Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Few positive COVID-19 antibodies tests among MLB employees — Sixty of the 5,754 people in a study of the Major League Baseball employee population tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, a rate lower than what similar studies run in California found, the studies' authors said Sunday.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Sports Illustrated, MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Latest details on baseball's plan to return — Nothing is official. Major League Baseball will discuss its plans for the 2020 season in a conference call with owners on Monday. If the owners give their approval, the league will present its proposal to the players' union on Tuesday.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Associated Press, Halos Heaven, Federal Baseball, New York Post, Boston Herald, AZ Snake Pit, MLB Baseball News …, Fish Stripes, Camden Chat, Red Reporter, South Side Sox, Sports Illustrated, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Purple Row, Talking Chop, Bluebird Banter, MLB Trade Rumors, Sportsnet.ca and Phillies Nation
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Health, fair compensation on players' minds, says MLBPA board members — If MLB players are going to put their health at risk if/when the season gets underway, they want to be paid their full, prorated salaries, according to several players who hold key leadership positions in the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: MLB shortens 2020 draft from 40 rounds to 5 — Major League Baseball will cut its 2020 draft to five rounds, as owners looking to save costs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic pushed for fewer rounds over the objection of front-office officials, sources told ESPN.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, Royals Review, The Athletic, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Camden Chat, True Blue LA and Halos Heaven
RELATED:
J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
MLB Teams Expect Decision On Shortened 2020 Draft Soon — When Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association agreed on a deal to reduce the 2020 draft to five or 10 rounds and to place the date of the draft between June 10 and July 20, MLB told teams that they could expect …
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Ex-Mets reliever Turk Wendell enjoying the good life on his Iowa farm: 'I've kind of been quarantined my whole life in the offseason' — At first, it was hard to hear what Turk Wendell was saying from atop his tractor. — On a mostly cloudy Thursday afternoon, the former Mets relief pitcher …
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
What happened to the Braves' lost prospects from MLB's punishment? — Much has changed since November 2017, when MLB punished the Braves for a series of illegal activities in the international market. Since that offseason, the Braves are two-time division champs and boast one of the brightest outlooks in the majors.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and Talking Chop
ESPN:
Ronaldo Souza out of UFC 249 after testing positive for coronavirus — Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, who was scheduled to fight Uriah Hall at UFC 249 on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida, has tested positive for the coronavirus. — The UFC pulled Souza from the card, but still plans to move …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated and New York Post
Dr. Christopher Ahmad:
Could COVID19 worsen the Tommy John epidemic? — With the boredom of social isolation, ever-improving weather, and the absence of play, baseball athletes and their families are more excited than ever to get back out there on the diamond. I too must confess; I am very excited to have my son return to Little League!
Discussion:
New York Post and MLB Trade Rumors
Jim Salisbury / NBCSports.com:
Source: Phillies employees safe through October, ownership confident games will be played in 2020 — Three weeks after informing full-time employees that their jobs were safe through May, Phillies ownership stepped up again on Friday and ensured employees' jobs through October.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Phillies Nation
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Joe Castiglione, a childhood Yankees fan turned longtime Red Sox broadcaster, talks about the great rivalry that is currently on pause — Joe Castiglione saw his first baseball game in the Bronx. The Connecticut native fell in love with the game watching the Yankees.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, baseballmusings.com and Pinstripe Alley
Yoo Jee-ho / Yonhap News Agency:
S. Korean baseball umpires to be demoted to minor league over inconsistent performance — The South Korean baseball league on Friday decided to demote an entire crew of five umpires to the minors, in a swift response to a player's open criticism of their performances.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Sports Illustrated
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
James Click wants to make Astros' farm system sustainable again — Uncertainty shrouds almost all aspects of James Click's immediate plans for the Astros. Whether he will see a team in either the major or minor leagues play a regular season game this year is in doubt.
Discussion:
Union-News and MLB Trade Rumors