Top News:
Jim Salisbury / NBCSports.com:
Coronavirus outbreak at Phillies camp in Clearwater hits 5 players — Five Phillies players who had been training at the team's facility in Clearwater, Florida have tested positive for coronavirus in recent days, multiple sources tell NBC Sports Philadelphia.
RELATED:
ESPN:
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred quickly rejects union's 70-game proposal — The Major League Baseball Players Association on Thursday proposed a 70-game regular-season schedule, a plan immediately rejected by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. — In a statement announcing the counterproposal …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Sports Illustrated, Beyond the Box Score, Purple Row, True Blue LA, Arizona Sports and Gaslamp Ball
Wall Street Journal:
Coronavirus Surge Forces Baseball to Reconsider a ‘Bubble’ Season — The increase in cases in Florida and elsewhere is prompting officials to rethink playing all games at a secure site—adding another obstacle to its beleaguered effort to start a 2020 season
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, MLB Trade Rumors, Orange County Register, Talking Chop, MLB Baseball News … and CNN
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
MLB won't counter players' latest offer; sticking to 60 games at full prorated salaries — Major League Baseball won't counter the MLB Players Association's latest offer to play 70 games this season. — Instead, the league is sticking with its most recent offer of 60 games at full prorated salaries.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB players make a 70-game offer and the owners aren't happy about it — PHOENIX — Major League Baseball and the owners are expected to swiftly reject the union's proposal of a 70-game season with full prorated pay, according to two people with direct knowledge of the talks.
Discussion:
The Athletic, Brew Crew Ball, MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Scott Lauber / The Philadelphia Inquirer:
5 Phillies players, 3 staff members at Clearwater training facility test positive for coronavirus — Major League Baseball's first known coronavirus outbreak has occurred at the Phillies' spring-training facility in Clearwater, Fla. — Five players and three staff members have tested positive …
Discussion:
Purple Row, NBCSports.com, Pro Football Rumors, Red Reporter, MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Baseball News …
Nick Selbe / Sports Illustrated:
Report: MLB Won't Counter Players' Offer of 70-Game Season
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Talking Chop and Lone Star Ball
ESPN:
MLB sends 60-game offer to players as leaders meet
Discussion:
Arizona Sports, NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
The Athletic:
Here we go again: MLB believes deal was agreed to, union says it wasn't
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Beyond the Box Score
MLB Insiders / ESPN:
How much closer are we to a 2020 MLB season?
Discussion:
Purple Row, MLB Baseball News …, Los Angeles Times and Halos Heaven
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB, players make progress to play in 2020, but can't agree on length of season
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB, MLBPA Still Apart On Length Of Potential Season
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, Athletics Nation and USA Today
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
MLB may shut down all spring training sites for coronavirus cleaning — With three spring training sites closing Friday due to coronavirus-related issues, MLB was strongly considering shutting all 30 facilities again to cleanse them and then establish a testing protocol when players return, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
USA Today, True Blue LA and ProFootballTalk
RELATED:
ESPN:
Phillies closing spring training facility after positive coronavirus tests — The Philadelphia Phillies are closing their spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida, after five players and three staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. — The facility will remain closed …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
John Tomase / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Meet Red Sox' undrafted free agents: A crazy delivery, Sale's call, and a Boyz n the Hood fan — By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's — When the Patriots sign a class of undrafted free agents, at least one of them generally makes the team. — That's not the case in baseball …
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Maria Torres / Los Angeles Times:
Albert Pujols to pay salaries of furloughed Angels staff in the Dominican Republic — The Angels stopped paying their employees in the Dominican Republic this month. Those employees are being paid again, only not by the club. — First baseman Albert Pujols will cover the salaries …
Alex Prewitt / Sports Illustrated:
'We Weren't Welcome When This Guy Was Around—So Now He's Not Welcome When We're Around' — In Minneapolis, not far from where George Floyd was killed by a police officer, furor has been festering over the still-standing statue of a racist former Twins owner.
Discussion:
Post Bulletin and Twinkie Town
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Korea's Kiwoom Heroes To Sign Addison Russell — In a surprise move, longtime Cubs infielder Addison Russell has found a landing spot in Korea's top league. He's joining the Kiwoom Heroes on a $530K contract, per Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News (via Twitter). — Once a top prospect …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
