This is always a stressful time of year for Major League BaseballB次元官网网址檚 30 general managers, who are evaluating talent, juggling financial implications and trying to figure out ways to make their teams better as TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 trade deadline approaches.

Now thereB次元官网网址檚 another factor in the wheeling-and-dealing calculus B次元官网网址� COVID-19 vaccination status.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 certainly one of the things thatB次元官网网址檚 new that you didnB次元官网网址檛 have to think about,B次元官网网址� Pirates GM Ben Cherington said. B次元官网网址淚 think every team obviously wants to feel that the full complement of their roster is available to play, but weB次元官网网址檙e in a new world and thereB次元官网网址檚 personal choices.B次元官网网址�

Those personal choices matter because MLBB次元官网网址檚 COVID-19 rules affect all 30 teams differently.

Arizona Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said the vaccine status of players was affecting trade talks B次元官网网址渢o some degreeB次元官网网址� but didnB次元官网网址檛 believe it would be a deciding factor in many deals, particularly for teams that donB次元官网网址檛 have to travel to Canada in the near future.

Hazen added that vaccine status is part of a playerB次元官网网址檚 medical file, so there shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be any secrets, since teams are free to discuss those details.

As the only MLB team located in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays have by far the toughest constraints. Foreign nationals who arenB次元官网网址檛 vaccinated against COVID-19 are not allowed to enter Canada, save for limited exceptions that require a 14-day quarantine.

Unvaccinated players are placed on the restricted list, where they are not paid and do not accrue major league service time.

That means any upgrades for the Blue Jays B次元官网网址� who are right in the middle of the American League playoff race B次元官网网址� will almost certainly have to be vaccinated. It also means teams traveling to Toronto for the rest of the regular season have to consider if theyB次元官网网址檙e willing to add a player who might miss a crucial series.

The Yankees, Guardians, Rays, Orioles, Red Sox, Angels and Cubs all play games in Toronto after the Aug. 2 deadline. Toronto GM Ross Atkins declined an interview request through a team spokesman.

Several teams have gone to Canada this season without some of their best players. The Kansas City Royals were the most extreme example, losing 10 players ahead of their trip north of the U.S. border.

Several of those players B次元官网网址� including hitters Andrew Benintendi and Whit Merrifield B次元官网网址� have reportedly been the subjects of trade talks. Benintendi was traded to the Yankees last week. Merrifield, a two-time All-Star, says to get the vaccine if it means playing postseason games in Toronto.

Unless all those unvaccinated players change their minds, it sure seems like a home-field advantage for the Blue Jays. They are 34-21 in Toronto and just 23-24 on the road this season.

Missing regular season games is problematic, but the playoffs are even more important.

The Blue Jays are on track to make the postseason, so theoretically, the road to a World Series title could go through Canada. For a team like the Yankees, it would put them at a sizable disadvantage.

Benintendi has said heB次元官网网址檇 consider getting vaccinated.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 open minded about it,B次元官网网址� Benintendi said after the trade. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not against it, but time will tell as we get closer, but for now IB次元官网网址檓 just focused on getting here, getting comfortable, getting to know the guys and winning baseball games.B次元官网网址�

ThereB次元官网网址檚 also the possibility that CanadaB次元官网网址檚 COVID-19 restrictions continue into the coming years, which could affect long-term deals. The hypotheticals are nearly endless.

Of course, thereB次元官网网址檚 also a chance the Blue Jays fall out of the playoff race and none of the immediate doomsday scenarios come into play. Many have taken the position of Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who said he hadnB次元官网网址檛 discussed vaccines with Benintendi in the immediate aftermath of the July 27 trade.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l cross that bridge if and when we have to,B次元官网网址� Boone said.

___

AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh and freelancer Scott Orgera in New York contributed to this story.

David Brandt, The Associated Press

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