Rob Manfred wants to ban defensive shifts
He hadn't been commissioner for 24 hours and he'd already come up with a stupid idea. He says it would be a way to increase offense, but then, wouldn't it also be penalizing the defense? There are ways to increase offense without complicating the rules further.
Now it appears as if he's backtracked a little.
Jayson Werth to serve jail time for speeding
Last July, Jayson Werth was clocked at 105 mph in a 55 mph zone on the Beltway. He was originally sentenced to 10 days in prison, but struck a deal to serve five days, but only on weekends so he can rehab his surgically repaired right shoulder.
Phillies sign Chad Billingsley
Billingsley hasn't pitched since April 15, 2013; he underwent TJ surgery this past April and on Thursday agreed to a one-year deal with the Phillies worth $1.5 million plus incentives for number of starts, innings, and days on the active roster.
Red Sox sign Alexi Ogando to one-year deal
Ogando has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen for the Rangers over five years, debuting in 2010 with a 1.30 ERA. He was non-tendered after being sidelined with a strained elbow, appearing in just 27 games. Ogando had a problem staying healthy; one Rangers official says it's the reason for his being non-tendered. He is likely to serve as middle relief.