APNewsBreak: Red Sox, Yanks, Cubs sent 2019 luxury tax bills  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Boston will pay a Red Sox record $13.4 million luxury tax after failing to make the playoffs and the New York Yankees finished with a $6.7 million bill, likely a fraction of what they will pay next year.

Joe Smith, Astros agree to $8 million, 2-year contract  —  HOUSTON — Reliever Joe Smith and the Houston Astros have agreed to an $8 million, two-year contract.  —  The 35-year-old Smith spent the last two seasons with the Astros and is 6-1 with a 3.06 ERA in 84 appearances for Houston.

Cubs will offer pitcher Danny Hultzen, who had an 8-year journey to reach the big leagues, a minor-league deal  —  The Cubs will offer Danny Hultzen, the No. 2 pick in the 2011 draft who finally made his major-league debut in September, a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training …

Marlins To Sign Matt Kemp  —  The Marlins have struck a minor-league pact with outfielder Matt Kemp, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).  The deal includes an invitation to MLB camp.  —  We've heard all winter that the Fish wish to add more pop to their corner outfield mix.

Both Nicholas Castellanos and the Cubs would love a reunion.  But money is a major obstacle.  —  Sitting in front of Chicago reporters in his suite at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego last week, Cubs president Theo Epstein talked about his team's unpopular, uncertain offseason plan.

Boras' billions: baseball agent creates free-agent flurry  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Scott Boras showed up at the winter meetings with his own press conference backdrop.  How appropriate, given his banner offseason.

Brewers Sign Ryon Healy  —  The Brewers announced a one-year deal with corner infielder Ryon Healy.  Financial terms aren't known.  Healy had been cut loose by the Mariners at the outset of the offseason.  —  Healy will presumably be given a shot at earning a role in camp — if he can show he's at full health.

Ex-MLB pitcher Ben Lively re-signs with KBO's Samsung Lions  —  Former major league pitcher Ben Lively will be back in South Korea for another season.  —  The Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Wednesday that they've re-signed Lively to a one-year deal …

Cardinals Designate Adolis Garcia For Assignment  —  The Cardinals announced Wednesday that they've designated outfielder Adolis Garcia for assignment.  His spot on the 40-man roster goes to lefty Kwang-Hyun Kim, whose two-year contract with the club is now official.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, on his relationship with Le'Veon Bell: ‘I have none’  —  Mike Tomlin isn't sentimental about facing former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell.  —  Bell, who held out the 2018 season rather than play on the franchise tag, will face his former team Sunday …

Rays complete 2-year deal with Japanese slugger Tsutsugo  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays and Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo have finalized a two-year contract worth about $12 million.  —  The 28-year-old Tsutsugo …

Interesting talks, unlikely deals — what Padres, Yanks discussions about Lindor, Schwarber really mean  —  The left side of the Padres' infield — Fernando Tatis Jr. at shortstop and Manny Machado at third base — is one of the most dynamic in baseball.  —  Why, then, would the Padres …