Update:The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that Peavy has rejected the trade to the White Sox, citing a desire to stay in the National League. It probably wouldn’t hurt if his new team was willing to pick up the pitcher’s $22 million option for the 2013 season either. Don’t be surprised if we start to hear Peavy to the Cubs rumors again soon.

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The St. Louis Cardinals have reportedly traded outfielder Brian Barton to the Atlanta Braves for right handed reliever Blaine Boyer.
Barton was fairly productive last year for the Cardinals playing largely in a utility role in the outfield. Batting .268 last year and providing speed off the bench, Barton will likely prove useful for the Braves [...]

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Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch is reporting (via twitter) that the Cardinals have reached a one year deal with Ryan Ludwick avoiding arbitration. The deal is said to be slightly above the mid-point between the club’s offer of $2.8 million and Ludwick’s request of $4.25 which would put the value somewhere around $3.75 million. Considering the outfielder made just $411,000 last year, that’s a pretty decent raise.

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The Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners swapped a couple of recently acquired players.

The Cubs have sent Ronny Cedeno and former Oriole pitcher Garrett Olson to the Mariners for former Met pitcher, Aaron Heilman.

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The Chicago Cubs have reportedly traded once highly heralded outfielder Felix Pie to the Baltimore Orioles for southpaw Garrett Olson and right handed minor leaguer Henry Williamson.

The 24 year old Pie hit just .223 in 130 games in the big leagues and became expendable when the Cubs signed Milton Bradley.

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The Chicago Cubs finished out 2008 by trading super-sub Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians for three minor league pitchers and signed former St. Louis Cardinal, Aaron Miles, to replace him. Miles’ deal is a 2 year agreement reportedly worth $4.9 million. Along with the three young hurlers, right-handed closer Jeff Stevens, right-hander Chris Archer and south-paw John Gaub, the Cubs gained more payroll flexibility for next year with DeRosa due $5.5 million next year.

That payroll, along with the savings from trading starting pitcher Jason Marquis, was used, as expected to ink the switch-hitting outfielder, Milton Bradley to a 3 year deal worth $30 million.

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The Chicago Cubs have reportedly traded starting pitcher Jason Marquis to the Colorado Rockies for reliever Luis Vizcaino.

The move is largely a salary dump for the Cubs who will rid themselves of about $5 million of Marquis’ $9.5 million salary. The Rockies acquire an enigmatic starter who should eat some innings at the back of their rotation, and dump a reliever who had a 5.43 ERA and a DUI arrest in October.

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The Atlanata Braves have reportedly reached a deal with free agent shortstop, Rafael Furcal, to return to Atlanta. Financial details of the deal haven’t been released yet but it is rumored to be for three years with a vesting option for a fourth. Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports calls the signing a “major offseason upset” as the Oakland A’s had been considered the major favorites to land Furcal, having extended a guaranteed 4th year in their $40 millon offer.

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The Cleveland Indians have reportedly agreed to terms on a two year deal with former Cubs closer, Kerry Wood. The deal is believed to be worth nearly $20 million and have a vesting option for a third should the oft-injured pitcher reach certain performance incentives.

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The future Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux has announced that he is retiring after 23 seasons in which he won 18 Gold Glove awards, 4 straight Cy Young awards, and 355 games.
Maddux was known for his impecable control and played for 4 teams during his storied career. He’ll be best remembered though, as the [...]

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