MiLB Players Given Green Light To Play Indy Ball  —  Even with the minor league season still in limbo, prospects who get left out of their teams' player pools still have a path toward development before 2021.  —  Affiliated minor league players' contracts are currently suspended …

Focus on the South Side  —  The past few weeks have seen a great awakening in the United States.  African-Americans have been aware, and have been trying to make everyone else aware, of the systematic racism in this country, with particular focus on police brutality.

Blue Jays heading home to play in Toronto, sources say  —  Their bags are packed and the Toronto Blue Jays are set to fly north.  —  Sources told the Toronto Sun that government clearance for the Major League Baseball team to return to Canada is expected by as early as Monday.

Markazi: Brewers' Ryan Braun hopes there's a 2020 MLB season because it could be his last  —  As Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun prepared to leave his Malibu home Monday to return to Milwaukee for the restart of team training, he wasn't sure how long he would be gone.

Mets Sign Melky Cabrera, Erasmo Ramirez, Gordon Beckham  —  The Mets' signing spree continued Monday with the additions of outfielder Melky Cabrera, infielder Gordon Beckham and right-hander Erasmo Ramirez.  All three have been announced by the club, and all are “expected” to be added to the 60-man player pool, according to the team.

Ian Desmond Opts Out Of 2020 Season  —  Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond will opt out of playing in the 2020 MLB season.  He provided a thoughtful explanation of his decisionmaking process in an announcement on Instagram.  —  Desmond explains that “the COVID-19 pandemic has made this baseball season …

Athletics Sign Tyler Soderstrom  —  The Athletics have announced a deal with top pick Tyler Soderstrom.  It includes a $3.3MM signing bonus, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports (via Twitter).  The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reported yesterday that Soderstrom would sign today …

Phillies apparently still have no trade interest in Odubel Herrera  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  Phillies' initial player pool is further indication that there is no trade interest in the talented but controversial outfielder.  —  Major League Baseball's operations manual …

Yankees-Nationals to highlight MLB opening day  —  If it all goes well, then opening day for major league baseball this year will feature Max Scherzer vs. Gerrit Cole in the nation's capital.  —  The union signed off Thursday on the details within a 60-game schedule.

Mets To Sign Second-Rounder J.T. Ginn  —  The Mets have inked second-round draft pick J.T. Ginn, Tim Healey of Newsday reports on Twitter.  He'll receive a $2.9MM bonus, per Joe DeMayo of SNY.tv (Twitter link).  —  This puts a bow on the Mets' 2020 draft class.

Phillies GM Matt Klentak acknowledges how last few months have altered J.T. Realmuto contract situation  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  J.T. Realmuto contract extension come before the end of  —  Phillies summer camp?  —  Before the end of the regular season?

MLB Suspends Four Minor League Players  —  MLB announced today that it has suspended four minor league players in violation of the league's Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.  — Reds right-handed pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.