Top News:
Andrew Simon / MLB.com:
Join Opening Day at Home with 30 classic games — You can still celebrate Opening Day this year — with fans around the globe. — On Thursday, Major League Baseball will present “Opening Day at Home” — a full slate of 30 games broadcast nationally across various platforms …
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Rob Manfred says ‘nothing off table’ regarding MLB's return — Vowing that “baseball will be back” and “will be part of the recovery,” Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said in an interview Wednesday with ESPN'S Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter that “nothing's off the table” …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Federal Baseball, New Jersey Online, Metsmerized Online and New York Post
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
MLB and players' union making progress toward service-time resolution — Major League Baseball and the players' union have made progress toward resolving the contentious service-time questions for the disrupted 2020 season, putting the parties in position to reach full agreement in the coming days.
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLB, union weighing variables for potential restart of season — As Major League Baseball handles the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and tries to determine when — or even if — it will begin its season, the league is grappling with a number of key issues that could come to a head …
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, NBCSports.com, Halos Heaven, Camden Chat, Phillies Nation, MLB Trade Rumors, Gaslamp Ball and Talking Chop
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Select Trevor Rosenthal, Designate Eric Skoglund — The Royals announced Wednesday that they've selected the contract of right-hander Trevor Rosenthal and designated lefty Eric Skoglund for assignment in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster. — As noted here at MLBTR earlier this morning …
Discussion:
Royals Review
Darragh McDonald / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Minor Leaguer Tests Positive For Coronavirus — An unnamed Red Sox minor leaguer has tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Tuesday. According to the statement: … The statement goes on to say that the facility will now receive a “deep cleaning” and that anyone who came …
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
Christine Brennan / USA Today:
IOC member says that 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed due to coronavirus pandemic — Veteran International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound told USA TODAY Sports Monday afternoon that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are going to be postponed, likely to 2021, with the details to be worked out in the next four weeks.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, New York Post, Sports Illustrated, The Wrap, Arizona Sports, Fox News, The Athletic and Daily Herald
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Marcus Stroman pitching in to help New Yorkers during coronavirus crisis — Newsday is opening this story to all readers as we provide Long Islanders with news and information you can use during the coronavirus outbreak. All readers can learn the latest news at newsday.com/LiveUpdates
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated
Justin Toscano / NorthJersey.com:
'It's a pandemic, man': How three NY Mets minor leaguers are handling baseball's delay — On March 14, a Saturday, Mets leaders met with the organization's 100-plus minor leaguers. The message, according to those present, was to stick around Port St. Lucie — unless a trip home was necessary …
Discussion:
Metsmerized Online
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Acquire Jhonny Pereda From Cubs To Complete Travis Lakins Trade — The Red Sox announced Monday that they've acquired minor league catcher Jhonny Pereda from the Cubs as the player to be named later in the January trade that sent righty Travis Lakins from Boston to Chicago.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
Column: Pull up a chair and listen to Vin Scully give a message of hope and optimism — We are surrounded by a cacophony of chaos, our lives filled with words of warning and dread and doom. — I need a sound of spring. This being the formerly opening week of the postponed baseball season …