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.
RELATED:
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Sources: MLB inclined to allow local governments to decide if fans are allowed at potential games — On Wednesday, Texas ruled its teams could now allow attendance up to 50% of stadium capacity. — Call it home state advantage. — As Major League Baseball and its Players Association wobble towards …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Texas Rangers on Yahoo! … and Sports Illustrated
The Athletic:
After heated meeting on player pay, MLB threatens 50-game schedule — No proposal, no further negotiations scheduled, clock ticking. — While Major League Baseball is considering playing 50-odd games in 2020 unless the players agree to further reduce their pay, it is not yet planning …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Fish Stripes, MLB Trade Rumors, Talking Chop, New York Post and Los Angeles Times
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: MLB mulls shorter season, full prorated salaries for players
Sources: MLB mulls shorter season, full prorated salaries for players
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Associated Press and baseballmusings.com
Michael Silverman Globe / The Boston Globe:
MLB owners and players agree on divisional structure but much territory needs to be covered
MLB owners and players agree on divisional structure but much territory needs to be covered
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, baseballmusings.com and theScore.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, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Pinstripe Alley, Forbes, 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
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mike King will be the first young pitcher the Yankees call on — TAMPA — Mike King was anxious to build off his 2019 season. It wasn't a great season for the Yankees' young right-hander, who suffered an injury in spring training and was limited to just 12 games.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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
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 …
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