Cardinals are out of Ohtani sweepstakes, but remain in Stanton talks  —  ST. LOUIS  • The Cardinals, severely hamstrung by how much of a bonus they could offer, are not one of the teams that will be visit with free-agent Shohei Ohtani and were described Sunday night as “out” on the sweepstakes to sign the two-way star.

Padres extend A.J. Preller through 2022  —  The Padres have extended General Manager A.J. Preller's contract through the 2022 season.  (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)  —  The Padres waded through reconstruction in 2017, auditioning and, in some cases, committing to youth.

Cleveland Indians, Michael Martinez are expected to have another reunion  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio — Michael Martinez, once again, is making his way back to the Indians.  —  The team is expected to announce in the near future that they have signed Martinez to a minor- league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Digging down through baseball's circles of payroll hell  —  The dream scenario for most major league teams is to be a top contender while simultaneously building a top farm system that can meet the short-term and long-term needs of the organization.  But as the saying goes …

Yankees finally know how other teams feel after Shohei Otani shockingly spurns the Bombers  —  For once there was nothing the Yankees could do to sway a free agent.  —  Their money couldn't help them.  Their championship tradition didn't matter.  Their location in the great city …

Inside how Aaron Boone won over the Yankees  —  Aaron Boone couldn't hide his lack of in-uniform credentials.  It was not as if he could tell Yankees officials he had managed three years at Double-A and been a bench coach for two in the majors.  —  His résumé was his résumé …