Morning Briefing: MLB Players Agree To Changes For Shortened Season

Good Morning, Mets fans!

I hope everyone is doing well thus far during this difficult time. On the bright-side, the more we follow these social distancing and self-quarantine rules, hopefully the faster we can get back to baseball! Please stay healthy and safe. Now, without further ado, let’s talk sports!

Latest Mets News

Jeff Passan of ESPN, reported that Noah Syndergaard underwent his successful Tommy John Surgery on Thursday. If his rehabilitation and recovery goes well, he could return to the Mets after 12-14 months or at some point during the 2021 season.

Jay Horowitz, Head of Alumni Relations for the Mets spoke with Mets captain, David Wright in his latest podcast. Definitely worth a listen…

Mets beat reporter for MLB, Anthony DiComo, wrote about the 1986 Mets and revealed that MLB Network will be broadcasting highlights and classic games from the 86′ Mets season on Saturday. So if you’re missing baseball and need a fix, check it out!

Despite the coronavirus shutting down businesses and all sporting events, the New York Mets are still for sale, and Daniel Kaplan of the Athletic explains:

“Sports investment bankers say that the team’s adviser, Allen & Co., is still calling around trying to drum up business. And the team formally says its Feb. 10 statement is intact.”

Latest MLB News

According to Jeff Passan, MLBPA and MLB have agreed that the 2020 MLB season will not begin unless, there are no bans on mass gatherings that limit the ability to play in front of fans. However, the players and league are open to the idea of playing at neutral sites if it must come to that. Additionally, both sides agreed not to resume play until there are no longer any travel restrictions, and medical experts have determined that games will not pose a risk to the players’ and fans’ health.

MLBTR‘s Connor Byrne, wrote about the details of the recent agreement by the MLB and MLBPA regarding service time, salaries, and the revised draft for 2020.

Steve Adams of MLBTR, explains MLB’s idea to expand active rosters to 29 men for the beginning of the future truncated 2020 season. The new 26-man roster was expected to be implemented for the upcoming season but given that players will not be given the entire spring training they normally have this three player addition will help manage pitcher workloads.

Evan Drellich of the Athletic, reported via Twitter, that Rob Manfred and Co. have reached an understanding with all 30 teams that non-player employees (coaches, scouts) will be paid through April 30 at a minimum. But what happens beyond April is yet to be determined.

Carlos Correa and his foundation are reported to be donating $500,000 worth of medical equipment to the city of Houston. The items donated include, surgical equipment, IV poles, and exercise and rehabilitation machines. The equipment will help those in Houston and then be donated to the “under-equipped” hospitals in Central America. Brian McTaggart of MLB reported the news and provides more information in his article on MLB.

According to Jim Armstrong of AP Sports, three Japanese baseball players have tested positive for the coronavirus. Shintaro Fujinami along with two others have tested positive. Unlike the Japanese professional soccer league who has canceled their games, the country’s baseball league was playing through their season without spectators in attendance. The professional Japanese baseball league is still aiming for opening day to begin on April 24.

The San Diego Padres have released infielder Gordon Beckham. Beckham, 33, was signed by the Padres early February but after a rough go at it in spring training, he was released earlier this month.