MLB winter meetings: Free agency intel from Olney and Passan  —  MLB's winter meetings begin Monday in Dallas, signaling when baseball's offseason activity is likely to take off after a relatively slow first month.  —  All eyes will be on the free agency of superstar outfielder Juan Soto …

Sources: Athletics, Luis Severino reach 3-year, $67M deal  —  Right-hander Luis Severino and the Athletics are in agreement on a three-year, $67 million free agent contract that is the largest guarantee in the franchise's history, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

What I'm hearing about the Cardinals and Ryan Helsley, the baffling Blue Jays and more  —  As the St. Louis Cardinals reset, closer Ryan Helsley appears perhaps their most obvious trade candidate.  But teams talking to the Cardinals are under the impression the team will hold Helsley …

Where the Phillies stand heading into the Winter Meetings  —  As baseball gathers next week in Dallas for the annual Winter Meetings, little has changed for the Phillies.  They remain in search of an outfielder and a right-handed reliever.  They have shopped numerous players on their current roster in an effort to shake up things.

Yanks could swing big for Adames if they miss on Soto (sources)  —  The Yankees remain hopeful about bringing Juan Soto back to the Bronx, but in the event that the slugger signs elsewhere, New York will have plenty of money to pivot to Plan B.  —  According to sources …

Cody Bellinger's trade market is beginning to heat up  —  (670 The Score) The Winter Meetings should have a dramatic impact on the Cubs' hope to improve their club for 2025 and beyond, and one of the main storylines for them as executives come together next week is first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger's future.

Free agent Juan Soto likely to pick a team by end of next week's Winter Meetings  —  Juan Soto's end game is nearing.  —  Though agent Scott Boras said on Tuesday that a decision by his client wasn't “imminent,” he also said Soto had started to eliminate teams.

‘The Michael Kay Show’ will move off afternoons, ending an era in New York radio: Sources  —  The end of a New York sports radio era will conclude as “The Michael Kay Show” will soon broadcast its last program in the afternoon time slot on ESPN New York, sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic.

Competitive Balance rounds set for 2025 Draft  —  The top of the 2025 Draft won't be set until Tuesday's MLB Draft Lottery presented by Nike.  But the overall Draft order is beginning to take shape, now that the Competitive Balance rounds are set.  —  Since 2017, Major League Baseball …

White Sox All-Star, broadcaster ‘Beltin’ Bill' Melton, 79, dies  —  Chicago White Sox All-Star third baseman and broadcaster Bill Melton died Thursday in Phoenix after a brief illness.  He was 79.  —  “Beltin' Bill” hit 33 homers in both 1970 and 1971, when he led the American League and made his lone All-Star team.

Woj's Next Chapter: Why the Preeminent NBA News Breaker Walked Away  —  The biggest media story in 2024 was Adrian Wojnarowski leaving his lucrative job at ESPN to go back to St. Bonaventure as the men's basketball general manager.  —  DRIVE DOWN Main St. in Allegany, N.Y. …

St. Petersburg approves bonds for new $1.3B ballpark for Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays' potential new ballpark got a boost Thursday when the St. Petersburg City Council voted to approve the bonds necessary to finance the $1.3 billion stadium.  —  This is only part of the deal.