31 MLB players positive for coronavirus after first round of tests  —  Thirty-one players were positive for COVID-19 in Major League Baseball's first round of coronavirus testing, the league and players' union announced Friday.  —  Seven staff members also tested positive.

After blowback, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred clarifies comments on 60-game season  —  While the Twitterverse thought MLB commissioner Rob Manfred accidentally confessed Wednesday on the Dan Patrick Show that it was always MLB's intention to play a 60-game season, Manfred clarified Thursday what he meant.

MLB cancels All-Star Game for first time since 1945  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodger Stadium's 40-year wait to host the All-Star Game is going to last even longer.  —  The game scheduled for July 14 was canceled Friday because of the coronavirus pandemic …

With pregnant wife, Angels star Mike Trout unsure if he'll play in 2020: ‘Playing it by ear’  —  Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels' three-time MVP and widely regarded as baseball's greatest player, is wary about starting the 2020 season with his wife expecting their first baby in August.

Tim Anderson leads growing White Sox toward contention: 'He's a man'  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  Growing up.  —  It's what this rebuild is all about.  —  When you start building from the bottom, the name of the game is acquiring young, talented players …

Welington Castillo Opts Out Of 2020 Season  —  Veteran catcher Welington Castillo has opted out of the 2020 season, Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters Friday (Twitter link via the Washington Post's Jesse Dougherty).  Castillo inked a minor league contract with the Nationals …

MLB Player Pool Salary Will Give Some Minor Leaguers A Pay Bump  —  For minor leaguers, being named to the 60-man player pool will result in either a minor pay bump or a major one.  —  Players not on the 40-man roster who are part of the player pool working out at their team's alternate site …

Prohibition baseball: Inside the biggest All-Star Game no one watched  —  Luke Jackson had nowhere to throw when baseball shut down.  So, the Atlanta Braves right-hander got desperate, watched some YouTube videos, and built a makeshift mound.  He was throwing alone in his driveway in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. when he got the fateful text.

As MLB teams report, let's count the ways the Red Sox will be worse in 2020  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  Red Sox reality check.  They were never, ever meant to contend in 2020.  —  This 60-game sprint will probably keep them from plummeting completely out of the playoff race, but let's not kid ourselves.

Cubs' José Quintana undergoes thumb surgery, likely to miss start of season  —  By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's  —  Cubs starter José Quintana will likely start the season on the injured list and his status is in doubt after suffering a thumb injury at home.

Tim Kurkjian's Baseball Fix: Major League Baseball gave us plenty of reasons to despise it, but here are 100 reasons it's OK to still love it  —  The past three months, baseball has given us 1,000 reasons to hate it.  —  In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, the players and owners …