Top News:
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Francisco Lindor contract watch continues as Mets and shortstop swap offers — Mets spring training is over. Francisco Lindor Contract Extension Watch 2021 is not. — With about two days left until the Lindor-imposed deadline for the sides to agree to a deal, Lindor and the Mets remained far apart …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, New York Post, MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Francisco Lindor rejects 10-year, $325 million offer Mets call ‘best and final’ — The Mets have made their “best and final offer” for Francisco Lindor, according to a source. But it's well below the shortstop's asking price. — The team offered Lindor a long-term deal to stay in New York for 10 years …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Deadspin and Amazin' Avenue
Justin Toscano / NorthJersey.com:
Talented 2021 NY Mets hope to make a run and win World Series — The Mets are entering a new era. — In November, owner Steve Cohen vowed to make the team a sustainable winner, one that would make fans proud. He brought president Sandy Alderson and, together, they overhauled the roster and parts of the organization.
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Mets to experiment with opener in Saturday's exhibition game
Discussion:
New York Post
Joon Lee / ESPN:
New York Mets' Pete Alonso to issue NFT to aid minor leaguers — New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is joining in on the sports NFT trend, but with a minor league twist. — Alonso, who is launching his own NFT on Tuesday on Blockparty, is auctioning off the one-of-one digital collectible …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
New York Yankees 1B Luke Voit going on IL with partial tear in meniscus — TAMPA, Fla. — Major league home run champion Luke Voit needs knee surgery to repair a partial meniscus tear, an injury that opened a New York Yankees roster spot for Jay Bruce on Saturday as a first baseman.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated and Pinstripe Alley
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Anthony Rizzo ending contract talks with Chicago Cubs to focus on season — CHICAGO — Longtime Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo will begin the season without a contract with the team beyond 2021, and he is instructing his agents to end negotiations so he can concentrate on baseball.
Discussion:
Cubs News, Bleed Cubbie Blue, USA Today, MLB Baseball News …, Chicago Sun-Times and Sports Illustrated
David Purdum / ESPN:
Scoring, home runs down in spring training with new balls in play — With the slightly tweaked baseballs in play, scoring and home runs are down in spring training. — Through Sunday, spring training games are averaging 9.4 runs, the lowest-scoring output in the preseason since at least 2015 …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen is the subject of a new ‘House Hunters’ episode — Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen is used to being behind the microphone. Not in front of the camera. — “I'm a face for radio as people like to say,” Cohen jokes. — Cohen and girlfriend Tessa Chen …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Major League Baseball relaxing COVID-19 protocols for fully vaccinated players, staff — PHOENIX — Major League Baseball is getting back to normal. Players can now travel with their families. They can go to restaurants. They can play cards and move around on planes and buses.
Discussion:
ESPN and Sports Illustrated
Anthony McCarron / New York Daily News:
Still curious? Catching up with those who brought Sidd Finch to life — The day the famous Sports Illustrated story about the Mets and a phenom pitcher hit newsstands, telephones all over New York and Florida started ringing. In Jay Horwitz's office, a furious sports editor …
The Athletic:
Sources: Former No. 1 pick Mark Appel attempting comeback with Phillies — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Three years after he stepped away from baseball as a rare No. 1 pick to have never reached the majors, Mark Appel has been preparing for a comeback. — Appel, 29, will soon report to the Phillies' complex …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, The Good Phight, MLB.com, USA Today and MLB Trade Rumors
Charlie Goldsmith / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds GM Nick Krall: ‘Looking like’ Eugenio Suárez will be starting shortstop — GOODYEAR, Arizona - Over the last few days of spring training, as the rest of the National League Central finalizes their Opening Day rosters and their starting lineups, the Cincinnati Reds are still waiting on a few answers.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Minnesota Twins coach Mike Bell, brother of Reds manager, dies of cancer at 46 — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Minnesota Twins bench coach Mike Bell, the younger brother of Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell, died Friday of kidney cancer. He was 46. — At the request of Bell's family to take the field …
Discussion:
New York Post
ESPN:
MLBPA chief open to talk with MLB about moving All-Star Game out of Georgia following new voting laws — Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark said Friday that he “would look forward” to discussing moving the All-Star Game from Atlanta in the wake …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Sports Illustrated and The Atlantic
