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Manfred said at a press conference Thursday morning that he is optimistic because his perspective on negotiations is that “you’re always one breakthrough away from making an agreement.” “I’m an optimist, and I believe we will have an agreement in time to play our regular schedule,” the commissioner answered in response to a question about whether opening day will still be held on March 31. Manfred said the league plans to make a new proposal to the MLBPA Saturday and said there is currently “no change” with regard to spring training....

Fans will hope that 2023 can match the heights of last season. With Opening day only 71 days away, fans are breaking down batting lineups and pitching staff to determine who has a realistic shot at the 2023 World Series. In a recent Tweet by MLB Network, fans were asked who they believed to be the league’s best catcher entering the season. This was a difficult question and fans seemed split....

Alonso had +550 odds when he won the 2021 Home Run Derby at Coors Field with 74 home runs, defeating Orioles’ Trey Mancini (23-22) in the final round. Unlike last season, Alonso (+200) is the odds-on favorite this go around, as the betting markets have to respect the two-time champ’s ability to consistently crush baseballs into the bleachers. Who’s competing in the 2022 HR Derby? Pete Alonso, New York Mets Ronald Acuña Jr....

It’s hard to determine the market value of a player of Shohei Ohtani’s caliber. No player since Babe Ruth has been so dominant on the pitching and hitting side. There are no comparisons in modern-day baseball for a player possessing his skillset. In a recent article, MLB insider Jon Heyman added his views on the player’s future contract. Heyman had previously mentioned the outlandish $50 million figure in an earlier tweet in June....

MLB betting lines: Live odds from Las Vegas The Dodgers ended up winning the NL West last season for the second straight year, but the Giants made the playoffs as a wild card and won the World Series for the third time in five seasons. The Dodgers are currently 6-to-1 to win the World Series, while the Giants are 14-to-1 (click here for this week’s World Series odds). The difference is talent – the Dodgers have loads of it and appear to have underachieved, while the Giants have less and have overachieved....

Check The Linemakers on Sporting News’ odds page for current baseball lines from Las Vegas. Minnesota Twins -105 (vs Chicago White Sox)Mike Pelfrey vs Jeff Samardzija The Twins have shown some class previously this season and certainly proved they are no pushovers as many had predicted. Of course, the quality is not equivalent to some of the top teams, but it’s good enough to put on a fight against any of them....

Remember postseason Madison Bumgarner? It’s almost that time of year again, and the Giants ace is already in mid-October form. Bumgarner blanked the hapless Nationals with a pitching (and hitting) performance of historic proportions Sunday, evoking memories of his 2014 postseason dominance. He allowed only three hits in a 5-0 complete game win to complete a sweep of the Nats. He also struck out 14, added a home run (his fourth this season) and a double....

Stars will be eased back to their full workloads, and role players will battle for MLB roster spots. Exhibitions are also a chance for prospects still a year or two away from the big leagues to make positive first impressions. SPRING TRAINING READING GUIDETop storylines | Fantasy baseball | Offseason grades Relative to the regular season, spring training games are a headache to figure out how to watch. They aren’t always on familiar TV channels, and some aren’t broadcast on TV at all....

Chicago has checked in with the Royals about All-Star Whit Merrifield, according to a report from The Athletic. MLB.com reported a couple of weeks ago that Kansas City would have to be blown away by a package to deal Merrifield, but Chicago clearly has not being discouraged by that. Further still, another report from MLB.com on Thursday stated the Royals are telling teams they will not sell Merrifield, who just signed a four-year, $16....

The team recently tried to swing a deal with the Baltimore Orioles to get left-handed pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez, 20, in exchange for Davis, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. But the Birds balked. — Sporting News selects Public Enemy No. 1 for every MLB team Still, the Mets aren't giving up. Puma reports they still are talking to the Orioles, as well as the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates, about a deal for Davis....

"Nothing imminent, but teams know he can he had," according to Passan. The 29-year-old right-hander won the 2013 American League Cy Young after finishing the season with a 21-3 record and 2.90 ERA. He is eligible for free agency after the 2014 season, and many believe that the Tigers' front office could fetch a big return by selling high on Scherzer. But after the Tigers traded fellow right-handed Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals for three players last week, some of the Scherzer buzz faded....

Lawrie, 25, was the main piece for Oakland in the trade that sent 2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays last offseason. Lawrie finished produced a .260/.299/.407 slash line, 16 home runs and 60 RBIs for the A’s last season. MORE: The 13 worst December trades, ranked | Possible trade destinations for Carlos Gonzalez Chicago was left thin in the infield after third baseman Gordon Beckham signed with the Braves as a free agent and the team declined its option on shortstop Alexei Ramirez....

It gave me a chance to think about something that I had already been thinking about, which is where I fit in that group, and where I want to be. On the plane were a local baseball columnist, a former beat writer who now works mostly in a television studio, and one of the industry's multimedia news-breaking titans. Then there was me, perfectly happy being none of them. MORE: Winter meetings winners/losers | Latest rumors | Improving Mets I have the utmost respect for what these guys do, but it's not what I want to do, and I am glad to be doing what I am doing....

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and MLS have scheduled a "major announcement" for Wednesday at 5 p.m. in downtown Atlanta, with commissioner Don Garber set to be in attendance. The development comes after Blank told Atlanta's 680 The Fan that "we're in the very final stages of doing our agreement" and teasing "a tremendous celebration of the sport" in mid-April. Atlanta would become the 23rd MLS franchise, with New York City FC and Orlando City SC joining the 19 existing clubs in 2015 and David Beckham's Miami team targeting a 2017 start....

Martino is currently manager of Atlanta United and has helped build the club into one of the strongest in MLS. Atlanta is preparing to face the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals as Martino prepares to leave the club after announcing that he would depart at the conclusion of the season before the playoffs kicked off. The former Barcelona and Argentina manager has been widely linked with the Mexico job, and Garber discussed that potential move while also speaking on the U....

Returning from suspension, the former Manchester United star scored his first goals since mid-April, but his side could not help his team avoid its seventh loss in 13 outings this season. Ryan Hollingshead completed a nice team move to give Dallas the lead, which was doubled before halftime when Cristian Colman headed in. A goal from Carlos Gruezo put the visiting side in complete control 66 minutes in. But Ibrahimovic – earlier denied by the offside flag – drilled in his fourth MLS goal three minutes later to give his side a bit of hope....

Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy have traveled to Chicago, where they will take on Schweinsteiger’s Fire in a sold-out showdown between two teams still trying to find their form. The match will be Ibrahimovic’s first on the road since joining the Galaxy and there is a good possibility he makes his first start in MLS. While Fire-Galaxy headlines Saturday’s slate, Atlanta United plays host to undefeated New York City FC on Sunday in a clash of Eastern Conference powers....

The story of the game was the long ball, with a total of eight home runs launched by the two teams. Dodgers’ outfield prospect Yusniel Diaz hit two, while Luis Basabe (OF, White Sox), Seuly Matias (OF, Royals), Peter Alonso (1B, Mets), Danny Jansen (C, Blue Jays), Taylor Trammell (OF, Reds), and Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B, Pirates) also went deep. There was also power on the mound. Fire-balling teenager Hunter Greene (RHP, Reds) hit 102 mph and consistently delivered his fastball in triple digits, as did Jorge Guzman (RHP, Marlins)....