Top News:
The Athletic:
Sides deadlocked after MLB rejects latest Players Association proposal — Major League Baseball on Wednesday rejected the Players Association's proposal of a 114-game season and told the union it would not send a counter, again leaving the parties deadlocked in their quest to begin the 2020 season.
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: MLB mulls shorter season, full prorated salaries for players — Unable to yet reach a return-to-play agreement, Major League Baseball has discussed playing a shorter schedule in which it would pay members of the MLB Players Association their full prorated salaries, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.
Discussion:
WKYC-TV, FanGraphs Baseball and baseballmusings.com
Michael Silverman Globe / The Boston Globe:
MLB owners and players agree on divisional structure but much territory needs to be covered — Much territory still has to be covered before Major League Baseball owners and players agree on what a pandemic-shortened 2020 baseball season will look like. — The sides agree that travel …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, theScore.com and baseballmusings.com
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs' Tom Ricketts says most revenue goes right back into team — Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts pushed back on the perception that baseball teams are cash cows, telling ESPN on Tuesday that yearly revenues are mostly put right back into the team. — “Here's something I hope baseball fans understand,” Ricketts said.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, Forbes, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Pinstripe Alley, FanGraphs Baseball and baseballmusings.com
Internal Submission / Japan Times:
Reigning CL MVP Hayato Sakamoto one of two Giants players to test positive for COVID-19 — Two Yomiuri Giants players have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the Central League team announced Wednesday, casting a shadow over Nippon Professional Baseball's plan to start the 2020 season on June 19.
Discussion:
Kyodo News+, NBCSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Chris Archer Undergoes Thoracic Outlet Surgery — The Pirates announced Wednesday that right-hander Chris Archer underwent surgery yesterday to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. The surprising, out-of-the-blue announcement rules Archer out for any games that are played in 2020.
Discussion:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Lone Star Ball and Bucs Dugout
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
Updated 2020 MLB draft rankings: The latest on the top 150 players — It's just about a week from MLB draft day, and that means the picture on how this year's prospects stack up is really starting to come into focus. Below you'll find my ranking of the top 150 players for the shortened five-round MLB draft starting June 10.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Camden Chat, True Blue LA, MLB Trade Rumors and Talking Chop
The Athletic:
A conversation: Retired African American MLB players on race, baseball, America — Even the biggest African American baseball stars rarely speak out on sensitive matters during their playing careers. The sport's culture discourages individuality in any form, and a player who publicly addresses racism …
Baseball America:
Minor League Transactions — Correction: In the original post, the Red Sox's RHP Colten Brewer, RHP Chris Mazza, LHP Josh Osich, LHP Jeffrey Springs, the Mets' RHP Franklyn Kilome, RHP Paul Sewald, the Rays' LHP Anthony Banda and the Nationals' RHP Kyle Finnegan were listed as released when they actually had been optioned.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
What happened inside Jim Joyce's brain the night Armando Galarraga lost his perfect game — Massachusetts Institute of Technology neuroscience professor Earl Miller slowly nodded his head. A video of a baseball game from June 2, 2010, flashed across his computer screen …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
First basemen never go No. 1 in the MLB draft: Here's why Spencer Torkelson is about to change that — In this most abnormal of springs, the Detroit Tigers may make an abnormal pick with the first selection in the 2020 MLB draft: a first baseman. — Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Tim Kurkjian's Baseball Fix: The legendary reach of Randy Johnson — You love baseball. Tim Kurkjian loves baseball. So while we await its return, every day we'll provide you with a story or two tied to this date in baseball history. — ON THIS DATE IN 1990, Randy Johnson threw his first no-hitter.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and baseballmusings.com