Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Major League Baseball plans to hold a 60-game season that will begin around July 24 but first needs players to sign off on a health-and-safety protocol and to pledge to arrive at home stadiums by July 1 to prepare for the season, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.Owners voted to implement a 60-game season on Monday, hours after the MLB Players Association rejected a 60-game proposal that would have included an expanded postseason and other ancillary salary bumps.After nearly three months of fruitless negotiations, MLB opted to use...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Major League Baseball plans to hold a 60-game season that will begin around July 24 but first needs players to sign off on a health-and-safety protocol and to pledge to arrive at home stadiums by July 1 to prepare for the season, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.Owners voted to implement a 60-game season on Monday, hours after the MLB Players Association rejected a 60-game proposal that would have included an expanded postseason and other ancillary salary bumps.After nearly three months of fruitless negotiations, MLB opted to use...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>owner Bill DeWitt Jr. is the second major league baseball owner in a week to say that the sport doesn't produce a lot of profit as labor negotiations between the owners and players continue, with the 2020 season hanging in the balance."The industry isn't very profitable, to be honest," DeWitt said on 590TheFan in St. Louis. "And I think they [the players] understand that. They think owners are hiding profits. There's been a bit of distrust there."It's a bit of a zero-sum game. They have by far the best deal of any players in any sport."DeWitt...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>owner Bill DeWitt Jr. is the second major league baseball owner in a week to say that the sport doesn't produce a lot of profit as labor negotiations between the owners and players continue, with the 2020 season hanging in the balance."The industry isn't very profitable, to be honest," DeWitt said on 590TheFan in St. Louis. "And I think they [the players] understand that. They think owners are hiding profits. There's been a bit of distrust there."It's a bit of a zero-sum game. They have by far the best deal of any players in any sport."DeWitt...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Some players are hoping for tweaks to MLB's recent health-protocols proposal as discussions continue about how to safely restart during the coronavirus pandemic.Mostly, players want to know whether some in-stadium and clubhouse restrictions can be loosened based on the plan to frequently test players and staff for the virus."The daily testing, I'm a fan of, to quickly determine our status every day," infielder said this week. "But given that, I'd like to see the freedom operating in the clubhouse and on the field."MLB's protocols inside team...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Some players are hoping for tweaks to MLB's recent health-protocols proposal as discussions continue about how to safely restart during the coronavirus pandemic.Mostly, players want to know whether some in-stadium and clubhouse restrictions can be loosened based on the plan to frequently test players and staff for the virus."The daily testing, I'm a fan of, to quickly determine our status every day," infielder said this week. "But given that, I'd like to see the freedom operating in the clubhouse and on the field."MLB's protocols inside team...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Major League Baseball is allowing teams to offer refunds to fans for games currently not being played because of the . Previously, games were considered postponed, instead of canceled, allowing teams to hold on to revenue generated from ticket sales.But with little chance of MLB playing 162 games this season, the league has decided to allow for refunds. MLB is not requiring refunds, and each team will set its own policy, with many likely offering a credit for 2021 as an option. Teams can announce their new policies beginning Wednesday.The...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Major League Baseball is allowing teams to offer refunds to fans for games currently not being played because of the . Previously, games were considered postponed, instead of canceled, allowing teams to hold on to revenue generated from ticket sales.But with little chance of MLB playing 162 games this season, the league has decided to allow for refunds. MLB is not requiring refunds, and each team will set its own policy, with many likely offering a credit for 2021 as an option. Teams can announce their new policies beginning Wednesday.The...WW…

Skip to navigation<>owner Tom Ricketts pushed back on the perception that baseball teams are cash cows, telling ESPN on Tuesday that yearly revenues are mostly put right back into the team."Here's something I hope baseball fans understand," Ricketts said. "Most baseball owners don't take money out of their team. They raise all the revenue they can from tickets and media rights, and they take out their expenses, and they give all the money left to their GM to spend."The league itself does not make a lot of cash. I think there is a perception that we hoard cash and we take money out and...…Skip to navigation<>owner Tom Ricketts pushed back on the perception that baseball teams are cash cows, telling ESPN on Tuesday that yearly revenues are mostly put right back into the team."Here's something I hope baseball fans understand," Ricketts said. "Most baseball owners don't take money out of their team. They raise all the revenue they can from tickets and media rights, and they take out their expenses, and they give all the money left to their GM to spend."The league itself does not make a lot of cash. I think there is a perception that we hoard cash and we take money out and...WW…

Skip to navigation<>A pair of fans from New York are suing Major League Baseball, each individual club and ticket resellers over tickets purchased for MLB games that haven't been played due the coronavirus pandemic.The complaint, filed Monday in California, is seeking class-action certification and to add more plaintiffs who are "similarly situated.""During an unprecedented crisis, while so many businesses have provided refunds for services that can't be fulfilled, it remains notable that baseball -- America's pastime -- is forcing fans to take the loss on ticket sales," attorney...…Skip to navigation<>A pair of fans from New York are suing Major League Baseball, each individual club and ticket resellers over tickets purchased for MLB games that haven't been played due the coronavirus pandemic.The complaint, filed Monday in California, is seeking class-action certification and to add more plaintiffs who are "similarly situated.""During an unprecedented crisis, while so many businesses have provided refunds for services that can't be fulfilled, it remains notable that baseball -- America's pastime -- is forcing fans to take the loss on ticket sales," attorney...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>CHICAGO -- The wait was worth it, according to infielder Kazmar, 36, got his first big league at-bat in more than 12 years Saturday, grounding into a double play as a pinch-hitter in the Braves' to the .The result of the play meant little compared to the resilience Kazmar displayed while grinding it out in the minors all those years."What a good feeling," Kazmar said. "Getting that opportunity early in the game was awesome. One, to do it with an Atlanta Braves uniform on, and secondly, to do it at Wrigley Field, it was amazing."Kazmar was a...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>CHICAGO -- The wait was worth it, according to infielder Kazmar, 36, got his first big league at-bat in more than 12 years Saturday, grounding into a double play as a pinch-hitter in the Braves' to the .The result of the play meant little compared to the resilience Kazmar displayed while grinding it out in the minors all those years."What a good feeling," Kazmar said. "Getting that opportunity early in the game was awesome. One, to do it with an Atlanta Braves uniform on, and secondly, to do it at Wrigley Field, it was amazing."Kazmar was a...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>In an attempt to crack down on the use of foreign substances on baseballs for the upcoming season, Major League Baseball will inspect balls taken out of play, analyze spin rate data and increase monitoring of dugouts and clubhouses.The new policies, outlined in a memo obtained by ESPN on Wednesday and sent to all 30 teams, are ultimately meant to help level the playing field for hitters, which should increase balls in play, a source told ESPN.Mike Hill, newly hired as executive vice president of baseball operations and disciplinarian, wrote in...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>In an attempt to crack down on the use of foreign substances on baseballs for the upcoming season, Major League Baseball will inspect balls taken out of play, analyze spin rate data and increase monitoring of dugouts and clubhouses.The new policies, outlined in a memo obtained by ESPN on Wednesday and sent to all 30 teams, are ultimately meant to help level the playing field for hitters, which should increase balls in play, a source told ESPN.Mike Hill, newly hired as executive vice president of baseball operations and disciplinarian, wrote in...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Major League Baseball players won't be required to take a COVID-19 vaccination, though it will be strongly encouraged by the players' union and the league when the time comes.The voluntary program won't proceed until health officials deem it appropriate, but players who are otherwise eligible for a vaccine, before league implementation, will be allowed to receive one, according to the 108-page health and safety protocols Monday night.The detailed document covers everything from the start of spring training to a potential delay to the start of...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Major League Baseball players won't be required to take a COVID-19 vaccination, though it will be strongly encouraged by the players' union and the league when the time comes.The voluntary program won't proceed until health officials deem it appropriate, but players who are otherwise eligible for a vaccine, before league implementation, will be allowed to receive one, according to the 108-page health and safety protocols Monday night.The detailed document covers everything from the start of spring training to a potential delay to the start of...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>While the continue an internal investigation into former executive Jared Porter's with a female reporter, the team is planning to make changes to its hiring process.Speaking publicly for the first time since last month as the ' general manager, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said his organization's new hiring practice will start with a more "thorough" background check on any potential employee."I think about the way we would like our process to be, like for a first-round draft pick," Hoyer said Monday. "And to be candid,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>While the continue an internal investigation into former executive Jared Porter's with a female reporter, the team is planning to make changes to its hiring process.Speaking publicly for the first time since last month as the ' general manager, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said his organization's new hiring practice will start with a more "thorough" background check on any potential employee."I think about the way we would like our process to be, like for a first-round draft pick," Hoyer said Monday. "And to be candid,...WW…