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Pirates' Taillon wouldn't want neutral-site World Series

Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Major League Baseball is humoring a bunch of different ideas regarding the 2020 season in light of the coronavirus pandemic, and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Jameson Taillon isn't a big fan of the recent suggestion to play the championship games at a neutral site.

"I personally wouldn't really care for (a neutral-site World Series)," Taillon told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "But again, I think it's something that, as players, at least going into the next (collective bargaining agreement), we can kind of put everything on the table and talk about everything."

On Saturday, agent Scott Boras upped the ante and suggested that MLB host a neutral-site "World Series Week" complete with an awards gala.

"I haven't talked to any players about it," Taillon said. "I can just tell you from my perspective, if the Pirates made a World Series and we weren't able to play in front of our fans in Pittsburgh, I think that would be pretty tough for a lot of people. I think that's part of what makes baseball and the World Series so special."

The 28-year-old right-hander also shared that, if the season does go later than originally expected, he "probably could be ready" to return from Tommy John surgery earlier than his previous target of 2021 spring training. However, Mackey reports that Taillon won't return early because it would affect his preparation for the 2021 season.

Prior to his elbow injury, Taillon authored a 4.10 ERA and 3.80 FIP over seven starts in 2019.

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