Brewers' Severino suspended 80 games for fertility drug
Milwaukee catcher Pedro Severino was suspended for 80 games on Tuesday following a positive drug test, the fourth major leaguer penalized in two days. Severino tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Clomiphene, the commissioner's office said. Severino will lose about half his $1.9 million salary.
news.yahoo.comSantana, Rodríguez, Rondón suspended for positive drug tests
Outfielder/first baseman Danny Santana, pitcher Richard Rodríguez and infielder José Rondón were suspended for 80 games each Monday in the first discipline since the major league drug testing program resumed March 11 following a 99-day suspension during the lockout. The tests resulted from urine samples taken before the lockout started Dec. 2, but MLB concluded it could not announce discipline during the lockout, a person familiar with the testing program said, speaking on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced. Santana, 31, is an eight-year major league veteran who hit .181 with five homers and 14 RBIs in 38 games for the Boston Red Sox last season.
news.yahoo.comMLB tests pitch clock, anti-shift, bigger bases in minors
Pitchers, catchers and batters will be able to appeal calls from human umpires to “robo umps” in the Low-A Southeast League this season, while pitch clocks, anti-shift rules and larger bases will be tried in the minors ahead of possible big league use in 2023.
MLB owners, players end 99-day lockout after reaching tentative agreement for new CBA
Following a wave of cancellations for the upcoming season due to negotiations, MLB owners and players have reached a tentative agreement Thursday on a new collective bargaining agreement, ending a 99-day lockout, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
news.yahoo.comMLB cancels 93 more games, gap narrows in bargaining
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred canceled 93 more games Wednesday, appearing to cut off the chance to play a full 162-game schedule and threatening locked out players with loss of salary and service time. As the sides narrowed many economic differences to a small margin, they became bogged down over management's attempt to gain an international amateur draft. In the meantime, at 6:30 p.m. on the 98th day of the lockout, Manfred announced two additional series had been canceled through April 13.
news.yahoo.comWhat’s next after MLB owners imposed a lockout of players? ‘We’re here, they’re there. We need to find a way to bridge the gap,’ Rob Manfred says.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said owners imposed a lockout “out of a desire to drive the process forward to an agreement now.” MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark pushed back on that sentiment as labor talks stalled.
chicagotribune.comFriedman, Dodgers facing decisions on FAs, Bauer this winter
Andrew Friedman is headed into an offseason filled with crucial decisions involving the Los Angeles Dodgers’ big-name free agents, a rebuild of the starting rotation and Trevor Bauer’s future with the team. As always, Friedman is guided by the ultimate goal of the monied Dodgers, saying, “The number one objective is to put ourselves in the best position to win in 2022.” After coming within two wins of reaching the World Series for the fourth time in five years, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations defined the team's postseason as “our struggle to consistently score runs.”
news.yahoo.comMajor League Baseball work stoppage almost certain on Dec. 2
Baseball’s ninth work stoppage and first in 26 years appears almost certain to start Dec. 2, freezing the free-agent market and threatening the start of spring training in February. Free agents can start signing with any team on the sixth day following the World Series, and this year’s group includes Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Freddie Freeman, Trevor Story, Max Scherzer, Marcus Semien, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Michael Conforto and Kevin Gausman.
news.yahoo.comColorado governor and Denver mayor announce MLB All-Star game coming to Denver
Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock confirmed Tuesday that the Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be moving to Denver after the MLB moved the game out of Georgia to protest its new voting law. Watch their press conference.
cbsnews.com2 MLB players test positive for COVID-19 in past week
(AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter, File)NEW YORK – Two major league players and two staff members were positive for COVID-19 during the past week among 13,978 tests, a 0.03% positive rate. The positive tests were among 11 of the 30 teams. Including intake testing upon arrival at spring training, there have been 33 positive tests — 25 players, eight staff — among 78,227 tests, a positive rate of 0.04%. The positive tests were among 18 teams. All players on 40-man rosters and players with minor league contracts invited to big league training camps are screened.
Lynchburg Hillcats likely to remain Cleveland Indians affiliate, but at a different level
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Baseball players in the Hill City could still end up playing home games in Cleveland. The Lynchburg Hillcats announced Wednesday that they’ve been formally invited by the Cleveland Indians to become their new Low-A affiliate. “We appreciate Cleveland’s commitment to top-notch player development and working with us to keep professional baseball in Lynchburg for years to come. We can’t wait to host baseball games again at Bank of the James Stadium and do what we do best -- provide affordable family fun to our passionate fans.”The announcement comes as Major League Baseball has altered the minor league structure. Lynchburg was last a Low-A club in 1989 as a Boston Red Sox affiliate.
Teams to rebrand as Appalachian League transforms into a collegiate wood-bat league
ROANOKE, Va. – Say goodbye to the Pulaski Yankees, Danville Braves and the other familiar monikers of the Appalachian League. Major League Baseball and USA Baseball jointly announced a new format for the league, on Tuesday, which will feature the nation’s top rising college freshmen and sophomores in wood-bat play each summer. “The communities of the Appalachian League have supported baseball since our founding in 1911. This new Appalachian League format will continue that tradition, ensuring that high-level baseball will continue being played in our state for the long-term. We look forward to a new team as part of the community.” Danville Parks and Rec director Bill Sgrinia
Appalachian League to become a college baseball developmental league
ROANOKE, Va. – The Appalachian League will look different when it returns. On Friday, Major League Baseball and USA Baseball announced a plan to transform the Appalacian League into a college summer league. Rather than being professional players at the rookie-level, the league would be comprised of the nation’s top rising college freshman and sophomores. The plan is to “retain high-caliber baseball in the communities where it is currently being played under the Appalachian League brand while bringing new, modern approaches to player development and exciting partnerships and opportunities for teams, fans and communities,” according to Major League BaseballMore details will be released during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday at noon.
Cardboard fans? Masks? MLB is back, but it doesn’t look real -- these photos might weird you out
(2020 Getty Images)A lone Boston Red Sox employee eats a hot dog in the stands before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on July 26, 2020 in Boston. (2020 Getty Images)A peek at Tropicana Field during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves on July 27, 2020 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (2020 Getty Images)A mask is placed on the Teammates Statue on Opening Day at Fenway Park on July 24, 2020 in Boston. (2020 Getty Images)A general view of of cardboard cutouts placed in the seats before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on July 25, 2020. (2020 Getty Images)With information from the Associated Press.
With an MLB season on the horizon, Lynchburg Hillcats reflect on should-have-been All-Star Game
LYNCHBURG, Va. Yesterday in Lynchburg, the Carolina League All-Star game was supposed to be played. It would have been the citys first time hosting the game in 25 years. Its really sad for the city. It was our chance to really shine, and show off what weve done here for the last 25 years, General Manager Chris Jones said. Theres been so many ideas thrown around, as you can see, major league baseball and the players association are having their own issues, so I think minor league baseball is down on the totem pole of importance.