Party City is going out of business  —  New York CNN —  Party City is closing down all of its stores, ending nearly 40 years in business, CNN has learned.  —  CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees Friday in a meeting viewed by CNN that Party City is “winding down” …

Arenado blocks potential trade to Astros (sources)  —  Talks between St. Louis, Houston continuing but 'it's definitely not close'  —  The Astros' pursuit of Nolan Arenado has hit a major roadblock.  —  According to sources, the Astros and Cardinals were in discussions on a potential trade involving …

MLB notes: The latest on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and the Blue Jays' offseason  —  Picture the Toronto Blue Jays keeping first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. long-term.  Trading shortstop Bo Bichette.  Signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.  —  None of those outcomes is particularly likely.

Woody Johnson's Jets: ‘Madden’ ratings, a lost season and ‘the most dysfunctional place imaginable’  —  Woody Johnson decided to do his own research.  —  The New York Jets' owner was at his house in Palm Beach, Fla., last February, discussing potential offseason acquisitions with team decision-makers as they watched game tape.

Passan's MLB free agency, trade intel: Arenado, Bregman, more  —  Major League Baseball's free agent market has cooled since a red-hot stretch at MLB's winter meetings that included middle- and lower-tier free agents landing strong deals in addition to Juan Soto's record $765 million contract with the New York Mets.

Where the Rays' future in Tampa Bay and stadium deal stands  —  The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-2 in favor of funding $312.5 million worth of bonds Tuesday night.  What sounds like a simple procedural move was far from it.  Over the past six weeks …

Yankees, Reds Swap Jose Trevino For Fernando Cruz  —  9:34pm: The teams have announced the trade.  —  9:20pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that reliever Fernando Cruz and non-roster catcher Alex Jackson are headed back to New York.  —  9:19pm: The Reds are acquiring Jose Trevino …

Nationals sign pitcher Michael Soroka to one-year, $9M deal  —  Free agent pitcher Michael Soroka has signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Washington Nationals, the team announced Thursday.  —  Soroka, a 27-year-old right-hander, pitched for the Chicago White Sox last season …

Passan: 5 biggest takeaways from MLB's pitching study  —  In Major League Baseball's much-anticipated pitching injury report, the league spends most of the 62 pages breaking little new ground.  This is by design.  To address the game's rash of arm injuries with a sense of urgency …

Jake Fischer Latest: Man in Demand this NBA Trade Season?  It's probably a center  —  As the NBA's annual G League Showcase begins Thursday, Jake Fischer details the extensive array of big men leaguewide who are making front office phones ring  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — The big man ain't dead.

Phillies fill outfield hole with Kepler but still have work to do  —  Phillies fill outfield hole with Kepler but still have work to do originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia  —  The Phillies have addressed their most glaring offseason need but still have work to do in the outfield.

Federal Reserve cuts its key rate by a quarter-point but envisions fewer reductions next year  —  The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday by a quarter-point — its third cut this year — but also signaled that it expects to reduce rates more slowly next year than it previously envisioned …

Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey excited about new acquisitions  —  In the last few weeks, the Red Sox have traded for a No. 1 starter and signed a key piece for the back end of their bullpen.  —  Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey weighed in on both Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman …