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.

Angels' Shohei Ohtani completes Tommy John rehab, eyes 2-way role in '20  —  Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani has completed his throwing program, the final step in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery, and was cleared to return to his native Japan, where he will rest and recover …

White Sox To Sign Gio Gonzalez  —  The White Sox are in agreement with left-hander Gio Gonzalez, MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweets.  Reporter Robert Murray (Twitter link) was the first to break the news that Gonzalez and the Sox were nearing a contract.  Gonzalez is represented by CAA Sports.

A Nolan Arenado trade no longer seems like a preposterous idea  —  At the very least, the Rockies are going through the same exercise with Nolan Arenado that the Indians are conducting with Francisco Lindor.  Gauging interest, assessing trade value.  Weighing the offers they would get this offseason …

Brewers To Sign Justin Smoak  —  9:38am: Smoak will earn $4MM in 2020 and has a $1MM buyout on a $5.5MM option for the 2021 season, Passan tweets.  —  9:27am: The two sides are in agreement on a one-year, $5MM contract, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports.  There's also a club option for the 2021 season, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

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 …

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.

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.

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.