Top News:
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
MLB preseason power rankings: Yankees start 2020 season on top — How do you improve on a 103-win season? For the Yankees, the answer was simple: sign one of the best pitchers in a game. — Seeking their long-awaited 28th title, the Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to a record-breaking nine-year …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Royals Review and Twinkie Town
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Michael Shapiro / Sports Illustrated:
Report: Juan Soto Tests Positive for COVID-19, Will Miss Opening Night vs. Yankees — The Nationals will host the Yankees in the 2020 season opener on Thursday night. — Nationals outfielder Juan Soto will miss the season opener against the Yankees on Thursday after testing positive for COVID-19, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, MLB Trade Rumors, New York Post, MLB Daily Dish, Lone Star Ball and Federal Baseball
ESPN:
Black Lives Matter/MLB stencil will debut on the mound Thursday when Nationals host Yankees — A Black Lives Matter/MLB stencil will appear on the pitcher's mound during opening weekend games, the Washington Nationals announced Wednesday. — “The Nationals, in conjunction with Major League Baseball …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Pinstripe Alley, Federal Baseball, MLB Baseball News …, Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports
Stephanie Apstein / Sports Illustrated:
Boston's Blunder: How the Dodgers Landed Mookie Betts for the Next 13 Seasons — The Dodgers signed Mookie Betts to a 12-year, $365 million deal, beginning in 2021, making him the highest-paid player on a World Series contender. — Twenty-one months ago, Mookie Betts shot through the outfield …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, True Blue LA and Over the Monster
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Mookie Betts agrees to 12-year, $365 million extension with Dodgers — Star outfielder Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed on a 12-year, $365 million extension that keeps the former American League MVP from reaching free agency this winter, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Dodgers News …, Talking Chop and Surviving Grady
MLB Insiders / ESPN:
Mookie's $365 million extension with Dodgers: What mega deal means for MLB, L.A., Betts and more
Mookie's $365 million extension with Dodgers: What mega deal means for MLB, L.A., Betts and more
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB Playoff Field Expands To 16 Teams For 2020 Season — 4:36pm: The league's owners have ratified the agreement, Sherman tweets. Sixteen teams will make the playoffs this season. — 3:27pm: ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the top two teams in each division will qualify for the postseason under this format.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Lone Star Ball
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Matt Harvey, Kansas City Royals near deal, per reports — Matt Harvey, who has pitched in the big leagues for the New York Mets, the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Angels, is close to a deal with the Kansas City Royals, according to multiple reports. — Harvey, 31, signed a minor-league deal with the Oakland A's last August.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Marcus Stroman “Week To Week” With Calf Injury — The Mets announced that they've placed right-handers Marcus Stroman and Robert Gsellman on the injured list. Stroman, who was said to be experiencing tightness in his calf earlier today, has been now diagnosed with a tear of some extent in that ailing calf muscles.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and New York Mets on Yahoo! …
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays down to final roster decisions after adding reliever Ryan Thompson — With a 30-man roster due at noon Thursday, the final call seems to be whether to carry 16 or 17 pitchers. — ST. PETERSBURG — Rays officials plan to keep talking over the lingering decisions in setting …
Discussion:
DRaysBay and MLB Trade Rumors
Andrew Marchand / New York Post:
Sneak peek: Fox to use virtual fans for MLB broadcasts — Fox will utilize virtual fans for its MLB game broadcasts beginning Saturday. — The use of augmented reality is designed to make viewers feel as if telecasts are as normal as possible, despite the ongoing pandemic that has left ballparks empty.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Sports Illustrated
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Designate Robert Stock For Assignment, Set Opening Day Roster — The Phillies set their Opening Day roster this morning, announcing within their press release that righty Robert Stock was designated for assignment. The club has selected the contracts of veteran infielder Neil Walker …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and The Good Phight
Alex Pavlovic / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Giants' 2020 MLB Opening Day roster: 16 pitchers, plenty of newcomers — By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's — There were a lot of newcomers and a few big surprises when the Giants announced their 30-man opening day roster on Thursday morning.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Los Angeles Dodgers News … and McCovey Chronicles