MLB Rumors: Carlos Pena To Chicago Cubs and Other Potential Signings and Trades
The hot stove is heating up at baseball's winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, as Carlos Pena was reportedly signed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.
In other news, the Cliff Lee market is picking up some steam (the Yankees aren't alone in the bidding), Carl Crawford talks are running rampant and Prince Fielder trade talks are dying down.
There's no shortage of talent being shopped around at the meetings, and here's a list of the moves being talked about and what to make of them.
Carl Crawford
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Yankees GM Brian Cashman met with representatives of Carl Crawford today, and it seems that they view him as a consolation prize in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes.
If they can't get Lee, look for the Yankees to outbid the Angels and other suitors to grab the speedy slugger.
Carl Pavano
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Pavano met with four teams recently, yet the Twins aren't ready to let him go and remain the frontrunner.
He also met with the Nationals, who have the money and willpower to outbid the Twins if they so choose.
Brandon Webb
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The former Cy Young winner is one of baseball's best when healthy, but he threw a grand total of four innings last season.
His agent says he'll be ready at the start of the season, and a handful of teams are interested, including the Nationals, Cubs and Rangers.
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Cliff Lee
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Lee isn't rushing to any decisions, keeping teams in limbo about whether they'll get the most coveted free agent on the market.
The Yankees are obviously interested, the Nationals have been rumored to be thinking about a big offer and now ESPN is reporting that the Angels have entered the bidding.
New York wants him, but it may be getting impatient.
Johnny Damon
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Damon seems to be moving on from the Tigers, and the Rays are interested in bringing him in as an outfielder/DH.
The Padres, Dodgers and Giants are also in the running.
Prince Fielder
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Fielder was rumored to be going to the Dodgers for James Loney and Jonathan Broxton, but that rumor has cooled down.
The Brewers are having trouble finding a fair trade for their star slugger, and for now, he's staying put.
And unless something changes, they might be forced to keep him.
Carlos Beltran
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Carlos Beltran has been rumored to be on the trade block for a while, and apparently the Red Sox are interested.
A Daisuke Matsuzaka-Beltran trade was thrown out by Newsday writer David Lennon, but I don't see it happening.
The Mets will get rid of Beltran if someone will eat a large chunk of his $18.5 million salary next season, but if they're getting Matsuzaka's lucrative contract back in a deal, they might as well hold on to Beltran.
I see him staying put.
Comments
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What do you make of all the rumors?
What's just talk and what will actually happen?
Voice your opinion in the comments.
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud.
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