Mets' request on Brewers' Stearns denied  —  The Mets' request to speak with Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns about the same position in New York has been denied, sources told MLB.com.  —  Stearns, 35, signed a multiyear contract extension with the Brewers prior …

Padres sign RHP Mike Clevinger to two-year contract  —  Clevinger will also undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday; expected to miss 2021 season  —  SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have signed right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger to a two-year contract through the 2022 season …

Fixing Gary Sanchez one of New York Yankees' top offseason priorities  —  In 2018, Giancarlo Stanton's first spring training with the New York Yankees, a team staffer weighed the many strengths of the lineup.  Sure, Stanton and Aaron Judge would hit a lot of home runs and draw their share of walks …

Mets expressing MLB free-agency interest in Marcell Ozuna  —  The Mets' primary focus this winter falls on pitching, catching and center field.  So why, according to an industry source, have they expressed an interest in stud free-agent bat Marcell Ozuna?  —  Because their lineup leans to the left more than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

LSU mishandled sexual misconduct complaints against students, including top athletes  —  For more than a year, people at the highest levels of the Louisiana State University athletic department fielded complaints about their prized running back, Derrius Guice.

Kim Ng: Miami Marlins hire first female general manager in MLB history  —  Kim Ng has become the first female general manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) history after being hired by the Miami Marlins.  —  She is also the first Asian-American general manager in MLB history.

Sources: Phillies on verge of hiring new pitching coach  —  The Phillies appear to be on the verge of hiring a new pitching coach.  —  Cincinnati Reds assistant pitching coach Caleb Cotham has emerged as the clear frontrunner, according to multiple baseball sources.  —  Cotham, 33, has been with the Reds for two seasons.

The only Met to receive 2020 MVP votes is excited for the Steve Cohen era  —  Count Dom Smith among Steve Cohen's growing fanbase.  —  Smith didn't watch the whole press conference — he's in Los Angeles, busy organizing his organization's Baseball Generations charity tournament.