‘I needed a new challenge’: Craig Counsell explains why he went to Chicago Cubs  —  Roughly 24 hours after the shocking news broke that Craig Counsell was named manager of the Chicago Cubs, the former Milwaukee Brewers skipper made himself available Tuesday for a short question-and-answer session …

Press-Telegram Boys Athlete of the Week: Jason Parra, Millikan  —  Parra set a 3-mile course record at Heartwell Park in the Moore League Finals meet.  —  PRESS-TELEGRAM BOYS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK  —  Name: Jason Parra  —  School: Millikan  —  Sport: Cross country  —  Year: Senior

Shohei Ohtani dominates the conversation at the MLB GM Meetings  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Everywhere you looked, every place you turned, everything you heard, and all you could imagine Tuesday, was all about Shohei Ohtani.  —  Ohtani was nowhere in sight.  His agent, Nez Balelo, wasn't available.

JuJu Watkins scores 32 in debut to lead No. 21 USC women past No. 7 Ohio State  —  LAS VEGAS — The JuJu Watkins Era got off to a roaring start.  —  The former Sierra Canyon High star scored 32 points in her college debut, lifting the No. 21 USC women's basketball team to an 83-74 victory …

Cody Bellinger at top of Yankees' free-agent list to fix 2023 mess  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Yankees higher-ups finally broke their month of silence, which apparently served as a properly protracted moment of silence for a dreadful season that deserves a proper burial.

11-7 Bruce Bochy joins Murph and Mac to compare his World Series win with the Rangers to his 2010 World Series victory with the Giants, and says why Bob Melvin was a great hire  —  Bruce Bochy joins Murph and Mac to compare his World Series win with the Rangers to his 2010 World Series victory …

Derek Falvey: Twins expect to carry lower payroll in 2024 season  —  The loss of the Diamond Sports Group TV contract means there will be less money to spend than this season, when the team had a record $156 million payroll.  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When Derek Falvey assessed the Twins roster …

Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto headed to MLB as transfer OK'd  —  TOKYO — Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be allowed to move to a Major League Baseball team under the player posting system, the Orix Buffaloes said Sunday after the team lost Game 7 of the Japan Series to the Hanshin Tigers.

Javier Báez declines to exercise opt-out clause with four years, $98 million on contract  —  Javier Báez will return to the Detroit Tigers in 2024 after he did not exercise the opt-out clause in his contract.  —  Báez, who turns 31 in early December …