Lowdown: Christmas Shopping  —  Christmas Shopping  —  The Hot Stove season kicked it up a notch on Friday, with several teams looking to do a little Christmas shopping before the holiday hits.  The day included a flurry of activity seeing several major trades swung and a few of the top free agent dominoes …

Trading Stroman would be the right move for all sides  —  For sheer entertainment, particularly when the Blue Jays weren't very good, you couldn't beat the Stro Show.  —  That's why we're going to miss him.  —  Whether he's feuding with his former BFF Aaron Sanchez, or blowing up at the media …

Jacob deGrom's contract; When will Yoenis Cespedes return?  Five Mets storylines for 2019  —  The Mets are aiming high in 2019 with new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen making some bold moves this offseason.  —  CONNECT  —  The Mets have been among the busiest teams in MLB this offseason under …

Manny Machado saga, Giancarlo Stanton: Here are 5 Yankees storylines as we enter 2019  —  If the Yankees are to find a way back to the Canyon of Heroes in 2019, they'll have to overcome the Red Sox - who are not just their blood rivals but the defending world champions.

Rays Tales: No reason to say uncle, Charlie  —  New addition Charlie Morton will be a popular topic of conversation among the Rays.  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The signing of Charlie Morton will spark plenty of conversation around the Rays, both about and by the 35-year-old righty.

MLB Roundtable: The best, worst and what's to come this holiday week  —  After Friday's seven-player trade between the Dodgers and the Phillies, you'd be forgiven if you're anticipating what else the holiday might bring by way of transaction action while waiting for Santa to arrive.

Cardinals Christmas marathon set for FSM  —  It was a bumpy ride for the Cardinals this year, with early season struggles followed by a managerial change and a surge that eventually subsided.  The result was that the team missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Todd Helton won't make the Hall of Fame this year, but there's still time  —  Todd Helton, otherwise dubbed “The Toddfather” is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time after his 17-year career for the Colorado Rockies.  Though beloved by fans, Helton is going to be on the ballot, without an induction, for at least another year.

How the MLB-FCB Deal Could Face Legal Hurdles, Political Resistance  — A landmark agreement between the MLB, the MLBPA and the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) could pave the way for a faster and safer movement of Cuban stars to the big leagues.  Legal analyst Michael McCann breaks …

Who will counsel MLB, union to avoid labor strife?  —  Underneath the anticipation of Manny Machado's tour of teams and a continued flurry of trades, the Associated Press published news jarring and yet completely unsurprising to some agents and executives — for the first time since 2004 …