Manfred: No DH or draft changes likely for 2019  —  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Don't look for a National League designated hitter this year or for new anti-tanking rules in June's amateur draft.  —  Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday that management is focused on pace-of-game changes …

Giants' Farhan Zaidi says ‘mutual interest’ led to Bryce Harper meeting  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Bryce Harper's meeting with the Giants in Las Vegas this week was the product of “mutual interest on both sides,” new San Francisco baseball operations chief Farhan Zaidi said Friday.

Think Hal Steinbrenner and Yankees are pinching pennies?  You can thank Jacoby Ellsbury and Giancarlo Stanton for that  —  The last position player the Yankees signed to a long-term free agent deal was Jacoby Ellsbury.  That happened in December of 2013.  —  If you want to get to the root …

Mets sign Danny Espinosa to minor league deal  —  NEW YORK — Danny Espinosa and the New York Mets have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.  —  The veteran switch-hitter gives the Mets even more depth in a crowded infield.  He could be a backup option at shortstop behind Amed Rosario.

Ryan Tepera, Kyle Barraclough lose salary arbitration cases  —  Relievers Ryan Tepera of the Toronto Blue Jays and Kyle Barraclough of the Washington Nationals lost their salary arbitration cases Friday.  —  Tepera was awarded a $1,525,000 salary Friday rather than his request for $1.8 million.

Mets-Nationals or Cubs-Cardinals set for London in 2020  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — Major League Baseball is considering one of two matchups for its 2020 series in London: New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals or Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals.  —  Two people familiar with the discussions told …

Indians SS Francisco Lindor out 7-9 weeks with calf strain  —  Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor is expected to miss 7-9 weeks with a right calf strain.  —  CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor will get a later start to the 2019 season than either him or the club wanted.

Yordano Ventura's guaranteed contract still not paid two years after death; estate is broke  —  Two years after Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura died in a single-car crash in his native Dominican Republic, the $20.25 million remaining on his contract has not been paid.  —  And his estate is broke.

Disability rights advocates praise MLB's decision to rename ‘disabled list’  —  The Washington Post  —  Heeding the words of disability rights advocates, Major League Baseball has renamed the roster designation for players recovering from injury.  Formerly known as the “disabled list,” …

Indians sign OF Joyce to minor-league deal  —  Outfielder Matt Joyce announced on Friday he has signed a minor-league deal with the Cleveland Indians.  —  Joyce, 34, spent the last two seasons with the Oakland Athletics.  He announced the agreement on Twitter and will receive an invite to spring training with the Indians.

The Marlins' trade strategy on Realmuto; baseball's staring contest; Moose and Milwaukee?; more notes  —  The Marlins do not deny it.  Their early “asks” for All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto were high.  —  From the Dodgers, Miami wanted first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger.

Why these Mater Dei transfers caught De La Salle's attention  —  'If you look at it, transferring in for a semester, that's transferring for one specific thing'  —  When the California Interscholastic Federation softened its athletic transfer policy two years ago, making it easier to move …

All eyes on GM Mike Hazen as Arizona Diamondbacks spring training nears  —  The reaction from John Hazen's elementary school classmate was one of disbelief.  —  “It was just like, ‘Your dad traded Paul Goldschmidt?’”  Mike Hazen recounted.  —  Hazen did not enjoy the telling of the story …

Baseball owners back MLB bid to buy Fox's regional sports networks  —  Major League Baseball's commissioner confirmed Friday that the organization is planning to make a play for 21 regional sports networks being sold by Disney — with a focus on the 14 networks that carry MLB team games.