Players threaten to opt-out if Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac return

Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac’s own teammates don’t want them back, which makes it nearly impossible for the team to do anything but trade them.

The arrogance that Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac have brought to this situation has made a return to the Cleveland Indians almost impossible at this point. With teammates reportedly upset at the two starters, there was at least one threatening to opt-out (reported to be standout reliever, Oliver Perez). With that type of anger, there isn’t a way to bring back Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac. Not without angering the team and causing more issues than there needs to be.

Not so shockingly, it wasn’t the duo leaving the hotel that angered teammates most, it was the lying. Both Plesac and Clevinger attempted to sneak back into the building late the following morning. Plesac got caught, Clevinger didn’t. Clevinger then lied the entire day and got on the team jet to fly back to Cleveland; potentially putting many at risk, including Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco has a compromised immune system following treatment for leukemia last year.

While Perez was the only player who apparently made it known he’d opt-out, he apparently wasn’t the only one who’d consider it if Plesac and Clevinger were allowed back. Several other players are on board as well with forgoing the rest of the year. That’s not at all surprising, as Clevinger and Plesac committed a serious act of betrayal. They know that guys like Carrasco are at high risk, they know their manager, Terry Francona, is at high risk. Yet, they still dared to put them at risk for steak, beer, and trading cards.

They’ve already seen one coach opt-out just because of what he saw happening around the league, not even with the Tribe. What would happen to this team had both men tested positive or spread the disease to others?  To survive and thrive this season, it’s going to have to be a situation of what is more important; bringing back two men who don’t know how to obey the rules or respect the wishes of the team who want them gone.

There is no debate about Plesac and Clevinger. The MLB and the Cleveland Indians organization set down rules. Plesac and Clevinger deliberately and knowingly broke those rules. Then they lied about it. In the case of Clevinger, he didn’t even apologize. In the case of Plesac, he tried to claim he didn’t violate any CDC guidelines, ergo he didn’t do anything wrong.

Their Tribe teammates seem to disagree.