MLB considering canceling Pirates' Puerto Rico series

MLB is considering canceling the Pirates' and Marlins' two-game trip to Puerto Rico on May 30 and 31, Jeff Passan writes. Due to concerns over the Zika virus, players have told the league they want to move the games from San Juan back to Miami, and the league appears likely to grant their request.

It's easy to understand the players' concerns, but the cancellation of the series would be a shame for the Pirates franchise (the franchise of Roberto Clemente, a Puerto Rican sports icon) as well as for Puerto Rico, which is dealing with a debt crisis.

The potential cancellation of the series could have implications for the Summer Olympics in Brazil, as Passan points out, and perhaps even for MLB games in areas like Miami if Zika spreads there.

Personally, I already have tickets to San Juan at the end of the month, and I plan on going whether the Pirates are there or not. Here's hoping they will be, but at this point, it doesn't appear likely.