MLB

AP Baseball WriterMLB may make unilateral rule changes for 2018By JANIE McCAULEYPHOENIX (AP) Major League Baseball intends to give the players' association the required one-year advance notice that would allow management to unilaterally change the strike zone, install pitch clocks and limit trips to the pitcher's mound starting...

Associated PressA-Rod maintains he won't attempt playing comebackBy MARK DIDTLERTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Alex Rodriguez maintains he will not attempt a comeback.Released last August with more than a season left in his $275 million, 10-year contract, A-Rod worked his first day as a New York Yankees spring training guest...

AP Sports WriterAstros face a classic baseball question: Who's on 1st?By KRISTIE RIEKENWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) The Houston Astros haven't been set at first base since Lance Berkman was traded in 2010.With eyes on a pennant, they know they'll have to do something about that. The problem:...

Associated PressA-Rod maintains he won't attempt playing comebackBy MARK DIDTLERTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Alex Rodriguez maintains he will not attempt a comeback.Released last August with more than a season left in his $275 million, 10-year contract, A-Rod worked his first day as a New York Yankees spring training guest...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed pitcher Jorge De La Rosa to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. The 35-year-old left-hander has pitched 13 seasons, the last nine with the Colorado Rockies. He was 8-9 with a 5.51 ERA in 27 appearances...

COOPERSTOWN, New York (AP) Baseball's Hall of Fame will honor ''The Simpsons'' on May 27 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show's ''Homer at the Bat'' episode. First televised on Feb. 20, 1992, ''Homer at the Bat'' featured future Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey Jr. and Ozzie...

AP Sports WriterFor Werth, 'whole thing kind of hangs' on deal's final yearBy HOWARD FENDRICHWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) Bryce Harper had not yet turned 10 when Jayson Werth made his major league debut, batting ninth and getting a pair of hits.A decade and a half later, the...

AP Baseball WriterBuster Posey eager for fresh start, to raise power numbersBy JANIE McCAULEYSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Buster Posey leans on the back of the batting cage under Arizona's blue skies, one leg crossed over the other as he watches his teammates take their cuts while awaiting his own...

AP Sports WriterLongoria optimistic Rays can be better in 2017By FRED GOODALLPORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) Evan Longoria is sporting a new look in spring training and feeling better about what the Tampa Bay Rays have done in hopes of giving themselves a better chance to win.The 31-year-old third...

AP Sports WriterPowerful presence: Encarnacion gives Indians booming batBy TOM WITHERSGOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) As fans lining the chain-linked fence next to Cleveland's main practice field jockeyed for better position to snatch an autograph or selfie with the team's newest star, Edwin Encarnacion showed no emotion.With his glove balanced...

AP Baseball WriterGiants' Cueto still in Dominican Republic with ailing fatherBy JANIE McCAULEYSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Johnny Cueto remains in the Dominican Republic helping his ailing father a week after pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, and the San Francisco Giants plan to reach out to him to...

Associated PressAngels' Espinosa eager for Orange County homecoming in tradeBy MIKE TULUMELLOTEMPE, Ariz. (AP) Growing up three miles from Angel Stadium, Danny Espinosa got to watch all the heroes of the 2002 Anaheim Angels championship team: Troy Percival, Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon and Darin Erstad, among others.Now, he's...