World Series champs!  How Dodgers validated their dominance  —  NEW YORK — Two days before the Los Angeles Dodgers' postseason began, Freddie Freeman felt a twinge in his rib cage when he took a swing during a simulated game.  He vowed to ignore it.  It's not as if he wasn't already in pain.

Russini's what I'm hearing about NFL trade deadline: 13 players, 18 teams to watch closely  —  The NFL's toughest people aren't always found on the field.  In a week dominated by discussions surrounding a young quarterback who tapped out before a third-down play and a grandstanding defensive …

Sources: Yankees ace Gerrit Cole opts out of contract  —  New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole opted out of his contract Saturday, leaving the team with the ability to ensure he remains in pinstripes by adding an additional year at $36 million to the four years and $144 million that had been remaining on the contract, sources told ESPN.

Lingering hip flexor issue keeps Jaylen Brown out for Celtics on Saturday  —  CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jaylen Brown told the Globe the left hip flexor injury that kept him out of Saturday night's game has been lingering for a few weeks.  —  Brown, who played 37 minutes in Friday's 124-109 win …

Giants' Zack Minasian joins Angels' Perry as brothers GMs  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Zack Minasian and was promoted to general manager of the San Francisco Giants on Friday, joining the Los Angeles Angels' Perry Minasian to make the brothers both big league GMs.  —  The 41-year-old Zack Minasian …

Diamondbacks' contract updates: Geno is back, along with ‘biggest mistake’ of last offseason  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks' contract option decisions for 2025 have been decided over the past two days, with no surprises in terms of who is staying and who is going.

Juan Soto eyeing a historic $700 million MLB free agency contract  —  Top free agent hitter Juan Soto's new magic number is thought to be $700M (or more) — and that's a solid $700M, not the record $700M contract that's 97 percent deferred that Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani received from the Dodgers.

Braves reach $13M contract with Bummer, revise Lopez's deal  —  ATLANTA — Left-hander Aaron Bummer agreed Saturday to a two-year, $13 million contract with the Atlanta Braves, who also reached a revised three-year, $30 million deal with All-Star Reynaldo Lopez that guarantees the right-hander an additional $4 million.

Bob Costas retires from MLB play-by-play duties after 4-plus decades  —  Bob Costas is retiring as a Major League Baseball play-by-play caller, marking the end of a legendary run in which he became synonymous with the game over four decades and earned a place in the broadcasting wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Angels land slugger Jorge Soler from Braves for RHP Griffin Canning  —  The Atlanta Braves traded outfielder Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Griffin Canning on Thursday, kicking off the hot stove season with a deal that sends a power bat to Los Angeles and adds pitching depth …

Scott Kingery traded after nearly a decade in Phillies organization  —  Scott Kingery traded after nearly a decade in Phillies organization originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia  —  Nearly a decade after being drafted in the second round and 6½ years after signing …