Let's Do This, St. Louis!  —  First things first: No one could ever replace Yadier Molina.  We all know that.  —  It's impossible.  Actually, if there's some word that means even more impossible than the word impossible ... that's what it is.  —  Yadier Molina is a legend.

Big catch: Cardinals' record offer lures former Cub Willson Contreras to new home  —  SAN DIEGO — What better way to get to know the Cardinals' first new everyday catcher in nearly 20 years than to ask the person he once shared a position with, long shared a dugout beside, and now has to face Willson Contreras as a division rival.

‘I have no words’: What MLB evaluators are saying about Masataka Yoshida's $90 million deal with Red Sox  —  It's important to start with this context before diving into the industrywide reviews of the Boston Red Sox signing Masataka Yoshida, a free agent outfielder from Japan who received a five-year …

Xander Bogaerts to sign 11-year, $280 million deal with Padres, bringing end to 10-year tenure with Red Sox  —  SAN DIEGO — For the better part of the last year, Xander Bogaerts hoped to agree to a long-term contract that would allow him to finish his career with the Red Sox.

Aaron Judge's role in Yankees' free-agency push for Carlos Rodon  —  SAN DIEGO — The Yankees are targeting Carlos Rodon following the record Aaron Judge deal for a variety of reasons, such as:  —  1. They understand they still need to close the gap with the Astros;

Crane Kenney on Cubs: ‘We may be in the 3rd inning of our offseason in terms of how the roster will look come February’  —  (670 The Score) The Cubs made a pair of key additions in right-hander Jameson Taillon and outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger at the Winter Meetings earlier this week …

Where Braves stand in Swanson market  —  This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman's Braves Beat newsletter.  To read the full newsletter, click here.  And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.  —  Remember when I wrote “maybe I'm a glutton for punishment” while predicting Dansby …

D-Backs' outfielders drawing heavy interest as meetings conclude  —  SAN DIEGO — As Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings wound down on Wednesday evening, the Diamondbacks were still holding their full stable of talented, young outfielders.  A trade, club officials said, was not close.

USC's Caleb Williams adds Maxwell, Walter Camp, AP awards to growing collection  —  The Trojans quarterback, who is the first USC player since running back Marcus Allen in 1981 to win the Maxwell, received 32 of the 46 first-place votes and 117 total points from AP Top 25 poll voters to win the AP award

Former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett a finalist for Stanford head coach opening: Sources  —  Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett has emerged as a finalist for the Stanford head-coaching job, multiple sources with knowledge of the search process told The Athletic on Thursday.

With QB Lamar Jackson sidelined, the Ravens' margin for error is thin.  Tyler Huntley's used to that.  —  The first start of Tyler Huntley's NFL career ended on a last-second sack.  His second start came down to a last-minute 2-point conversion.  A last-minute touchdown was the difference in his third career start.

Magic pull out win over Clippers in overtime to end losing streak  —  ExpandAutoplay  —  1 of 28  —  Orlando forward Paolo Banchero (5) tries to shoot over L.A. defenders Kawhi Leonard (2) and Paul George (13) during the L.A. Clippers at Orlando Magic NBA game at the Amway Center in Orlando on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.

Nets blow 23-point lead, hold on to beat shorthanded Hornets  —  The real way to save Kevin Durant's legs for the end of the season is to end his night early against lesser opponents.  —  As evidenced by the Nets' meltdown in their 122-116 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, that's much easier said than done.