Training in isolation not easy for Royals.  But with special approach, they're doing it  —  Two-time reigning MLB hits champion Whit Merrifield and his Kansas City Royals teammates were two weeks away from playing meaningful regular-season games.  They had a full offseason of rest …

Virtual Detroit Tigers throttled by Indians; who will start at third base?  —  With the Detroit Tigers out of action, the Free Press is getting its baseball fix by simulating the Tigers' 2020 season on “MLB The Show 20” on Playstation 4.  Follow along for the next game, against the Royals, at twitch.tv/freepsports.

Three Diamondbacks minority owners are suing Ken Kendrick over forced buyouts  —  Three minority owners of the Diamondbacks claim that the club and managing general partner Ken Kendrick is illegally trying to force them to either increase their investment in the team or relinquish their stakes …

Sources: Top Rangers executives to take temporary pay cuts to avoid layoffs and furloughs  —  The group agreed to pay cuts in hopes of saving other jobs in the organization for as long as possible.  —  Rangers executives expected to be christening their brand new stadium this week.

Sunday Notes: Keston Hiura Can Hit, But The Book He'd Write Would Be Boring  —  The first time I interviewed Keston Hiura was over the phone.  This was a few months after he'd been taken ninth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2017 draft.  Kiura was playing for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers …

MLB pondering games in empty spring parks, but many obstacles remain  —  As two other prominent sports leagues consider quarantining teams and playing in a centralized location without fans, Major League Baseball is entertaining a similar idea and numerous other options as it ponders ways to conduct the 2020 season.

Dodgers' Justin Turner proposes HR derby to end extra-inning games  —  Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Justin Turner has a lot of time on his hands these days, and has come up with a novel idea for deciding extra-inning games once the regular season starts.  —  Taking a cue from NHL shootouts …

AJ Hinch, Jeff Luhnow suspensions fulfilled in 2020 even if MLB season canceled  —  Former Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch and ex-Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow will fulfill their one-season suspensions for the team's sign-stealing scandal even if no baseball is played in 2020, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney on Thursday.

Tom Brady has arrived in Tampa Bay, moving into Derek Jeter's mansion  —  The 30,000-square foot waterfront home on Davis Islands will be the new residence for the Bucs quarterback.  —  TAMPA — Tom Brady had plenty of options when deciding where to live after signing with the Bucs.  —  Tampa. ...

Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka leaves to Japan as coronavirus hammers U.S., says he was in dangerous situation  —  Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has retreated to his native Japan as the coronavirus continues to devastate the U.S.  —  Tanaka said he left in late March, but didn't give an exact date.

Minor League Transactions  —  Minor league maneuvering for all 30 organizations for the period March 1 to April 1, 2020.