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:
NBCSports.com, Bleacher Nation and Pinstripe Alley
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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 …
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:
Sports Illustrated, NBCSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors, MLB.com, Jays Journal, Royals Review, MLB - The Athletic and Bleacher Nation
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLB, MLBPA fail to reach new labor agreement; league in 1st lockout since 1990 — IRVING, Texas — Major League Baseball locked out its players early Thursday morning, certifying the game's first work stoppage in more than a quarter-century after months of talks yielded little progress toward a new labor contract.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and The Athletic
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 …
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Everything you need to know about MLB's lockout — Welcome to the end of baseball ... for a while, at least. — At 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday, the collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association expired.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, Kansas City Star, Cubs Insider, CBS Los Angeles, Dodgers Nation, Bless You Boys, Viva El Birdos and Talking Chop
Bradford William Davis / Insider:
Major League Baseball secretly used 2 different types of baseballs last season
Discussion:
Purple Row, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, Yahoo News, Marc Normandin …, Fish Stripes and FanSided
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.
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
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:
Associated Press and Chowder and Champions
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, Jets Wire, Mercury News, The Spun, NorthJersey.com and Jets X-Factor
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