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4:00 PM ET, December 18, 2019

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 Top News: 
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Dodgers, Red Sox discussing trade for superstar Mookie Betts  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers have engaged in exploratory trade talks with the Boston Red Sox about former MVP outfielder Mookie Betts, according to two officials with direct knowledge of the discussions.
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Bill Wagner / capitalgazette.com:
Navy denies Noah Song's request to play pro baseball … Noah Song's baseball career is on hold despite a presidential policy designed to give service academy graduates like him an opportunity to pursue professional sports.  —  Song, who spent last summer playing for a minor league affiliate …
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds Sign Wade Miley  —  An already impressive Reds rotation became deeper Wednesday, as the team announced the signing of left-hander Wade Miley to a two-year contract worth a guaranteed $15MM.  (The Reds, unlike most clubs, revealed the basic contractual terms themselves.)
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Associated Press:
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.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Astros Re-Sign Joe Smith
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Brewers in discussions to sign former Rays outfielder Avisail Garcia  —  Tampa Bay had interest in re-signing a key contributor to its 2019 success.  —  Updated Yesterday  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Outfielder Avisail Garcia appears headed to a new home.  —  Garcia, a free agent …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Rays complete 2-year deal with Japanese slugger Tsutsugo
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
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.
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball and Al's Ramblings
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
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 …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
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.
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers will retire Lou Whitaker's No. 1 during 2020 season  —  The Detroit Tigers don't need to wait for Lou Whitaker to become a Hall of Famer.  —  In their strongest statement on his ongoing Cooperstown candidacy, the team announced Tuesday they will be retiring Whitaker's No. 1, which he wore from 1978-1995.
Discussion: Bless You Boys
Associated Press:
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.
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Joe Rutter / Greensburg Tribune-Review:
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 …
Discussion: New York Post and ProFootballTalk
Craig Calcaterra / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Top 25 Baseball Stories of the Decade — No. 23: The Strasburg Shutdown  —  We're a few short days away from the dawn of the 2020s.  So, instead of counting down the Top 25 stories of the year, we're taking a look at the top 25 baseball stories of the past decade.
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports and Federal Baseball
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Texas Rangers trade with Cleveland Indians for two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber  —  The Texas Rangers missed out on one of the game's best players last week at the winter meetings, but on Sunday they acquired one of the game's best pitchers.  —  The Rangers will enter spring training …
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 More News: 
Barry Jackson / Miami Herald:
Has Flores seen all he needs to see from Josh Rosen? Here's his answer and his QB plan
Discussion: New York Post and ProFootballTalk
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees To Sign Adam Warren
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Anthony Rendon wanted to go to White House ‘so bad’, says Trump ‘bailed’ on golf with Nationals stars
Discussion: New York Post
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Kimberlee Speakman / People:
Taylor Swift Performs Surprise Mashup of Three ‘1989’ Songs at 89th Eras Tour Show

CNN:
CNN political commentator Alice Stewart dies

Miranda Siwak / Us Weekly:
Emma Stone Playfully Corrects ‘Kinds of Kindness’ Director Yorgos Lanthimos at Cannes on Real Name

 
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