Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: MLB, MLBPA agree to deal on stoppage — Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association struck a deal on critical salary and service-time issues Thursday night, allowing the sides to prepare together for a season delayed indefinitely by the coronavirus pandemic, sources told ESPN.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Royals Review and San Francisco Chronicle
RELATED:
Kiley McDaniel / ESPN:
Sources: MLB draft likely to be in July, may be shortened — The Major League Baseball draft is increasingly likely to happen in July, though it could be shortened and include bonus deferrals, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN. — Fear of handing out significant signing bonuses …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Sports Illustrated and Talking Chop
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLB, union weighing variables for potential restart of season — As Major League Baseball handles the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and tries to determine when — or even if — it will begin its season, the league is grappling with a number of key issues that could come to a head …
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
MLB and players' union making progress toward service-time resolution — Major League Baseball and the players' union have made progress toward resolving the contentious service-time questions for the disrupted 2020 season, putting the parties in position to reach full agreement in the coming days.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Baseball Prospectus, South Side Sox, Talking Chop, Bluebird Banter, MLB Baseball News …, Bleed Cubbie Blue, NBCSports.com, Lone Star Ball, FanGraphs Baseball, Sports Illustrated, Halos Heaven, MLB Daily Dish, True Blue LA, AZ Snake Pit, Over the Monster and MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB, MLBPA Agree On Framework Of 2020 Draft
Discussion:
Baseball America, Metsmerized Online, Over the Monster and Batter's Box Interactive …
David Waldstein / New York Times:
Coronavirus Protective Masks to Be Made From M.L.B. Uniform Material — The deal will send masks to health professionals in the Northeast with the distinctive pinstripes of the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. — Had the baseball season not been postponed because of the coronavirus …
Discussion:
New York Post
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Fanatics to make medical gear instead of baseball uniforms — PHILADELPHIA — The Bryce Harper jersey that could have been worn this baseball season by the biggest Philadelphia Phillies fan is now a protective mask in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, The Hill and MLB Baseball News …
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Rob Manfred says ‘nothing off table’ regarding MLB's return — Vowing that “baseball will be back” and “will be part of the recovery,” Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said in an interview Wednesday with ESPN'S Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter that “nothing's off the table” …
Andrew Simon / MLB.com:
Join Opening Day at Home with 30 classic games — You can still celebrate Opening Day this year — with fans around the globe. — On Thursday, Major League Baseball will present “Opening Day at Home” — a full slate of 30 games broadcast nationally across various platforms …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Option Michael Kopech — The White Sox have optioned right-hander Michael Kopech to Triple-A Charlotte, the team announced. Whenever the season gets underway, he'll open on the minor league side of things. — That's long seemed like a formality.
Discussion:
South Side Sox, baseballmusings.com and MLB Baseball News …
Strat-O-Matic:
2020 Season Simulation — Welcome to the Strat-O-Matic 2020 Season Simulation. — Come back every day at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT to see updated results from our simulation. — Defending Champion Nationals Among Opening Day Winners In Strat-O-Matic 2020 Season Simulation
Discussion:
Sports Reference, Detroit Free Press, MLB Trade Rumors and Metsmerized Online
The Athletic:
Priorities, not perfection: Baseball's deal addresses service time, cash flow — Economic disputes in a $10.7 billion industry seem rather inconsequential in this time of pain and suffering, but MLB players and owners still had to figure out how they would proceed with the disrupted 2020 season.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Tim Tucker / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Former Braves owner Bill Bartholomay, who moved team to Atlanta, dies — Former Braves owner Bill Bartholomay, who brought the team and major-league sports to Atlanta in 1966, died Wednesday night at age 91. — Bartholomay “died very peacefully” at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, his daughter Jamie Bartholomay Niemie said.
