Transactions:

• The Mariners added a couple bats to their lineup, agreeing to sign Corey Hart and acquiring Logan Morrison from the Marlins. Seattle sent Carter Capps to Miami in exchange for Morrison, and committed a base salary of $6MM to Hart, who could earn up to $13MM with incentives.
• Bartolo Colon landed the two-year contract he was seeking, agreeing to a $20MM deal with the Mets.
• The Pirates agreed to sign Edinson Volquez to a one-year, $5MM contract, and extended a pitcher already under team control, inking Charlie Morton to a three-year, $21MM deal that could be worth up to $30MM.
• Jerry Hairston Jr. has retired from baseball and accepted a position with the Dodgers' broadcast team.
• Jerry Blevins is headed from the Athletics to the Nationals for outfield prospect Billy Burns.
• Jordan Walden and the Braves avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $1.49MM.
• The Astros acquired Anthony Bass from the Padres as part of a deal that will see the clubs swap spots in Thursday's Rule 5 draft.
• The Yankees acquired Kyle Haynes from the Pirates to complete last week's Chris Stewart trade.
• Players signed to minor league contracts on Wednesday included Tomo Ohka (Blue Jays), Angel Castro (Cardinals), Yunesky Maya (Braves), and Tommy Hottovy (Cubs).
• The Tigers designated Luis Marte for assignment.
• Thad Weber was granted his release by the Blue Jays and signed with the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization.
• J.D. Martin has also signed in Korea, with the Samsung Lions.

Rumors:

• The Yankees turned down an offer from the Reds that would have seen the teams swap Brandon Phillips for Brett Gardner. Had the talks become more serious, Phillips would have had to waive his no-trade clause, and may have asked for more money to do so.
• There's a belief that Shin-Soo Choo has a seven-year offer in hand, though it's not clear whether it's from the Rangers or another team. Scott Boras confirmed that his client has received multiple offers, both from rebuilding teams and clubs planning to contend in 2014.
• The Dodgers told Matt Kemp's agent that the team doesn't intend to trade the outfielder.
• Matt Garza, Mike Pelfrey, and Bronson Arroyo are among the Twins' starting pitching targets, and there's a sense that Arroyo could sign soon, perhaps for something in the three-year, $36MM range.
• Although a report on Wednesday morning suggested Garza could sign within 48 hours, his agent appears to have left Orlando without an agreement in place. Besides the Twins, the Angels and Diamondbacks are among the teams involved.
• Justin Masterson continues to be involved in trade rumors, including one that named the Yankees as a potential suitor. However, Terry Francona says he called Masterson this week to tell him he's not going anywhere.
• As the Diamondbacks continue to pursue pitching help, Masahiro Tanaka has emerged as the club's top priority.
• The Orioles have reportedly made offers to both Grant Balfour and John Axford. The offer to Balfour is said to be for two years, while the Indians are also believed to have extended a proposal to Axford.
• One report suggested Max Scherzer was unlikely to be extended or traded this winter. However, a second report indicated that a trade isn't out of the question, and Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said he hasn't ruled out an extension either.
• The Pirates, Brewers, and Rays are still in the mix for James Loney.
• A couple free agents are very much on the Astros' radar, as the team is said to be in serious discussions with Michael Morse and pushing to sign Jose Veras.
• The Royals and Yankees remain in the hunt for Omar Infante, who is reportedly seeking a four-year deal.
• Jeff Samardzija and the Cubs met to discuss their options today, and Theo Epstein called it a "great meeting." Nonetheless, an extension doesn't appear likely at this point.
• Eight teams have expressed interest in Johan Santana.
• Fernando Rodney is said to be looking for $10MM annually on a multiyear contract.
• The Phillies continue to aggressively shop Jonathan Papelbon.
• After adding Hart and Morrison earlier in the day, the Mariners allegedly let teams know that Jesus Montero and Justin Smoak are available in trade talks.
• At one point on Wednesday, Raul Ibanez appeared headed for the Angels, but he's still weighing offers from multiple contenders.
• The Rays are casting a wide net as they search for a first baseman, and have some interest in Mark Reynolds and Kevin Youkilis.
• The Red Sox and Mets still look to be the likeliest destinations for Stephen Drew.
• Adam Kennedy is making a comeback bid.
• Jamey Carroll is drawing interest from the Rays, Rangers, and Indians.

Transactions:

• The Diamondbacks, Angels, and White Sox consummated the biggest deal of the week so far, working out a three-team trade that sends Mark Trumbo to Arizona, Adam Eaton to Chicago, and Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs to the Angels. The D-Backs will also receive a couple minor-leaguers in the swap.
• The Rockies landed a starter they'd been linked to frequently in the last week, agreeing to acquire Brett Anderson from the Athletics, along with $2MM in cash, in exchange for Drew Pomeranz and Chris Jensen.
• After we heard on Monday that he was nearing a deal, Rajai Davis agreed to terms with the Tigers on a two-year pact that will pay him $10MM.
• Shortly after non-tendering him, the Mets re-signed the rehabbing Jeremy Hefner to a minor league contract.
• Ryan Webb passed his physical and finalized his deal with the Orioles.
• The Rangers officially announced the signing of J.P. Arencibia.
• The Marlins finalized their signing of Garrett Jones.

Rumors:

• The Phillies are willing to discuss Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels in trade talks, but it sounds like they'll only consider move one of their aces if they receive a huge return and shed significant salary.
• Having acquired Trumbo, the Diamondbacks have shifted their focus to landing a front-line starting pitcher. That deal also allowed the Angels to free up some money to pursue pitching.
• The Orioles are currently viewed as the frontrunners to land Grant Balfour.
• As the top second baseman still available on the free agent market, Omar Infante is seeking a contract worth $8MM+ per season.
• The Indians are open to listening to offers for Asdrubal Cabrera in addition to Justin Masterson.
• Danny Espinosa is drawing trade interest from the Yankees and other teams, but so far the Nats are balking at moving him.
• The Dodgers and Rangers seem increasingly unlikely to trade for David Price, opening the door for the Mariners. Nonetheless, Seattle remains reluctant to include Taijuan Walker in any offer.
• The market for Shin-Soo Choo is up in the air, since Tuesday's developments reduced the likelihood of him landing with the D-Backs or Tigers. Meanwhile, at least one report suggested the Rangers believe Choo may be too expensive for them.
• Any team interested in acquiring Domonic Brown may have to send the Phillies two or three young players in return.
• The Blue Jays reportedly offered Colby Rasmus to a pair of teams in an effort to bolster their starting rotation.
• The Red Sox appear to be out on Matt Kemp, but the Tigers and Mariners may still be involved.
• Jason Bay has an offer from NPB's Yomiuri Giants, and may play in Japan in 2014.
• The Rockies had been pushing hard to acquire Reds reliever Sean Marshall, but concerns about Marshall's health may ultimately kill those negotiations.
• Though it seemed as if we may get a decision from free agent Corey Hart Tuesday night, it looks like we'll have to wait until at least Wednesday for word on Hart.
• No updates on the Masahiro Tanaka front — the Rakuten Golden Eagles are still undecided on whether or not to post him.
• Former Athletics ace Mark Mulder is making a comeback bid.
• While Brett Gardner has been the subject of some trade rumors this week, the Yankees are more likely to keep him and try to move Ichiro Suzuki.
• The Pirates have resumed talks with free agent first baseman James Loney, but are probably out on Bronson Arroyo. The Twins, Mets, and Reds remain in the mix for Arroyo.
• While the Twins don't have an offer out to Arroyo or Johan Santana, they've reportedly made a proposal to Mike Pelfrey.
• Joba Chamberlain allegedly has a one-year, $3MM offer in hand. It doesn't appear to be from the Diamondbacks, despite the fact that they're eyeing Joba. The Astros also like the righty as a buy-low candidate.
• The Brewers, Pirates, Mariners, and Orioles are among seven teams in on Logan Morrison.
• Kevin Youkilis is receiving some interest, but prefers to sign with a west coast team close to his California home.
• The Pirates are open to listening to offers for southpaw Justin Wilson, and the Nats could be a suitor.
• The White Sox are "determined" to leave Orlando with a catcher.
• Bartolo Colon is being eyed by the Rangers and Orioles.
• Although the Mets are in play for Stephen Drew, at least one exec expects him to return to the Red Sox.
• The Dodgers, Marlins, and White Sox all have some level of interest in Juan Uribe, though various reports suggested neither Miami nor Chicago is a serious suitor.
• The Royals haven't ruled out the possibility of trading Billy Butler.
• At least seven teams have interest in Eric Chavez.
• The Cubs, Pirates, Royals, and Braves are in the mix for Jason Hammel.
• Michael Morse, Jesse Crain, and Chad Gaudin are a few of the names on the Astros' radar. Morse is reportedly seeking a $7-8MM salary for one year.
• The Mariners are interested in Fernando Rodney.

Transactions:

• Roy Halladay is retiring from baseball.
• The Marlins inked Garrett Jones to a two-year, $7.75MM deal.
• The White Sox signed right-hander Felipe Paulino.
• The Indians signed David Cooper to a big league deal.
• The Mets made their signing of Curtis Granderson official.
• Mark Prior officially retired and he may join the Padres' front office.
• The Marlins officially announced the signing of catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
• The Astros released Eric Thames so that he can pursue an opportunity in Korea.

Rumors:

• The Marlins are telling teams they will trade Logan Morrison shortly.  A number of clubs have been connected to the 26-year-old.
• The Yankees and Braves are among the teams that have shown interest in Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija.  One report indicates that it's unlikely that he'll end up in Atlanta, however.
• A possible deal between the Blue Jays and Rangers hit a snag.
• The Mariners, Rangers, and Dodgers are the three most serious suitors for Rays ace David Price at this time.  The M's believe that they could land Price if they were willing to include Taijuan Walker, but they're not willing to part with him at this time.
• The Mets are exploring trades involving Ike Davis and Daniel Murphy.
• The Twins are making a push for Bronson Arroyo.  The Pirates also scheduled a meeting with Arroyo's agent.
• Chances of a Mark Trumbo trade are increasing and a dozen teams are in on the Angels slugger.
• The Nationals are eyeing J.P. Howell and Scott Downs.
• The Twins are in on Rajai Davis but the Orioles are out.  He's nearing a deal with someone, but we don't know who just yet.
• If Masahiro Tanaka wants to make the jump to MLB, the Rakuten Golden Eagles may simply honor his wishes.
• The Indians are open to fielding Justin Masterson trade pitches.
• The Mets have kicked the tires on Chris Perez.
• The Orioles checked in on the availability of Ethier and fellow Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, but there were issues with the amount of salary that the Dodgers were willing to absorb.
• Shin-Soo Choo talks are reaching a critical stage with the Rangers and D'Backs among the clubs in the mix.
• The Pirates approached the Jays about Adam Lind, but talks quickly fizzled when Toronto countered by asking about Neil Walker.
• Astros starter Lucas Harrell is drawing some trade interest.
• The Red Sox feel like they have a good chance of retaining Stephen Drew since his market hasn't developed as he might have hoped.
• The Padres have interest in Scott Downs, among other southpaw relievers.
• Jamey Wright is choosing between the Rays and Dodgers.
• The Phillies are actively shopping Domonic Brown.
• The Orioles aren't expected to go after a high-priced starter.
• The Mets have had internal discussions regarding Cesar Izturis and plan to meet with his agent in the coming days.  They're also unlikely to sign Bartolo Colon or Bronson Arroyo.
• The Orioles met with Nelson Cruz, who is also a possible fit for the Mariners and Rangers.  The Rangers are comfortable with having Cruz back on a two-year deal, he wants three.
• The Tigers are talking to free agents but GM Dave Dombrowski says they aren't in on the "big, big ones:.
• The Nationals may or may not be shopping Danny Espinosa, depending on who you ask.
• The Giants like Brett Gardner of the Yankees but a deal doesn't seem likely.
• The Indians, who are in the market for a closer, have spoken to Grant Balfour.
• The Cubs are looking to the trade market in their search for relievers and have eyed both Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen of the Nationals.
• The Indians and Orioles have interest in Jason Hammel.  MLBTR's Tim Dierkes learned that a dozen teams are in the mix.
• The Brewers are making Corey Hart a priority.
• The Rangers are still open to dealing Elvis Andrus even after trading Ian Kinsler, but it's a longshot.
• The White Sox are looking to move a starter.
• The Orioles are one of many teams with some interest in Johan Santana.
• Matt Kemp probably won't be headed to the Red Sox, the Dodgers remain in discussions with four teams on trade possibilities involving him or Andre Ethier,
• The Rockies want a reliever and they've shifted their focus from the free agent market to the trade market.

Transactions:

• The Angels issued a pair of two-year contracts yesterday, signing Joe Blanton for a total of $15MM and Sean Burnett for a total of $8MM. Each contract contains an option for a third year.
• The White Sox agreed to sign Jeff Keppinger to a three-year deal that will pay the long-time utilityman $12MM.
• Randy Choate received a surprising three-year, $7.5MM contract with the Cardinals. Choate has long been one of the game's deadliest weapons against left-handed hitters.
• The Diamondbacks made a pair of Major League signings, inking Eric Chavez for one year and $3MM, and also signing Wil Nieves for $800K to be their backup catcher in 2013.
• Nate Schierholtz signed a one-year contract with the Cubs worth $2.25MM. The longtime Giant can also earn up to $500K in incentives.
• Nate McLouth will be returning to the Orioles on a one-year deal that will pay him $2MM and also contains another $500K of incentives.
• The Mariners agreed to a one-year, Major League contract with Jason Bay that will pay the former All Star less than $1MM as he attempts to re-establish his career.
• Jeff Francis re-signed with the Rockies on a one-year, Major League deal, though the exact dollar figures haven't been released yet.
• The Pirates acquired formertop prospect Andrew Oliver from the Tigers in exchange for minor league catcher Ramon Cabrera.
• The Braves exercised their 2014 option on manager Fredi Gonzalez.

Rumors:

• Talk surfaced of a four-team blockbuster that would send Justin Upton to the Rangers, Asdrubal Cabrera to the Diamondbacks and prospects to the Indians. Late last night it was reported that the Mariners were one potential partner in the deal. They hope to use their prospects to ensure that Upton lands in Texas, because it would allow them the opportunity to sign Josh Hamilton.
• Speaking of Hamilton, the Mariners are indeed making a serious run at him. He's holding out to hear from his first choice, however — the Rangers.
• Meanwhile, the Rangers are waiting for a decision from Zack Greinke, whose decision appears to be down to Texas or the Dodgers, barring the emergence of the dreaded mystery team. There's a growing sense that he'll end up with the Rangers, it seems.
• The Mets are still weighing their options on whether to trade or extend R.A. Dickey, whose asking price is two additional years at $13MM each.
• An offseason extension for the Mariners and Felix Hernandez was reported to be very nlikely, and the same can be said for Padres third baseman Chase Headley.
• The Phillies and Rangers are in advanced talks about a trade for Michael Young.
• Kevin Youkilis has offers from multiple teams, one of whom is the Indians. Cleveland is in heavy pursuit of Youkilis, who is weighing his options for the time being.
• The Nationals remain confident they can re-sign Adam LaRoche, but the team's preference is to keep the contract to a guarantee of two years.
• Four teams — the Cubs, Brewers, Royals and Red Sox – were linked to Ryan Dempster. The Royals reportedly made a two-year, $26MM offer but were rejected as Dempster holds out for a third year.
• The Twins are calling teams to gauge interest in 2006 AL MVP Justin Morneau in their quest to add pitching talent to the organization.
• Multiple teams, including the Royals, Brewers and Twins have contacted the Rangers regarding lefty Derek Holland.
• Brewers general manager Doug Melvin will listen to offers on Corey Hart, but isn't shopping his slugger and would need a significant return to make a deal.
• Five teams are interested in veteran corner infielder Jack Hannahan, who is expected to sign a Major League deal.
• Jason Grilli has offers from several teams and is currently "wading through them," though the Brewers are not in the mix. I'd expect Grilli to sign for multiple years based on his 2012 season.

Transactions:

• The most lucrative contract of the day went to Shane Victorino, who signed a three-year deal with the Red Sox worth $39MM.
• The Giants were able to retain Marco Scutaro, signing him to a three-year deal. Scutaro parlayed his Herculean performance down the stretch and in the playoffs into a cool $20MM.
• The Nationals landed Dan Haren on a one-year deal that will pay the former Angel $13MM.
• The Rays acquired Yunel Escobar from the Marlins in exchange for minor league infielder Derek Dietrich. The Marlins are reportedly hoping to re-invest Escobar's $5MM salary in finding a new third baseman.
• Earlier this week it looked like the Phillies would acquire Wilton Lopez, but in the end the Astros wound up trading their best reliever to the Rockies in exchange for Alex White and Alex Gillingham.
• The Diamondbacks signed veteran Eric Hinske to a one-year deal worth just over $1MM.
• The Giants will be keeping their leadership in place for at least the next two years, as they exercised 2014 options on both general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy.

Rumors:

• The Dodgers and Rangers appear to be the final two teams battling it out for Zack Greinke, though one source told Jon Heyman of CBS Sports there's still a third team poking around. For the Rangers, their pursuit of Greinke has talks with Josh Hamilton on hold, as they can likely only sign one of the two superstars.
• Hamilton will reportedly give the Rangers the chance to match any offer another club makes before accepting it. The Rangers and Mariners are among the interested teams.
• Dollars are the holdup in extension talks between the Mets and R.A. Dickey, not years. The Mets don't want to trade Dickey for just one prospect either. A Royals official noted that the team will not trade Wil Myers for Dickey, but the team is still interested. Here's the latest on Dickey.
• Mariners fans didn't see an acquisition on Day 2, but Seattle was in numerous headlines. General manager Jack Zduriencik is interested in an extension that will make Felix Hernandez a Mariner for life, the team emerged as a surprise suitor for Michael Bourn and they're also nearing a deal with Jason Bay.
• On Day 1 we learned that Ryan Dempster is seeking a three-year contract, and on Day 2 it was revealed that he's seeking an annual payday of around $13MM. The Brewers, Angels and Red Sox were all linked to Dempster on Day 2.
• The Red Sox and Angels are both also showing interest in Kyle Lohse.
• What would the Winter Meetings be without the mystery team? We saw our first mystery team rumor emerge surrounding Anibal Sanchez. Six teams are reportedly in on Sanchez: the Tigers, Angels, Royals, Dodgers, Red Sox and of course, the mystery team.
• Surprisingly, the Marlins apparently won't be trading Ricky Nolasco, despite having cleaned house and despite Nolasco's reported desire to pitch elsewhere.
• Ryan Ludwick and the Reds are getting closer to a new contract, but Ludwick is still talking with other teams.
• Speaking of the Reds, they're also interested in signing Homer Bailey and Mat Latos to long-term deals this offseason. The team has already approached Bailey and will do so with Latos shortly.
• Jason Kubel now seems more likely to be dealt than Justin Upton, and the Mariners came calling on Kubel yesterday.
• The Indians met with the agent for Kevin Youkilis and are interested in making Youk their first baseman.
• The Yankees have most of Alex Rodriguez's contract insured, meaning they could potentially receive as much as 75-100 percent of the money back they'll lose due to his injury if he misses a full season.
• The Yankees have strong interest in Jeff Keppinger, whose price continues to rise as more suitors continue to emerge. Keppinger's price tag right now is likely at three years and $13MM+.
• The Rangers haven't been successful in making Mike Olt the centerpiece of a Justin Upton trade, but plenty of teams are calling on the highly touted young third baseman.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith appeared on the Rosters and Rumblings podcast with Jason Martinez of MLB Depth Charts to discuss the signings of Dan Haren, Joakim Soria, Angel Pagan and Shane Victorino as well as Mariners rumors and the middle infield market.

Transactions:

• The Giants kept Angel Pagan in the fold by re-signing their center fielder to a four-year deal worth $40MM.
• Mike Napoli won't be returning to the Rangers, nor will he primarily serve as a catcher anymore. The slugger reached an agreement on a three-year, $39MM contract with the Red Sox to serve as Boston's primary first baseman.
• The Rangers did, however, nab a significant free agent when they landed Joakim Soria on a two-year, $8MM contract. Soria figures to setup for Joe Nathan this year and could inherit the ninth inning in 2014.
• Jason Marquis will be returning to the Padres in 2013 after signing a one-year deal worth $3MM — the same guarantee he received from the Twins last season.
• The Rangers retained midseason acquisition Geovany Soto by signing him to a one-year deal that guarantees the former NL Rookie of the Year $2.75MM with another $250K of incentives.
• James Loney signed a one-year deal with the Rays that guarantees him $2MM and contains another $1MM worth of incentives.

Rumors:

• The Yankees will be without Alex Rodriguez for the majority of the season's first half in 2013 as the former MVP will undergo left hip surgery this offseason and need 4-6 months of recovery time.
• The Red Sox, Phillies and Brewers were all linked to Josh Hamilton, but it's the Mariners who reportedly met with the market's top position player most recently.
• The Mariners are also discussing Justin Upton with the Diamondbacks. Talks with the Rangers appear to be stalled, as Arizona is still demanding Elvis Andrus be included in any deal. The D-backs are also discussing Jason Kubel trade scenarios.
• Eight teams met with the Mets about R.A. Dickey, but the price is reported to be sky-high.
• The Angels are in on Edwin Jackson and could also re-visit discussions with Dan Haren despite declining his option.
• Shane Victorino has multiple three-year offers on the table and even has a four-year offer to consider. As many as seven teams have been linked to the Flyin' Hawaiian.
• Ryan Dempster is seeking a three-year contract and is expected to draw interest from the Brewers, Diamondbacks, and Twins.
• The Nationals have shown interest in trading for James Shields and have discussed both Danny Espinosa and Mike Morse with the Rays.
• The Nationals also added a pair of lefty relievers when they inked Zach Duke to a Major League contract and added Bill Bray on a minor league deal.
• The Dodgers are shopping Dee Gordon, but they will only part with the promising young shortstop in exchange for a "significant" return.
• The Reds have an offer on the table for Ryan Ludwick and will meet with their former left fielder's agent today.
• The Mariners and Orioles are both very interested in Billy Butler, but the Royals aren't keen on dealing him unless it's for impact Major League pitching.
• The Marlins are shopping Yunel Escobar and several teams — including the Rays, Athletics, Cubs, and Yankees – are interested. Ricky Nolasco is also said to want out of Miami.
• Multiple teams have placed calls to the Astros about Bud Norris, who is arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason.
• The Indians are looking for a package of four prospects in return for Asdrubal Cabrera. A deal that would have sent Cabrera out of Cleveland in exchange for an MLB pitcher and two prospects fell apart when the Tribe asked for a third minor leaguer to be included.
• The Yankees are willing to listen to offers for Curtis Granderson.

• There will be no decision by Albert Pujols prior to the Meetings' conclusion, however we do know this: The Marlins are likely out, but the Angels are definitely in. The Angels claim they can sign both Pujols and C.J. Wilson. Reports of a 10-year, $220MM offer from the Cardinals may not be accurate, and ESPN's Jayson Stark reported there is indeed an unknown third team in the mix that would need to trade an established first baseman to clear room for The Machine.
• One big reason the Marlins are out on Pujols is the fact that $58MM of their perhaps not endless budget went to a four-year deal for Mark Buehrle. The long-time South Side hurler will now reunite with manager Ozzie Guillen in South Beach.
• With Buehrle off the market, all eyes are on C.J. Wilson, who is expected to announce that he'll sign with the Angels or Marlins this morning. While the Fish have a six-year offer on the table for Wilson, it's the industry consensus right now that he'll take a five-year deal to pitch for the Angels near his California home.
• With the top two American southpaws set to come off the market, it'll become open season on Yu Darvish. The Nippon-Ham Fighters ace announced late last night that he'll be posted today. So far, reports suggest the Rangers, Blue Jays, and Yankees are expected to bid with the Red Sox being a potential wild card.
• Those not wanting to spend big in dollars could instead spend big in prospects and pony up for the Dan Haren-esque haul the Athletics want in exchange for Gio Gonzalez. While the Oakland ace is a hot topic, he's not expected to be dealt before the Meetings end.
• If a Haren haul's not your thing but controllable left-handed pitchers are, you might try giving the Mets a call about Jonathon Niese. The Amazins are willing to listen on Niese and any player whose last name isn't "Wright."
• The Padres found Heath Bell's replacement when they nabbed Huston Street from the Rockies for nothing more than a player to be named later and the majority of Street's salary.
• The Red Sox are looking to trade for a Western division closer of their own, but their talks with the A's about Andrew Bailey aren't progressing as well. They offered Josh Reddick and some prospects, but the two sides aren't close.
• Marlins executives shot down the reports that Hanley Ramirez wanted to restructure his contract following the signing of Jose Reyes and assure that he will not be traded.
• Last night was the deadline for free agents who'd been offered arbitration to accept or decline. Here's the rundown, but all you really need to know is that the only three who accepted are Kelly Johnson, David Ortiz, and Francisco Rodriguez.
• K-Rod's acceptance seems to have really thrown a wrench into the Brewers' offseason plans, but GM Doug Melvin says they knew it was a possibility and took the risk. The Brew Crew expected Jimmy Rollins to re-sign with the Phillies even before that decision, at least.
• The Astros hired former Cardinals exec Jeff Luhnow as their new general manager.
• The Tigers are nearing a deal with the well-traveled Octavio Dotel, while the Angels came to terms with righty LaTroy Hawkins for $3MM on a one-year deal.
• The Yankees surprisingly won the bid for Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima and are also willing to eat $8MM of A.J. Burnett's salary to faciliate a trade.
• The Pirates bought a whole bunch of upside for $4.5MM when they signed free agent lefty Erik Bedard to a one-year deal.

• There was literally too much Albert Pujols talk for one post, so we split it up into two. Pujols reportedly has three offers of $200MM+, though one is from the dreaded "mystery team." Conflicting reports have the Angels either in the mix or out entirely, but Pujols does appear to be down to choosing between the Marlins and Cardinals, with some expecting a decision today.
• The White Sox are apparently blowing it up and starting over, though GM Kenny Williams kicked the effort off in an odd way by dealing closer Sergio Santos to the Blue Jays in a one-for-one swap for Double-A strikeout machine Nestor Molina. Santos is under team control for the next six years on a very affordable three-year, $8.25MM deal with three team options ($6MM, $8MM, and $8.75MM).
• Not everything is rosy down in Miami, as a report surfaced that Hanley Ramirez prefers a trade rather than changing positions to accommodate new teammate Jose Reyes.
• The Angels don't want to go six years on C.J. Wilson, whose agent Bob Garber met with the Rangers yesterday and was "pleasantly surprised." The Rangers' first offer was said to be for $60MM over four years.
• The Mets remade their bullpen in about as much time as it took me to make the frozen pizza I made for dinner. They signed Jon Rauch to a one-year deal ($3.5MM), inked Frank Francisco for two years ($12MM), and traded Angel Pagan to the Giants for Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez.
• The Giants, by the way, are said to be "far down the road" on another trade as well.
• Gio Gonzalez is becoming a hot topic. Late last night word got out that the Tigers were making a strong push for the A's lefty, and then we learned at about 3am that the Phillies are in the mix as well.
• With the Phillies' interest fading and the Angels' initial offers on the low end, the Brewers have emerged as the favorites for Aramis Ramirez.
• Mark Buehrle is seeking a four-year deal and has narrowed his decision to five teams, although it's not clear as to which five are in the conversation. The Rangers, Nationals, Marlins, and Twins all had offers to the former South Sider on Monday.
• The Dodgers are apparently addicted to two-year deals, and who was Aaron Harang to deny them? He got $12MM from L.A.'s NL crew.
• The Rockies picked up non-tender candidate Kevin Slowey off the Twins' scrap heap for a player to be named later. The Orioles talked with Minnesota about Slowey, too.
• David Ortiz is planning on accepting arbitration to stay with the Red Sox, though he has yet to do so.
• Other teams get the feeling that the Braves will indeed move either Jair Jurrjens or Martin Prado this offseason.
• The Twins made a three-year offer to Michael Cuddyer, who ironically saw the birth of his own pair of twins yesterday. Is that an omen?

• The Marlins proved they meant business with their big name free agent pursuits when they reeled in Jose Reyes on a six-year, $106MM contract that will likely push franchise cornerstone Hanley Ramirez over to third base. Incredibly, the Mets will only receive Miami's third-round pick (at best) plus a supplemental rounder as compensation for Reyes.
• You'd think that would be it for the Marlins, but they've got a reported ten-year offer on the table to Albert Pujols. That number has to make Cardinals fans nervous.
• The Angels have emerged as the front-runners for C.J. Wilson, but the Marlins are in on him as well. The Rangers are set to make their first formal offer today, and the Nationals have shown interest as well.
• Wilson isn't Washington's top priority though; that honor goes to Mark Buehrle, who also has offers from the Rangers, the Marlins (surprise!), the Twins (actual surprise!), and a mystery team.
• Prince Fielder just doesn't seem to be a good fit anywhere. Currently, the Orioles and Mariners have shown some degree of interest, while the Dodgers and Brewers likely can't afford him.
• The Phillies' first meeting with Jimmy Rollins' agent Dan Lozano didn't go well. The Phils would love Rollins back, but not at five years, which has led them to pursue Aramis Ramirez as a backup plan. They're shopping Placido Polanco to make that fit more logical.
• The Twins re-signed Matt Capps to a one-year, $4.5MM deal with a $6MM club option ($250K buyout). Minnesota could've netted a free supplemental round pick by letting Capps sign elsewhere.
• The Dodgers signed Jerry Hairston Jr. to a two-year, $6MM deal and are nearing another two-year pact with Aaron Harang, believed to be worth around $12MM.
• Rays executive VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has decided against becoming the next general manager of the Astros. Friedman, a Houston native, was said to be their top choice.
• The Red Sox and Athletics will meet on Tuesday to discuss a potential Andrew Bailey trade.
• I'd be remiss not to mention the return of Manny Ramirez to the baseball world. Ramirez has filed for reinstatement and will only be required to serve a 50-game suspension, should a team decide that gambling on the upside of his bat is worth the front row seat to the "Manny Being Manny" show.

• The day began with the 2010 Rule 5 Draft. The Pirates took Josh Rodriguez from the Indians with the first overall pick and other clubs selected 18 other players later on.
• The day ended with news of the Reds' six-year, $51MM agreement with Jay Bruce.
• Miguel Olivo became the most recent catcher to sign a lucrative multiyear deal, as he agreed to a two-year, $7MM contract with the Mariners.
• Seattle was busy today; they also offered a contract to Laynce Nix.
• The Astros created some more competition for their rotation by adding a former Mariner, agreeing to a deal with Ryan Rowland-Smith.
• The Pirates acquired Cesar Valdez from the Diamondbacks to complete the Zach Duke trade.
• A number of deals moved forward today. The Orioles officially acquired J.J. Hardy and Brendan Harris from the Twins, the Dodgers officially signed Vicente Padilla, the Pirates reached an agreement with Scott Olsen, the O's reached an agreement with Koji Uehara and the Mets announced their deals with Ronny Paulino and D.J. Carrasco.
• We also heard that the Red Sox aren't as aren't as close to extending their new first baseman as it seemed. Adrian Gonzalez says he doesn't have an extension in place with the Red Sox.
• Boston continues to be aggressive; the Red Sox are considered the frontrunners for Russell Martin.
• The Cliff Lee saga continued, as the Yankees offered a number of deals and the Rangers visited the left-hander at his home in Arkansas. Lee could make a decision soon.
• The Brewers continue to show interest in Carl Pavano, but they don't want to offer more than two years.
• Luring Pavano to Milwuakee could be a challenge, but he's not the only pitcher the Brewers are going to talk to. They will begin extension talks with new addition Shaun Marcum.
• The Twins, one of the teams with interest in Pavano, would consider trading Kevin Slowey.
• There's mutual interest between Adam LaRoche and the Orioles.
• The Pirates may be moving closer to a deal for Kenshin Kawakami.
• The Michael Young rumors slowed down.
• The Rockies are hoping to extend Carlos Gonzalez, but negotiating a long-term deal with the Scott Boras client may not be easy.
• We also learned that the Cardinals consider Gregg Zaun a fallback option and that the Cubs remain interested in Brandon Webb.

• The Red Sox struck again, agreeing to terms with Carl Crawford on a seven-year, $142MM deal just days after acquiring Adrian Gonzalez. The news came as a surprise to many who viewed the Angels as the favorites to land Crawford, and it figures to create an interesting fallout. Early feedback on the signing has been mostly positive.
• Another ex-Ray, Carlos Pena officially signed with the Cubs.
• The Diamondbacks made a push for Paul Konerko, but the long-time White Sox first baseman ultimately agreed to re-sign with Chicago for three years and $37.5MM.
• The Yankees finally made a formal offer to Cliff Lee, proposing a six-year pact worth $140MM. Meanwhile, the Red Sox, who were attempting to drive up Lee's cost, were identified as one of the mystery teams who had made a seven-year bid on Lee, albeit at a reduced price. Here are the rest of Wednesday's Lee rumblings.
• The Rays and Twins decided to trade their starting shortstops, with Jason Bartlett heading to San Diego and J.J. Hardy on his way to Baltimore.
• There were also plenty of trade talks that didn't result in any deals – at least not yet. The Cubs pursued Matt Garza, the Rangers continued to listen on Michael Young, and the Marlins had a few discussions involving Ricky Nolasco, Leo Nunez, and Zack Greinke. Speaking of Greinke, here are the rest of Wednesday's rumors on him.
• The Royals reached agreements with a pair of former Braves, adding Jeff Francoeur and Melky Cabrera on one-year deals.
• Jack Cust will be the newest Mariner, agreeing to sign a one-year contract with Seattle. Could Miguel Olivo be next? The Mariners appear to have serious interest in the backstop.
• Although the Twins are still considered the front-runners for Carl Pavano's services, the Brewers dominated the day's Pavano rumors.
• Another intriguing free agent, Russell Martin, is fielding offers from multiple teams.
• A pair of NL East rivals agreed to sign left-handed relievers to similar deals: the Braves will pay George Sherrill $1.2MM for 2011, while Dennis Reyes' one-year contract with the Phillies guarantees him $1.25MM.
• Koji Uehara and the Orioles reached an agreement that will keep the right-hander in Baltimore for two years, if he stays healthy enough for the 2012 option to vest.
• Two National League teams added backup catchers, as Dioner Navarro agreed to terms with the Dodgers and Wil Nieves agreed to sign with Milwaukee.
• The Diamondbacks re-signed Mike Hampton and are close to adding Henry Blanco as well.
• On the heels of his best season since 2004, Miguel Cairo received a multiyear guarantee, signing a two-year pact with the Reds.
• The Mets continued their offseason of affordable acquisitions, inking Boof Bonser to a minor league deal.

• The highest profile move of the day belongs to the Cubs, who agreed to terms with Carlos Pena on a one-year deal believed to be worth $10MM late last night. Chicago's also shopping Tom Gorzelanny, and the Tigers have shown interest.
• The Rockies made the next-biggest signing of the day, inking Ty Wigginton for two years and $8MM. That's far more money than most people had pegged Wigginton for.
• The Yankees' signing of Derek Jeter became official.
• Lots of low-profile moves, such as the Dodgers signing Tony Gwynn Jr. to a one-year deal for $675K and the Pirates agreeing to a surprising two-year deal with Matt Diaz. Pittsburgh is also looking at multiple relievers.
• The Mets made a pair of free agent signings, agreeing to terms with Ronny Paulino on a one-year, $1.3MM deal and D.J. Carrasco on a two-year, $2.5MM deal.
• A few more low-budget moves appear to be on the horizon, as the Padres are close to signing Dustin Moseley to a one-year deal and the Dodgers nearing an agreement with Vicente Padilla for $2MM. Also, the Brewers are close to signing Wil Nieves and Dennys Reyes may sign with the Phillies within the next day or two.
• Much was made last night of talks to send Michael Young from Texas to Colorado, but in the end, the Rangers told their third basemen he'd be going nowhere. Meanwhile, Texas likes Magglio Ordonez.
• The Cubs and Rangers were said to be discussing a multi-player deal that would send Chris Davis and Darren O'Day to Chicago. Their signing of Carlos Pena may impact that train of thought.
• The Orioles appear to be closing in on a deal to keep Koji Uehara in Baltimore, and will not be trading for Jason Bartlett, as was rumored. The same is true of the rumored Kenshin Kawakami swap.
• We learned that Tsuyoshi Nishioka is looking for about $12MM total over three years, and the Twins aren't far off. However there were no talks between the two sides yesterday, though no one is worried about getting something done.
• Oakland made a serious offer to Brandon McCarthy and is considering several DH types including Hideki Matsui and Vladimir Guerrero.
• The Braves will begin talk about an extension for Dan Uggla and are confident one can be reached.
• The Nationals have switched their focus to Adam LaRoche, are out on Carl Pavano, but may still be in talks for Cliff Lee.
• Ryan Ludwick is drawing trade interest from several teams.
• The Cardinals have considered adding Yadier Molina's older brother Bengie Molina as a backup.
• Jesse Crain is reportedly looking for Joaquin Benoit money. Good luck with that. His former teammate Matt Guerrier was rumored to be as well, before his agent shot that down.
• More on the reliever front — Kevin Gregg has received offers from three teams, while the Yankees and possibly White Sox are in on Kerry Wood.
• The latest on big name free agents and trade chips: Cliff Lee's offers have allegedly jumped to seven years, though no teams are owning up to it. Carl Crawford remains the Angels' top priority, clubs are upping their offers for Zack Greinke, three teams called about Prince Fielder, the Rays are motivated to move Matt Garza, Brandon Webb's agent met with several clubs, and the Red Sox are talking about Carlos Beltran.

• We'll start with the transaction news: Boston's acquisition of Adrian Gonzalez became official. The Padres will receive Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, Reymond Fuentes, and a player to be named later for their elite first baseman.
• The Brewers' and Jays' swap of prospect Brett Lawrie and Shaun Marcum became official as well. Milwaukee beefed up its rotation by trading a prospect who was likely blocked. The Brewers said they're willing listen on any of their players in the right deal, including another of their top prospects — center fielder Lorenzo Cain.
• The Diamondbacks had a huge day; in addition to trading Mark Reynolds to Baltimore in exchange for David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio, they also signed Melvin Mora to a one-year, $2MM deal and found their likely closer in J.J. Putz, who inked a two-year, $10MM deal with a club option. They also have an offer out to Mike Hampton.
• The Pirates are looking to improve their rotation, as they're close to a deal with lefty Scott Olsen, and agreed to sign Kevin Correia to a two-year deal worth $8MM. More money than I thought he'd get, but I don't mind the Correia signing, personally.
• The Padres agreed to terms with San Diego native Aaron Harang on a one-year deal that will guarantee the big righty $4MM. He's a reasonable candidate to rebound in San Diego.
• Seattle signed 17-year-old Dominican shortstop Esteilon Peguero for $2.9MM. It's a huge bonus, but he's one of the most advanced offensive prospects in Latin America.
• The Athletics did not reach an agreement with Japanese righty Hisashi Iwakuma. Iwakuma was said to be seeking too much money. Oakland will again pursue him when he is a free agent in 2011.
• With all of that in mind, let's look at offers that might happen and deals that might get done: The Twins offered Tsyoshi Nishioka a multiyear deal believed to be three years at an annual salary of $3MM-$5MM.
• Adrian Beltre is reportedly seeking a five-year deal worth more than $70MM, though he lost a suitor today due to the Red Sox acquiring Gonzalez.
• If you're thinking there's going to be a firesale in San Diego, think again. The Padres will not trade All-Star closer Heath Bell.
• In the wake of Washington's surprise signing of Jayson Werth to a mammoth contract, Josh Willingham is now more likely to be moved than ever.
• Despite having their rotation filled out, the Dodgers are looking to bring back Vicente Padilla. Some reports say it would be in a bullpen capacity, while others have suggested a rotation spot.
• Russell Martin may have had a bad season in 2010, but good catching is hard to find, and he'll have plenty of suitors to choose from.
• The Astros have made both Matt Lindstrom and Jeff Keppinger available, while the Cardinals are out on Jason Bartlett and shopping Brendan Ryan and his stellar glove around.
• The Rockies seem willing to spend big this offseason. They've locked up Troy Tulowitzki for ten years, signed Jorge de la Rosa, and reportedly made an informal seven- to ten-year offer to Carlos Gonzalez.
• That's not the only rumored extension we heard about today. We also learned that Albert Pujols, Trevor Cahill, and Dan Uggla will be considered for extensions as well.
• The Red Sox are interested in Magglio Ordonez, and reportedly would be willing to give up a draft pick for Scott Downs, but not Grant Balfour. They're also in on Matt Guerrier.
• Six teams have shown interest in Koji Uehara, including Baltimore, Boston, Minnesota, Seattle, Milwaukee, and St. Louis.
• Hopefully you haven't had your heart set on acquiring Justin Upton, because it looks like the D'Backs won't be trading him after all.
• The Nats, Cubs, and Brewers are among the teams who have called the Dodgers about James Loney.
• A pair of former All-Stars is looking to get back into MLB after sitting out a season or two: Chien-Ming Wang is seeking a Major League deal, while Joe Crede is looking for an opportunity to play as well. Meanwhile, here's the latest on another free agent who's missed a few seasons, Brandon Webb.
• Curious to see the latest news on the biggest free agents and trade targets left on the market? No problem. Cliff Lee could see up to seven years, Carl Crawford could benefit hugely from Jayson Werth's deal, the Royals want Travis Snider and Kyle Drabek for Zack Greinke, the Dodgers keep coming up in Prince Fielder rumors, Paul Konerko's talks with Chicago could put him in line for a $12.5MM salary, and here's the latest on Carl Pavano, who could return to the Twins.

Obviously, we can't link to everything that's happened the past few days, but hopefully that's got you caught up to speed for the most part! MLBTR will continue to have around-the-clock coverage of the 2010 Winter Meetings, including overnight coverage once again throughout the duration of the meetings, so feel free to stay up late with us!

• Two of the better free agent starters came off the board during Day 3 of the Winter Meetings. Randy Wolf finalized his three year, $29.75MM deal with Milwaukee, and even managed to secure an option for a fourth year. Andy Pettitte re-upped with the Yankees for another year, and will earn $11.75MM in 2010.
• The Rays acquired relief ace Rafael Soriano from the Braves for Jesse Chavez, pending medical review. Tampa will take on all of Soriano's salary, whatever that ends up being. The Yankees, Angels, Orioles, and Astros were all considered suitors for the righthander throughout the day.
• The Astros imported a notable pair of relievers of their own on Wednesday. First they traded two minor leaguers and their pick in the Rule 5 Draft to Florida for closer Matt Lindstrom. Later in the day, they signed Brandon Lyon to a three year, $15MM deal. Those moves will help make up for the loss of LaTroy Hawkins, who inked a two year, $7.5MM deal with the Brewers.
• The Rangers finally sent Kevin Millwood packing, dealing him to the Orioles for Chris Ray. Baltimore is also sending the third overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft to Texas. That move opened the door for the Rangers to sign Rich Harden to a one year, $7.5MM contract that includes an option for 2011. The Mariners were rumored to be in on Harden, but they had to settle for Corey Patterson instead.
• While that was happening, the Rangers moved closer to acquiring Mike Lowell from the Red Sox for Max Ramirez. There's a chance Lowell's hip and thumb issues could interfere with the deal, though. That move would open a spot for Adrian Beltre, who the Sox have serious interest in. Despite their need for a corner bat, the Giants are not interested in Beltre.
• Bobby Crosby signed a one year deal with the Pirates, and will earn $1MM with another $500K in incentives.
• On the pitching market, Ben Sheets is looking for big money, while multiple teams are discussing Derek Lowe. The Mets, Nationals, and Phillies are all interested in Jason Marquis, while Darren Oliver has plenty of suitors as well. Joel Pineiro, as expected, has a bunch of teams after him. In a move of astounding cheapness, the Padres are expected to non-tender Kevin Correia.
• Nick Johnson is a wanted man, with seven teams pursuing him. The Reds, meanwhile, are interested in Craig Counsell, while five teams are interested in Scott Podsednik. The White Sox appear to be closing in on J.J. Putz, and the Padres are shopping Kevin Kouzmanoff.
• The Rockies are nearing a two year deal with Yorvit Torrealba, while the Mets are prepared to offer Bengie Molina a deal by Thursday afternoon. Sticking to the theme, the Royals offered Jason Kendall two years as well.
• Of course, it wouldn't be a day near the Hot Stove without some talk about Jason Bay, Roy Halladay, Milton Bradley, and John Lackey.

In case you missed it, here's MLBTR's review of Day 1 and Day 2.

• We saw our first blockbuster trade of the winter, as the Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Yankees agreed on a three-way swap. The deal sends Curtis Granderson to New York, Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy to Arizona, and four players, including Max Scherzer, to the Tigers. Reactions? Most writers agreed that the Tigers and Yankees made out well, but didn't like the deal for the D'Backs. I'm inclined to agree. Granderson should rake in Yankee Stadium and the Tigers were able to add some promising talent while cutting payroll, but it's unclear what Arizona's endgame is here.
• The White Sox signed Mark Teahen to a three-year deal worth $14MM. The price isn't bad for Chicago, though it might lock them into mediocre third base production for a few years. If Teahen could match his 2006 numbers (.290/.357/.517), he'd be a bargain, but his career line is just .269/.331/.408.
• Milton Bradley trade talks swirled all day, with one report calling a deal with a surprise AL team "three-quarters done." With the Rays and Rangers apparently not involved, it's anybody's guess who the mystery club could be. There doesn't seem to be any one team that stands out as being a fit for Bradley and the Cubs.
• Bobby Crosby is on the verge of signing with the Pirates, and it looks like he'll get his chance to compete for an everyday job. I don't think Crosby is a major-league starter at this point, but the risk is fairly low for the Pirates at just $1.5MM over a single year.
• The Phillies bolstered their bench by agreeing to sign Ross Gload to a two-year deal. We haven't seen a price attached to this one yet, but assuming it's affordable, I like the move for the Phillies. Gload has proven throughout his career to be a solid pinch-hitter and part-time player.
• To make room for players that accepted arbitration, the Twins designated Boof Bonser for assignment and the Braves DFA'd Ryan Church. The Church move is a bit of a surprise, and one that came as a result of another surprise: Rafael Soriano accepting arbitration.
• The Rockies offered Yorvit Torrealba a two-year contract, but the backstop has received attention from a host of other clubs as well.
• Kevin Kouzmanoff was another hot commodity Tuesday, as multiple teams contacted the Padres about acquiring the third baseman. With Chone Figgins and Placido Polanco already off the market, it looks like teams are getting more creative when it comes to targeting infielders.
• We heard plenty more talk about Roy Halladay, Jason Bay, Randy Wolf and Kevin Millwood with nothing concrete happening yet.
• In news not directly hot-stove related, Peter Gammons will be leaving ESPN.com to join MLB.com, the MLB Network and NESN.com. Having grown up on Gammons' columns, I look forward to following his work for his new employers.

If you missed it, check out MLBTR's Day 1 review here.