MLB

1:50 PM ET MLB InsidersESPN The day before the Los Angeles Dodgers open the 2020 season as heavy favorites to win the World Series, they appear to be deep in talks to lock up Mookie Betts for the next decade. Betts and the Dodgers are deep into negotiations on a long-term contract that is expected

11:52 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Star outfielder Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a massive 13-year deal worth more than $380 million that would keep the former American League MVP from reaching free agency

7:00 AM ET Opening Day of the 2020 MLB season is just days away with baseball adapting a 60-game schedule as the sport tries to return amid the coronavirus pandemic. With specific adjustments to make play possible this year and some rule changes that were already in the works for this season, the sport figures

7:15 AM ET In the shortened Major League Baseball season that’s on tap for 2020, which players’ top-tier performances will define the year for baseball? We asked a panel of 32 experts from ESPN’s MLB coverage team to name the star players they think will deliver seasons that merit recognition as baseball’s MVPs, Cy Young

7:15 AM ET After a delay of nearly four months, the 2020 MLB season will begin on Thursday night when the Washington Nationals host the New York Yankees (7 ET, ESPN). It’s time to pin down our expectations for what we expect to happen in the abbreviated 60-game season. Will the Nationals repeat? Is this

12:58 AM ET ESPN News Services Alyssa Nakken, the first female major league coach, coached first base for the San Francisco Giants during Monday night’s exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics. Nakken joined first-year Giants manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in January. She has been with the organization since 2014, when she started as an intern

7:00 AM ET Sam MillerESPN.com Close ESPN baseball columnist/feature writerFormer editor-in-chief of Baseball ProspectusCo-author of “The Only Rule Is It Has To Work” Back in the old days, the 2020 Houston Astros were scheduled to play two Opening Days: one at their park on the first day of the season and one in Anaheim for

7:00 AM ET MLB InsidersESPN The start of baseball season means it’s time for predictions, but we asked our writers to take it a step further heading into Opening Day. The assignment was simple: Find two bets you would make for the 2020 MLB season, with one thing you are certain will happen and a

8:00 PM ET There is baseball in just over four days. Real, live major league baseball, with standings and statistics and strikeouts. Max Scherzer will throw the first pitch of the abbreviated 2020 season when the Washington Nationals host the New York Yankees on Thursday night on ESPN. It’s going to look weird, with no

8:10 PM ET Associated Press Pittsburgh Pirates third base prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes is out indefinitely while dealing with the novel coronavirus. Manager Derek Shelton announced Hayes’ illness on Sunday after the 23-year-old Hayes — the son of former longtime MLB third baseman Charlie Hayes — gave the team clearance to do so. The diagnosis blunts

8:00 AM ET The destructive tension that exists between the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball has been fueled in recent winters by the slogging nature of the bidding on free agents, with journeymen and even stars waiting longer than they felt they should have for suitable offers to take shape. For

7:57 PM ET Marly RiveraESPN Writer Close Marly Rivera is a writer for ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com. NEW YORK — After causing a stir Friday night with several cryptic Instagram posts implying he was retiring from baseball, embattled New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German apologized for his comments on Saturday. “To my teammates, the Yankees organization,

7:38 PM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman doesn’t know if he has time to be ready for the Atlanta Braves‘ opener. Following a scary journey in his battle with COVID-19, Freeman is grateful to even have a chance. On Saturday, the four-time All-Star revealed he had a high temperature of 104.5 degrees early

7:00 AM ET Jared Berson With the 2020 MLB season shortened to 60 games, a handful of the sport’s most impressive active streaks are in jeopardy. Max Scherzer likely won’t be matching an MLB record held by Tom Seaver, while some fans might be happy that a streak tied to the Astros’ recent dominance will

11:14 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Suspended New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German cast doubt on his baseball future with a curious Instagram post Friday night. German’s post was of himself in a Yankees uniform, shouting, in what appears to be a photo of him pitching in a game. The post included

7:00 AM ET There’s more uncertainty than ever for the 2020 season, but that means the most uncertain part of a typical season — young players — are even more unpredictable than usual. With scouts not permitted to be at games, no formal stats and limited information from workouts, we have little idea what players

7:00 AM ET Bring back the Cleveland Spiders. The one historical fact about the original Spiders, the bit of trivia familiar to many fans, is that in 1899, they authored the worst record in baseball history (20-134). Indeed, that is pretty bad, but it’s a shame that’s how the franchise is remembered. That last Spiders

11:27 PM ET Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay outfielder Austin Meadows has been placed on the injured list after testing positive for the coronavirus. The Rays announced the move Thursday night. Left-handed reliever Aaron Loup was added to the 40-man roster in place of Meadows, who was a first-time All-Star and batted