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3:55 PM ET, February 20, 2020

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RELATED:
ESPN:
Pennsylvania Little League district to drop ‘Astros’  —  Just 60 miles east of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, one Little League director is sending a clear message to his 4,000 players about the Houston Astros and their sign stealing.  —  Jose Altuve?  Alex Bregman?  Carlos Correa?  They're all out.
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Rob Manfred apologizes for calling World Series trophy a ‘piece of metal’
Associated Press:
Manfred apologizes for calling WS trophy a “piece of metal”
Discussion: Denver Post and NBCSports.com
Bradford William Davis / New York Daily News:
MLBPA disputes Rob Manfred's claims of player non-cooperation in Astros sign-stealing probe
David Purdum / ESPN:
Sportsbooks expect Astros hitters to be targeted often this season
Discussion: MLive.com and New York Post
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Bryant becomes Cubs' newest leadoff hitter  —  MESA, Ariz. — After Kris Bryant wrapped up his opening press conference of the spring, a discussion that lasted more than a half-hour with Chicago media on Saturday morning, the slugger headed back into the clubhouse.  —  Bryant was then greeted by manager David Ross.
Discussion: NBCSports.com and Cubs News
RELATED:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun-Times:
After meeting with Theo Epstein, Kris Bryant expects to remain a Cub all season
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
‘Field of Dreams’ movie site off limits to fans in week leading into New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox game  —  If you're hoping to visit the Field of Dreams movie site the week of Major League Baseball's game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, well, you better have a ticket.
Discussion: Chicago Sun-Times
MLB Trade Rumors:
Luis Severino Shut Down Due To Forearm Discomfort  —  In yet another bit of troubling injury news for Yankees fans, manager Aaron Boone revealed Thursday that right-hander Luis Severino is experiencing forearm soreness that dates all the way back to his final ALCS appearance in 2019 (Twitter links via MLB.com's Bryan Hoch).
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Win Arbitration Hearing Against J.T. Realmuto  —  The Phillies won their arbitration hearing against catcher J.T. Realmuto, tweets MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.  He'll earn the $10MM salary figure the team submitted for his final season of club control.
Associated Press:
Crowd-seeking Rays come up with win-win-win free ticket plan  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays are offering fans a win-win-win-win proposition.  —  Trying to draw bigger crowds to barren Tropicana Field, the Rays came up with a crowd-pleasing ticket plan Wednesday.
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Matt Loede / Sports Illustrated:
Do the Cleveland Indians Have a Cy Young “Darkhorse” in Their 2020 Starting Rotation?  —  As the Cleveland Indians embark on the 2020 season, the overwhelming notion is that again the strong point of the roster is the team's starting pitching.  —  Even with the early spring training injury …
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Will it be Wong or Edman?  Fowler or Carp?  Cardinals begin search for their leading man  —  JUPITER, Fla. — For all the rhetoric expended and hands wrung over the Cardinals' lack of a veteran cleanup man to drive in runs, the issue of who might be scoring those runs sometimes is overlooked.
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Marly Rivera / ESPN:
New York Mets' Dellin Betances starts new chapter in same city  —  If there was one point in time when New York's own Dellin Betances made it clear that he was in Major League Baseball to stay, it was on May 15, 2014 at Citi Field.  As a 26-year-old reliever for the New York Yankees …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles Claim Andrew Velazquez, Designate Richard Urena  —  The Orioles have claimed utilityman Andrew Velazquez off waivers from the Indians, per a club announcement.  To create roster space, the team designated fellow infielder Richard Urena.  —  Velazquez, a 25-year-old switch-hitter, has only minimal MLB experience.
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
Pirates' Pablo Reyes banned 80 games for positive drug test  —  Pablo Reyes was suspended 80 games on Wednesday under the major league drug program following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug Boldenone.  —  He became the second player in three days suspended for Boldenone …
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
Kevin Acee / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres, Red Sox still talking about deal involving Wil Myers  —  After attempt to land Mookie Betts failed, Padres still talking to Red Sox about sending Wil Myers, others to Boston  —  While Padres General Manager A.J. Preller did make significant upgrades all around the roster …
RELATED:
The Boston Globe:
Sorry, but there is no explaining away the Mookie Betts move
Discussion: Dan Shaughnessy Watch
 
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 More News: 
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Marcus Stroman spoils team with Mets-themed apparel from his own clothing line
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The One Issue Pirates' GM Cherington Can't Escape
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
 

 
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