Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / MLB - The Athletic:
MLB willing to increase luxury tax if players move in other areas, people with knowledge of league's thinking said — Major League Baseball is willing to increase the first competitive-balance tax threshold from $220 million if the Players Association makes moves in other areas, people with knowledge of the league's thinking say.
Discussion:
The Athletic, Camden Chat, True Blue LA, Bless You Boys, baseballmusings.com and MLB Baseball News …
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Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Sources: New MLBPA proposal includes $5M reduction in pre-arbitration pool — The MLB Players Association gave a written collective bargaining agreement proposal to Major League Baseball on Sunday. It included a $5 million reduction to the union's last offer in a pre-arbitration bonus pool …
Discussion:
USA Today, True Blue LA and baseballmusings.com
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
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 …
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:
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
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:
Gaslamp Ball, MLB Trade Rumors, Pinstripe Alley 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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Calvin Watkins / Dallas Morning News:
After rejecting a pay cut, DeMarcus Lawrence's future with the Dallas Cowboys appears in doubt — Multiple sources said the team has asked Lawrence to take a pay cut, which he refused. — INDIANAPOLIS — Among the Cowboys' highest-paid players, quarterback Dak Prescott has job security …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and Sports Illustrated
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, Boston.com, Sportico, Our Daily Bears, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet.ca and Advocate, more at WeSmirch »
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:
Greensburg Tribune-Review, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, FanSided and New York Post
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
