Prized hitting guru Robert Van Scoyoc, 3 others join Dodgers coaching staff for 2019  —  LOS ANGELES — Robert Van Scoyoc, the 32-year-old cutting-edge hitting instructor who helped turn J.D. Martinez into a superstar, was announced as the Los Angeles Dodgers' new hitting coach on Wednesday.

BROCHACHO BROUHAHA: Did Josh Donaldson shade the Blue Jays?!  —  #Burn!  —  Former Blue Jays star Josh Donaldson served up a double play of diss for his former team.  —  The Bringer of Rain and former MVP signed a one-year contract for $23 million with the ascendant Atlanta Braves …

Dodgers Acquire Adam McCreery, Designate Pat Venditte  —  The Dodgers announced Wednesday that they've acquired left-hander Adam McCreery from the Braves in exchange for cash.  To open a spot on the 40-man roster, switch-pitcher Pat Venditte was designated for assignment.

Bobby Abreu leads list of most notable Latin-American players  —  When it comes to using Latin-born players, the Phillies are near the top in the major leagues.  They had 19 Latino players appear in the 2018 season — good for best in the National League and third-best overall.

Cubs Acquire Ronald Torreyes  —  The Cubs have acquired recently designated infielder Ronald Torreyes in a swap with the Yankees, per an announcement.  Cash or a player to be named later will head to New York in return.  —  Torreyes, 26, makes his way back to an organization that once had him as a minor-leaguer.

No, MLB partnering with MGM Resorts does not somehow vindicate Pete Rose  —  Yesterday I wrote about how Major League Baseball and MGM Resorts have become business partners, with the latter being “the official gaming partner” of MLB.  —  While some people's response to that has been about …

Robinson Cano to the Mets?  As unlikely as it may sound, the two teams are still talking  —  Jeff McNeil is not looking over his shoulder - or at Twitter and MLB Network these days.  —  The infielder heard second hand that new GM Brodie Van Wagenen said he was “penciled in,” to be the Mets starting second baseman in 2019.

Freddie Benavides announced as Cincinnati Reds bench coach; Delino DeShields promoted  —  With a goal of completing the Major League coaching staff by the end of November, the Reds introduced four hires to David Bell's staff on Wednesday.  —  The Reds announced Freddie Benavides …

Projecting Payrolls: Milwaukee Brewers  —  As we kick off the ninth installment of this series, here are links to the previous team payroll projections:  —  Los Angeles Dodgers  —  Los Angeles Angels  —  Atlanta Braves  —  New York Yankees  —  Chicago White Sox  —  Boston Red Sox

Jim Riggleman, Adam Guttridge hired as Mets blend the old with the new  —  The Mets bolstered their bench and analytics department with the additions of Riggleman and Guttridge, respectively.  —  The Mets came in with the old and the new on Tuesday.  —  On the same day they introduced …

Yankees suddenly facing battle for their top free-agent target … The last time the Yankees and Phillies competed in a high-stakes setting, the Yankees copped the 2009 World Series title and christened the latest rendition of Yankee Stadium in a grand way.  —  Nine years later …

Joe Buck blames baseball's plodding pace for diminished World Series ratings: ‘The games were really not that compelling’  —  Count Joe Buck among those who thinks the action in this year's MLB postseason was lacking.  —  In a phone interview with WEEI.com, the longtime Fox broadcaster …