New MLB hazing rules ban dressing as women, offensive costumes  —  NEW YORK — That baseball hazing ritual of dressing rookies as Wonder Woman, Hooters Girls and Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders is now banned.  —  Major League Baseball created an Anti-Hazing and Anti-Bullying Policy that covers the practice.

Chad Bettis says he expects to make full recovery from testicular cancer  —  Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery to have one of his testicles removed in late November, he said in a statement to ESPN on Monday night.

Angels acquire infielder Espinosa in trade with Nationals  —  WASHINGTON (AP) The Los Angeles Angels acquired Danny Espinosa from the Washington Nationals on Saturday night, picking up their new starting second baseman in a trade for two minor league pitchers.

Brewers Acquire Jett Bandy  —  3:38pm: The Brewers have announced the trade.  —  3:07pm: Righty Drew Gagnon is the other piece of the deal, Hudson Belinsky of Baseball America tweets.  The 26-year-old spent most of 2016 at the Triple-A level with Milwaukee, converting mostly relief work …

So about the Cardinals' free draft pick ...  Wednesday, the Cardinals lucked into a “competitive balance” draft pick, and a pretty good one.  The last-place Cubs weren't even in the lottery, and someone was smart enough to ask Theo Epstein about that ...  A curated snippet of his measured response:

Dodgers To Re-Sign Kenley Jansen  —  TODAY: The deferrals in the Nats offer only involved part of the fifth-year salary, Rosenthal tweets.  It's still not clear whether Washington was willing to include a similar opt-out provision.  —  YESTERDAY, 6:35pm: While the deal doesn't include no-trade protection …

Brewers To Sign Ivan De Jesus  —  The Brewers have agreed to a minor-league deal with infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr., according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (via Twitter).  The 29-year-old, a right-handed hitter, could conceivably battle for a utility role in cam.

Nationals Sign Jacob Turner, Three Others To Minors Deals  —  The Nationals have announced four minor-league signings, most prominently including righty Jacob Turner.  Also joining the organization on minors deals with spring invites are lefty Tim Collins, infielder Emmanuel Burriss, and righty Mike Broadway.

Braves prospect on a tear Down Under  —  Baseball in Australia suits Braves outfield prospect Ronald Acuna just fine.  —  Acuna, who played last summer at Single-A Rome, is spending his offseason playing for the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League and is hitting .351 in 15 games.

Primary storylines from the Winter Meetings  —  The immediate reaction to the Collective Bargaining Agreement came as clubs were swarming to Harbor Landing, Md. was that the minimal rise in the luxury tax threshold was essentially a soft salary cap, one that would force mega-market teams like the Dodgers …

What to expect next as Rays still look to deal  —  The Rays came away from the winter meetings with a new star catcher*, a long shot bullpen candidate and an impressive spin rate for the pitches exchanged in extensive and excessive talks on what they might do next.  —  Here are our four takeaways on their week:

Yankees won't lose sight of the plan: Cost-controlled youth  —  For the first time in quite a few offseasons, the Yankees and Red Sox were overwhelmingly responsible for the biggest headlines during the annual winter meetings.  —  The difference?  —  The Red Sox clearly are going all-in for 2017 …

Twins minor league pitcher Yorman Landa dies in Venezuela  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Twins say minor league pitcher Yorman Landa has died in Venezuela.  He was 22.  —  The club did not say how he died, but local media reports say it was in a car accident in the state of Miranda.