What I'm hearing on the MLB Hot Stove about the Dodgers, Brewers and more  —  The Dodgers are capable of pivoting in virtually any direction, which is just how they like it.  —  Including the return of Clayton Kershaw, whose deal is pending a physical, the Dodgers are about $45 million under …

Rays To Sign Zach Eflin To Three-Year Deal  —  The Rays are dipping into the free agent pitching market, agreeing to terms with right-hander Zach Eflin on a three-year deal.  It's reportedly a $40MM guarantee for the O'Connell Sports Management client.  Eflin will make $11MM in each of the next …

Sources: Rangers, Jacob deGrom agree to 5-year, $185M deal  —  MLB, Texas Rangers, New York Mets  —  Two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom agreed to a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers, sources told ESPN, bringing the most talented pitcher in baseball …

Rose Bowl agrees to deal allowing early CFP expansion in '24  —  The last remaining obstacle to expanding the College Football Playoff to 12 teams in the 2024 and 2025 seasons has been cleared.  —  The Rose Bowl reached an agreement that officially paves the way for the College Football Playoff …

Astros' Justin Verlander reluctance could open door for other teams  —  Word is, the Astros and Justin Verlander are “far apart” in talks.  Verlander seeks $130 million for three years (the Max Scherzer deal), and the Astros, with their deep rotation, seem pessimistic on Verlander …

QB Justin Fields takes a step toward starting Sunday for the Chicago Bears versus the Green Bay Packers  —  ExpandAutoplay  —  1 of 171  —  Bears quarterback Justin Fields warms up before the game against the New York Jets on Nov. 27, 2022, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

State knocks $600,000 off Orioles' annual Camden Yards rent for team's reconstruction of left field wall  —  It's nearly impossible to quantify all the effects a deeper, taller left field wall at Camden Yards had on the Orioles' 2022 season.  —  The wall — which the team built …

Notre Dame QB Drew Pyne decides to enter the transfer portal  —  Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne tweeted Friday that he is entering the NCAA transfer portal.  —  Pyne, who will have three years of eligibility at his next destination, is not planning to play in the team's bowl game, sources told ESPN on Friday.

Former Red Kyle Farmer, named 2022 team MVP, reflects on an era gone by  —  As former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Kyle Farmer reflected on the trade that sent him last month to the Minnesota Twins, he got a FaceTime call from former Reds outfielder Jesse Winker.

Predicting where top MLB free agents will land with winter meetings looming  —  MORE FROM:  —  The nine top free agents, all likely to command nine-figure deals, remain on the board.  But if history is a guide, they may start signing soon — maybe at the winter meetings, beginning this weekend.

Edwin Diaz, Mets made contract happen with ease: ‘We know what they want, they know what we want’  —  Edwin Diaz wanted the Mets to come to him “quick” to talk about a new contract.  The Mets talked to him as soon as they could and the process went so smoothly that they were able to lock …

Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa prepares for challenge of possibly playing behind backup tackles vs. 49ers  —  The Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss the Miami Dolphins' game against the San Francisco 49ers, and give their predictions for the game.  (South Florida Sun Sentinel)