Red Sox’s Collin McHugh: Playing amid coronavirus pandemic can't be 'mandatory'

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout and Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw have all publicly spoke out about the notion that MLB players would have to quarantine away from their families for multiple months to complete the 2020 season that's currently suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Collin McHugh went one step further when he suggested players uncomfortable with participating in MLB activities should be able to sit the season out. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, McHugh spoke with "The Fenway Rundown" podcast about the possibility some players may opt-out until they feel returning is safe:

"I’m a husband, I’m a father. There are many guys in the league with underlying conditions. With preexisting conditions, like diabetes and heart arrhythmias," McHugh said. "You look at our coaching staffs, there’s tons of guys over 65. Umpires, there’s a lot of guys over 65. When you’re talking about the risk factors here, there are going to be some guys who sincerely have to weigh the risks of what it’s going to take to come back versus staying at home."

McHugh, a former Astro who signed a one-year deal with Boston in early March, also said Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association can't make playing through a virus outbreak "mandatory" without the existence of a vaccine or proven treatment: 

"You can’t tell a guy you have to come play or else your roster spot is not going to be here when you come back. You can’t tell a guy to risk his life and the life of his family and the lives of anyone he chooses to be around to come play this game," McHugh said. "There’s probably going to have to be some waivers signed and whatever else you need to have done to make guys feel comfortable coming back. Then, MLB and the teams are going to have to do everything in their power so that we go about this in the best way possible and don’t just start playing games, but really set an example of how to do this, how to do it well and how to do it safely."

McHugh, 32, is married and has two sons.

Earlier this week, former MLB player and current podcaster Trevor Plouffe reported he has heard baseball wants to begin some version of the 2020 season on July 1. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic backed that story on Wednesday.

Neither MLB nor the MLB Players Association have confirmed any agreement as of May 6.