Sources: MLB, union focused on plan that could allow season to start as early as May in Arizona  —  Major League Baseball and its players are increasingly focused on a plan that could allow them to start the season as early as May and has the support of high-ranking federal public health officials …

Despite Lockdown, MLB Teams Gain Value In 2020  —  Traffic cop at the intersection of money and sports  —  I cover sports business with rare dips into b-schools, local economies  —  Even in times of economic turmoil, an investment in a Major League Baseball team is a sure bet.

Mark Reynolds Announces Retirement  —  Veteran slugger Mark Reynolds, who enjoyed a 13-year big league career split between the Diamondbacks, Rockies, Orioles, Indians, Cardinals, Nationals, Yankees and Brewers, announced in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that he's officially retired (Twitter link, with audio).

Former Texas Rangers player Josh Hamilton indicted on felony injury to a child charge  —  The former baseball player is accused of assaulting one of his children in September 2019.  —  Author: Jozelyn Escobedo (WFAA)  —  A Tarrant County grand jury has indicted former Texas Rangers player Josh Hamilton …

Carlos Rodon On Schedule In Tommy John Rehab  —  White Sox southpaw Carlos Rodon is “on schedule” in his rehab from last May's Tommy John surgery, the lefty himself tells Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.  Rodon is throwing three times per week, including two bullpen sessions …

When Hammerin' Hank broke the Babe's record  —  Going on half a lifetime ago, from Henry Aaron's bat to the night sky over Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, that baseball asked a nation what it thought of itself.  Not what it thought of baseball.  Not what it thought of baseball players or records or history.

Offseason In Review: Arizona Diamondbacks  —  The D-Backs spent significant sums in free agency for the first time since GM Mike Hazen came aboard and pulled off an interesting trade for a key veteran.  But is it enough to mount a real challenge to the dominant division force?  —  Major League Signings

The Padres' Interesting Rotation  —  We've heard an awful lot of chatter over the years about the Padres trying to acquire premium MLB rotation pieces — Noah Syndergaard, etc.  They've yet to swing such a deal, but nevertheless have managed to compile rather an interesting slate of starters.

South Korea's baseball league targeting early May return  —  MLB, Olympic Sports, Baseball  —  SEOUL, South Korea — With new cases of the coronavirus falling in South Korea, the country's baseball league is targeting an early May restart, with teams ready to play preseason exhibition games as early as April 21.

Rakuten Monkeys to Have Robot Mannequins in Stands as Fans  —  Monkeys to Setup Robot Mannequin Fans in Stands  —  Welcome to the future, where professional baseball players are playing in front of a robot crowd inside an empty stadium.  No, this is not from an episode of the Twilight Zone …

‘Hard to pull off’: Players want baseball back, but some question Arizona idea  —  The lease on their rental property expired in late March, so Alex Wood and his wife, Suzanna, moved into a house in Phoenix owned by Dodgers teammate Clayton Kershaw.  The left-handed landlord returned to Texas last month …

Former Colorado Rockies star Todd Helton sentenced to 2 days in jail over 2019 DUI arrest  —  Former Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton was sentenced to two days in jail over a 2019 DUI arrest in Tennessee, Knoxville assistant district attorney Sean McDermott confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Monday.

Hall of Fame outfielder and Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline dies at 85  —  Al Kaline, a Hall of Famer who played all 22 years of his career in Detroit, earning the nickname “Mr. Tiger,”  died Monday, a team official confirmed to ESPN.  Kaline was 85.  —  Kaline, an All-Star in 15 seasons …

The stages of NY Mets ace Jacob deGrom's career, through the eyes of a good friend  —  The Mets only have a couple position battles.  Mets beat writer Justin Toscano discusses them.  —  CONNECT  —  Jacob deGrom was sitting on a subway headed for Citi Field.

2020 MLB International Prospects Class  —  Our list below provides an overview of the top international prospects in the 2020 class.  —  It is not a talent ranking—I'll get to that more below—but instead a board sorted by the expected top signing bonuses in the 2020 class …