MLB, players agree to expanded 2020 playoffs with 16 teams  —  CHICAGO — The Major League Baseball postseason will be expanded from 10 teams to 16 teams in 2020 once the owners officially ratify the deal before Thursday night's season-opener, according to three high-ranking officials with knowledge of the agreement.

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 …

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.

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 …

Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List, Recall Dustin May  —  The Dodgers announced that they've placed scheduled Opening Day starter Clayton Kershaw on the injured list and recalled right-hander Dustin May from their alternate training site.  The team has termed Kershaw's injury as …

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 …

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.

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.

Funky fantasy baseball predictions for a strange 2020 MLB season  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  a predictions piece is the easiest and breeziest piece of the preseason.  We all have ideas, opinions, dreams, takes — even some bad taeks.  You open up a word file, and the thing writes itself.

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.

Indians owner Paul Dolan provides update on potential name change  —  Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan has issued a statement regarding the team's potential plans to change its name.  —  CLEVELAND — On the eve of the start of the 2020 season, Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan provided …

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.