In a statement to ESPN, MLB said it wouldn't disclose COVID-19 related information without an individual's permission. MLB does plan to publish general testing information, for example, number of tests and positive results, but with no player names or identifying characteristics.
Spring training 2.0 ... or summer camp? No matter what you call it, baseball's road back to the field starts today. Here's what you need to get up to speed.
MLB statement to ESPN regarding teams not naming players that test positive for coronavirus: "Because COVID-19 is not considered an employment-related injury, we will respect the privacy of the players who test positive or who are under evaluation, and we will defer to their wishes regarding public updates about their status. Without their voluntary permission, we will not disclose any COVID-19 related information."
Teams are coming back for a 60-game sprint of a season. How much has baseball's 100-day interruption shaken up expectations?
Dave Schoenfield joins Eric to discuss which teams have players that are more valuable now than they were this preseason, focusing on starting pitchers and closers.
Some of the game's biggest prospects, such as Wander Franco and Jo Adell, will be in MLB camps this week. Here's who to watch on every team.
Top prospect Wander Franco is part of the Rays' 60-man player pool, and the Tigers are including their most heralded young pitchers as baseball gears up for its abbreviated season.
No one knows what will transpire in this year's unique format, but that didn't keep us from making our picks for MVP, the team to beat and more.
When players report to the second "spring training," they will be required to undergo “intake screenings,” which will include a COVID-19 saliva test and a COVID-19 antibodies blood test. All players will be tested for COVID-19 at least every other day during the season, or more frequently if deemed necessary.
Important MLB deadlines this week: All player transactions that were suspended during the “Transaction Freeze” that was a part of the March agreement will resume tomorrow, Friday, June 26th, at 12pm ET. By 4pm ET on Sunday, June 28th, each club must submit to MLB a list of up to 60 players who will be eligible to play during the 2020 season.
Tim Kurkjian joins Buster to talk actual baseball (2:38), including the biggest baseball challenge for all teams getting started, why they're high on the Rays in a short season, pitchers and hitters to watch, and which teams may surprise the league. Plus, they share reactions they've heard around baseball to MLB's plan to start the season, and give their reactions to the new rules and health protocols.
Baseball is about to embark on its shortest season ever, so we look at just how weird 2020's stats could be.
Players have agreed to report by July 1st but MLB understands that some of them may not be able to meet that timeline because of immigration or other travel reasons.
MLB's 60-game schedule will largely feature divisional play (~40 games); rest of games will be against the opposite league's corresponding geographical division (AL East v NL East; AL Central v NL Central; AL West v NL West). Commissioner Manfred: “Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon. We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with Baseball again soon.”
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Major League Baseball anticipates beginning its 2020 regular season approximately one month from today, on July 23rd or July 24th.
The Rays have reached terms with first-round draft pick Nick Bitsko, a HS pitcher from Pennsylvania.
Mookie Betts wearing Dodger blue, Gerrit Cole in pinstripes. A wild sprint from start to finish. Here's what we're most excited to see when the 2020 season finally begins.
MLB has told the MLBPA that they are going to schedule “as many games as possible," with a target of 60 games for the abbreviated 2020 regular season.
Full statement from Major League Baseball
MLB asked the MLBPA to state whether players will be able to report to camp within seven days (by July 1st) and whether the Players Association will agree on the Operating Manual, which contains the health and safety protocols, by 5:00 p.m. (ET) tomorrow.
The March 26th agreement between MLB and the MLBPA explicitly states that any proposal to resume the season would have to allow playing the fullest regular season and postseason that is economically feasible.
MLBPA Statement:
Players voted against MLB's latest 60-game proposal. Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers report the vote was 33 to 5. This opens the door for Commissioner Rob Manfred to implement a season, according to the parameters of the March 26th agreement. Manfred could also cancel the season altogether.
Both the Yankees and the Mets will move their spring training workouts to New York City due to the large increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases in Florida, per New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Many other clubs are expected follow suit due to the increase in both Florida and Arizona.
