Seven things to know about the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Diamondbacks' NLDS foe  —  The Diamondbacks are already playing with house money.  Few expected them to reach the postseason, which they did when they clinched a wild-card spot last week.  Even then, few expected them to beat …

Phillies down Miami behind Nola, Stott, Realmuto, advance to NL Division Series  —  PHILADELPHIA - Next stop, Atlanta.  —  Aaron Nola pitched seven 3-hit innings and J.T. Realmuto and Bryson Stott homered, with Stott smacking a grand slam, as the Phillies downed Miami 7-1 to sweep their best …

'We're moving on': Padres keeping both Bob Melvin and A.J. Preller as they turn attention to offseason  —  (K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)  —  A.J. Preller talks about working with Bob Melvin, challenges ahead in offseason as Padres look to ‘be in October every year’

Sources: Diamondbacks sign General Manager Mike Hazen to extension  —  MILWAUKEE — The Diamondbacks have extended the contract of Mike Hazen, locking up their general manager to a deal that is guaranteed through 2028 with a club option for an additional year, according to sources.

Billy Eppler's unexpected Mets resignation came amid MLB investigation  —  The Mets' new era of hope has begun with a dash of familiar chaos.  —  In a stunning development, Billy Eppler resigned Thursday as Mets general manager amid an ongoing Major League Baseball investigation into alleged improper uses of the injured list.

Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2024  —  Matt Swartz has created a model to project salaries for arbitration eligible players, which we've been publishing at MLB Trade Rumors for 13 years.  —  In the baseball industry, teams and agents determine arbitration salaries by identifying comparable players.

Red Sox loom as real threat to sign Shohei Ohtani  —  Shohei Ohtani and the Red Sox are starting to be linked more and more.  One executive with an interested team said he believes they are a real threat.  —  Ohtani has a new big deal with New Balance out of Boston.

Dick Butkus, fearsome Hall of Fame Chicago Bears linebacker, dies at 80  —  Dick Butkus, a fearsome middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears, has died, the team announced Thursday.  He was 80.  —  According to a statement released by the team, Butkus' family confirmed that he died …

Pete Alonso hires Scott Boras' company with free agency looming  —  Mets slugging star Pete Alonso has hired the BorasCorp agency to represent him as Alonso heads into his free agent season, The Post has learned.  —  It's never easy for a team to sign a superstar in his walk year …

2023 MLB playoffs live updates, scores: Twins try to sweep Blue Jays, Rangers eliminate Rays  —  Scott Boeck Gabe Lacques Bob Nightengale Jesse YomtovUSA TODAY  —  The Texas Rangers became the first team to advance in the 2023 Major League Baseball playoffs, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-1 …

Morgan State shooting: Search continues for suspect after 5 wounded, none critically, on Baltimore campus  —  Five young people, including four Morgan State University students, were shot Tuesday night on the institution's campus in Northeast Baltimore, disrupting the school's homecoming week festivities.

Mets' Buck Showalter, Billy Eppler butted heads over Daniel Vogelbach's playing time  —  As the Mets' woes deepened this season, Daniel Vogelbach's presence — first in the lineup then on the team — became a polarizing issue between the front office and manager.

Angels GM Perry Minasian takes the blame for dismal season  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Manager Phil Nevin wasn't the reason for the Los Angeles Angels' massively disappointing season, general manager Perry Minasian says.  —  Nevin was simply the face of their latest failure …