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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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).

Reds' employee in Arizona tests positive for coronavirus  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — An employee who worked at the  —  Cincinnati Reds spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the ballclub announced Wednesday.  —  The employee lives in Arizona …

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.

Recently Optioned Players Of Note  —  In case you haven't noticed, transactions aren't exactly plentiful since the league shut down Spring Training.  There have still been a few batches of moves in the past few days, however, with a trio of Central Division clubs sending some players to their minor league ranks.

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.