Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton trade ups the ante for the Red Sox  —  A year ago, after the Boston Red Sox pulled off a blockbuster trade for Chris Sale, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman showed his admiration by dubbing them “the Golden State Warriors of baseball.”

Law: How Yankees' no-brainer deal became Marlins' lost opportunity  —  The Yankees didn't need Giancarlo Stanton, but they will get him for very little, just taking on the bulk of his contract, which is something they and very few other clubs have the financial wherewithal to do.

Post-Stanton Cardinals head south to make their best sales pitch  —  In the past decade or so the Cardinals have become enviably good at marketing their history, tradition, National League-leading 11 World Series championships, and, of course, bobbleheads to entice more than 3.4 million to Busch Stadium.

MLB trade rumors: Mets will check in with Marlins about Starlin Castro  —  Castro isn't officially a Marlin, but the Mets have interest  —  Early Saturday, the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins reportedly reached an agreement on a Giancarlo Stanton trade.

Wheeling and Dealing: The 9 biggest trades in Yankees history  —  The Yankees' blockbuster trade for one of baseball's biggest stars, reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins, ranks as one of biggest deals in the Bombers' storied history.  Here's a look at the 9 biggest:  —  1. Babe Ruth

Angels welcome Shohei Ohtani, plot course for 2-way Japanese star  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani has been formally introduced by the Los Angeles Angels after they won the fierce baseball-wide competition for the services of the two-way Japanese star.  —  A loud crowd of fans …

Cubs Pursuing Alex Cobb  —  The Cubs added right-hander Tyler Chatwood on a three-year, $38MM guarantee this week, but another sizable investment for their rotation could be on the way.  With the Winter Meetings nearing, they're making a “strong push” to sign free agent righty Alex Cobb, Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago reports.