12:12 PM ET Major League Baseball players won’t be required to take a COVID-19 vaccination, though it will be strongly encouraged by the players’ union and the league when the time comes. The voluntary program won’t proceed until health officials deem it appropriate, but players who are otherwise eligible for a vaccine, before league implementation,

8:57 PM ET The St. Louis Cardinals are bringing back Yadier Molina for an 18th season, the team announced Monday. St. Louis agreed to a one-year deal with the catcher, a source told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, confirming multiple reports. Molina is a rarity, having spent his entire career — 2,025 games — with the Cardinals.

10:11 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Seven-inning doubleheaders and runners on second base to start extra innings will return for a second straight season under an agreement for 2021 health protocols reached Monday between Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The deal did not include last year’s experimental rule to extend the

12:39 PM ET The Cincinnati Reds signed veteran left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle to a one-year contract Monday. Doolittle, 34, had a down-year last season for the Washington Nationals during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, going 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in 11 appearances. But he saved 75 games over the previous three seasons and was instrumental

9:58 PM ET Pedro Gomez, an ESPN reporter since 2003 and one of the country’s foremost baseball journalists, died unexpectedly Sunday. He was 58. Gomez, who was based in Phoenix, covered baseball for SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, and other ESPN studio shows, live events and radio. During his 35-year career, he covered more than 25 World

7:00 AM ET Bradford Doolittle Close ESPN Staff Writer Sports reporter, Kansas City Star, 2002-09 Writer, Baseball, Baseball Prospectus Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus Member, Baseball Writers Association of America Member, Professional Basketball Writers Association David Schoenfield Close ESPN Senior Writer Covers MLB for ESPN.com Former deputy editor of Page 2 Been with ESPN.com since 1995

2:17 PM ET The Oakland Athletics have acquired shortstop Elvis Andrus and another player from the Texas Rangers for designated hitter Khris Davis and a pair of prospects, the teams announced on Saturday. The A’s will also receive $13.5 million, sources confirmed to ESPN, and minor league catcher Aramis Garcia in the deal, while catcher

5:51 PM ET ESPN News Services ATLANTA — Now that he’s locked in to the Atlanta Braves, Marcell Ozuna couldn’t resist a good-natured poke at general manager Alex Anthopoulos. “Alex, I have a question for you,” Ozuma said to Anthopoulos as the two took part in a Zoom call Saturday. “Why didn’t you sign me

5:00 PM ET Weird trades are fun and the Elvis Andrus–Khris Davis trade is definitely fun in a weird sort of way. After all, it’s pretty amazing that the Texas Rangers were able to trade Andrus and the Oakland A’s were able to trade Davis, given they were two of the worst players in the

12:14 PM ET ESPN News Services The Houston Astros and shortstop Carlos Correa have reached a settlement and avoided arbitration, the team announced Saturday. The two sides agreed to a one-year deal worth $11.7 million, according to multiple reports. “I’m happy that we were able to come to an agreement and avoid arbitration,” Correa said