PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mayor Eric Adams gained some critics with his controversial decision regarding New York City’s vaccine mandate. But he won’t find any of that backlash in the Mets clubhouse.
“It’s a good day for our fans and the city of New York,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said.
At least a couple of Mets players applauded Adams after he announced on Thursday at Citi Field that unvaccinated athletes and performers are exempt from the city’s vaccine mandate. Adams’ decision immediately impacts the Nets, as Kyrie Irving, who is unvaccinated, will be able to help Brooklyn at home in a playoff push. For the Mets, unvaccinated players will be able to play at home beginning April 15.
“When it comes to Eric Adams, he shows a lot of leadership,” said Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is vaccinated. “He listened to the people, and that’s what it’s all about. When you reign, you gotta listen to the people and then make the decision yourself. Doing that shows a lot of character.”
Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo echoed Lindor in his approval of Adams’ decision.
“I’m excited for all the fans of all New York teams — the Mets, the Yankees, the Nets,” Nimmo said. “Obviously, good for Kyrie to be able to play again for his team at home, and for all the performers as well to be able to come in. So I think ultimately we’re very thankful for the Mayor for his leadership, for being able to bring something I think is really good and positive back to New York City.”
When asked whether Adams’ decision poses as a double-standard for city workers who are unvaccinated and out of jobs, Lindor indicated Adams was placed in a difficult position.
“It’s really hard to please everybody,” Lindor said. “Especially how tough [COVID-19] was on New Yorkers. There was a lot of death and I’m sure there is still a lot of PTSD. So it’s tough for Adams to please everybody. I’m not in his shoes, but I appreciate that we are focusing on playing baseball. And I hope this is best for the city, the state, everything. This puts us in a better spot.”
The mandate, which was put into place in December by the Bill de Blasio administration, stated that all private employers require their employees to be vaccinated if they’re going to work in-person. It does not require unvaccinated athletes or performers from out-of-town to get the shot, a point which Mets reliever Adam Ottavino said was a double standard.
Nimmo believes the city’s vaccine mandate being lifted for athletes has created a more balanced system.
“I just know from the athletic standpoint, someone being able to come in and play on the same field, but be unvaccinated, and then just being penalized for being in New York, I think that was something that the Mayor wanted to even the playing field on,” Nimmo said. “So I know from that standpoint, he did end up leveling the playing field on that.”
Ottavino — who was born and raised in New York and still kept his home there even when he pitched for the Red Sox last season — said since he’s vaccinated, the mandate was never a concern for him.
“Obviously the landscape changed a little bit in the last several months where now, you got fans that are unvaccinated at the games, you got visiting players that are coming in that aren’t vaccinated,” Ottavino said. “So it seemed a little out of balance, in that regard. So it’s a kind of a double standard there. I’m glad we don’t have to worry about that as much. It’s trickier individually to kind of deal with those issues than it is to not have to worry about it if you’re vaccinated.”
Ottavino previously thought the mandate would continue to apply to athletes because making an exception would create more backlash for Adams.
“Once all the city workers got let go, I definitely see how that’s also a double standard and an issue that maybe the Mayor is going to have to figure out how to rectify that, and what to do with that,” Ottavino said. “I mean, it just sucks. I don’t know any other way to put it. I’m glad I don’t have to make those decisions. I feel bad for anybody that’s affected by something that maybe didn’t need to be.”
The Mets last season were one of the few MLB teams that did not reach the 85% vaccination threshold among Tier 1 employees (players and staff) that would’ve relaxed COVID-19 protocols. It is unclear how many Mets players are still unvaccinated, as there has been a significant amount of turnover to the active roster this past offseason.
Though the Yankees must continue dealing with potential playing-time restrictions, due to Toronto’s vaccine mandate and the Blue Jays playing in the AL East, the Mets do not face the Blue Jays in the regular season. The earliest the Mets could potentially play in Toronto is during the World Series, which will take place at the end of October. While the Mets stacked their roster with win-now expectations, players are not exactly looking that far ahead.
“I don’t know what would happen in that situation,” Nimmo said. “But let’s hope that we’re in the World Series and if it happens to be Toronto, then we’ll deal with that situation when we get there. Let’s hope that we get there first.”
