Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: MLB, MLBPA agree to deal on stoppage — Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association struck a deal on critical salary and service-time issues Thursday night, allowing the sides to prepare together for a season delayed indefinitely by the coronavirus pandemic, sources told ESPN.
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Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
Sources: MLB draft likely to be in July, may be shortened — The Major League Baseball draft is increasingly likely to happen in July, though it could be shortened and include bonus deferrals, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN. — Fear of handing out significant signing bonuses …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Sports Illustrated and Talking Chop
ESPN:
MLB, MLBPA agree on stipulations for return of 2020 season — Major League Baseball owners have approved a plan to address salary and service-time issues amid the indefinite delay to the start of the regular season, according to ESPN and multiple reports. — The owners completed …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
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 …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB, MLBPA Agree On Framework Of 2020 Draft
MLB, MLBPA Agree On Framework Of 2020 Draft
Discussion:
Baseball America, FanGraphs Baseball, Over the Monster and Batter's Box Interactive …
David Waldstein / New York Times:
Coronavirus Protective Masks to Be Made From M.L.B. Uniform Material — The deal will send masks to health professionals in the Northeast with the distinctive pinstripes of the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. — Had the baseball season not been postponed because of the coronavirus …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and New York Post
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Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Jimmy Wynn Passes Away — Astros legend Jimmy Wynn passed away today at age 78, the team announced. The Astros' official statement: … Wynn hit .250/.366/.436 with 291 homers, 225 steals, and 1105 runs scored over his 8011 career Major League plate appearances, with the first 11 of his 15 seasons coming in Houston.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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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:
Forbes, FanGraphs Baseball, Metsmerized Online, Federal Baseball, New York Post, New Jersey Online and baseballmusings.com
Strat-O-Matic:
2020 Season Simulation — Welcome to the Strat-O-Matic 2020 Season Simulation. — Come back every day at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT to see updated results from our simulation. — Defending Champion Nationals Among Opening Day Winners In Strat-O-Matic 2020 Season Simulation
Discussion:
Sports Reference, Detroit Free Press, MLB Trade Rumors, Metsmerized Online and New York Post
The Athletic:
Priorities, not perfection: Baseball's deal addresses service time, cash flow — Economic disputes in a $10.7 billion industry seem rather inconsequential in this time of pain and suffering, but MLB players and owners still had to figure out how they would proceed with the disrupted 2020 season.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, Fish Stripes, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleed Cubbie Blue and baseballmusings.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Option Michael Kopech — The White Sox have optioned right-hander Michael Kopech to Triple-A Charlotte, the team announced. Whenever the season gets underway, he'll open on the minor league side of things. — That's long seemed like a formality.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, South Side Sox and MLB Baseball 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 …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
5 best Opening Day moments in Yankees history — TAMPA — I was worried about Opening Day way back in January. No, I didn't have any foresight on the coronavirus pandemic that has terrorized the nation and shut down all of sports, including the start of baseball.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and Pinstripe Alley
Tim Tucker / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Former Braves owner Bill Bartholomay, who moved team to Atlanta, dies — Former Braves owner Bill Bartholomay, who brought the team and major-league sports to Atlanta in 1966, died Wednesday night at age 91. — Bartholomay “died very peacefully” at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, his daughter Jamie Bartholomay Niemie said.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …