Our Noticias, 6/22/20: COVID-19 threat; welcome inside “The Clubhouse”

Stuck between a grievance and a hard place

I’m guilty of being too optimistic (again). MLB players were indeed “on the cusp of voting” Sunday afternoon on the league’s 60-game/full pro-rata salary proposal for the 2020 season, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. But that’s been briefly put on hold as they consider all the repercussions.

Players and staff members from at least 10 different MLB teams have tested positive for COVID-19 since everything was suspended in mid-March, according to Jon Heyman. The current protocols for training safely clearly aren’t airtight. That has pressured MLB to close all of its Arizona/Florida spring facilities and reassess how to prevent outbreaks moving forward. As a result, the recently proposed July 19 date for Opening Day is no longer considered realistic.

Looming over this situation, the players’ union can retain its right to file a grievance against the league by simply refusing to compromise, allowing commissioner Rob Manfred to implement the season’s rules in the hopes of recouping lost wages later.

Welcome inside “The Clubhouse”

Initially teased more than one month ago, we finally have the debut episode of “The Clubhouse,” a series of interviews hosted by Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas. Here he speaks with right-hander Sterling Sharp and outfielder Monte Harrison about being multi-sport athletes, anticipating their rookie seasons and more.

All future episodes will be available on this YouTube playlist.

Pending transaction details

None of the 2020 Marlins draft picks have officially signed yet. When they do, their signing bonuses will appear in the MLB Draft tracker. Signing deadline is Aug. 1.

The Marlins haven’t added to their undrafted free agent group since Wednesday, When they do, I’ll have the details here. Still missing the catcher that director of amateur scouting DJ Svihlik admitted to be targeting.

At least 30 Marlins minor leaguers were released last week, but we don’t have their names. I’m counting on Baseball America to report on them by Thursday at the latest.

The only thing we can control is that Fish Stripes will be recording a new podcast episode tonight! Please comment with any topics you’d like for us to discuss.

Walk-off links

• You have until 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday to enter the Miami Marlins Foundation 50/50 raffle. It benefits the Home Plate Meals Relief Fund.
• Brian Anderson baseball cards, anybody? Contact Zac Ference on Twitter to coordinate a sale.

• Speaking of Twitter, Francisco Oporta has acquired the @MarlinsHistory handle, where he will be “tracking the history of Marlins baseball in South Florida from 1956 to now.”
• For the first time since their inception, the Marlins didn’t have a scheduled game to play on Father’s Day. But you can go to YouTube to rewatch their most recent win on the holiday. Via the team’s official social media accounts, the adorable children of active Marlins players expressed appreciation for their dads.

• Here’s more from Daniel Álvarez Montes on the relationship between Rojas and his son Aarón (in Spanish).