Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond announced in an Instagram post on Monday that he will opt out of the 2020 season due to concerns about the safety of his family in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Desmond, an 11-year Big League veteran, signed a five-year, $70 million contract with Colorado prior to the 2017 season and has generally disappointed with slow production since joining the club.
While 2020 could have been an opportunity for the veteran to have a bounceback season, he announced in his Instagram post that he simply did not feel comfortable with returning to work. This means that Colorado will not be forced to pay the contract money which he is owed this season.
“With a pregnant wife and four young children who have lots of questions about what’s going on in the world, home is where I need to be right now,” Desmond stated in the post. “Home for my wife, Chelsey. Home to help. Home to guide. Home to answer my older three boys’ questions about Coronavirus and Civil Rights and life. Home to be their Dad.”
The Florida native, who hit .255 with 20 home runs for the Rockies in 2019, will instead look to the 2021 season to rejoin his team.
