Cubs Avoid Arbitration and Ink Kevin Gregg

The Chicago Cubs avoided arbitration, but maybe not controversy, by signing reliever/closer Kevin Gregg in a one year, $4.2 million deal. Gregg, who was acquired from the Marlins, had 29 saves last year with a 3.41 ERA. Gregg is expected to compete with nasty slider throwing Carlos Marmol for the closing job (Marmol had a 2.68 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 87 innings pitched).

Mark Prior signs with San Diego Padres

Mark Prior, the former Cubs ace that has had massive injury problems (and missed all last year due to an additional arm surgery), has signed with the San Diego Padres with a minor league deal. Prior will be paid $1 million if he makes the Padres roster.

Report: Milton Bradley to sign with Chicago Cubs

According to a report on MLB.com, Milton Bradley is traveling to Chicago for a physical after the team agreed to a three year, $30 million contract for the AL's on base percentage leader. Bradley, playing for the Texas Rangers, hit .321 with 22 HR's as a switch hitter. The Cubs sought a left handed bat for their lineup, due to the wealth of starting righties of Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Geovany Soto, and Bradley is a capable switch hitter with some pop.

Jason Marquis to Rockies?

It appears as if Jason Marquis, long rumored to be in need of a new home to save Chicago Cubs payroll, is going to be headed to Colorado in exchange for middle reliever Luis Vizcaino (although reportedly details are still being worked out). Although many may surmise this means the Cubs are back in the Jake Peavy hunt, likely the Cubs ownership situation (and all of the political hub-bub surrounding criminal investigations related thereto with the Illinois Governor) will need to be resolved before committing to Peavy's $60 million left on his multi-year deal. The longer that goes on, the less likely that Peavy will swap teams prior to pitchers and catchers reporting.

Now if this had been done by the Winter Meetings, it would have been a completely different story. How quickly things can change.

Michael Barrett Agrees to a Deal with the Blue Jays

I'll admit that I am a little surprised by this, but catcher Michael Barrett signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays and will be invited to Spring Training. I actually thought with the number of teams looking for veteran catching talent that some team would take a flier on him for a free agent major league contract even though Barrett was recovering from being injured in the face last year (he only played in 30 games).

Braves offer Burnett 4 year deal but Yanks also in pursuit

The Atlanta Braves, who had offered a four-year deal with a fifth-year option worth a guaranteed $60-65 million before the meetings, have also expressed a willingness to go to five years on Burnett if necessary. The New York Yankees, making a hard late charge to beat out the Atlanta Braves for A.J. Burnett, offered the free agent right-hander a guaranteed five-year contract Wednesday, a baseball source told ESPN.com. The 2008 AL strikeout leader is reportedly seeking a 5 year deal in the neighborhood of the 5 year, $91.5 million deal Cubs' Carlos Zambrano received.

Are They Putting the Band Back Together?

An article (located here) says that the Angels, Cubs and Astros are all showing some interest in the Big Unit. Randy Johnson was an Astro for a phenomenal two months in 1998 (with Mike Hampton, who recently signed with the Astros for a one year deal). The Diamondbacks and Johnson's agent are apparently pretty far apart, so this may be Winter Meeting press releasing, we'll see.

Peavy Status

The status of Jake Peavy, RHP for the San Diego Padres, is still up in the air. The difficult thing about reporting about trade rumors involving existing players under contract is that most teams are not allowed to discuss what is or is not being discussed except the team that currently has the player under contract. It is clear that the Chicago Cubs are desperately trying to find a way for a trade to work, but the more complicated a deal is, the more likely there will be something to break it apart. In this circumstance, it appears the Cubs will have to move Jason Marquis to bring in Peavy, and Marquis' contract at over $10 million will make him very hard to move. Marquis is a great #3 starter for a contender, but $10 million is just a lot to have to pay for a #3. I think Peavy will be dealt before the end of the Winter Meetings, but I suspect there are dark horses out there that will swoop in with an easier deal. Cubs are certainly the open and obvious front runner, but I think they won't close the deal ultimately since it will require a third club. We'll see.

And the news starts to fly...

The Astros, clearly determining that Mike Scott and Charlie Kerfeld are busy, signed Mike Hampton to a 1 year deal (pending physical)... Rumors also that former Astros Andy Pettite and Bobby Abreu, in addition to Jason Giambi, were not offered arbitration by the Yankees. As expected, Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia were offered arbitration, but Kerry Wood, the former Astro-killer, was not offered arbitration. Many teams were going to announce their arbitration decisions on Tuesday, December 2.

Chicago Tribune on the Jake Peavy Rumors

Phil Rogers seems to indicate that maybe the Astros aren't out of the Jake Peavy sweepstakes. Maybe Jake will wear Brick Red and Sand soon?