SAN FRANCISCO — That visible circle in the back pockets of big leaguers – typically a sure sign of smokeless tobacco – might be far less common next season.

Players new to the majors won’t be able to dip next year without risk of penalty, a provision under baseball’s tentative five-year labor agreement reached late Wednesday.

“Sounds like a good start,” San Francisco Giants head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner said. “Those players should be used to it as that is already in place in the minor leagues.”

It’s also possible more than the 12 current major league cities with laws either in place or headed that way will have tobacco bans by the start of the 2017 season. That’s what many health experts and advocates in the prevention efforts are hoping for, at least, though they certainly would have preferred a tobacco ban across the board for baseball to set an example for youth and the sport’s future.

“While we had hoped for a complete prohibition on smokeless tobacco in baseball in the new agreement, this is a major step forward and represents the first time the players and owners have a made a clear commitment to fully eliminating smokeless tobacco use in baseball,” said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

With cancer concerns at the forefront since Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn’s June 2014 death at age 54 from salivary gland cancer complications following years of dipping, the dangers of long-term tobacco use have become a national issue for the national pastime. Gwynn’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit earlier this year against the tobacco industry.

For the last five seasons, big league players were prohibited from carrying tobacco products, including tins and packages, onto the field when fans were in the ballpark. But in the clubhouses, indoor batting cages and other out-of-sight spots, the tell-tale signs were there.

CARDINALS-BRAVES: St. Louis traded left-hander Jaime Garcia to Atlanta on Thursday for a trio of prospects, including second baseman Luke Dykstra, the son of former All-Star Lenny Dykstra.

The Cardinals also got right-handers John Gant and Chris Ellis in the deal.

The often-injured Garcia has spent his entire career with the Cardinals, going 62-45 with a 3.57 ERA. He was third in rookie of the year voting in 2010 and went 13-7 the following season while helping St. Louis win the World Series.

The 30-year-old threw 1712/3 innings last season – the second-most of his career – but was just 10-13 with a 4.67 ERA, and a glut of starting pitchers made him expendable.

RED SOX: David Ortiz has a new Christmas sweater out, but you might not want to wear it around the kids.

The shirts say “This is our … Christmas,” with a partially obscured naughty word that refers to the designated hitter’s speech following the Boston Marathon bombings. The design also includes an image of Big Papi with sunglasses and a Santa hat.

The shirts are being sold to raise money for the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, which helps kids with congenital heart defects get life-saving surgery.

MARLINS: The team finalized its $22 million, two-year contract with right-hander Edinson Volquez.

NATIONALS: Backup catcher Jose Lobaton agreed to a one-year contract for 2017, avoiding arbitration.

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