Report: MLB Players Without COVID-19 Vaccine Can't Play vs. Blue Jays in Toronto

Unvaccinated MLB players reportedly won't be able to enter Canada for games against the Toronto Blue Jays barring a change in the country's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for visitors before the 2022 season.

Sportsnet's Shi Davidi and Ben Nicholson-Smith reported Friday the situation was discussed during lockout talks between MLB and the MLB Players Association but that no action was taken before the sides agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday, ending a 99-day stalemate.

Unvaccinated players will be placed on the restricted list for games in Toronto, which means they'll miss out on pay and service time.

When Canada announced in February that it would ease travel requirements, it kept in place a ban on unvaccinated foreign nationals crossing the border.

Meanwhile, many countries had eased COVID-19 restrictions after two years of lockdowns and other measures.

While the nature of MLB's conversations with the MLBPA about the issue is unclear, it could have been related to whether players would be paid for missed games. And that could still be addressed before the season starts.

MLB put a vaccine mandate in place ahead of last year's playoffs for team employees. No such rules existed for players, and the league hasn't announced COVID-19-related rules heading into the 2022 season.

The NFL and NFL Players Association recently agreed to suspend COVID-19 protocols, saying operations would return to pre-pandemic standards.

MLB schedule details are still being finalized following the conclusion of the lockout.

The Blue Jays' first home series is set for April 8-10 against the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre.