If only baseball had gotten its act together this spring, it could have staged a grand reopening act this summer, a kickoff to a pandemic-shortened season for America's pastime on the most American of holidays -- the Fourth of July.

"Oh, you mean baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet?" sports business consultant Andy Dolich, 73, said, ...Read more

CHICAGO -- A slimmed-down Anthony Rizzo said there might be levels of trepidation as he and his Cubs teammates returned Friday to Wrigley Field for a three-week summer training session.

But Rizzo, a cancer survivor, spoke confidently about his decision to play with the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc worldwide.

"As far as my body and the ...Read more

SEATTLE -- The last pitcher to start a game for the Mariners during the interrupted 2020 spring training was supposed to be the pitcher to start opening day at T-Mobile Park vs. the Texas Rangers.

On March 11, a day before baseball shut down due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, Marco Gonzales tossed 3 1/3 innings, allowing an earned run ...Read more

The Indians have reached the point of discussing a potential name change.

After eliminating Chief Wahoo from their uniforms beginning with last season, the Indians could be looking to take it a step further with a potential name change.

"We are committed to making a positive impact in our community and embrace our responsibility to advance ...Read more

ATLANTA -- Had the Braves opened as scheduled, Cole Hamels would have missed two months of the regular season. For the long-delayed opening day, he believes he'll be ready. Big difference.

The Braves were willing to pay $18 million for one season of Hamels' services. They wouldn't have spent nearly so much for an aging pitcher had they known ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Dodger Stadium will get its All-Star Game -- in 2022.

The Dodgers were scheduled to play host to the All-Star Game July 14, but the start of the 2020 season has been delayed to July 23 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The All-Star Game was officially canceled Friday, and the 2022 game was awarded to the Dodgers.

"Once it became...Read more

Indians outfielder Delino DeShields has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti.

DeShields is said to be experiencing mild symptoms, including the loss of taste and smell, but is generally doing well, according to Antonetti, who was given permission to discuss DeShields' health status....Read more

LOS ANGELES -- A day before the Los Angeles Dodgers are scheduled to hold their first official workout of training camp at Dodger Stadium, the club signed reliever AJ Ramos to a minor league contract Thursday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Ramos is expected to join the Dodgers' player pool and participate in spring ...Read more

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs are expanding their efforts in the battle against the coronavirus by inviting the families of uniformed personnel to participate in testing.

Cubs President Theo Epstein said Thursday the wives of several players have been through the testing process. Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy revealed Wednesday that he spent 30 ...Read more

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs' starting pitching depth will be put to the test before Friday's first workout of summer training.

The team announced Thursday that Jose Quintana suffered a cut on his left pitching thumb at his Miami home that required five stitches.

Quintana, whom the Cubs said cut his finger washing dishes, underwent microscopic ...Read more

A date of Aug. 5 has been set for the trial of Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles, who was arrested and charged with trespassing after being found sleeping behind a Federal Express building at the Key West, Fla., airport.

Toles, 28, did not appear in court for Thursday's arraignment. He was bonded out of the Monroe County jail last week after a ...Read more

BALTIMORE -- Since the beginning of baseball's coronavirus shutdown in March, the Orioles' new minor league staff under director of player development Matt Blood has worked to keep players engaged with a variety of virtual meetings and baseball prescriptions to keep them growing in an arid baseball climate.

To emphasize nutrition, they've had ...Read more

CHICAGO -- It has been months since we last answered questions about Marquee Sports Network, but Major League Baseball's effort to pick up the pieces of its shattered season -- pandemic or no -- makes the Chicago Cubs' new TV channel relevant once more.

For fans who live in the multistate area MLB considers the Cubs' TV market, Marquee -- a ...Read more

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox still are playing in Major League Baseball's "Field of Dreams" game -- but the opponent will be different.

A source confirmed Wednesday the St. Louis Cardinals were selected in place of the New York Yankees, one week after Major League Baseball announced it would play a 60-game schedule that limits teams to ...Read more

CHICAGO -- An emotional Tommy Hottovy shared his harrowing experience of coping with the coronavirus with the hope that his fellow Chicago Cubs employees and families can learn from his ordeal.

"It's still raw in the fact that we just got through it, and to relive it, obviously it affected us pretty significantly for a month," Hottovy said at ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- The Angels have decided to pay minor leaguers a $400-per-week stipend through the end of July, according to a person familiar with the decision but not authorized to speak publicly about it.

The move assures that players in the team's organization will receive pay for at least four months of a five-month season despite not ...Read more