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The Tampa Bay Rays are planning furloughs for some of their full-time employees because of the coronavirus pandemic, a source told Fred Goodall of The Associated Press.
Tampa will begin the furloughs Saturday, according to Goodall, who confirmed that staff was informed of the plan by Rays ownership earlier this week.
"Considerably less than half" of the Rays' 400-500 full-time employees are expected to be furloughed, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Times.
The furloughs are reportedly temporary, although they have no set timetable.
Rays staff members who are furloughed will have their health insurance covered by the team and there may be assistance offered to anyone in significant financial need, Topkin adds.
The Rays are the first Major League Baseball team known to plan furloughs. Most of MLB's 30 teams have committed to paying full-time staff through May.
