Top News:
Apple:
Apple and Major League Baseball to offer “Friday Night Baseball” — Fans can tune in to two games on Friday nights during the regular season, available only on Apple TV+ — CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple and Major League Baseball (MLB) today announced “Friday Night Baseball,” …
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: MLB to cancel another week of games if deal not reached by Tuesday night — Major League Baseball plans to cancel another week of regular-season games if it can't agree to a new collective bargaining agreement with the MLB Players Association by Tuesday night, adding another layer …
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLBPA to respond to MLB's latest CBA proposal Wednesday; game cancellations on hold — Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association plan to pick up talks on a new collective bargaining agreement Wednesday morning after deep-into-the-night discussions produced enough progress toward …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Bleacher Nation, Battery Power, Sports Illustrated and baseballmusings.com
John Ourand / Sports Business Journal:
MLB, Apple link up for “Friday Night Baseball” — MLB made its Apple deal official today with a comprehensive rights agreement that includes a weekly “Friday Night Baseball” doubleheader on Apple TV+. Apple CEO Tim Cook made the announcement during an online presentation today.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, Sports Illustrated, McCovey Chronicles, BoSox Injection and Bleacher Nation
Associated Press:
Apple, MLB announce ‘Friday Night Baseball’ package — CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple will enter the live sports coverage arena with “Friday Night Baseball.” — Apple and Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that Apple TV+ will carry a weekly doubleheader on Friday nights in eight countries when the regular season begins.
Discussion:
Forbes, Boston.com, Pinstripe Alley, Sportico and baseballmusings.com
The Athletic:
MLB points to Tuesday as deadline for 162-game schedule, full pay, service time: Sources
Discussion:
MLB - The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca, MLB Baseball News …, Bleed Cubbie Blue and True Blue LA
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB gives the players union a Tuesday night deadline to accept a new deal as talks gain urgency
Discussion:
New York Post
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
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
‘We are deadlocked’: MLB could cancel another week of games soon as talks show little progress
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Athletic, DRaysBay and MLB Trade Rumors
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Sources: New MLBPA proposal includes $5M reduction in pre-arbitration pool
Discussion:
Deadspin, New York Post, MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Sources: MLB eyes pitch clocks of 14 seconds with empty bases, 19 seconds with runners on
Discussion:
Royals Review, The Crawfish Boxes, Purple Row and Bleacher Nation
David Furones / Sun-Sentinel:
Dolphins place franchise tag on tight end Mike Gesicki, keeping standout pass catcher in Miami for another year — The Miami Dolphins are hanging onto the top pass-catching tight end slated for free agency this offseason, securing him in Miami for at least another year.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Victory Bell Rings
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Omar Kelly / Sun-Sentinel:
Dolphins putting franchise tag on Mike Gesicki is merely a Band-Aid — The past three times the Miami Dolphins used the franchise or transition tag, the player they slapped it on ended up playing elsewhere that very same season. — Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry got traded to Cleveland …
Pat Leonard / New York Daily News:
Aaron Rodgers is coming back to the Packers — Aaron Rodgers isn't dragging out the drama this time. — He's staying with the Green Bay Packers, and he's making big money doing it. — So maybe he hasn't been canceled after all. — Rodgers, 38, officially has decided to return to the Packers …
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Dan Wiederer / Chicago Tribune:
What happens to the NFC North — and the Chicago Bears — if QB Aaron Rodgers leaves the Green Bay Packers? — During Super Bowl week last month in Los Angeles, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur scheduled an important business lunch. Over the course of three seasons …
Discussion:
Associated Press and Mercury News
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
MLB players frustrated by league's deadlines, but ‘solid in where they stand’ — MESA, Ariz. — The pop of leather and the crack of wood reverberated through Bell Bank Park, a sprawling sports and entertainment facility outfitted with turf baseball fields and an expansive weight room.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune, Gaslamp Ball and NBCSports.com
Peter King / ProFootballTalk:
FMIA: A Peek Inside The Journal Of Aidan Hutchinson, And What We Learned At NFL Scouting Combine — INDIANAPOLIS — “I don't know why I did it,” Aidan Hutchinson said Saturday night after his NFL Scouting Combine workout, sitting in his room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, a few long spirals from Lucas Oil Stadium.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, FanSided, Pride Of Detroit, Toro Times, The Big Lead, Lions Wire, DraftKings Nation and CBS Boston
Gordon Wittenmyer / NBCSports.com:
Cubs' Heuer undergoes Tommy John surgery … Cubs reliever Codi Heuer underwent Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow, suffering the injury during an independent workout not supervised by the team. — It appeared he underwent the surgery this week, having posted a photo …
