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NBA pushes back draft lottery
NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA is delaying the draft lottery and draft combine, events scheduled for Chicago later this month.
The league made the decision Friday, though it has been expected for some time. The lottery cannot occur until the regular season is completed or is declared over, because team records determine the odds that the 14 non-playoff teams will have of securing the right to pick No. 1 overall in the draft.
For now, the draft remains scheduled for June 25 -- though that, too, will likely have to change in the coming weeks as the league continues reacting to the coronavirus pandemic.
The lottery was to have taken place May 19. The draft combine was to have run from May 21-24.
The league typically invites about 70 players to the combine, where some of the candidates work out.
Indians reliever suspended
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Whenever the Cleveland Indians finally get to start their season they won't have reliever Emmanuel Clase.
The hard-throwing right-hander was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Friday for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug.
Clase was the biggest acquisition by Cleveland in the big offseason trade that sent two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers. The commissioner's office said the 22-year-old Clase tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid.
Clase was expected to have a major role at the back end of the Indians' bullpen this season.
His suspension will not begin until the start of the 2020 regular season, which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If the season doesn't cover 80 games, MLB and the players' association are still working out if any carry over will apply for 2021.
Fenway Park messages
BOSTON (AP) -- Red Sox fans can still have their messages posted on the scoreboard at Fenway Park -- even though the ballpark is closed and no games are taking place.
For a $50 donation to the team's charity, fans can have a message posted on the 40-by-100 foot center field video board. For $100, they can have a message and a picture. The team will take a picture and send a picture of the scoreboard bearing the message.
The money will go to the Red Sox Foundation, which has been maintaining operations and programming during the coronavirus crisis to ensure consistent and necessary support and resources to hundreds of other non-profits and youth throughout New England.
Former Athletic dies from virus
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics say former minor leaguer Miguel Marte has died of complications from COVID-19. The A's announced Friday that Marte died this week.
Marte, a first baseman, catcher and right fielder from the Dominican Republic, was 30. He played in the Oakland farm system from 2008-12, going as far as Class A.
In other team news, the A's have decided to pay all employees through May.
Relief for track athletes
(AP) -- Athletes in track and field can apply for money from a $500,000 fund to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic.
World Athletics and the International Athletics Foundation have launched the fund to help athletes who have lost income because competitions are suspended.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says the fund will try "to help as many athletes as possible."
It's unclear when or if the track season can begin. Diamond League meets and the Olympics have been postponed. Coe says the fund was the idea of 1,500-meter world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj. The Moroccan runner will be part of the team examining applications from athletes.