World Series slated entirely for Arlington

The World NEW YORK —

Series will be played entirely at the Texas Rangers’ new ballpark inArlington, Texas, as partof abubbleagreement betweenMajor League Baseball and the players’ association, the first time the sport’s championship will be played entirely at one site since 1944.

As part of an agreement finalized Tuesday, the Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series will be part of a bubble designed to minimize exposure to the coronavirus, which decimated the regular season and limited it to a 60-game schedule for each club. The best-of-three first round of the postseason — expanded from 10 to 16 teams this year — will be at the top-seeded teams.

TheWorld Serieswill be at GlobeLifeParkinArlington, a retractable roof stadiumwith artificial turf that opened this year adjacent to the Rangers’ old ballpark. The American League Championship Series will be at San Diego’s Petco Park, and theNational League at Globe Life Park.

TheALDivision Series will beatSanDiegoandLosAngeles’ Dodger Stadium, and the NL Division Series at Globe Life and Houston’s Minute Maid Park.

Texas is last in theALWest at 17-30 entering Tuesday, with little chance of advancing to the postseason.

“In the view of our infectious disease experts, the biggest risk of exposure for players and staff is contact with family members and friends who have been exposed to COVID-19 in their communities,” Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem wrote in a memo sent to teamsMonday night. “Nearly all of the positive test results that have been reported for players and staff in the last month can be traced back to contact with an infected family member, domestic partner, or friend outside of club facilities.”

Halem said MLB and the players’ association were in the process of finalizing details of the agreement, which provides for players to be tested daily during the postseason.

While the NFL plays the Super Bowl at a neutral site selected in advanced, baseball has resisted the idea, which has been long advocated by prominent agent Scott Boras.

TheWorld Serieswas last played at one site in 1944 at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis, where the Cardinals beat the Browns 4 games to 2. NewYork’s Polo Grounds hosted all the games in 1921 and 1922, the last two seasons itwas thehomeof both the New York Giants and Yankees. The Giants won both titles.

Dodgersactivate 3BTurner fromIL

The Los Angeles Dodgers have activated third baseman Justin Turner from the 10-day injured list.

Turner was expected to serve as designated hitter for Tuesday night’s game at San Diego.

He missed 13 games with a left hamstring strain. Before going on the IL, Turner was batting .282 with two homers and 20 RBIs in 32 games during the shortenedseason.

In a corresponding roster move, the Dodgers optioned right-hander Josh Sborz. He hasmadethree appearances for the team, allowing one earned run in three innings with two strikeouts.

BillionaireCohen agreestobuyMets

Billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen has agreed to buy the New York Mets from the Wilpon and Katz families.

The team announced the agreementMonday. Thedeal is subject to the approval of Major League Baseball owners.

ACohen entitywould control 95% of the team, with the Wilpon and Katz families retaining the rest. The deal values the franchise at $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion.

Former major league star Alex Rodriguez and fiancee Jennifer Lopez also attempted to buy the team, but they dropped out of the bidding last month.