Cubs' Jed Hoyer: Hard to fire David Ross but Craig Counsell hire right move  —  PHOENIX — While Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said firing David Ross was a “very hard decision,” he called the move to bring Craig Counsell on board “the best thing for the fan base.”

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.

As Cardinals seek trade routes for pitching, here are four clubs with conversation-starters  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Other than pitching being the most valuable commodity in the industry and also the quickest way to turnaround a team's fortune by spending one, too, there is a major reason …

Angels hire Ron Washington as new manager  —  The Angels pick the 71-year-old Washington, who last managed the Texas Rangers in 2014 and had been the Atlanta Braves' third base coach since 2017  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ron Washington is getting another chance.

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.

Detroit Tigers hire former New York Mets third base coach Joey Cora to coaching staff  —  The Detroit Tigers have filled a vacancy on their coaching staff.  —  The Tigers, led by manager A.J. Hinch, hired former New York Mets third base coach Joey Cora, according to multiple sources …

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 …

Yoshinobu Yamamoto's looming MLB free-agent frenzy comes with one minor concern  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Frank Schwindel, who lockered next to Yoshinobu Yamamoto for months this season with the Orix Buffaloes, describes Yamamoto as a charismatic guy “who always has a smile on his face …

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 …

Votto, Suarez on Blue Jays' radar as search for multiple bats begins  —  The Blue Jays are in search of productive bats.  It's been clear for months the team needs more at the plate, and at the GM Meetings on Tuesday, Ross Atkins offered the clearest look yet at how they plan to make sure that happens in 2024.