The Pirates will allow about 2,000 fans at their Bradenton spring training facility later this month. The Grapefruit League home opener is currently scheduled for February 28th against the Atlanta Braves. The special presale for spring training season ticket holders will begin at 10 AM tomorrow and go until Sunday morning.
The MLB players union has rejected MLB’s latest proposal to delay the start of the season. MLB proposed a 154-game schedule with 162 game-pay, expanded playoffs and universal DH. The season would have been delayed one month, with spring training to begin in late March. For now, it will begin in two weeks.
MLB released a statement saying that “In light of the MLBPA’s rejection of our proposal, and their refusal to counter our revised offer this afternoon, we are moving forward and instructing our clubs to report for an on-time start to Spring Training and the Championship Season, subject to reaching an agreement on health and safety protocols.”
The Rockies and Cardinals have completed their trade shipping All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado to St. Louis for left-handed starter Austin Gomber and three Cardinals prospects. Colorado will pay up to $51 million of Arenado’s salary. He signed a seven-year deal worth $260 million in 2019. The contract will be extended another year and Arenado can opt out of it after the ’21 and ’22 seasons.
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has announced his retirement from baseball after 14 big league seasons, all with Boston. The 37-year-old hasn’t played since 2019 due to a serious knee injury that has hampered him since 2017. Pedroia was a four-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, and won three World Series titles.
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