Coronavirus: Champion Nationals lose 2 as more players opting out of 2020 MLB season

William Hill sportsbook lists the Washington Nationals as longer shots at +1800 on the moneyline odds to repeat as World Series champions, which no team has done since the New York Yankees won a third straight Fall Classic in 2000. The Nats' chances of doing so got a little bit tougher late Monday with the news that franchise icon Ryan Zimmerman and starting pitcher Joe Ross were both opting out of the 2020 season as is their right.

Players who are considered "high risk" to the coronavirus for health reasons are able to opt-out yet still get paid and accrue service time. If the health risk involves not the player's health but a close family member's, then it's up to the individual team whether to pay said player. Zimmerman has a newborn baby and his mother has multiple sclerosis.

It's not clear if the Nationals will choose to pay Zimmerman, who was due $2.3 million in pro-rated salary for 60 regular-season games. Zimmerman debuted with the Nationals in their inaugural 2005 season – he was the team's first-ever draft pick -- and has never played anywhere else. The 35-year-old nearly retired after last season in which he was limited to 52 regular-season games and hit .257 with six homers and 27 RBIs.

Zimmerman had some huge hits in the postseason, though, including a three-run homer in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers to help tie the series at 2-2. He also homered in Game 1 of the World Series vs. Houston, which the Nats won by a run. Zimmerman was in the mix at both first base and DH this season – remember, NL teams will have the DH in every game. He says he plans to play again in 2021. Eric Thames likely will play first base most games now and Howie Kendrick will be at DH, although they can rotate.

Ross was penciled in as Washington's No. 5 starter. The 27-year-old right-hander was 4-4 with a 5.48 ERA in 64 innings last year and pitched in two postseason games with a 5.14 ERA. Ross didn't make public why he's opting out, but he has no obligation to do so. Both of his parents are in the medical field. Austin Voth likely will become the fifth starter.

Neither Zimmerman nor Ross are huge losses on their own, but team depth is going to be more important than ever this season with a 60-game sprint, especially pitching-wise, and the likelihood of multiple players per team missing time due to COVID-19. 

The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts Washington at 34.6 wins. William Hill lists the team with an Over-Under of 33. 

Other players who have opted out (continually updated)

Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake – Leake likely would have been Arizona's No. 5 starter. He was 12-11 with a 4.29 ERA last year in 32 starts with Seattle and Arizona. He was traded midseason from the Mariners to the desert.

Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond – The projected starting Colorado left fielder cited both the pandemic and racial issues inside and outside of the sport among his reasons for sitting out 2020. In addition, his wife is pregnant. Desmond hit .255 with 20 homers and 65 RBIs in 140 games with the Rockies in 2019. Sam Hilliard could be his primary replacement in left with Garrett Hampson and Ryan McMahon also in the mix. 

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