Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Major League Baseball lockout appears imminent after negotiations end abruptly — IRVING, Texas — A lockout of Major League Baseball players appeared imminent after talks between the league and union ended after just seven minutes of negotiations Wednesday afternoon, less than 12 hours …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, NBCSports.com and Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Major League Baseball, players union no closer to deal with collective bargaining agreement set to expire, sources say — A day of negotiating brought Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association no closer to a new collective bargaining agreement, according to sources familiar with the talks.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Jays Journal, MLB - The Athletic and Bleacher Nation
Bradford William Davis / Insider:
Major League Baseball secretly used 2 different types of baseballs last season — An astrophysicist has collected and taken apart MLB game balls for years, looking for changes. — She found MLB secretly used two different balls, one lighter than the other, in 2021.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Yahoo News, Bleacher Nation, Marc Normandin …, Fish Stripes and FanSided
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB lockout: No more negotiations scheduled ahead of Wednesday night CBA expiration — IRVING, Texas — Major League Baseball is likely headed to its first lockout since 1995 after Wednesday negotiations with the union abruptly ended hours before the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation and MLB Baseball News …
USA Today:
MLB lockout is on after collective bargaining agreement expires, owners agree to freeze out players — With Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement with the MLB Players' Association expiring at midnight Wednesday evening, the league's 30 owners voted to lock out players beginning Thursday …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, FanGraphs Baseball, Bless You Boys and MLB Trade Rumors
The Athletic:
MLB, Players Association meet again with roughly 36 hours to go before CBA expires: Sources
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, NBC Boston, New York Times, True Blue LA, Sports Illustrated and Athletics Nation
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Sources: Expanded playoffs, draft lottery proposals in CBA negotiations
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, MLB Trade Rumors, Inside the Crown and Talking Chop
Alex Speier / The Boston Globe:
Milton's Rich Hill, Red Sox pair up again on free-agent deal — With Major League Baseball's clock ticking towards a midnight lockout by owners and a resulting transaction freeze, the Red Sox continued to bolster their rotation. According to a major league source, the team reached agreement …
David Furones / Sun-Sentinel:
One of Dolphins' oft-injured receivers returns to practice, but the other is not yet ready — MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins are making progress on getting one of their injured wide receivers back, but the other is still not ready to return to the practice field after two months on injured reserve.
Dennis Young / New York Daily News:
Brian Kelly was such a jerk to Robert Saleh that the Jets coach remembered 15 years later — Jets coach Robert Saleh only worked at Central Michigan with Brian Kelly for one year, as a defensive assistant in 2004, and it was not a happy one. — Saleh and now-Packers coach Matt LaFleur …
Discussion:
New York Post, Mercury News, The Spun, NorthJersey.com, Jets Wire and Jets X-Factor
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Jonas Shaffer / Baltimore Sun:
Ravens film study: The most surprising part of QB Lamar Jackson's struggles? Where they're happening. — After the lowest-rated passing game of his career, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked for a common denominator. He had just thrown four interceptions. What, if anything, did the plays have in common?
Discussion:
Mercury News, Denver Post and Baltimore Beatdown
Brad Biggs / Chicago Tribune:
Justin Fields returns to practice with fractured ribs — but Andy Dalton takes starter reps as the Chicago Bears prepare for the NFL-leading Arizona Cardinals — Justin Fields returned to practice for the Chicago Bears on Wednesday afternoon, but Andy Dalton took the starter reps …
Discussion:
The Spun and Sports Illustrated
Pat Leonard / New York Daily News:
Daniel Jones week-to-week with neck strain; Mike Glennon expected to start Sunday; Giants sign Jake Fromm — Daniel Jones is considered week-to-week with a neck strain, the Daily News has learned, and Giants backup quarterback Mike Glennon is expected to start Sunday against the Dolphins in Miami.
Discussion:
Mercury News, ProFootballTalk and Elite Sports NY
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Gary Sanchez returning to Yankees as team will tender him contract — Earlier this offseason, general manager Brian Cashman said he was “exploring” options to upgrade at catcher. — And if he didn't find anything, the GM said, “We'll come back with what we have.”
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Sports Illustrated
RELATED:
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Báez nearing a deal with Tigers (source)
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and Bless You Boys
Matthew Roberson / New York Daily News:
The Yankees' free agent inactivity could signal a new era in the Bronx
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
ESPN:
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks, MLB saves leader Mark Melancon agree to two-year, $14 million deal — Right-handed reliever Mark Melancon and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a two-year contact on Wednesday, the team announced. — Terms were not disclosed, but a source familiar …
ESPN:
Boston Red Sox send Hunter Renfroe to Milwaukee Brewers for Jackie Bradley Jr., two prospects — The Red Sox and Brewers swung a significant trade Wednesday night just ahead of the lockout, with Boston shipping outfielder Hunter Renfroe to Milwaukee for a package centered around Jackie Bradley Jr.
Discussion:
Chowder and Champions
