Somehow, after 38 years and a little digging, I found Duke Hail in Trenton, Ohio, for our second conversation ever. Our first occurred in July 1978, when I interviewed Hail for the Cincinnati Enquirer about a rambunctious 8-year-old kid whom he regularly babysat for long stretches.

Cubs Minor League pitcher P.J. Francescon received a 50-game suspension without pay on Friday after violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced.

The Indians brought free-agent Mike Napoli into the fold this offseason and plan on giving him everyday at-bats as the team’s regular first baseman. That was, of course, the role that Carlos Santana filled for Cleveland last year.

Chris Correa, the former scouting director of the Cardinals, pleaded guilty on Friday to criminal charges in connection with unauthorized access of the Astros’ database.

Indians right-hander Joseph Colon has received a 50-game suspension without pay for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo added to his front-office staff Friday afternoon, hiring Dan Jennings as a special assistant to the GM.

The Orioles claimed infielder/outfielder Joey Terdoslavich off waivers from the Braves on Friday.

The Yankees on Friday acquired right-hander Kirby Yates from the Indians for cash considerations.

The Brewers signed left-hander Pat Misch to a Minor League contract on Friday that includes an invitation to big league camp, offering the veteran another opportunity to pitch his way back to the Major Leagues.

The setup was plausible. A news conference announcing that right-hander Tommy Greene, who pitched a no-hitter for the franchise in 1991, was retiring as a Phillie. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jamil Ali had no way of knowing it was an elaborate hoax.

Save it: It’ll be worth something someday.

One word describes Logan Forsythe’s 2015 campaign: Solid. The Tennessee native made the most of an opportunity and finished the season as the Don Zimmer Award winner, tagging him the Rays’ Most Valuable Player as voted on by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Mike Piazza gazed south over Midtown Manhattan, the Flatiron Building, 40 Wall Street, One World Trade Center, an unseasonably bright sun glinting off all of it. “You can never get tired of this view,” Piazza said.

The first baseball Blogg-er.

It’s time to think fashion forward.

The Royals no longer have Ben Zobrist, and they still will owe Omar Infante nearly $18 million over the next two seasons, but that does not mean Infante has locked up the second-base job.

In looking at the unique structure of the Dodgers’ eight-year contract with Kenta Maeda — which is for a guaranteed $25 million but could rise to more than $100 million with incentives — a few questions arise as to why Los Angeles laid it out in this manner.