Teams that need to go for it in 2018  —  Baseball's winter meetings are far from the only time to make trades and signings, but like turkey on Thanksgiving Day, it's the best time to get the choice portions rather than waiting for the leftovers.  The signing of Shohei Ohtani by the Los Angeles Angels …

Cards holding two-for-one sale?  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  • As he traced the transactions that built the Cardinals to rule the National League Central for a decade, executive John Mozeliak referenced Monday the trades they made for Mark McGwire and later Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds and “those players who ended up signing.”

Who's on deck for baseball's next big deal?  Red Sox, Cubs?  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) No matter how much their fans imagined Giancarlo Stanton bashing balls over the Green Monster, the Boston Red Sox never came close to getting the NL MVP.  —  But does anyone really expect the Red Sox …

Phillies show interest in free agent Jake Arrieta  —  Photos of 2015 NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The pairing of Jake Arrieta and the Philadelphia Phillies might not seem as far-fetched as it appears from afar.  —  Arrieta, 31, and agent Scott Boras …

Who will get bulk of playing time in center for Detroit Tigers?  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — It's going to be interesting to see how the battle for playing time in center field plays out over the course of the season for the Detroit Tigers.  —  Mikie Mahtook saw time at all three outfield positions last season …

MLB umpire Dale Scott retires rather than risk more concussions  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — As a big league umpire, Dale Scott saw maybe 1 million pitches from the field.  His final call, it turned out, was the easiest of all.  —  Rather than risk yet another concussion, Scott has decided to retire at 58.

Yankees targeting Tigers starter Michael Fulmer, Diamondbacks' Patrick Corbin for possible trade: report  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Add a couple more names to the Yankees starter wish list.  —  In trying to deal for a starter, the Bombers have identified Detroit's Michael Fulmer …

Trade grades: Headley deal all about the money for Yankees  —  The deal: The Yankees trade 3B Chase Headley and RHP Bryan Mitchell to the Padres for OF Jabari Blash.  —  Why it's a good deal for the Yankees: This is essentially a salary dump by the Yankees, trading Mitchell so the Padres …

What will Rangers do with Profar this off-season?  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA.  —  The mid-afternoon Texas Rangers buzz Monday at the winter meetings, not too long after the Chris Martin news broke, is that the Rangers and New York Mets were discussing a swap involving everyone's favorite trade piece …

Cards notebook: ‘Mo’ touts Gregerson; Reyes in relief?  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  • The Cardinals expect to formally announce the signing of Luke Gregerson by Thursday, once the righthanded reliever passes a physical set for Tuesday.  —  Gregerson agreed to a two-year …

From castoff to ‘King Kong’: How J.D. Martinez became one of MLB's most sought-after sluggers  —  The day after he struck out three times in the final game of the 2013 season, J.D. Martinez walked into a warehouse in Southern California, bat (and hat) in hand.

The Phillies won't commit long-term money to a free agent starting pitcher.  Will they ever?  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The last time the Phillies signed a free-agent starting pitcher to a multi-year contract, they formed the Four Aces.  Ruben Amaro Jr. was the general manager.

Rangers Agree To Sign Shortstop Keithron Moss  —  Keithron Moss, a 16-year-old shortstop from the Bahamas, has agreed to sign with the Rangers for $800,000.  —  Moss is 5-foot-10, 170 pounds and a switch-hitter with 70 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale.  He's mostly a line-drive hitter …

Radio analyst Ron Coomer inks 3-year extension with Cubs  —  Cubs radio broadcaster Ron Coomer gives a “thumbs up” while working a game alongside Pat Hughes at Wrigley Field on Sept. 15, 2016.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs and radio announcer Ron Coomer have agreed on a three-year extension.

Jay Bruce draws interest from four teams, per report  —  Free-agent outfielder Jay Bruce, who played for the Cincinnati Reds from 2008 to 2016 and has since played for the New York Mets and Cleveland Indians, has interest from at least four teams - the Mets, Colorado Rockies …