Adjustments possible, but Torre says no major changes coming to replay in 2016

NASHVILLE - Joe Torre, the chief baseball officer of Major League Baseball, likes how instant replay has become part of the game and he doesn't see any major changes coming for 2016.

"We're going to probably make adjustments or tweaks to it as the technology gets better," Torre said Tuesday on the second day of the Winter Meetings. "The Super Slow Mo gives us a better picture and we can see more things. The fact that we overturned 50 percent means that managers are getting more comfortable with it."

Until technology came along, people accepted baseball's imperfection. But now, in the age of instant replay, fans want every call to be perfect.

But perfection is not in the cards.

"It's not going to be the case," Torre said. "I could take you into the replay (room) - and this is not an invitation - and a number of us could look at the same picture and see different things. Even though the number is very low as far as missed replay calls, you're still able to overturn 50 percent of the calls that you weren't able to overturn a couple of years ago."

Replay has created another issue with sliding into the base. The play: Runner slides into a base, comes off, gets tagged and is called out on replay. Torre said there's no clear path to resolving the play, but there is discussion, and if an idea comes along that makes sense, there could be a new rule.

"We have accepted certain things over the years," Torre said. "But when a camera shows up that the glove is on the guys leg and he's not on the bag, how can you say he's safe?"

Torre said he understands the issue about expanded rosters with minor league players called up to join expanded rosters that as many as 35 players on roster, 10 more than teams have during the first five months of the season.

And, unlike the first five months of the season, teams have an uneven number of active players on the roster, depending which players are called up.

Torre said if the rule is going to change, it has to be done through collective bargaining. Managers want an even playing field. Players want credit for their service time.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is a big proponent of making September rosters uniform. The solution would be for players to get a September call, and get their service time whether they are active or not.

Torre said the issue is even more important at a time when more teams have a chance to make the playoffs as a wild card.

"It's something that sounds simple: Let's have the same number of players for every team," Torre said. "We have all year so why can't we do it in September? But there are so many details that need to be paid attention to, so we are continuing to talk."

* The Orioles are looking for outfielders to play next to center fielder Adam Jones, and have been linked to almost every free agent except Yoenis Cespedes. Of the outfielders available, Alex Gordon is the best all-around player of the bunch who will play plus defense, hit for average, power and steal bases. Justin Upton has the most power, but he's inconsistent and will hit somewhere between .250 and .260. Former National Denard Span would be the prototypical leadoff batter, but the concern is that he's coming off injuries. Dexter Fowler is only 29, but coming off a season where he hit 17 home runs, stole 20 bases and a .346 on-base percentage.

* The most intriguing trade speculation is the talk that the Miami Marlins are willing to listen to trade offers for ace pitcher Jose Fernandez, 23. The Marlins say he's not available, but that hasn't stopped the calls from coming. Teams with rich farm systems, such as the Dodgers, Astros, Cardinals, Yankees and Red Sox, are putting together offers to see what the Marlins would accept.

* The Red Sox have signed David Price to a $217 million contract, but they're also in a pickle in trying to shed $145 million worth of contracts in third baseman Pablo Sandoval and outfielder Hanley Ramirez. Sandoval has weight problems, while Ramirez has an attitude problem.

* Giants manager Bruce Bochy says that Zack Greinke going to Arizona gives balance to the National League West. "I think the Diamondbacks are team to be reckoned with. They have good young position players. With Patrick Corbin back, they have a strong rotation. The Greinke move made them a lot better." ... Nationals manager Dusty Baker mentioned Trea Turner and Michael Taylor as possible leadoff batters in 2016, but Baker knows leadoff hitters are difficult to find: He joked that he wanted to bring back Rickey Henderson, the all-time stolen base champion. ... Oakland manager Bob Melvin says the role of manager has changed. He spends more time with the players. He says that with so many young players in the game, "managers are in there teaching the game." ... Joe Maddon, who went from Tampa Bay to the Cubs last season, said the most difficult transition was walking in the clubhouse door and not knowing any one in the clubhouse. "My first thought was, 'I have to build relationships with these people.' "