SoCal Varsity Awards: Harvard-Westlake's Ryan Neapole tops the All-Varsity Boys Water Polo Team  —  The Southern California News Group honors the region's top fall sports athletes:  —  SoCal Varsity Awards special section is in Sunday's edition of your local SCNG newspaper.  —  PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Pitcher Alex Wood says Cincinnati Reds could ‘surprise some people’ next season  —  When Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson spoke on the phone with Alex Wood on Friday night, one of the first things he mentioned was relief that they were finally on the same team.

Detroit Tigers mailbag: Have we seen rock bottom yet in rebuild?  —  The mailbag has hit the holiday season, and there isn't much left on the Detroit Tigers' wish list other than netting a prospect haul for right fielder Nicholas Castellanos.  —  At the Winter Meetings, they got their shortstop —

Jurickson Profar: 'I'm going to be the same guy and try to do the same for my new team'  —  Texas Rangers first baseman Jurickson Profar is called out on strikes by home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday night, September 18, 2018 played at Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX.

Baseball notes: Dodgers' Kelly is happy to be going home  —  Joe Kelly helped the Boston Red Sox win a World Series title.  His next goal is to try to win one for the team he grew up rooting for and defeated in October.  —  The Dodgers on Friday officially announced signing Kelly …

Angels, Brewers, Rangers Reportedly Interested In Dallas Keuchel  —  The Angels, Brewers and Rangers join the previously reported Phillies as a few of the teams with interest in free-agent left-hander Dallas Keuchel, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

A's Sign Mike Fiers  —  The Oakland Athletics are close to re-signing Michael Fiers, per the MLB Network's Jon Morosi.  Fiers will earn between $14MM and $15MM over a two-year span (Twitter links).  The deal is pending a physical.  —  The dollar amount makes sense for both sides …

Phillies are the best option for Manny Machado  —  Manny Machado and his agent, Dan Lozano, have laid their cards on the table.  Even if there is a mystery team - isn't there always a mystery team? - it is clear that the primary suitors are the Phillies, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.