TORONTO -- With the clock ticking loudly on the Blue Jays’ search for a new 2020 home, a shared plan with the Pirates at PNC Park continues to look more and more viable.

Granted there have been stages where Toronto, Dunedin, Fla., and even Buffalo, N.Y., were viewed as potential frontrunner cities -- and that’s just over the past few weeks -- but the public support and cooperation from the Pirates’ organization gives this some traction.

There’s been a pipeline running from Toronto to Pittsburgh recently, too, which helps. Pirates GM Ben Cherington joined the Blue Jays in late 2016 as vice president of baseball operations, before leaving to take the Pittsburgh job early this past offseason.

“There are reasons why Pittsburgh might present an alternative relative to other places, because of the way our schedules line up, the geography, some specific things about Pittsburgh that might make that possible,” said Cherington on a virtual roundtable Tuesday with Pennsylvania senator Pat Toomey. “There's a lot of people with the Pirates and Blue Jays spending time on it right now. I don't think it's the only alternative that's being considered, but it is one that we're actively working on."

Pirates’ manager Derek Shelton spent a year with the Blue Jays in 2017 as the quality control coach before moving on to the Twins and eventually Pittsburgh. He’s on board, too.

“I think if it’s a situation where they need someplace to play and we can help out, then I think we should,” Shelton said. “I do feel that Major League teams should play in Major League ballparks.”

This gets most interesting at the player level, both in terms of what the Blue Jays’ players would prefer and how the dynamics would work housing two clubs in one park for the shortened season. Overlap would be minimal, in theory, with potential conflicts on July 29, Sept. 8-9 and Sept. 21-24, but that could be handled either by tinkering with the schedule or having the Blue Jays play a couple of additional road games at certain points. Flexibility is key, which the Blue Jays have long accepted.

Blue Jays players have made it clear that they want to be in a Major League park. Pirates right-hander Trevor Williams understands that the Blue Jays are facing something that 29 other teams aren’t, and there appears to be a genuine openness from Pirates players, too.

“As long as they get to play. It’s a severe disadvantage, [not] having a home stadium,” Williams said. “They're in a really tough spot. I think the entire league wants them to have a home. If they want to make the North Shore their home for 2020, by all means, if that ends up happening. It's just going to be a few extra precautionary steps with our health protocol and with our staff. It’ll be a busy, busy summer at PNC Park.”

Both GM Ross Atkins and manager Charlie Montoyo have lauded their players for adapting, especially more recently as they’ve come to understand the reality of their ever-changing situation. They’d still love an answer, though, with veteran infielder Joe Panik putting it simply on Monday.

“We have basically a road bag and a home bag,” Panik said, “and I don’t know where the home bag is going.”

Latest on Lourdes
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was not in the lineup for Tuesday's exhibition game against Boston, after dealing with some left side discomfort, but “felt good” on Monday, according to Montoyo.

“Today is a big test,” Montoyo said. “He might take batting practice and then we’ll see how he feels. If he feels good today, I see him playing the first game.”

Valera added to restricted list
Prior to Tuesday's game, the Blue Jays placed infielder Breyvic Valera on the restricted list (unable to report). No further information has been given at this time. Valera, 28, returned to the Blue Jays off waivers from the Padres nearly three weeks ago after spending the tail end of 2019 with Toronto. Valera was not present at Rogers Centre recently, where the club conducted its Summer Camp.

Taxi plans
The club’s three-man taxi squad must feature a reserve catcher, and Montoyo is planning to take two additional pitchers to start the season. If that group ever shifts to include a position player, expect it to be a versatile option capable of playing multiple positions in case a rostered player goes down with injuries. For now, though, the Blue Jays are prioritizing arms.

Up next
Trent Thornton gets the nod in the Blue Jays' second and final exhibition game against the Red Sox, Wednesday night at 7:30 ET. Thornton has impressed in Summer Camp with his six-pitch mix and is currently locked in as the club’s No. 4 starter with Chase Anderson expected to be headed for the 10-day IL to start the season. Montoyo plays to play his starters roughly five innings Wednesday in one final tune up. Watch on MLB.TV or listen live on Gameday Audio.