MLB's Winter Meetings officially ended last night, with the Angels making the final big splash of this free-agent market by signing 3B  Anthony Rendon to a seven-year, $245M deal. With big contracts now in hand for Rendon and other top free agents Stephen Strasburg  and  Gerrit Cole , MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred believes the signing spree "reflects that the free-agent system is still working well in baseball and there is no need for dramatic change" in the next CBA. Manfred said, "Markets are going to be up and down. That's what happens in markets. It depends on what players are out there." Manfred: "We have an economic system that has produced a remarkable level of competitive balance. ... We had a number of small markets last year who had really successful seasons" ( USA TODAY, 12/12 ).

MLB and the MLBPA today are expected to announce a "new drug policy that would add opioid testing for major leaguers and would not punish marijuana use in the major or minor leagues." The policy, which would be implemented for the '20 season, is "expected to call for treatment rather than suspension, for players testing positive for opioids." The new rules also "would allow major and minor leaguers to use marijuana for pain relief." Until now, players in the minors "could be suspended for repeated use" of marijuana. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred lauded MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark for his "cooperation as both sides worked toward a long-anticipated agreement" ( L.A. TIMES, 12/12 ).

NFL owners have approved a waiver to the league’s usual $350M debt limit for the Raiders as the club prepares to move to Las Vegas next season. Sources said the request was well-received by the other 31 clubs because the Raiders have exceeded revenue-generation benchmarks at the new Allegiant Stadium. Raiders Owner Mark Davis said, “It looks like it’s going pretty good.” Sources said the Raiders intend to borrow to pay the $378M relocation fee to the league. The approval came yesterday at the league meetings in Las Colinas, Texas.

Clippers F Kawhi Leonard returned to Toronto last night to face the Raptors in a game that "began with a raucous celebration" of his one-year stint in Canada. A video of "nearly two minutes documented his brilliance," and the "standing ovation that greeted him when he simply walked on the court for pre-game warmup was lovely" ( TORONTO STAR, 12/12 ). There were "multiple standing ovations," and the "biggest cheers came" when Raptors G Kyle Lowry gave Leonard his '19 championship ring. The video and ring presentation were "coupled with 'MVP' chants from the appreciative crowd" ( L.A. TIMES, 12/12 ).

Still, there was an "unmistakable coldness" to the night, which resulted in a Clippers win. The standing ovations were "more polite than deafening." The crowd's "embrace was respectful, but it hardly oozed warmth." The production from the home team "felt as obligatory as it did celebratory" ( TORONTO STAR, 12/12 ).

MLB today is unveiling theme night initiatives that will be activated by the league and its clubs during the ‘20 season, including Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Sesame Street and WWE. More theme night initiatives are anticipated to be finalized next year. While some properties have worked with teams directly on licensing and content agreements around theme nights and branded giveaways, MLB says it has placed an increased focus in the last year on identifying and engaging with national brands and working with teams to activate most effectively in their market. Specific plans and dates on each team's theme nights schedule and promotional offerings will be made public at a later date.

"We are thrilled to be collaborating with an array of different entertainment brands that are certainly culturally relevant but also span a very diverse group of niches, from families with Sesame Street to diehards who follow WWE to a niche group of folks who are really engaged with Star Wars or Game of Thrones," MLB Senior VP/Marketing Barbara McHugh said. "Our clubs do such a great job of activating. These theme night activities have been happening for a number of years, but I think we saw this as a larger opportunity on the marketing side from the league aspect of it to help bring more of these partnerships from a higher level to trickle down to the clubs and make it easier for them to activate on."

The MLB Giants as soon as today are expected to "reveal renderings of changes to Oracle Park" that will affect the field dimensions. The "deepest point of the field, the corner in Triples Alley where the right- and center-field walls meet, will be shortened from 421 feet to 415 feet." But the "biggest change will come in straightaway center, which goes from 399 feet to 391." Also, the "intersection between the left- and center-field walls will be 399 feet from the plate," where it had been 404 ( S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/12 ).

The NFL today is announcing the 32 nominees for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which is meant to honor a commitment to philanthropy and community impact. Three of the nominees will be selected as finalists in January, with the winner announced in the lead-up to Super Bowl LIV ( THE DAILY ).

The '19 Learfield IMG College Intercollegiate Athletics Forum wraps up today following a second day of panels and presentations in N.Y. Highlights from the Day Two agenda will include an address from Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott , an examination of the AAC's 12-year media-rights deal with ESPN and a featured interview with Texas VP & AD Chris Del Conte .

Then tonight, we present a new program:  New Voices Under 30 at Refinery Rooftop in N.Y. SBJ will recognize the next generation of leaders in sports business. Developed in conjunction with founding partners Anheuser-Busch and Turnkey Search, “New Voices Under 30” will identify young, diverse and impactful leaders, entrepreneurs, risk-takers and disrupters who are reimagining the sports experience and the way business is done.

U.S. Justice Department officials today will announce charges against several former NFLers accused of defrauding a league healthcare benefits program ( THE DAILY ).

Patriots Owner Robert Kraft was "invited by President Trump to share a few words" at last night's White House event celebrating Hanukkah, which coincided with Trump's signing an "executive order aimed at combating anti-Semitism" ( BOSTON GLOBE, 12/12 ).

ESPN has signed baseball analyst and reporter  Tim Kurkjian  to a multiyear extension ( ESPN ).

The Dynamo and NWSL Houston Dash have partnered with Daktronics on installation of four new LED video displays at BBVA Stadium ( Dynamo ).

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"It was a unique opportunity, incredible opportunity, and he chose not to take it. I understand that. And, you know, we’ve moved on" -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , on Colin Kaepernick 's workout ( PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 12/11 ).

“That decision sits with our technical staff. I trust them when they need something they come to me and ask, and I’ve rarely said no" -- MLS Union Chair & Owner Jay Sugarman , on the team choosing to not use any charter flights this season ( PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/12 ).

“There’s a tradeoff there, but it seems like a no-brainer, especially if you’re taking kids to the ballgame” -- CNBC’s Contessa Brewer , on MLB teams extending netting league-wide for better protection but reducing the chances for fans to get foul balls as souvenirs ( “Worldwide Exchange,” CNBC, 12/12 ).

THE HOCKEY NEWS goes under the header, " Under Gary Bettman, NHL's Approach To International Hockey Has Been Laughable ." There is "no appetite from the league for NHL players going to the Olympics and a World Cup schedule that has all the predictability of winter in Calgary." Does that "sound to you like a league that is committed to growing the game globally?"

Also : 

• Lost stars, "lack of leadership and fleeting hope" for the Knicks.

• Former tight end's work on water-filled helmet faces critics.

• WSJ: "Blackface, Slurs and the Player Who Brought a Racial Reckoning to Hockey."

• Celtics C Enes Kanter "stands tall for human rights."

USWNT F Megan Rapinoe will be a keynote speaker at the Massachusetts Conference for Women in Boston.

SportTechie's Pro Day: Sports Media Production & Consumption event in N.Y. will feature a fireside chat with NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern and Kosner Media President John Kosner .

Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin  will receive the Wayne Gretzky Int'l Award at the Marriott Marquis in DC.

See more of this week's events .

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “National Historical Parks.”

“Established in 2015, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park has sites in Hanford, Washington; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and this Tennessee city.”

Comedy Central's David Spade  noted P Gerrit Cole just signed a $324M deal with the Yankees, and he is "already being scouted by J. Lo " ( “Lights Out,” Comedy Central, 12/11 ). NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said of the Cole deal, “He’s so rich now, he can pay a butler to come out to the mound and adjust his crotch for him.” Fallon as the butler: “Would you like some Gold Bond, sir?’” ( “The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/11 ).

“What is Oak Ridge, Tennessee?”