Ian Desmond, Colorado Rockies utility player and former Texas Ranger, has announced that he has decided to opt out of the 2021 season for now in an Instagram post. He does, however, indicate that he will “continue to train and watch how things unfold.”
Desmond, who opted out of the 2020 season as well, indicates that his desire to be with his family right now is “greater than my desire to go back and play baseball under these circumstances.” Obviously the COVID-19 pandemic is a big part of these circumstances — however, Desmond also would be in a bench role on a rebuilding team that just traded their franchise player and that has two of the best teams in baseball in their division.