MLB owners sending latest plan to MLBPA that includes sliding pay scale for players  —  PHOENIX — Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association began negotiations Tuesday afternoon for the first time on key economic issues in an attempt to open the season by the weekend of July 4.

Sources: Dodgers to implement salary cuts to avoid furloughs or layoffs  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers have informed their full-time employees that they will not impose furloughs or layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic, but instead will begin a system of tiered salary cuts beginning on June 1, sources told ESPN.

Boston Red Sox honor veterans with Memorial Day tribute in an empty Fenway Park  —  On any other Memorial Day, most Major League Baseball teams would have held pregame ceremonies and worn special uniforms on Monday to honor American service members who gave their lives for their country.

NPB can play ball in Japan from June 19, but minus fans  —  The Nippon Professional Baseball season, which has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, will begin June 19, the league announced on Monday.  —  The decision comes after the government's advisory panel approved the plan …

Jimmy Cobb, The Pulse Of ‘Kind Of Blue,’ Dies At 91  —  Jimmy Cobb, whose subtle and steady drumming formed the pulse of some of jazz's most beloved recordings, died at his home in Manhattan on Sunday.  He was 91.  —  The cause was lung cancer, says his wife, Eleana Tee Cobb.

Kiley McDaniel's 2020 MLB mock draft 2.0  —  With the June 10 MLB draft two weeks away, team preferences and talent tiers are coming into focus, so it made sense to use the long weekend to pump some sources and put out another mock draft before we enter the final phase of preparations.

(LEAD) KBO bans ex-major leaguer Kang Jung-ho for 1 year before potential return  —  Former major league infielder Kang Jung-ho, seeking a return to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) under the cloud of multiple drunk driving cases, received a one-year suspension from the South Korean league on Monday.

Damian Lillard doesn't plan to participate in resumed NBA season if Blazers don't have ‘true opportunity’ to make playoffs  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  If the NBA resumes the 2019-20 season by electing to play a handful of games with all teams just to reach 70 games to fulfill regional television deals,

Noah Syndergaard slams landlord's lawsuit: ‘See you in court pal’  —  Noah Syndergaard is throwing some lightning.  —  On Saturday, the Mets righty wrote he planned to meet a former landlord, 600 Summer Street LLC, in court.  The landlord on Thursday filed a lawsuit accusing Syndergaard …

Today in White Sox History: May 22  —  Richie Zisk became only the second White Sox player in history to hit a home run into the center-field bleachers at Comiskey Park, joining Dick Allen (1972).  Zisk's blast off Detroit's Dave Rozema in the eighth inning didn't help the Sox win, however; they got beat, 14-3.

Nationals Players Decide to Wait for In-Person World Series Ring Ceremony  —  The Washington Nationals have changed their plans for their virtual World Series ring ceremony after players decided they would rather wait until they could reunite in person to receive their new jewelry.

The clock is ticking on 2020 MLB season talks.  Here's what could make a deal work — or fall apart  —  Finally the ugliness is starting to abate.  Because strife and discord are foundational elements of the relationship between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association …