Top News:
ESPN:
New York Mets and All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor agree to 10-year, $341 million deal, source says — The New York Mets and shortstop Francisco Lindor have agreed to a 10-year, $341 million deal, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Wednesday. — Lindor's deal will be the third largest based …
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Jesse Dougherty / Washington Post:
Mets-Nationals postponed in Washington as coronavirus issues disrupt Opening Day — The Opening Day matchup between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets that was scheduled for Thursday has been postponed because of coronavirus concerns, according to two people with knowledge of the situation.
Discussion:
Nationals Pastime, baseballmusings.com and The Atlantic
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Nationals-Mets opening day game postponed due to Washington's COVID-19 issues — As Major League Baseball gradually approaches something resembling a finish line with the coronavirus, its most joyous day of the year - opening day - was waylaid by the postponement of the nationally televised …
Discussion:
Washington Times, MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
ESPN:
Washington Nationals' Opening Day game vs. New York Mets postponed due to COVID-19 issues — WASHINGTON — The Opening Day game between the Nationals and New York Mets was postponed hours before it was scheduled to begin Thursday night because of coronavirus concerns after at least three Washington players tested positive for COVID-19.
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Pete Alonso wants Mets to open the checkbook for Francisco Lindor: 'Pay him 400′ million
Discussion:
ESPN, MLB Baseball News … and New York Post
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Francisco Lindor contract watch continues as Mets and shortstop swap offers
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, New York Post, MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
ESPN:
Baserunning blunder nullifies home run by Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger — DENVER — Cody Bellinger hit a homer — and was called out before he could finish his trot. — It was an honest mistake on a bizarre play for Bellinger, Justin Turner and the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers …
Discussion:
The Good Phight and baseballmusings.com
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
2021 MLB expert predictions, award picks: Can Dodgers win another World Series? — No Major League Baseball team has won back-to-back World Series titles in 20 years, but the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers head into 2021 as the favorite to reign again in October. — But things won't come easy for the Dodgers.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Umpire Angel Hernandez loses race discrimination lawsuit against MLB — NEW YORK — Umpire Angel Hernandez lost his lawsuit against Major League Baseball alleging racial discrimination. — The Cuba-born Hernandez sued in 2017 in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, with the case later moved to New York.
Associated Press:
Number of MLB foreign-born players drops slightly for 4th straight year — NEW YORK — More than 28% of Major League Baseball players were born outside the 50 states. That represents a drop for the fourth straight season, although this decrease was particularly small.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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J.J. Cooper / Baseball America:
2021 MLB Draft Will Be 20 Rounds — Major League Baseball has informed its teams that the 2021 MLB Draft will be 20 rounds. — That was expected news, as MLB negotiated with the Major League Baseball Players Association last year an agreement that this year's draft could be cut to as few as 20 rounds.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Talking Chop and McCovey Chronicles
University of North Carolina Athletics:
Roy Williams To Retire From Coaching After 48 Years — CHAPEL HILL—Roy Williams, who led the University of North Carolina to three NCAA championships, is retiring after 33 seasons and 903 wins as a college basketball head coach. — The 2007 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee will address …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, Tar Heel Blog, Forbes, A Sea Of Blue and DraftKings Nation
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
At 21, Fernando Tatis Jr. already carries the ‘Face of Baseball’ label, even as MLB aims to diversify the field — For all its modernization, baseball remains the most deliberate of pastimes, where patience is rewarded, seven-month sample sizes outflank isolated moments of brilliance …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and The Good Phight
ESPN:
2021 MLB season preview: Power rankings, best (and worst) case and most exciting player for all 30 teams — After a shortened 60-game schedule in 2020, Major League Baseball returns to a full 162-game season in 2021. — The Los Angeles Dodgers ruled last year's unusual campaign …
Discussion:
New York Times, Lone Star Ball, Washingtonian and Sports Illustrated
The Ringer:
The New Baseball Still Seems Juiced — MLB is debuting a ball this season that's supposed to decrease the distance of deep fly balls and by extension, quite possibly the volume of home runs. Yet the data from spring training appear to tell a different story. — SHARE All sharing options
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, U.S.S. Mariner, Lookout Landing, Beyond the Box Score and MLB Baseball News …
Jackie Bradley Jr / The Players' Tribune:
Dear Red Sox Nation — Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images — As a 21-year-old entering the 2011 draft, I could never have imagined how the next 10 years would unfold. — But I know now that I'll never forget them. — My journey started like it does for many young Red Sox prospects: in Lowell with the Spinners.
Discussion:
Boston Herald, NBCSports.com and MLB Baseball News …
