Tigers president/GM Dave Dombrowski took time out from the Owners Meetings at MLB’s Park Avenue headquarters Wednesday to talk about the work of the On-Field Diversity Task Force.

Milwaukee has promoted Francisco Rodriguez to its big league club.

If Brandon Beachy continues to progress through the final stages of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, the Braves could have a tough decision in about a month.

Since the Rangers and Cardinals went toe-to-toe for seven tense, wonderful games in the 2011 World Series, plenty has happened to both franchises. Yet, in a lot of ways, nothing at all has happened. In many respects, these two organizations that exchanged punches for 10 days are mirror images of one another.

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski has been taking swings off soft-toss pitching the past two days, and he will progress to normal batting practice when the Rangers return to Arlington this week. Pierzynski could go on a medical rehab assignment Sunday.

The A’s hoped their ace would be back from the disabled list as soon as Friday, but Brett Anderson won’t pitch then, “and maybe not in the foreseeable future here,” manager Bob Melvin said.

Yankee Stadium will be the site for two hockey games that between them will feature all three New York metropolitan-area teams. The New York Rangers will first square off against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 26, then take on the New York Islanders on Jan. 29.

Justin Morneau was impressive again at the plate against the White Sox on Tuesday night with three hits, but it was his defense that caught the eye of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is a hustler, and that’s one of the many things to love about him. He doesn’t hesitate or meditate or otherwise complicate a sport that often rewards instinct, and Harper’s instincts are wildly and often wondrously aggressive.

The Phillies have agreed to a Minor League contract with pitcher Carlos Zambrano. The burly right-hander posted a 7-10 record and 4.49 ERA in 35 games (20 starts) with the Marlins last season.

While Detroit prepares for a road trip to Texas and Cleveland, Octavio Dotel continues to try to work his way back from right elbow inflammation.

The 2013 Racial and Gender Report Card, issued annually by The Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports (TIDES) at the University of South Florida gave Major League Baseball a grade equal to its highest ever on the issue of racial hiring practices: A.

Five days since his last appearance out of the bullpen, right-hander Mike Adams said Wednesday he is still dealing with back issues.

Two days after tweaking his back throwing warmup pitches prior to the sixth inning of his start in Monday’s 7-2 loss to Detroit, Astros starter Bud Norris’ status is still in question for Sunday’s series finale against the Pirates.

Gordon Beckham’s goal of returning to the White Sox lineup within a week and a half is looking realistic, as he headed for a Triple-A rehab assignment on Wednesday.

White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers was convinced he tagged out Justin Morneau not once, but twice, in the fifth inning of Chicago’s 4-2 win over Minnesota on Tuesday. The replays seem to back him up, too.

The production of the Brewers shortstop-center field combination of Jean Segura and Carlos Gomez has put each player near the top of the National League leaderboard in several statistical categories.