Francisco Lindor has set an Opening Day deadline to reach a contract extension with the New York Mets.

Steve Cohen is holding out hope the club will be able to lock the infielder up long-term.

"Lindor is a heckuva player and a great guy," the owner wrote on Twitter. "I hope he decides to sign."

The Mets reportedly offered Lindor a 10-year, $325 million deal, but Lindor is looking for a 12-year, $385 million pact.

The Chicago White Sox have purchased the contract of Andrew Vaughn.

That means Vaughn, the third overall pick in 2019, will make the Opening Day roster.

Vaughn is expected to see some time in left field following Eloy Jimenez's injury. He appeared in 24 games this spring, hitting .271/.377/.458 with two home runs and eight walks.

Kim Ng feels as though she has no option but to succeed as the general manager of the Miami Marlins.

The Marlins hired Ng as the first female general manager in October.

"Failure is not an option for me," Ng says.

Derek Jeter, baseball's first Black CEO, reached out to her regarding the Miami job.

"All she needed was an opportunity," said Jeter, who played with the New York Yankees when Ng worked for the club. "Everyone talked about how historic it was, but I didn't make this decision to be historic. I made this decision because it was the best decision for the organization."

Ng, 52, played stickball as a grade-schooler in New York City and softball at the University of Chicago.

It was announced on Tuesday that the Toronto Blue Jays will play their third homestand of the season at their spring training ballpark in Dunedin, Florida.

After deciding in February that its first two homestands will be at TD Ballpark, Toronto added 10 games May 14-24 against Philadelphia, Boston and Tampa Bay.

So far, 22 of 81 home games have been switched to Florida from the Rogers Centre. Toronto last played at 49,000-person capacity Rogers Centre on Sept. 29, 2019.

Mike Trout is the consensus betting favorite to win the American League MVP award entering the 2021 season, but one of his teammates is attracting the most action at some sportsbooks.

Shohei Ohtani, at 20-1, has attracted more money wagered than any other player to win the AL MVP at William Hill, including a $30,000 bet placed March 19 in Nevada at 30-1 odds that would pay $930,000.

At DraftKings, more than eight times as much money has been bet on Ohtani as has been bet on Trout to win the MVP award.

Trout, who will turn 30 later this season, hit .281 with 17 home runs and 46 RBI during 2020's abbreviated campaign and finished fifth in AL MVP voting.

The New York Mets and Francisco Lindor remain tens of millions of dollars apart in negotiations on a contract extension, according to a source.

The deadline for a deal is Opening Day.

New York has made Lindor an offer of 10 years and $325 million, while the infielder is reportedly seeking a 12-year, $385 million pact.

If Lindor does not sign, he can become a free agent next winter.

Anthony Rizzo will become a free agent after the season if he doesn't reach a contract extension with the Chicago Cubs.

Rizzo confirmed Monday that no deal is imminent with the Cubs. He does not want to negotiate during the season and said the two sides won't have an extension in place before Opening Day.

"I can't tell you what the future holds," he said.

The Cubs exercised their $14.5 million club option for Rizzo over the offseason. It was part of the team-friendly seven-year, $41 million extension he signed in March 2013.

Former No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel is heading to Minor League camp with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Appel hasn't pitched in a game since 2017. He is one of just three first overall picks to never reach the Major Leagues.

With tweaked baseballs in play this spring, scoring and home runs are down.

Through Sunday, exhibition games are averaging 9.4 runs, the lowest-scoring output in the preseason since at least 2015 and down more than one run from 2019 spring training (10.5 per game).

Home runs also have declined this spring to 1.11 per game, the lowest in the preseason since 2017.

Major League Baseball has issued a memo to teams outlining relaxed protocols for vaccinated players, coaches and staff members.

The internal memo "strongly encouraged" players and staff members to receive one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines.

Individuals who are vaccinated can gather without masks in hotel rooms, carpool together, play cards on airplanes, eat at restaurants, meet outdoors while on the road with anyone of their choosing and stay at personal residences when traveling, among other things.