Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup

Feb 20 (The Sports Xchange) - Major League Baseball on Friday announced significant pace-of-play rule changes for the 2015 season in an effort to speed up the game. Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr., MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark and Atlanta Braves president John Schuerholz, the chairman of the Pace of Game and Instant Replay Committees, jointly made the announcement. The rules include mandating that managers stay in their dugouts during replay challenges, that hitters keep at least one foot in the batter's box during at-bats, a prompt return to play after TV commercial breaks and timed pitching changes. The league established a pace-of-game committee in September aimed at making recommendations to speed up games, which grew to a record average of 3 hours, 2 minutes in 2014, up from 2:33 in 1981. Players who violate the rules will receive a warning, with "flagrant violators" subject to a series of fines up to $500, sources familiar with the changes told ESPN.com. The intention is not to impose penalties but rather to help change the habits of current players in an effort to speed up the game, according to sources. The new rules begin in spring training, but the warnings and fines will not be imposed until May, as spring training and the first month of the regular season will be a phase-in period. - - - Atlanta Braves left-hander Mike Minor was awarded a $5.6 million salary this year through arbitration on Friday. Atlanta had submitted a $5.1 million request for Minor, who made $3.85 million last season. Minor, 27, was 6-12 with a 4.77 ERA last season. - - - The Seattle Mariners have brought back left-hander Joe Saunders on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to spring training as camp starts. Saunders, 33, is expected to compete for a spot in the bullpen, with the Mariners hoping his performance vs. left-handed hitters the past two years (.230/.270/.308) holds up. Saunders was 11-16 with a 5.26 ERA as a starter with the Mariners in 2013 and then amassed a 6.70 ERA in 43 innings with the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers last year. - - - San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy was admitted to a Scottsdale, Arizona, hospital in order to receive two stents, according to a statement from the team Thursday night. Giants pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Scottsdale earlier Thursday. Bochy, 59, was not expected to be present at Giants camp on Friday. He owns a 667-629 record and three World Series championships in eight seasons as the Giants' manager. (Editing by Andrew Both)