A blockbuster for an elite shortstop?  Why Colorado Rockies might need to trade Trevor Story now  —  Because of Francisco Lindor's rapid ascension on Major League Baseball's stage, and because of Cleveland's long-standing payroll limitations and its history of dealing its biggest stars …

Why MLB's 2021 spring training is still likely to start on time  —  As the new year begins, spring training for the 2021 Major League Baseball season remains on schedule.  Camps in Arizona and Florida are slated to open in the middle of February, just six weeks from now, and teams and their players have begun to prepare.

Centennial defensive end Korey Foreman chooses USC  —  Corona Centennial High defensive end Korey Foreman, one of the top players in the 2021 recruiting class, is headed to USC.  —  Foreman made his choice known Saturday, Jan. 2, at the end of the “All-American Bowl: Declaration Day” broadcast televised on NBC.

Is This the Beginning of the End for Baker Mayfield in Cleveland?  —  Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns control their playoff destiny on Sunday when they meet the Pittsburgh Steelers in their regular season finale.  Win and they make their first postseason in nearly two decades …

Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. expected to miss multiple games due to COVID protocols, source says  —  Nuggets small forward Michael Porter Jr. won't be available for Friday night's game against the Phoenix Suns due to contact tracing from the league's health-and-safety protocols, a league source confirmed to The Denver Post.

NHL planning two outdoor games at Lake Tahoe for 2021 season  —  When the NHL on NBC broadcast schedule was released last week, one game stood out as an oddity: Colorado at Vegas on Feb. 20.  It is the network's lone Saturday telecast before April 17.  —  The next day, there's a Philadelphia-Boston matchup that's also a bit strange.