Toronto Blue Jays talking to Pirates, other teams about sharing park

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays are talking to several teams about sharing a major league ballpark this season after Canada's government barred Toronto from playing in its home stadium amid the coronavirus pandemic, general manager Ross Atkins said Monday.

"We would much rather be in a major league facility," Atkins said.

He declined to identify the teams but said the Blue Jays have more than five contingency plans.

The Pittsburgh Pirates acknowledged they were one of the teams Monday.

"In an effort to help in the return of the game we all love, we continue to have active discussions with Major League Baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays organization regarding the possibility of hosting home games for the Blue Jays at PNC Park this season,"  Pirates president Travis Williams said in a statement. "This will be a monumental challenge for our staff, but leaning in to help others is what Pittsburghers do best.

"If we are able to safely accommodate, not only will it bring additional international attention to our city, it will also bring with it jobs and revenue for local hotels, restaurants and other businesses that will support the Blue Jays organization as well as additional visiting teams."

Canada denied the Blue Jays' request to play at Rogers Centre because the regular-season schedule would require frequent travel back and forth from the United States, where COVID-19 cases are surging.

Atkins said if the Blue Jays can't find a major league park, their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, New York, would be their most likely site for home games.

Atkins said health and safety is the priority, so the ability to socially distance without compromising other teams' ability to socially distance is important.

Toronto begins the season at Tampa Bay on Friday and is scheduled to play its first home game on July 29 against defending champion Washington.

The team had been considering playing home games at its training facility in Dunedin, Florida, which is among the states that are virus hot spots, or Sahlen Field in Buffalo, just across the Niagara River from Canada. Players have told management they want to be in a major league park.

Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said Saturday that player health is a concern in Florida. He said the team has spent more time examining Buffalo in recent days but said the stadium has numerous infrastructure challenges.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.