Top News:
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
AP sources: MLB could skip draft; service time big issue — NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is considering skipping its amateur draft this year and putting off the next international signing period as a way to preserve cash while games are affected by the new coronavirus …
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Kyle Glaser / Baseball America:
MLB Announces Minor Leaguers Will Receive Spring Training Allowances — Update (6:45 pm ET): The story has been updated to include the base amount of the allowance teams are providing eligible minor leaguers. — Major League Baseball announced Thursday afternoon that minor leaguers …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Denver Post, New York Times, Federal Baseball, Brew Crew Ball, Sportsnet.ca and True Blue LA
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
As MLB formalizes a stimulus package for minor-league players, Cardinals make some roster trims — ST. LOUIS — When baseball halted spring training and delayed the start of the regular season a week ago, the Cardinals were in the process making cuts from their spring training roster.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, Viva El Birdos and MLB Trade Rumors
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
MLB and its players dive into the many details of what-if scenarios
Discussion:
Camden Chat, MLB Trade Rumors, Sportsnet.ca and Bleacher Nation
Marly Rivera / ESPN:
Yankees' Aaron Judge says rib improving, also had collapsed lung — New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge told reporters Friday that his fractured rib is improving, and he also disclosed that he suffered a partially collapsed lung. — Two weeks ago, manager Aaron Boone said a fractured rib revealed …
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Provide Update On Aaron Judge Injury — Yankees star Aaron Judge was limited this spring by a mysterious upper body ailment that was ultimately diagnosed as a stress fracture in his rib. Today, the team updated his outlook, as MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports (Twitter link).
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Mets vs. Marlins series in Puerto Rico canceled — A pandemic-related inevitability became official Thursday. — The Mets' series against the Marlins in San Juan, Puerto Rico — scheduled for April 28-30 — has been canceled, Major League Baseball announced.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB Cancels Planned Series In Mexico City And Puerto Rico — Major League Baseball formally announced today that the Diamondbacks/Padres series that had been planned to take place on April 18-19 in Mexico City and the Marlins/Mets series that was set for April 28-30 in San Juan, Puerto Rico have been canceled.
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Braves News, KFMB and Gaslamp Ball
ESPN:
Red Sox's Chris Sale to undergo Tommy John surgery — Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale will undergo Tommy John surgery, Chaim Bloom, the team's chief baseball officer, announced Thursday. — The surgery will keep Sale from pitching this season, the start of which has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Twinkie Town and baseballmusings.com
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J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
Coronavirus Pandemic Creates ‘Disaster Situation’ For Some MiLB Teams — This past offseason was considered to be the toughest most Minor League Baseball teams had ever faced. Roughly a quarter of all MiLB teams were on the chopping block in an MLB proposal that headlined negotiations between MLB …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, Beyond the Box Score and FanGraphs Baseball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Option Touki Toussaint — The Braves optioned right-hander Touki Toussaint to Triple-A Gwinnett, per the league transactions log at MLB.com. He'd pitched well during spring before the league shutdown. Over 8 2/3 frames, he yielded a pair of runs on two hits and three walks with eight strikeouts.
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Federal Baseball
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Eugenio Suárez, injured Cincinnati Reds making progress during novel coronavirus hiatus — In a typical spring training, this is usually one of the busier times for managers in camp with Opening Day a few days away. Rosters are being finalized. Regular starters are playing full games.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Carlos Collazo / Baseball America:
How Scouting Departments Are Handling Life Without Baseball — In a typical year in the middle of March, scouting departments are in midseason form. Area scouts are working down preference lists and running out to get extra looks on players who have taken a step forward, or keeping an eye on a few players they have under the radar.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
