Around the Empire: Yankees news - 7/31/20

NBC Sports | Craig Calcaterra: Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have come to an agreement on the punishments for illegal sign-stealing. Commissioner Rob Manfred would be empowered to impose sign-stealing punishment on individual players. Punishments will include suspension without pay and without accrual of service time.

NY Post | Andrew Marchand: New York’s radio voice, John Sterling, has been absent from the booth the last few days. Though he is feeling under the weather, the 82-year-old Sterling thankfully tested negative for COVID-19.

ESPN | Jeff Passan: Because of the coronavirus outbreak that infected nearly half of the Miami Marlins’ roster, Major League Baseball is updating their safety rules. On top of encouraging players not to leave hotels in road cities except for games and mandating the use of surgical masks during travel, they will require every team to travel with a compliance officer who ensures players and staff properly follow the league’s protocol.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: He recorded the final three outs in his MLB debut in Wednesday’s win against the Orioles, but Brooks Kriske wasn’t sure if that day would ever come. “I was getting older and I kind of felt like I was on my last legs,” he said. However, Kriske shined while on a major league mound for the first time.