The Rockies added five-time All-Star pitcher Doug Jones to their Minor League staff on Thursday, naming the 16-year Major League veteran as pitching coach for Class A Short-Season Boise of the Northwest League.

Though James Shields remains a free agent and Cole Hamels still hasn’t been traded by the Phillies, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington isn’t expecting to make a marquee pitching acquisition before Spring Training.

As the industry ponders David Price’s future and his potential market, he indicated he’s open to discussions on a long-term contract with the Tigers, even as he acknowledged the strong lure of being able to pick his destination and see what his market value is.

Major League Baseball whetted the appetite of fans everywhere on Thursday by formally announcing game times for its master 2015 regular-season schedule, which will start at 8 p.m. ET on April 5 with Cardinals-Cubs at Wrigley Field in ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” opener. The regular season will end with 12 divisional matchups on Sunday, Oct. 4.

J.A. Happ’s velocity went up last year. So did the expectations for the Seattle Mariners. So now that the Mariners have traded for the veteran left-hander to fill out their rotation, Happ finds himself in a new situation for a team on the rise.

After a dominant first half of 2014 at Triple-A, followed by a middling stint in the Major Leagues, Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson believes his history suggests a breakthrough to come. Following this week’s trade of Yovani Gallardo — at least in part to clear a rotation spot for Nelson — the Brewers are counting on it.

Javier Baez is back in Santurce’s lineup, and back at work on his swing. The Cubs infielder took a brief break from his Winter Leagues at-bats in Puerto Rico to come to Chicago for the team’s fanfest last weekend. Baez has lost 15 pounds since the 2014 season ended, which impressed the Cubs, and he is also working hard to improve after batting .169 in 52 games last season.

Though only one catcher (Blake Swihart of the Red Sox) fits in the top 40 spots on MLBPipeline.com’s upcoming 2015 Top 100 Prospects list, talent behind the plate actually runs deep. The Minors are teeming with backstops who have the tools to contribute offensively and defensively in the big leagues in the near future.

Chris Archer has a curious mind. He enjoys reading, learning and seeking answers. So he was the perfect choice to travel to South Africa as part of Major League Baseball’s ambassador program, which helps build awareness of the game in different countries and continents. The trip left him humbled.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore says the idea of re-signing free-agent starting pitcher James Shields has crossed his mind, but “at this point in time, it’s doubtful.”

Despite all the brilliant analysis, there’s this one pesky thing called a 162-game schedule. It’s a great thing, too, as it determines — for real, and once and for all — who are the best teams. So go ahead, prematurely coronate the Nationals if you want. Everybody gets it. But beware of the Marlins.

John Sterling, the longtime play-by-play radio announcer of the New York Yankees, is among the hundreds of people left homeless after a multialarm fire ripped through a large apartment complex in New Jersey on Wednesday.

With his third World Series championship in five seasons and a 2012 National League Most Valuable Player Award accompanied by a batting title, the Giants’ Buster Posey is charting a compelling course to join an exclusive club of legendary catchers in the Hall of Fame.

With the addition of another proven star in Nelson Cruz and potential breakout seasons by young starters Taijuan Walker and James Paxton, the Mariners are positioned to make a serious run at what would be their first division title since the great 2001 team won 116 games.

Prime examples of Chip Hale’s intensity and desire to win can be traced back to the way the new D-backs skipper led in past Fantasy Camps for the club.

When it comes to intangible factors, James Shields’ previous employers rave about him. He is, the essence, by all reasonable accounts, of a positive clubhouse presence, a leader and a role model. However, the typical big bidders have expressed no interest in acquiring free-agent righty.

The Nationals will hold a news conference at Nationals Park today at 2 p.m. ET in which they are expected to introduce right-hander Max Scherzer, who agreed to terms on a seven-year $210 million deal with the club on Monday. MLB.com will stream the event live.