Report: Mets still have 'several unvaccinated players' headed into postseason stretch

It was hardly a secret as far back as April 2021 that members of the New York Mets showed, "hesitation," toward receiving one of the safe and available COVID-19 vaccines at that time. That apparently hasn't changed ahead of the upcoming postseason tournament, and it could become a problem if players who aren't considered fully vaccinated still can't travel to Canada for road games against the Toronto Blue Jays through all of October. 

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets, "still have multiple stars who remain unvaccinated," as of the middle of September. Heyman added that the "Mets had enough players so strongly against vaccination last year that a couple other Mets stars who were vaccinated acted reluctant to admit it publicly." 

The 90-55 Mets began Friday holding a one-game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East standings, while the 81-63 Blue Jays would be an American League wild-card team if the playoffs began today. Heyman notes that players only need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks in advance to play in Toronto, but time nevertheless is quickly running out. 

Back in July, Mets right-hander Chris Bassitt publicly lashed out at MLB's coronavirus protocols after he was scratched from a start and subsequently added to the COVID-19 injured list. 

"It’s ridiculous we’re still doing it," Bassitt said at that time. "Stop testing it. Stop acting like COVID is far worse than a lot of other things. I’m not trying to get too much into it, but I was never sick, never had a symptom. So, sitting out for two weeks or a week for zero symptoms, I don’t know." 

Certain Mets players will have to make what they may think is a difficult choice if the team advances deep in the NL bracket of the playoffs next month unless the Canadian government alters COVID-19 guidelines beforehand.