The progress toward further changes to New York City's private-sector vaccine mandate has inspired confidence that Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving could be back on the court for home games in the near future, and that the New York Yankees and Mets players who have not received the CO.
New York Mayor Eric Adams office has been working with health officials on a plan that would impact more people, not only unvaccinated, high-profile professional athletes in the area, sources said.
Adams said Tuesday that businesses have to wait until that layer comes, but sources believe a plan is progressing that could have Irving on the court as soon as next week.
The NBA play-in tournament begins on April 12 and the Mets home opener is on April 15.
The Nets, Yankees and Mets are waiting for the repeal of the private-employer mandate, which prevents employees from working in the office without vaccinations. Irving was unable to participate in games in New York City this season because of the mandate, because he has no intention of getting vaccine. Unvaccinated players on road teams can play in NBA and baseball games in New York.
The Yankees and Mets are at risk because MLB has the lowest vaccination rate of the four major sports in the U.S. Baseball officials have worked with the mayor's office and are cautiously optimistic about the mandate's removal, according to sources.
The teams and players are preparing for the worst. In a recent memo sent to agents of Yankees and Mets players on the teams' 40-man rosters, the MLB Players Association outlined the most severe consequences of being an unvaccinated player on either team: the potential to be placed on the restricted list.
If the mandate were to continue throughout the season, it would be devastating for any impending free agent. Baseball determines free agency by the amount of time spent on a major league roster. The Yankees star, who dodged questions about his vaccine status earlier this spring, is set to be a free agent after the 2022 season. If he spends less than 121 days on an active roster, his free agency would be delayed by a year.
The league and union agreed that Canadian entry rules would prevent unvaccinated baseball players from playing in Toronto. The Yankees play 10 games there.
Unless the mandate is lifted, unvaccinated Yankees or Mets will not be allowed to enter NYC Club facilities, which include the clubhouse, training rooms, weight rooms, hitting cages, and outdoor playing field areas.
The first home game of the Yankees is on April 7 and players who receive the vaccine by Thursday will be able to play. The final day for the Mets to get the J&J shot is April 1st, with the home opener not until April 15. The first shot of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be taken closer to opening day, with the expectation that the second dose would be received within 45 days.
Adams said that they were going to do it in the right way. We are going to make the right decision. In New York, no matter what you do, you are never going to satisfy New Yorkers, so you must go with the logic, your heart and the science.
Nick Friedell contributed to the report.
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