A's agree with 3 arbitration-eligible players  —  OAKLAND — The A's reached agreements on one-year deals with all three of their remaining arbitration-eligible players before Friday's deadline, including All-Star right-hander Paul Blackburn.  —  In his first year of arbitration eligibility …

Andrew McCutchen returning to Pirates on 1-year deal  —  Andrew McCutchen is returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team announced Friday.  —  The 36-year-old, who was named the 2013 NL MVP when he was playing in Pittsburgh, has agreed to a one-year deal worth $5 million with the Pirates …

Sources: All AAA parks to use electronic strike zone in '23  —  The electronic strike zone will be used in all 30 Class AAA parks in 2023, sources told ESPN, seemingly another significant step toward the implementation of the technology at the big league level in the near future.

Yankees' Frankie Montas to miss first month of season with shoulder inflammation  —  Frankie Montas' first full season with the Yankees will start much in the same way his ended last year, with him dealing with shoulder inflammation.  —  The right-hander is expected to miss the first month …

How the $13 million recruitment of Jaden Rashada for Florida fell apart  —  Editor's note: An earlier version of this article stated that the Gator Collective's Edward Rojas and Jen Grosso signed a contract with Jaden Rashada on Nov. 10.  Grosso, who's involved in coordinating post-agreement activities …

Nets play well in first game without Kevin Durant but still can't handle the Celtics  —  If anything became clear from the Nets' 109-98 loss to the Boston Celtics in their first game of Kevin Durant's projected monthlong absence after spraining the MCL in his right knee, it's this:

Lakers bested by Luka Doncic, Mavericks in two overtimes  —  The depleted Lakers put forth a scrappy effort, but Doncic (35-point triple-double) hits tying 3-pointers in the final seconds of regulation and the first OT as Dallas hands them a 119-115 defeat  —  LOS ANGELES …

‘Juan Soto trade’: What Pirates want in Bryan Reynolds deal  —  MORE FROM:  —  One rival executive complained the Pirates are looking for a “Juan Soto trade” for Bryan Reynolds, who seeks a way out of Pittsburgh.  —  Reynolds does have three years to go in his contract …

Yankees, Mets won't pursue Trevor Bauer — who might need a ‘team on another planet’  —  MORE FROM:  —  The Mets and Yankees will not go for Trevor Bauer, according to sources, either in trade by the Friday deadline or as a free agent.  —  The Mets “dodged a bullet” when he was free two years ago, according to a Mets person.

Chicago Bears hire Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren — ‘a man of integrity, respect and excellence’ — as their new president/CEO  —  The Chicago Bears have hired Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren to be their president and CEO, the team announced Thursday.  —  Warren, who has been with the Big Ten …

Who has the edge?  Dolphins (9-8) at Bills (13-3), in the wild-card round  —  The Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss what the Miami Dolphins need to accomplish to win Sunday's playoff game against the Bills in Buffalo. (, /South Florida Sun Sentinel)