Categories: NewsPhillies Beat with Destiny Lugardo

Matt Klentak doesn’t anticipate any Phillies players will opt out of 2020 season

Matt Klentak alongside Didi Gregorius, Zack Wheeler and Joe Girardi during a press conference in December at Citizens Bank Park. (Tim Kelly/Phillies Nation)

In a media session over Zoom Monday afternoon, Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said that no current Phillies players have informed him of their intentions to opt out of the 2020 season. He also anticipates that none will do so.

This comes just minutes after news broke that Diamondbacks veteran pitcher Mike Leake became the first known player to opt out of the 2020 season. His agent has released the following statement:

Players who are deemed high-risk have the opportunity to opt out of the 2020 season and receive both service time and pay. Players who live with high-risk individuals, including pregnant spouses, could also opt out but will not receive pay or service time.

Klentak also said in the meeting that he expects pitcher Zack Wheeler to leave the team at some point to attend the birth of his first child. His absence is not expected to be prolonged.

Destiny Lugardo

A lifelong native of Philadelphia, Destiny has been a contributor for Phillies Nation since January 2019 and was named Deputy Editorial Director in May 2020.