MLB Games May Be Played in London in 2017, No DL For National League

America's pastime is looking to build a new audience across the pond. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred told The Associated Press that the league is looking to play its first regular-season games in London in 2017.

"We are very interested in playing there, and we're working hard on that one," Manfred told the AP during an interview on his first anniversary as baseball commissioner. "I don't think it will be an opener because of the weather issues. It would be later in the season."

Baseball has been looking at the Olympic Stadium as a possible venue. Manfred wouldn't discuss the possibility of shifting a high-profile matchup, such as Yankees-Red Sox, to England.

"We haven't really settled on teams, and I don't want to speculate about that," he said. "Obviously, we want to make as good a first impression in Europe as we possibly can."

Manfred told the AP that he counts international developments, such as an agreement to stream games in China, among his top accomplishments in his first year.

Not So Fast On DH in National League

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has a message for fans who think the designated hitter is on its way to the National League: Not so fast.

"The most likely result on the designated hitter for the foreseeable future is the status quo," Manfred said in an interview with ESPN.com in conjunction with his one-year anniversary as commissioner. "I think the vast majority of clubs in the National League want to stay where they are."

At the MLB owners meetings in Coral Gables, Florida, last week, Manfred talked to reporters about the possibility of the National League emulating the American League and adopting the DH rule. His comments were interpreted as a sign of potential uniformity between the two leagues on the designated hitter as early as 2017.

St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak recently said the idea of the NL adding the DH is "gaining momentum." At the owners meetings, Manfred appeared to acknowledge that NL clubs have become more receptive to a change.

"Twenty years ago, when you talked to National League owners about the DH, you'd think you were talking some sort of heretical comment," Manfred said Thursday. "But we have a newer group. There's been turnover. And I think our owners in general have demonstrated a willingness to change the game in ways that we think would be good for the fans, always respecting the history and traditions of the sport."