Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Rays to explore playing in Montreal — The Tampa Bay Rays received permission from Major League Baseball's executive council to explore a plan in which they would play early-season home games in the Tampa Bay area and the remainder of the year in Montreal, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.
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John Romano / Tampa Bay Times:
If the Montreal idea is bogus, what are the Rays really thinking? — St. Petersburg's mayor had already shot down the idea of a shared agreement with Montreal, which means the Rays dropped a bombshell knowing it was a long shot. — ST. PETERSBURG — And so it begins. The dance, if not the departure.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, DRaysBay and Ballpark Digest
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays to explore splitting home games with Montreal
Rays to explore splitting home games with Montreal
Discussion:
Tampa Bay Times, MLB Trade Rumors, DRaysBay, Athletics Nation, The Athletic, New York Times, Purple Row and Bluebird Banter
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Mets pitchers scuffle hours after coaching shakeup at Wrigley — CHICAGO - The Mets began the day with an enormous disruption to the structure of their coaching staff when Brodie Van Wagenen and his front office made an executive decision to fire pitching coach Dave Eiland.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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Jay Cohen / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
McNeil powers Mets past Cubs 5-4 — Jeff McNeil homered and drove in three runs while making his first career start in right field, helping the — Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Friday. — Michael Conforto also connected as the slumping Mets won for just the fourth time in their last 11 games.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Joe Reedy / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Dodgers hold off Giants' rally in 9th for 9-8 victory — Madison Bumgarner and rode their hot-hitting lineup for the first eight innings of Thursday night's game against San Francisco. It was their clutch fielding that ended up helping them hold on for a 9-8 win.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and True Blue LA
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Alex Pavlovic / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
If Madison Bumgarner is done in Giants-Dodgers rivalry, it was hell of a run — Madison Bumgarner is done in Giants-Dodgers rivalry, it was hell of a run originally appeared on — LOS ANGELES — Three hours before the first pitch Thursday, a few minutes after the
Discussion:
True Blue LA, NBCSports.com and Daily News
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Frankie Montas Gets 80-Game PED Suspension — In stunning news, Major League Baseball has issued an 80-game suspension to Athletics ace Frankie Montas for performance-enhancing drug use, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. Montas tested positive for banned substance Ostarine, according to Sam Dykstra of MLB.com.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, MLB Daily Dish and Athletics Nation
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Marlins Place Jorge Alfaro On IL, Select Wilkin Castillo — The Marlins have placed catcher Jorge Alfaro on the seven-day concussion injured list and selected the contract of fellow backstop Wilkin Castillo from Triple-A New Orleans. In other moves, the club transferred catcher Chad Wallach …
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Bob Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
The perfect player: Albert Pujols' return to St. Louis a time for celebration — ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols still has a home in the suburbs of St. Louis but hasn't set foot inside Busch Stadium since Dec. 8, 2011. — This is the home he helped build, leading the Cardinals …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Halos Heaven, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Trevor Bauer, Baseball's Imperfect Evangelist — CLEVELAND — Trevor Bauer has thrown more pitches this season than any other major leaguer. Many pitches have not gone where he wanted, but this is the most fitting category for him to be leading. Bauer, the restless and relentless right-hander …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds Reportedly “Open To Adding A Controllable Hitter” — The Reds are “open to adding a controllable hitter” this summer, according to a recent report from MLB.com's Jon Morosi (Twitter link). — This bit of scuttlebutt seems mostly to reflect a few self-evident realities about the Cincinnati org's situation.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Curly W Live:
A Letter from Mark D. Lerner: Nationals Announce Extension of Protective Field Netting — Dear Nationals Fans: — Today, we announced additional protective netting will be installed at Nationals Park during the All-Star break. Ultra Cross Knotless Dyneema protective netting will be installed …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Daily Dish