In one blockbuster move, the Mets become World Series contenders after acquiring Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco  —  Remember when New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and team president Sandy Alderson said they were more than one player away, and it could take years before they were serious World Series contenders?

Fired Angels employee Bubba Harkins names Cole, others he says used his illegal product  —  The text message from then-Houston Astros star Gerrit Cole to former Angels visiting clubhouse manager Brian “Bubba” Harkins was sent Jan. 17, 2019, at 11:39 a.m.  —  “Hey Bubba, it's Gerrit Cole …

Will Deshaun Watson ask for a trade?  —  The Texans have suggested that they'll listen to quarterback Deshaun Watson when hiring a coach.  But what if they ultimately don't hire the person he'd like to be coached by?  —  Rumors already are circulating, and we've already heard …

Dodgers legendary manager Tom Lasorda dies at age 93 of a heart attack  —  Tom Lasorda, who in 20 years as the Dodgers manager won two World Series championships, four National League pennants and eight division titles and always insisted that he bled Dodger blue out of loyalty to the organization, has died at age 93.

'There's no rush to sign:' MLB agents bemoan slow free agent market  —  These are veteran agents, most of whom have gone through strikes and work stoppages, but nothing, they say, has resembled this winter.  —  There have been frigid free-agent winters, particularly the past few years, but nothing has resembled this deep freeze.

Sources: Lakers hope to visit White House after President-elect Biden takes office  —  The  —  Los Angeles Lakers are looking forward to reconvening a post-championship tradition of visiting the White House at some point during the 2020-21 season after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn …