Bryce Harper turned down $300 million offer from Nationals  —  CARLSBAD, Calif. — The Washington Nationals' contract offer to All-Star outfielder Bryce Harper was for 10-year, $300 million that he rejected five weeks ago, two persons with direct knowledge of the proposed deal told USA TODAY Sports.

Expect a shift in ‘mindset’ to increase defensive shifts used by Cardinals  —  CARLSBAD, Calif.  • While the Cardinals canvass the market for possible upgrades at first or third base, the team has already assured there will be one change for their infielders in 2019.

The Yankees Still Need to Fix Their Pitching Staff Even After Re-Signing CC Sabathia  — The Yankees' lack of starting pitching depth was their biggest problem in 2018.  What can they do this offseason to fix it?  —  CC Sabathia's final ride will come in the Bronx.

Mariners working on a trade that would send catcher Mike Zunino, outfielder Guillermo Heredia to the Rays  —  Seattle will also send outfielder Guillermo Heredia to Tampa in exchange for outfielder Mallex Smith, who hit .296 with the Rays last season.  —  Mike Zunino may not have to go far …

White Sox give manager Rick Renteria extension  —  Chicago White Sox general manager Rich Hahn revealed at the MLB general managers meetings on Tuesday that manager Rick Renteria's contract has been extended beyond the 2019 season.  —  Hahn told reporters the extension wasn't announced …

Giants' new baseball chief Zaidi talks Bumgarner, rebuild, working with Bochy  —  Giants CEO Larry Baer first met Farhan Zaidi on Friday.  They reconvened Sunday and Monday, when Baer offered the Dodgers general manager the chance to lead San Francisco's front office for at least the next five years.

Column: Future of Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey in question after report he's on way out  —  Photos of Theo Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball operations.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Cubs President Theo Epstein on Wednesday declined comment on an WMVP-AM 1000 report that pitching coach Jim Hickey willl not return in 2019.

Blue Jays Hire Dave Hudgens As Bench Coach  —  The Blue Jays announced Wednesday that they've hired Astros hitting coach Dave Hudgens as manager Charlie Montoyo's new bench coach.  Hudgens, 62 next month, becomes the third member of Houston manager A.J. Hinch's staff to be hired away by another organization since season's end.

Angels show interest in free-agent catcher Wilson Ramos … The Angels are among five teams interested in signing free-agent catcher Wilson Ramos, according to a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak on it publicly.  —  Ramos is a nine-year veteran who was an all-star …

Inside Pass: A Jimmy Butler update, a Terry Rozier dilemma in Boston, plus notes from around the NBA  —  The Jimmy Butler saga has hovered over the NBA ever since his trade request from the Minnesota Timberwolves became public on the eve of training camp, and there doesn't appear …

Detroit Tigers' Nicholas Castellanos will stay in right field in 2019  —  Examining Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos' All-Star credentials.  Video by Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press.  —  CONNECT  —  CARLSBAD, Calif. — Nicholas Castellanos is the Detroit Tigers' right fielder.

Andrew Friedman: No secret that Manny Machado didn't always hustle  —  CARLSBAD, Calif. — Andrew Friedman knew he was getting a player who didn't hustle all the time when he traded for four-time All-Star Manny Machado.  Still, Friedman, the Los Angeles Dodgers' president of baseball operations …