Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup

Reuters

Jan 16 (The Sports Xchange) - All 30 major league clubs unanimously approved Thursday the expansion of instant replay, which will be in effect for the 2014 regular season and postseason. The historic announcement was made at the conclusion of MLB's quarterly owners meetings in Paradise Valley, Ariz. Managers will have at least one challenge to use. If any portion of a challenged play is overturned, then the manager who challenged the play will retain the ability to challenge one more play during the game. No manager may challenge more than two plays in a game. - - New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, speaking publicly for the first time since his unprecedented PED-related suspension for the entire 2014 season, tried to put a positive spin on the situation during an appearance in Mexico. "I think that the year 2014 could be a big favor that (Major League Baseball has) done for me because I've been playing for 20 years without a timeout," he said, via the NewYorkPost.com. "I think 2014 is a good year to rest mentally and physically and prepare for the future and begin a new chapter in my life." - - Left-handed starter David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays avoided arbitration with a one-year, $14 million deal for the 2014 season. Price, 28, is a three-time All-Star (2010-12) and in 2012 became the first pitcher in Rays history to win the American League Cy Young Award. In 2013, he went 10-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 27 starts despite missing 44 games with a left triceps strain. - - Minor leaguers Antonio Alvarez and Daryl Thompson were suspended on Thursday for violations of baseball's drug prevention and treatment program. Alvarez, a shortstop in the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization, received a 50-game suspension after a positive test for testosterone. Thompson, a free-agent pitcher, also was given a 50-game suspension without pay for a second violation of a drug of abuse. - - The Cleveland Indians signed free agent outfielder Nyjer Morgan to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training camp, the club announced Thursday. Morgan, 33, spent 2013 with the Yokohama DeNa BayStars of the Japanese Central League where he hit .294 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs in 108 games. (Editing by Frank Pingue)