Top News:
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
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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.
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
The Athletic:
After heated meeting on player pay, MLB threatens 50-game schedule
After heated meeting on player pay, MLB threatens 50-game schedule
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Trade Rumors, New York Post, Talking Chop and Los Angeles Times
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:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Pinstripe Alley, Forbes and baseballmusings.com
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:
Camden Chat, MLB Trade Rumors and Talking Chop
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
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:
MLB Trade Rumors, Kyodo News+ and NBCSports.com
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 …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Lookout Landing, Purple Row, Royals Review, Pinstripe Alley and baseballmusings.com
Baseball America:
Sources: MLB Considering Expanded Arizona, Florida Fall League — Although the possibility of a traditional minor league season grows slimmer by the day, there is good reason to believe every team's prospects will get a chance to gain a large number of reps at some point this summer.
Discussion:
Red Reporter, Lookout Landing, Fish Stripes, MLB Trade Rumors and Halos Heaven
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:
baseballmusings.com
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers Release 37 Minor Leaguers — The Rangers have released 37 minor league players, per reports from TR Sullivan of MLB.com and Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Grant's tweet contains the full list, which includes right-handers Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Taylor Jungmann and outfielder Eric Jenkins, to name a few.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and Lone Star Ball
Jeff Carlisle / ESPN:
Lockout looms as MLS push back on latest offer from Major League Soccer Player Association — The Major League Soccer Player Association announced that it voted to approve its latest counteroffer to MLS as it relates to economic concessions for the 2020 season, modifications to the recently agreed upon CBA …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Associated Press, Chicago Sun-Times, AM New York and New York Post