Top News:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Max Scherzer floats ‘ghost win’ playoff proposal with MLB labor talks set to resume Sunday — The Major League Baseball Players Association will respond to the league's latest CBA proposal on Sunday, sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN. — The league made a “last and best offer” …
Discussion:
CBS Boston, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Amazin' Avenue and baseballmusings.com
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ESPN:
MLB Players Association starts $1M fund for workers impacted by canceled games; MLB to follow suit — Locked-out Major League Baseball players are starting a $1 million fund to support workers impacted by canceled games. — In addition, Major League Baseball will also be setting up a fund for impacted workers, a source told ESPN.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, Pinstripe Alley, True Blue LA and Front Office Sports
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Players' union preparing written response to MLB's last CBA offer, sources say — Officials from the Major League Baseball Players Association are preparing a written response to MLB's last offer on a new collective bargaining agreement that preceded the league canceling the first week of the regular season …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, Battery Power and MLB Trade Rumors
Evan Drellich / The Athletic:
Sources: Angels, Diamondbacks, Reds and Tigers owners opposed MLB luxury tax increase — Editor's note: This story was updated to add a comment from a MLB spokesperson about the league's recent CBT proposal. — NEW YORK — Four Major League Baseball owners — Bob Castellini of the Reds …
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Matthew Roberson / New York Daily News:
Four MLB owners opposed increasing the luxury tax at all: reports — Four MLB owners — the Reds' Bob Castellini, Tigers' Chris Ilitch, Diamondbacks' Ken Kendrick, and Angels' Arte Moreno — objected to the league's proposal to raise the competitive balance tax, making it clear that getting 23 owners …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Battery Power
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Sources: MLB eyes pitch clocks of 14 seconds with empty bases, 19 seconds with runners on — Major League Baseball wants to institute a 14-second pitch clock with the bases empty and a 19-second timer with runners on, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Gaslamp Ball and Bleacher Nation
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
Amid uncertainty, multiple MLB teams have asked league about canceling Rule 5 draft this season, sources say — Fallout from Major League Baseball's lockout of the players could have far-reaching implications on the trade and free-agent markets, potentially slowing them because teams …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Rum Bunter
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The Athletic:
Rosenthal and Stark: MLB executives think Rule 5 draft should be canceled — As the baseball lockout continues, club executives are in almost unanimous agreement that the Rule 5 draft, one of the most arcane events on the baseball calendar, should be canceled.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Camden Chat, School of Roch, South Side Sox and Lone Star Ball
Jonathan Abrams / New York Times:
Brittney Griner, Star W.N.B.A. Center, Is Detained in Russia — The Russian Federal Customs Service said Saturday that its officials had detained an American basketball player after finding vape cartridges that contained hashish oil in her luggage at the Sheremetyevo airport near Moscow.
Discussion:
Deadspin, New York Post, Sportico, Our Daily Bears, Boston.com, Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet.ca, The Athletic, Advocate and USA Today, more at WeSmirch »
Stefan Bondy / New York Daily News:
Knicks rookie Miles McBride still waiting for his chance — PHILADELPHIA — It has been exactly two months since Miles “Deuce” McBride received meaningful minutes with the Knicks. — Back when COVID-19 was ravaging the roster in late December, McBride was provided six games in the rotation by coach Tom Thibodeau.
Discussion:
Boston Herald
Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris will undergo a second season-ending ankle surgery — Joe Harris is not walking back through that door. — The Nets' sharpshooter will undergo a second surgery on the left ankle that has plagued him all season. Nets general manager Sean Marks …
Discussion:
Boston Herald
Mike Florio / ProFootballTalk:
Aaron Rodgers has specific destinations in place, if he chooses to leave the Packers — Aaron Rodgers reportedly is torn between staying with the Packers or moving on. So if he'll be moving on, where will he go? — Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Rodgers has specific deals lined …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, FanSided, USA Today and New York Post
Joe Kelly / Los Angeles Times:
First person: Joe Kelly pleads with fans to ‘not forget about baseball’ amid MLB lockout — A plea: Don't give up on baseball. It's too important. — I get it. You're knee-deep in the millionaires vs. billionaires conversation that has dominated this offseason, looking for the signs …
Discussion:
Associated Press, BoSox Injection and Boston.com
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
How can the Chicago Bears get most out of QB Justin Fields? New GM Ryan Poles is doing his homework. — INDIANAPOLIS — One of the strongest evaluations Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles offered Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine was about wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
Discussion:
Bear Goggles On, Bleacher Nation and Mercury News
