Less mound visits without pitching changes in 2018

Restrictions absent blessing of players association.

Major League Baseball has imposed stricter limits on mound visits by players in an effort to speed games but decided against 20-second pitch clocks for 2018.

After more than a year of negotiations, the Major League Baseball Players Association refused to agree to the changes but also signed an agreement that it will not oppose the rules.

The amendments to the playing rules announced Monday include a general limit of six mound visits per nine-inning game without a pitching change, whether by a manager, coach or player.

“We’ll have to just figure out a more non-verbal method of communication,” Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “We’re not going to be texting, I promise you that, even if we could.”

However, Detroit catcher James McCann objected.

“Some people may say that a catcher visiting with the pitcher isn’t a big deal,” McCann said, “but what if you’ve already had five mound visits and you got your closer on the mound in the ninth inning, and you’re facing the three and four hitters with guys on second and third, bases loaded? You can’t go out and talk to him?”

To assuage players’ concerns about sign stealing, MLB will install new telephone lines from dugouts to video replay rooms.

MLB said the lines will be monitored, and a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press all conversations on the lines will be recorded. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced.

MLB has the right to make playing rules changes absent an agreement with one-year notice and made proposals during the 2016-17 offseason for a pitch clock and more restrictions on mound visits.

Red Sox: Multiple sources reported that the team and free agent J.D. Martinez agreed to a five-year, $110 million deal, subject to a physical.

Last season, Martinez had 45 home runs and 104 RBIs in 119 games with the Tigers and Diamondbacks. Twenty-nine of those home runs and 65 RBIs came in 62 games with Arizona.

Orioles: A person familiar with the negotiations says pitcher Chris Tillman and Baltimore have agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract.

The deal includes performance bonuses, the source told the AP on the condition of anonymity.

Tillman was 1-7 with a 7.84 ERA in 19 starts and five relief appearances last year after starting the season on the DL with shoulder stiffness.

Giants: The team and lefthander Tony Watson have finalized a two-year deal that includes a player option for 2020, a deal that guarantees the former All-Star reliever $9 million.

The 31-year-old left-hander was 7-4 with a 3.38 ERA last year in 71 relief appearances for Pittsburgh and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who acquired him on July 31. He was 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 24 regular-season games with the Dodgers, then 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in 11 postseason games.

Slugger J.D. Martinez agreed to a 5-year deal with Boston.