Having spurned the Yankees as a teenager, Astros' Gerrit Cole has another chance to break New York hearts  —  NEW YORK — He's the one that got away for the New York Yankees.  —  The Yankees first laid eyes on him more than a decade ago, fell deeply in love, proposed, and were ready to exchange vows.

ESPN considers blowing up Sunday night booth around Alex Rodriguez  —  ESPN will consider breaking up its “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcast team, The Post has learned.  —  Alex Rodriguez is safe, according to sources.  With one more year on his ESPN deal, A-Rod will be back, no matter who else is in the booth.

Dog Pee or Scorpions?  Cubs Prez Theo Epstein's Wild Landlord-Tenant Dispute … Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein's dog “left a terrible odor and urine-stained carpeting” in an Arizona home he stayed in for the 2015 spring training season, his landlords from that year claim.

DEA interviews Matt Harvey and at least five Angels in Tyler Skaggs probe  —  Federal agents have interviewed at least six current and former Angels players as part of their investigation into the drug-related death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, according to a person with knowledge of the interviews …

Source: Giants interested in Cubs' Will Venable for managerial opening  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Bruce Bochy spent 25 consecutive years as a big league manager, but it appears the Giants are looking to go the opposite route as they search for Bochy's replacement.

Nationals owner Mark Lerner on Anthony Rendon: 'We certainly want to keep him.  That's 110 percent.'  —  Mark Lerner, the managing principal owner of the Washington Nationals, couldn't stop smiling by the field Tuesday evening.  His team was one win from advancing to the World Series …

Here's what the Detroit Tigers can learn from other historic losers  —  Yes, it was a long season for the Detroit Tigers, as they piled up 114 losses.  Still, they're not alone in the 114-loss club; five other MLB teams have lost at least that many since the start of the American League in 1901.

Pete Rose: $100 million lost for betting on Cincinnati Reds, baseball is punishment enough  —  Among the candid remarks made by Hit King and former Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose during an interview on the No Filter Sports podcast was his declaration that his lifetime ban from baseball …

Talks are underway to implement opioid testing in Major League Baseball this offseason  —  Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have begun talks to implement opioid testing across the sport following the death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

Rick Honeycutt Retires From Role As Dodgers' Pitching Coach  —  Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt will not return to that job in 2020, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told reporters including MLB.com's Ken Gurnick (via Twitter).  Honeycutt is expected to remain in the organization in a special assistant capacity.

A's Christenson up for Pirates' manager job; Matt Williams headed to Korea  —  After the A's second consecutive trip to the postseason, the team's coaching staff is drawing interest for managerial openings.  —  First, quality control coach Mark Kotsay interviewed for the Giants' position last Monday …