Our (naturally correct) reaction: No. Just. No. That’s the minimum that needs to be said about this idea, but we owe it to you, the reader, to fully explain why this idea stinks on skates ice (foreshadowing!). FOSTER: Pace of play in MLB is just fine as it is Altering game play for the sake of expediency (MLB vice president Joe Torre, in disclosing the experiment, cited concerns about extra-inning games dragging) is always wrong....

After getting shelled by the Rangers for seven earned runs in his last outing, Rays ace Chris Archer dominated the strike zone against the AL West-leading Astros by allowing just one hit in a complete-game shutout. Archer walked Jose Altuve on four pitches to lead off the game but didn’t allow another baserunner until Colby Rasmus led off the fifth with the Astros’ first hit. The single would be the Astros’ only hit of the night, as Archer punched out 11 batters in his third career shutout....

He took his rehab “step by step” and said he was excited to pitch for the first time since May 3. “It’s been an interesting process for everybody,” Taillon told reporters prior to Monday’s game against the Rockies, who just happen to own the best record in the National League. “It’s not something we saw coming into my 2017 season.” MORE: MLB Draft results from Day 1 While Taillon wasn’t great, he was solid and gave the Pirates five quality innings with five strikeouts and a pair of walks....

There’s a reason that hope “springs” eternal, after all, and not “winters” eternal. Or something. FOSTER: 18 things I really want to see during the 2018 MLB season In any case, the shortening of spring training by two days this year means you’ll have a little less time to wait between pitchers and catchers reporting and opening day 2018. So, here are the 2018 spring training reporting schedules and dates for all 30 MLB teams (some still to be announced), divided into Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues:...

The rumor: The Dodgers are aggressively looking to move one of their highly paid outfielders, either Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford or Andre Ethier, according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com. HOT STOVE: Top 10 free-agent infielders | Outfielders | Pitchers | Catchers The rationale: First, Yasiel Puig isn’t going anywhere. He’s the best outfielder on the team and one of the best in the majors, and he’ll be just 24 next season....

The Orioles have already lost two key pieces of their 2014 lineup this offseason, as Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis have signed elsewhere as free agents.So it makes sense that they’d be interested in Kemp and Atlanta Braves outfielder Justin Upton. While Kemp to Camden Yards would seem like a perfect fit for the 30 year-old slugger, the Orioles in the past have shied away from players who have have multiple injury issues in past....

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports the Padres and Dodgers are “getting close” to a deal that would send the Dodgers All-Star to San Diego. While the teams seem to agree on San Diego catcher Yasmani Grandal, the Dodgers are also reportedly seeking a strong piece besides Grandal. Rosenthal suggests that it could be pitching prospect Matt Wisler. Grandal, 26, would provide an upgrade to 33-year-old A.J. Ellis, who batted just ....

According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Padres are seeking to trade for Atlanta left fielder Justin Upton. In 2014, San Diego left fielders batted .229 last season, fifth worst in the league for that position, so Upton would obviously represent a significant upgrade. Upton batted .270/.342/.491 with 29 home runs and 102 RBI in 2014. Upton, who is a free-agent after 2015, been pursued this offseason by the Royals, Giants,Orioles and Rangers ....

RUMOR: The Pirates are actively trying to trade center fielder Andrew McCutchen. MORE: Baseball’s most disappointing players in 2016 REPORTED BY: Stephen J. Nesbitt, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette DETAILS: The Pirates feel the 30-year-old McCutchen’s speed and defense have declined with age, and they have begun reaching out to potential trade partners. They’re seeking “young talent” in exchange for the 2013 NL MVP, per the report. The Pirates’ biggest need is major league-ready pitching....

This has already been a pretty active trade season. The Cubs picked up Jose Quintana in one deal, then Justin Wilson and Alex Avila in another trade. The Yankees dealt for Todd Frazier and David Robertson. The Rockies have traded for a catcher (Jonathan Lucroy) and an ace reliever (Pat Neshek), and the Diamondbacks added slugger J.D. Martinez. Heck, Jaime Garcia has been traded twice this month. MORE: Worst in-season trade for every AL team | And every NL team...

RUMOR: The Cubs are actively seeking one of MLB’s best closers via trade. REPORTED BY: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick MORE: Bargain basement free agents | Diamondbacks land Greinke THE DETAILS: The Cubs, who already have a respectable closer in Hector Rondon, are looking into some of the elite closing options on the trade market. The Reds have been in fire sale mode since offloading Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake in July and seem open to trading Chapman, who only has one year left on his contract....

On that note, the Indians traded Asdrubal Cabrera to the Nationals for INF Zach Walters. Cabrera will presumably play second base in D.C., which should come in handy for fantasy owners after about 5-10 starts. It’s actually a slight lineup downgrade for Cabrera, as the Nats have scored 36 less runs than Cleveland entering Thursday. Maybe Cabrera can help close that gap, though. Now it will be interesting to see if the Indians promote top prospect Francisco Lindor, our No....

The baseball world was rocked by several big trades ahead of July 31, and there were even more on Tuesday before the 4 p.m. ET deadline. FAGAN’S DEADLINE WINNERS, LOSERS: Bucs among those who get a W Here are the trades that were been made before the deadline. MORE: The greatest pitching performance you’ve never heard of MLB trade tracker Brewers acquire Jonathan Schoop from Orioles Players involved: 2B Jonathan Schoop to Brewers; IF Jonathan Villar, minor league RHP Luis Ortiz and minor league SS Jean Carmona to Orioles...

The 6-5 win also gave Cleveland a slight 1/2-game edge over the Twins in the race for the top spot in the American League Central. The Indians are heating up at the right time and are in sole possession of first place in the AL Central for the first time since April 20. Franmil Reyes and José Ramírez also chipped in early homers to build a 5-1 lead over the Red Sox....

Oakland is using a heck of a weekend against the AL West-leading Astros to cut into an already diminishing Rays lead on the second wild-card spot. But fortunately for the Rays, they were able to get a 1-0 win over the Tigers to keep the Athletics at bay — the A’s did beat the Astros, 8-4, for a third consecutive win over the 2017 World Series champs. The lead though is small and it took every single thing possible from the Rays’ pitching staff to maintain it....

Clark’s statement came in response to The Athletic’s report Friday that revealed MLB hands out the toy belt during a private meeting each year. “That clubs make sport of trying to suppress salaries in a process designed to produce fair settlements shows a blatant lack of respect for our players, the game and the arbitration process itself,” Clark said in a statement. MORE: Watch ‘ChangeUp,’ a new MLB live whip-around show on DAZN...

MORE: Why is MLS competing with NFL? | Top 25 American players But it is unlikely those memories that have Donovan so singularly focused on his seventh MLS Cup final, even with retirement looming just one game away. If there is a memory, or experience, that has Donovan attuned to the task of leading the LA Galaxy to a record fifth MLS Cup on Sunday, it is the experience he went through during the one of six MLS Cup finals he didn’t win....

Portland, who defeated FC Dallas 5-3 on aggregate in the Western Conference finals, is on a eight-game unbeaten streak and are priced at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook at +260 odds to win it all. The Crew - who had the harder road to reach the finals, beating both Montreal and New York Red Bulls (8-2 combined on aggregate) – are +105 favorites to win with home-field advantage. The Westgate is dealing +250 odds for a draw, and a total of 2....

Schweinsteiger side-footed in a Matt Polster cutback in the 59th minute to help the Fire to a 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo. Deian Boldor had been sent off for Montreal just after halftime, and Chicago made the most of the numerical advantage. The win saw the Fire end a four-match losing run, and they sit third in the Eastern Conference. Orlando has also been in bad form and it continued as the side was crushed 4-0 by the New England Revolution....

The good news is we are set to be blessed with a pair of conference final series loaded with storylines, subplots and the potential for some attractive soccer. We’ve seen a fair share of ugly matches so far this postseason, but the four teams left all have the attacking weapons to make the fight for MLS Cup berths very entertaining. The international break couldn’t have come at a better time for the Seattle Sounders, with the defending champions having the opportunity to rest up and heal up over a nearly three-week layoff....