Lebron received a $5 million bonus, according to a source. #reds

Tigers first-round pick Cameron Flukey signed for a $3.8 million bonus, per MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, just below the slot value of $4,082,700.

Offering to show betting odds on the MLB app on the scoreboard is super gross

Feels more like the date for spring training opening day than the real one.

Breaking MLB news from @enosarris.bsky.social: The custom applications teams were allowed to add to dugout iPads were causing alarm, as there were fears of AI modeling being used for in-game decision-making. Now those custom apps have been banned by the league: www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

If they place these plants next to the substation near Levi’s we might get a real life Spiderman. We could use one

@JeffPassan tweeted The A's are calling up third baseman Tommy White, sources tell ESPN. White, a star at LSU and second-round pick in 2024, is hitting .303/.353/.465 with 10 home runs and 64 RBIs this season. The 23-year-old is expected to make his debut Friday against Washington.

The Nationals have signed first-round pick Chris Hacopian to an under-slot deal of $5.7 million, per a source. Slot value of the 11th pick is $6,133,500.

MLB debut on tap for Tur.

These stripes don't run but one of them in that giant flag for the National Anthem looks like it's trying to.

Only ASG I’ve ever been to. Jay Howell blew a save right before the break and was booed when he came into the game. I got to stay up way past my bedtime.

Jordan Walker is a good reminder to never give up on elite prospects until they are done done.

All those boos and Santa isn’t even one of the competitors

Which Home Run Derby slugger is best suited to take advantage of the new rules? www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...

Obviously pro sports are a results-based business and the results have been very bad of late, but a two-sentence press release dismissal after nearly 3 decades working for an organization is pretty cold.

YOUR NAME IS YOUR DESTINY!

Let’s go Liam! 🏏⚾️ International cricket star Liam Plunkett recorded his first career baseball at-bat today vs. the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds Congrats! 👏

The best part about the MLB Draft coming to a close is the number of browser tabs I get to X out of.

Robert Hassell III cleared waivers and has been assigned outright to Triple-A Rochester. So he remains in the Nationals organization after getting DFA'd.

I really enjoyed chatting with Jaxon, Reggie and Eli for this story. Special baseball family: www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

“We were very comfortable with (our pick) and, for the record, told (Red Sox) senior leadership, ‘Hey, we are going this route. This is going to be viewed as very off the wall.’ On an interesting day one of the Red Sox draft www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...

In their infinite wisdom, MLB has stacked Day 2 of the draft on top of the Futures Game, so we are live blogging about both this morning. Join us! www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

I feel like they should have had a hydration break for the switch from NBC to MLB Network for the draft.

The long awaited #stlcards system debut of rehabbing AA LHP Brandon Clarke occurred this morning in the rookie level Florida Complex League. The 23-year-old threw 1 2/3 IP with no hits or walks, a HBP and 2 K. Clarke came from BOS in the Sonny Gray trade and is TCN's 10th ranked prospect.

😬

It’s MLB Draft day, which should be a national holiday imo. We are live blogging both days of the draft, so please join us and chat in the Discuss tab: www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

It’s pretty cool that two of the most impactful MLB off-season free agent signings turned out to be sluggers from Japan.

The official Futures Game starting pitchers: Kade Anderson (AL) vs. Gage Wood (NL)

🙌

What if he doesn’t have a good curveball?

With Justin Verlander set to retire at season's end, does that make 300 wins the least-attainable MLB milestone for any current player out there? Perhaps only Rickey's stolen base record is less attainable.

i’ve posted some short capsules on draft prospects beyond the top 100, for subscribers to @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

Ban injuries

While the Jeff Samardzija deal didn’t work out for the A’s in 2014, it has had a tremendous tail, netting seven years of both Marcus Semien and Chris Bassitt and now potentially a Chris Bassitt redux in J.T. Ginn.

i’ve got a new scouting notebook up covering Cam Caminiti, Tate Southisene, Eric Hartman, JT Quinn, Anthony Eyanson, Mitch Voit, Eli Willits, and more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

With news yesterday on Massachusetts draft prospect Brody Bumila re-injuring his UCL, a deep dive on who the 6-foot-9 lefty is, why he's so highly touted and the risks of an 18-year-old throwing 100 mph Free to read www.nytimes.com/athletic/741...

my latest mock draft is now up at @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

The man assembling the evidence for their case

Sources: Seattle Mariners top prospect Lázaro Montes has been promoted to Tacoma, Triple-A.

oh wow. the #Nationals have designated outfielder Robert Hassell III for assignment. The lone piece of the Juan Soto trade that hasn't popped.

Happy 4th Of July! 🎆 🇺🇸

I think we know what it would be like to win a World Series on a replay review now. 🗑️

A few additions to the American League Futures Game roster: In: Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins; Xaiver Neyens, 3B/SS, Astros Out: George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees; Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Twins Both Lombard and Culpepper are dealing with hand injuries. Updated rosters here:

My friend just texted me "no goal is offsides on stolen land" 😭😭😭

Amazing they can VAR possible red cards and we still can’t even get replay on pass interference calls.

One year we went to the Mall for the fireworks and we saw 5 or so people stretchered out from heat exhaustion — including a woman who had a seizure right in front of us — so that should be fun. Another year it rained so hard I had to dry out my flip phone on my radiator for 2 days to get it working.

As owners continue to try to outsource player development, there is legitimate concern about the future of the game. www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

A’s update on Midland Outfielder Ryan Lasko who was injured in a Outfield collision

here are this year's Futures Game rosters with my rundown of the highlights: www.nytimes.com/athletic/741...

When you’ve lost the pickles