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Yu Darvish and Kyle Schwarber squared off for the first time since the National League Championship Series during a live batting practice session on Tuesday. In October, Darvish was on the Dodgers, but now he and Schwarber are teammates.

One National League executive said Monday that the Yankees and White Sox have the best chances to land Moustakas, based on current market conditions. The Royals also could re-sign Moustakas, although their front office is prepared to start rebuilding with younger players. Some within the industry see the Cardinals as a fit.

Clayton Kershaw’s least-favorite Spring Training assignment — throwing live batting practice — was rather routine, 22 pitches, most of them tracked and taken by Yasiel Puig, Chris Taylor and Andrew Toles.

The official arrival of J.D. Martinez to the Red Sox could come Wednesday, once he passes his physical. The anticipation in the clubhouse for the arrival of this offseason’s premier slugger was building by the end of Tuesday’s team workout.

Perhaps the best option remaining on the free-agent pitching market is Jake Arrieta, the 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner.

The Red Sox and free-agent slugger J.D. Martinez have agreed to a five-year, $110 million deal that includes an opt-out, sources told MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi on Monday. The club has not confirmed.

The free agent considered the best slugger in this year’s market still remains available in J.D. Martinez. The 30-year-old outfielder enjoyed a career year in 2017, slugging .690 with 45 home runs in 119 games, 29 of which came in 62 games for the D-backs following a mid-July trade with the Tigers.

And so it begins …

Major League Baseball on Monday announced rule changes for the 2018 championship season designed to improve the pace of play. After receiving substantial input from the Major League Baseball Players Association and Club personnel, MLB’s Competition and Playing Rules Committees recommended that Commissioner Rob Manfred proceed with a rule change limiting the number of mound visits in a game and a rule designed to reduce the time required for inning breaks and pitching changes.

It would seem the Astros have already won the offseason. When the World Series winner gets better, that has to be the automatic call. In a typical offseason, we would have already shipped the big shiny trophy to Astros GM Jeff Luhnow. But wait, there’s still time. Polls remain open.