The City of Pittsburgh May Have A Winning MLB Team: The Toronto Blue Jays (Update)

Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae says it’s official, the Toronto Blue Jays will play 2020 home games in Pittsburgh at PNC Park after Canada told the club it wouldn’t be allowed to play games at the Skydome or whatever they call that place these days.

Besides the Canadian government saying ‘no’ to MLB games in Toronto this season, there was also a concern about players and the Canadian Quarantine Act. Blue Jays players were reportedly warned they would be fined $750,000 and face possible jail time if they broke the act.

The state of Pennsylvania still has to approve of the plan, but one has to believe this was all worked out behind closed doors or the Jays and Pirates wouldn’t have announced an agreement. Expect a few politicians to use the opportunity to call a press conference to announce they’ll allow the Blue Jays into their city, but they’ll have to play by the political rules.

Update: the Pennsylvania Department of Health said no. That’s right, denied.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced today that it will not allow the Toronto Blue Jays to play their shortened 2020 season at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

— P.J. ZIEGLER (@PJFOX8) July 22, 2020

Can confirm the Blue Jays have been told they will be calling PNC Park “home” this season per MLB source. @longleysunsport was first to suggest Pittsburgh as option.

— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) July 22, 2020

Pro sports in 2020: The Blue Jays will play home games in Pittsburgh while the Penguins play home games in Toronto.

— Ken Warren (@Citizenkwarren) July 21, 2020

Pittsburgh Blue Jays pic.twitter.com/3JF05LN0N0

— Brett Light (@brighttlight17) July 21, 2020