Does Yankees' Trade For Stanton Signal Return Of Big Spending Days?

The Yankees have "reverted to form by agreeing to a trade" with the Marlins for RF Giancarlo Stanton, who is guaranteed $295M through '28. The Yankees will "surrender two modest prospects" and 2B Starlin Castro. A source said that the Marlins will also put about $30M into the deal to "offset some of what the Yankees will owe Stanton." The Yankees "may again become baseball’s marquee team" with Stanton alongside RF Aaron Judge (N.Y. TIMES, 12/10).

Despite the big money owed to Stanton, there was "no way" Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner would "agree to make this trade without being able to fall under" the luxury-tax number (ESPN.com, 12/9). Meanwhile, Steiner Sports said that a public appearance by Castro with the memorabilia collector scheduled for yesterday "was postponed" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 12/10).