for seven days after arriving, causing him to be uncomfortable about playing, per Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic.

Even when players have been tested, there have been issues with the lack of timely results.

"Major League Baseball needs to work quickly to resolve issues with their process and their lab," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement Monday, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. "Otherwise, summer camp and the 2020 season are at risk."

San Francisco is slated to begin its season July 23 against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

The San Francisco Giants announced two more members of their organization tested positive for COVID-19.

The team didn't specify whether the positive tests came from the active roster or front office/coaching staff.

Right-hander Luis Madero and outfielder Hunter Bishop were the first two players from the Giants to test positive.

MLB acknowledged some teams experienced delays in getting the results of COVID-19 tests back over the weekend, which impacted their ability to work out on Monday.

Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said the team wasn't among those impacted by the issue.

"Everybody out on the field for us, all those players, have completed intake screening," he said, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman. "We had everybody report before Friday. It sounds like from what I've read that some of the tests from Friday, which were intake tests for some teams, have not come back yet."

MLB announced Friday it had registered 3,185 total tests as part of its mandatory intake screening. Thirty-one players and seven team employees had tested positive from the group.

ESPN's Marly Rivera noted teams are prohibited from publicly identifying any players who contracted the coronavirus. Rivera shared a comment from New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who said reporters "will be left to try to figure that out."

While the Texas Rangers confirmed that 2019 All-Star Joey Gallo had tested positive, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan wrote they only did so after receiving permission from Gallo.

After an unflattering photo of the veteran third baseman made the rounds online, San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler downplayed any weight-related issues for Pablo Sandoval heading into the 2020 MLB season.

Sandoval didn't earn the nickname "Kung Fu Panda" because of his svelte physique. Still, The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly raised some eyebrows with this picture Saturday:

Kapler addressed the photo Sunday and said Sandoval "demonstrated that he's healthy," per the Associated Press (via ESPN):

"I think what we're always looking for: Is Pablo able to do the things necessary for him to be a good baseball player? I think it's understandable that in today's world we focus on weight. I get it, and sometimes body shapes and sizes. In this particular case, what we've all noticed about Pablo is the ball's jumping off his bat and his throws have nice carry."

This isn't an uncommon occurrence during spring training or preseason preparations. Players are still working themselves into shape, and one bad angle can skew the reality of how a player actually looks.

Having said that, Kapler's comments call to mind how "best shape of my life" has become one of baseball's preseason staples.

Ultimately, sports are a results-oriented business, so any narratives about Sandoval's weight will hinge largely on how he performs at the plate.

It wasn't a big deal when he was making back-to-back All-Star Games in 2011 and 2012 and winning three World Series titles with the Giants—earning World Series MVP in 2012.

But Sandoval's belt breaking during a 2016 at-bat against the Toronto Blue Jays symbolized a disappointing two-and-a-half-year run with the Boston Red Sox.

Sandoval is coming off a bounce-back 2019 campaign. He had 14 home runs, 41 RBI and a .507 slugging percentage in 108 games with San Francisco. His weight is unlikely to be much of an issue if that performance carries over into 2020.

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey didn't rule out the possibility of opting out of the 2020 MLB season Saturday.

According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, Posey said the following when asked whether he is considering opting out: "Yeah. Definitely. I think there's still some reservation on my end as well. I want to see how things progress over the next couple weeks. It would be ... naive or silly not to gauge what's going on around you."

Per Baggarly, Posey added: "There's no way we can give a hard-line answer to what this will look like a week from now."

MLB players reported to training camp this week in their respective cities in preparation for the scheduled start of the 2020 season on July 23. The season was originally slated to begin in late March, but it was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, and a decision regarding the season wasn't made until recently when MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred set a 60-game schedule.

Major League Baseball announced Friday that 31 players tested positive for COVID-19 during its first round of testing. Staff members were also tested, resulting in a grand total of 38 positive tests out of 3,185, which is a rate of 1.2 percent.

A handful of players have already announced that they are opting out of the 2020 season. So far, those players are Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake and Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond.

One high-profile player who seems to be weighing his options like Posey is three-time American League MVP and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout.

Trout's wife, Jessica Cox, is pregnant and due in August. He told reporters the following on a Zoom call Friday:

"We're playing it by ear. I think the biggest thing is this is our first child. I've got to be there. If I test positive, I can't see the baby for 14 days. We would be upset. I've got to keep Jess safe. I've got to keep the baby safe. ... I try to talk to my wife every night about this. I know I'm risking myself. I could meet somebody and get this virus. That's the last thing I want to do.

"I love baseball. I love playing this game. We all want to play. It's going to come down to how safe we are going to be. If there's an outbreak or something happens these next few weeks, we've got to reconsider."

The 33-year-old Posey is San Francisco's best-known and most accomplished player. He is a six-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger award winner, one-time Gold Glove award winner and one-time batting champion. He was also the National League MVP in 2012.

Posey was a key part of the Giants' three World Series championship teams in 2010, 2012 and 2014 as well.

While Posey is of great importance to the franchise, his numbers have dipped significantly in recent years. Last season, he hit a career-worst .257 with just seven home runs and 38 RBI.

Even so, Posey is an asset because of his leadership and experience, and his absence will be felt by the Giants if he decides to sit out in 2020.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija took a shot at MLB owners Friday when asked about the possibility of playing games this season without fans in attendance. 

According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, Samardzija said: "I wouldn't put the carriage before the horse. I think we've seen from the owners they're not afraid to put anyone at risk, especially if it makes them money."

The 2020 MLB season is set to start July 23 amid the coronavirus pandemic with each team playing a 60-game schedule. No final decision has been made regarding whether any or all teams will be allowed to have fans in the stands for games.

The MLB and MLBPA had contentious negotiations in recent months regarding plans to hold the 2020 season. There were times when it seemed the season may be canceled because of their inability to get on the same page.

MLB rejected the players' final proposal of a 70-game season with full prorated salaries, which resulted in MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred setting the schedule himself. While he did institute full prorated salaries, he set a 60-game schedule, which was MLB's final proposal.

Several protocols have been put in place in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among players, coaches, umpires and other essential personnel.

Some of the protocols include regular COVID-19 testing for players, coaches and umpires, social distancing in locker rooms, the elimination of lineup card exchanges and the isolation of players during road trips.

Teams will have to travel during the season, but they are only scheduled to face divisional opponents and opponents from the corresponding division in the opposite league, meaning, for example, the New York Yankees will only face AL East and NL East opponents to cut down on travel as much as possible.

Allowing fans to attend games would be an added risk, although it would also represent a significant financial boost for MLB since the bulk of its revenue this season is set to come from television deals.

The 35-year-old Samardzija is set to enter his 13th MLB season overall and his fifth as a member of the Giants.

Samardzija is coming off a solid 2019 season, as he went 11-12 with a 3.52 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 181.1 innings pitched.

Little is expected of the Giants in 2020 after going 77-85 last season, but even with a suspect lineup, they have a chance to be a surprise team as a result of the truncated schedule.

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi didn't mince words Thursday when it came to his thoughts on Scottsdale, Arizona, city council member Guy Phillips.

In an interview with Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, Zaidi didn't hold back in his criticism of Phillips after the councilman's actions at an anti-mask rally Wednesday: "I mean f--k that guy. You can quote me on that. F--k that guy."

At the rally, Phillips wore a mask at first and then said, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe." Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey called Phillips' actions "despicable," as he mimicked the final words of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis on May 25 while in police custody when Officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee pressed against the back of his neck for nearly nine minutes.

The Giants' spring training site is located in Scottsdale, and they are in the process of building a new $50.6 million complex that is expected to provide a major boost to the city's economy.

Zaidi expanded on why he took such issue with what Phillips did, as well as the cause he was representing:

"I think anyone would have difficulty getting beyond the abhorrent insensitivity of his statement. But even if you can get beyond that—the fact that this guy is condoning behavior that put our staff and players at risk? Like, seriously. F--k that guy. I can't believe that that guy is a public official in this country. It's unbelievable."

Given the climate, Zaidi noted that he and other higher-ups in the Giants organization plan to discuss what Phillips did and said, although he didn't divulge whether the team might use its influence to force some changes in Scottsdale: "I know we'll have some internal conversations about that. I don't know how you could watch that and not be angry about it. And angry may be too simple a term. As for what recourse we have, I wouldn't want to speak to that. But I'm f--king pissed about it. And I know I speak for a lot of people when I say that."

The wearing of masks in public places has become commonplace during the coronavirus pandemic in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but there was been some push back from some citizens and public officials.

Phillips' actions came at a time when COVID-19 cases and deaths are spiking in Arizona. That fact has impacted MLB's plans to prepare for the 2020 season.

Teams were originally supposed to hold their camps at their spring training sites in Arizona and Florida, but all of them were shut down after multiple teams reported positive COVID-19 test for players and staff members.

Instead, teams will hold their training camps in their home cities as they get ready for a 60-game season that will begin next month.

The stands at Oracle Park will look a bit different when the San Francisco Giants play their home games this year. 

In a letter to season-ticket holders Thursday, per ESPN, the team announced fans will not be permitted to physically be in the seats due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the Giants will let fans submit pictures of themselves to be placed on cutouts that will fill the stadium rather than leave the stands empty. 

Season-ticket holders can submit their photos at no cost, while non-season-ticket holders can pay $99 to submit their images to help fill the park. 

The team says the cutouts will be made of weatherproof material, and season-ticket holders will have theirs placed as close to their seats as possible. 

San Francisco will be playing 30 home games this year as part of MLB's restart plan. The team will face each National League West opponent ten times while facing American League West teams for an additional four games each to make up the schedule. 

The season is slated to begin either July 23 or July 24, per MLB.  

The San Francisco Giants are reportedly interested in signing veteran outfielder Yasiel Puig, according to Jim Bowden of CBS Sports. 

According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, the transactions freeze that was put in place while the season was on hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to be lifted Friday at noon ET. That means free agents like Puig will be free to sign with teams at that point. 

Puig is the biggest name on the market, so it won't be surprising if other teams have some interest in his services as well. And signing in San Francisco would make for a fascinating pairing, to say the least. Puig isn't exactly well-liked by Giants fans.

As NBC Bay Area wrote in its list of "Giants' top five most hated opponents in recent history" (Puig came in at No. 2):

"Early in his career, he became the enemy of Madison Bumgarner, one of the best and most popular players in franchise history, and Puig fully embraced his role in that rivalry. He even managed to get under Nick Hundley's skin somehow. Puig is the most booed player at Oracle Park over the last decade and it's not even close..."

But the Giants also need power from the right side of the plate and an upgrade in the outfield. Puig, as unpopular as he might be in San Francisco, would check both boxes. 

The 29-year-old hit .267 with 24 homers, 84 RBI and 76 runs between Cleveland and the Cincinnati Reds last season. Puig would have led the 2019 Giants in homers and been second in RBI.  

Pitcher Mike McCormick, who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1956-71, died Saturday at the age of 81 due to Parkinson's disease. 

The Giants gave McCormick a $50,000 signing bonus in 1956 when he was 17 years old. MLB rules at the time required players who received a bonus to stay on the MLB roster for two years. 

McCormick went right from high school to the big leagues, making MLB debut in September 1956 with the New York Giants at 17 years old, making him the youngest player in the National League that season. 

After posting a 4.58 ERA in his first three seasons, McCormick came into his own with four career All-Star selections. He led the NL with a 2.70 ERA in 1960 and was named the NL Cy Young winner in 1967. 

McCormick played for five teams throughout his career. He spent 11 years with the Giants, but also spent time with the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees. 

The Giants inducted McCormick into their Wall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 2008. He went 134-128 with a 3.73 ERA in 484 career MLB games. 

San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria threw a public jab at Major League Baseball after the league office released a statement saying it was "disappointed" the players' association walked away from the bargaining table.

"I just want to get paid for every game that we are out there. It's simple," Longoria tweeted.

MLB has sent the players a number of proposals to resume the sport, all of which call on them to take a significant pay cut beyond the prorated salary they agreed to in March. The players have responded with counters of their own, which call for them to be paid their full salaries for games played.

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark released a statement Saturday, saying the players' attempts at negotiating have fallen on "deaf ears": 

"Players want to play. It's who we are and what we do. Since March, the Association has made it clear that our No.1 focus is playing the fullest season possible, as soon as possible, as safely as possible. Players agreed to billions in monetary concessions as a means to that end, and in the face of repeated media leaks and misdirection we made additional proposals to inject new revenues into the industry -- proposals that would benefit the owners, players, broadcast partners, and fans alike.

"It's now become apparent that these efforts have fallen upon deaf ears. In recent days, owners have decried the supposed unprofitability of owning a baseball team and the Commissioner has repeatedly threatened to schedule a dramatically shortened season unless players agree to hundreds of millions in further concessions. Our response has been consistent that such concessions are unwarranted, would be fundamentally unfair to players, and that our sport deserves the fullest 2020 season possible. These remain our positions today, particularly in light of new reports regarding MLB's national television rights -- information we requested from the league weeks ago but were never provided.

"As a result, it unfortunately appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile. It's time to get back to work. Tell us when and where."

MLB's response statement said it was "disappointed" in the players for not negotiating in "good faith" to come to an agreement. The league says its March agreement was contingent on fans being in the stands, which is an impossibility with COVID-19 still increasing in several states.

The impasse between the two sides has alienated swaths of fans, who have seen other major professional sports leagues quickly agree to loose terms on their potential returns. The NFL, NBA and NHL all have collective bargaining agreements that guarantee players and owners a certain slice of the revenue pie; MLB does not.

That means ownership gets to reap the benefits when revenues exceed expectations. However, they are fighting back against potential losses due to the pandemic—ones the players dispute. The MLBPA has asked teams to open their books to show proof of financial hardship, and they have yet to do so.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has the power to dictate terms of a season to the players, as they would be violating the CBA if they chose to strike.