Lowdown: Mets Snag Ramos  —  Mets Snag Ramos  —  Mets' general manager Brodie Van Wagenen isn't taking his time getting acclimated to his new gig, he has jumped in head first.  The first-time executive has already swung a major deal with the Mariners to acquire Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz …

Allure of the 2019-20 free-agent class; Yanks shopping Andújar?  ; Happ's confidence; more notes  —  For years, anyone with even a passing interest in baseball eagerly awaited the Great Free Agent Class of 2018-19, topped by its two 26-year-old megastars, right fielder Bryce Harper and shortstop/third baseman Manny Machado.

Manny Machado gets chance to explain infamous comments to Yankees this week  —  A long-anticipated meeting will finally take place this week in the city Manny Machado may one day call home.  —  The shortstop will get the chance to explain his broken down “Johnny Hustle” …

The state of the starting pitching market  —  The winter meetings were mostly a bust.  Most of the offseason trades have involved Jerry Dipoto, including one the Mariners general manager completed from a hospital bed.  The Dodgers, with money to spend and players to trade, have yet to add a new major league player to their roster.

Royals sign three to minor-league contracts, including Bubba Starling  —  The Royals have agreed to minor-league contracts with outfielder Bubba Starling, pitcher Jason Adam and first baseman Samir Duenez, the club announced Monday.  —  The three were among a group who were not offered major-league contracts last month.

‘This is home for me.’ Bush re-signs with Rangers on minors deal  —  Texas Rangers relief pitcher Matt Bush (51) pitches in relief as the Texas Rangers play the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium during spring training in Scottsdale, Arizona, Saturday, March 3, 2018.  —  RODGER MALLISON

Mets wouldn't deal Noah Syndergaard for J.T. Realmuto straight up: report  —  The real deal was not J.T. Realmuto for Noah Syndergaard straight up.  —  According to a SNY report, the Mets were unwilling to deal the hard-throwing righty for the Marlins catcher in a one-for-one deal.

Detroit Tigers at Winter Meetings: Grading every move (or non-move)  —  LAS VEGAS — The Detroit Tigers don't wait around.  —  Last offseason, the Tigers made two of their three free-agent signings before the MLB Winter Meetings.  This offseason, they had three done by the end of the meetings …

Indians Acquire Andruw Monasterio From Nationals To Complete Yan Gomes Trade  —  The Indians announced today that they've acquired minor league infielder Andruw Monasterio as the player to be named later in last month's Yan Gomes trade.  —  It's the second trade of the past four months for Monasterio …

MLB eyes giving teams streaming rights challenging pay-TV model … Baseball may be big on tradition — but that could change.  —  Major League Baseball is discovering the upside of streaming and moving away from a pay-TV-focused model, according to some league insiders.

Ranking the 2019 Cardinals fan giveaways (for now): From grand slams to strikeouts  —  Once again, the St. Louis Cardinals have announced their list of freebies for fans heading to Busch Stadium in 2019 — which seems to be a work in progress, given the team has three entire home series without a giveaway at this point.