The Boston Red Sox are reportedly showing interest in the Milwaukee Brewers’ shortstop JJ Hardy.

Tom Haudricourt reported via Twitter that the Brewers would “have to get a very good pitcher in return to think of doing that.”

Update: Haudricourt has added:

“I don’t think the Brewers would trade Hardy. He’s one of those “glue” players that holds team together. Would have to be a blockbuster.”

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The slow market for type A free agents such as Orlando Hudson, Orlando Cabrera, and Juan Cruz might lead Major League Baseball to alter the rules surrounding the trade of free agents, effectively opening the door for sign-and-trade agreements.

Currently, free agents are not allowed to be traded until June 15th, however FoxSports’ Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the players union would be open to allowing players, specifically Cruz, to waive that right.

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The Milwaukee Brewers have avoided arbitration with first baseman Prince Fielder, signing the slugger to a two year deal, reportedly worth $18 million.

The hard hitting first baseman had been asking for $8 million in arbitration this year. While the annual average of the deal is more than Fielder was asking for in arbitration this year, the Brewers will likely money with this deal next year.

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Despite a recent report, the Yankees and Brewers were apparently not in discussions to swap Nick Swisher for Mike Cameron. Buster Olney goes so far as to say that the two teams haven’t talked since the Winter Meetings.

And, while the Swisher for Cameron rumor proved to be less than accurate, the Yankees are looking to deal from their depth in the outfield, and according to Ken Rosenthal (4nd paragraph) have had talks with the Altanta Braves about either Swisher or Xavier Nady.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly signed reliever Guillermo Mota to a one year deal that will bring the pitcher back to LA where he spent 3 years as a set-up man for closer, Eric Gagne.

The 35 year old right hander had an ERA of 4.11 over 57 innings last year with the Milwaukee Brewers and will take one of the spots in the Dodgers bullpen that was decimated by free agent defections this offseason.

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The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly inked the career saves leader, Trevor Hoffman to a one year deal worth a guaranteed $6 million and includes $1.5 million in incentives as well as a team option for a second year.

Hoffman had been expected to return to the San Diego Padres where he’d pitched for the last 13 years, however, the team retracted their initial one year offer of $4 million, a move which angered the closer.

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The Free Agent pool of players got a bit bigger at midnight on Friday when players who were not tendered contract offers from their teams became free agents. I’ve broken the list down by position and as you can see, there are a few surprises here including former Dodgers closer Takashi Saito (2.49 ERA and 18 saves) and Nationals starter Tim Redding (10 wins).

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The Milwaukee Brewers talks with the Yankees about outfielder Mike Cameron are reportedly back on and quite close. The New York Post is reporting that the deal would send Kei Igawa and Melky Cabrera to the Brewers in exchange for Cameron. The only issue left, according to the Post, is how much (if any) of the remaining $12 million due Igawa over the next three years the Yankees will pick up. The Brewers are looking to shift Cameron’s salary towards their rotation but $4 million a year for a pitcher with a 13.50 ERA and only one start last year isn’t what they had in mind.

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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 New York Yankees have reached a preliminary agreement with free agent pitcer C.C. Sabathia. The deal is reportedly for 7 years and $161 million with an opt-out clause (similar to the one A.J. Burnett exercised this year to become a free agent) after the third year. The deal is the biggest ever given to a pitcher, with an average annual value of $23 million, and is the 4th biggest contract overall, coming in behind the two deals given Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez’s previous contract.

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