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
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Washington Nationals have four players positive for COVID-19; series vs. New York Mets postponed — The season-opening series between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets was postponed Friday, with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo saying a fourth player from the team has tested positive for COVID-19.
Discussion:
Nationals Pastime, Federal Baseball, Faith and Fear in Flushing and NBCSports.com
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:
MLB Baseball News …, Washington Times 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.
ESPN:
2021 MLB season preview: Power rankings, best (and worst) case and most exciting player for all 30 teams
Discussion:
New York Times, Lone Star Ball, Washingtonian and Sports Illustrated
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
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 …
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, Bleacher Nation, Talking Chop and McCovey Chronicles
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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
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
MLB moving 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta over Georgia voting law — Major League Baseball announced Friday that it is moving the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta in response to a new Georgia law that has civil rights groups concerned about its potential to restrict voting access for people of color.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Fish Stripes, NBCSports.com, Outsports, Sports Illustrated, Sportico, MLB Baseball News …, Talking Chop, New York Post, The Athletic and The Good Phight
Joe Trezza / MLB.com:
Mancini's ‘surreal’ return reminiscent of debut — Throughout his year away from the field battling — and beating — Stage 3 colon cancer, Trey Mancini consistently said he wouldn't consider his comeback complete until Opening Day. It wouldn't be just the feel of the bat in his hand …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and Red Sox News
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
