Throwing at Astros not OK: Manfred

With baseball ablaze over the Houston Astros’ 2017 cheating scandal, Commissioner Rob Manfred met with nearly half of the major league’s managers Sunday in Florida and told them to knock off any notion of geteven beanballs.

“I hope that I made it extremely clear to them that retaliation ingame by throwing at a batter intentionally will not be tolerated, whether it’s Houston or anybody else,” Manfred said. “It’s dangerous and it is not helpful to the current situation.”

The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, Cubs’ Kris Bryant, Reds’ Trevor Bauer and Astros’ Carlos Correa were among the All-Stars recently trading threats, accusations and barbs as spring training opened.

The revelation of Houston’s signstealing scam, the punishment imposed by Major League Baseball and poorly received apologies by the Astros further enhanced anger across the sport, with players, club management and fans joining in.

Astros players were granted immunity for taking part in the investigation, but Manfred said, “If I was in a world where I could have found the facts without granting immunity, I would have done that.”

Added Manfred: “They had an obligation to play by the rules and they didn’t. I understand when players say they should have been punished.”

Manfred said he would talk to the managers of the teams that train in Arizona on Tuesday.

In further fallout from the Astros’ scheme, Manfred said the investigation into the 2018 Red Sox — who also are accused of using electronics to steal catchers’ signs — could be completed within two weeks. He also said he planned to meet with the players’ union to discuss new rules limiting ingame video access.

Injury report: St. Louis pitcher Miles Mikolas was scratched from his second bullpen session of the spring because of a flexor tendon issue.

“I do not know what the full clinical term is,” Mikolas said. “I can tell you my elbow is a little sore.”

Briefly: Milwaukee pitcher Brent Suter avoided an arbitration hearing by agreeing to a twoyear, $2.5 million deal. The lefthander returned from Tommy John surgery in September and went 40 with an 0.49 ERA in nine relief appearances, helping the Brewers earn an NL wildcard spot . ... Pitcher Chad Bettis signed a minorleague contract with the Yankees. Bettis, 30, was 16 with one save and a 6.08 ERA in 39 games with the Rockies last year.