Robbie Ray doesn’t travel with Mariners to Toronto series

By IAN HARRISON

TORONTO (AP)-Sailors left-hander Robbie Ray did not join Seattle for a series in Toronto this week, missing out on a chance to celebrate the Cy Young Award he won with the Blue Jays last week. season amid border bans related to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Ray stood against the Mets in New York on Sunday, then remained in the U.S. while teammates traveled to Canada for the opening of the series on Monday.

There was no locker for Ray at the Mariners clubhouse in Toronto. Manager Scott Servais said Ray will rejoin the Boston team this Thursday for a four-game series against the Red Sox. He did not elaborate on the loss of the left hand.

To enter the country, the Canadian government requires a person to have received a second dose of COVID -19 vaccine – or a Johnson & Johnson dose – at least 14 days prior to entry.

Players who are on the banned list because they have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 are not paid and do not participate in major league service hours, according to a March agreement between Major League Baseball and the association’s player.

The agreement also stipulates that a pitcher who has placed at least four consecutive innings in a game cannot be replaced on the active roster unless three days have passed.

The Mariners took advantage of a May 12 day off to change their rotation so Ray started Sunday in New York, where he allowed five runs in six innings, improving to 4-3.

Ray went 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA and a career-long 248 strikeouts in 32 starts for Toronto last season, when professional athletes were not subject to COVID boundary regulations. -19.

Ray immediately signed a $ 115 million, five -year contract in Seattle in November. He would have lost $ 346,154 if he had been placed on the banned list because he was not eligible to join the Canadian team. Border exemptions for athletes expire in January.

The Mariners put Drew Steckenrider on the restricted list on Monday, a move that could cost the right-hander $ 51,099 of his $ 3.1 million salary. Steckenrider is 0-1 with two saves and a 4.85 ERA in 14 appearances in comfort. The series is the only regular time visiting Seattle in Toronto.

Seattle selected contract left-hander Roenis Elías from Triple-A Tacoma. He joined the Mariners at Citi Field on Sunday in anticipation of being added to the league’s active roster.

Elías signed a minor league contract with the Mariners on April 1. He previously stood for Seattle in 2014 and ’15, and also in 2018 and ’19. He also stood for Boston and Washington.

Elías, 33, last stood in the majors with the Nationals in 2019. He has a 4.30 ERA in one start and 10 appearances in Triple-A Tacoma, winning 11 and walking four of 14 2/3 innings.

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