Rob Manfred doesn't think Marlins' outbreak is 'nightmare' situation for MLB, as positive COVID-19 tests grow

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Marlins postpone season opener after players test positive for coronavirus

Reaction from sports reporter Jason Page and Fox News medical contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat.

An outbreak of COVID-19 within the Miami Marlins isn’t a “nightmare” situation, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday.

Manfred addressed the situation on MLB Network after 14 players and staff members on the Marlins tested positive for the virus, prompting the team to postpone the home opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night.

MARLINS’ HOME OPENER POSTPONED AFTER SEVERAL PLAYERS, COACHES TEST POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS

"I don't put this in the nightmare category," he said. "We don't want any player to get exposed. It's not a positive thing, but I don't see it as a nightmare.”

He continued: “We built the protocols to allow us to continue to play. That's why we have the expanded rosters. That's why we have the expanded pools of additional players. We think we can keep people safe and continue to play."

But perhaps Manfred spoke too soon.

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On Tuesday, The Athletic reported that four more players tested positive, bringing the total number to 17 positive cases.

The growing number of cases could signal trouble for the Marlins, an issue Manfred said would have to be addressed when it actually happens.

"A team losing a number of players that rendered it completely non-competitive would be an issue that we would have to address and have to think about making a change -- whether that was shutting down the part of a season, the whole season, that depends on the circumstances," he said.

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He continued, "The same thing with respect to league-wide. You get to a certain point league-wide where it does become a health threat and we certainly would shut down at that point."

The team was criticized after it was revealed that they decided to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, despite learning that three players had tested positive.