The Angels have signed free-agent closer Brian Fuentes to a two-year, $17.5 million deal, with a third-year option, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com.
Meanwhile, the Cubs signed infielder Aaron Miles to a two-year, $4.9 million deal, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Cubs are also close to sending infielder Mark DeRosa to the Indians in exchange for three [...]

Steve Phillips of ESPN.com reports the contract talks between free-agent LHP Brian Fuentes and the Cardinals have stalled.
According to Phillips, two other teams have become interested in signing Fuentes, but it was unclear who they are.
One of the two other teams interested may be the Nationals, as Dave Sheinin of Washington Post reports.
Fuentes’ agent told [...]

According to the Chicago Tribune, free-agent closer Kerry Wood has agreed to a two-year deal with the Indians, which includes a vesting option for 2011.
Also, the Rockies and free-agent reliever Alan Embree have agreed on a one-year deal worth roughly $2.5. million, according to the Denver Post.
Speaking of relief pitchers…
The Cardinals, Angels, Nationals, Brewers and [...]

The Mets are still working with the Rockies on a deal that could bring Huston Street to Queens, according to people connected to the team, as Omar Minaya works to find a set-up man for Francisco Rodriguez.
Though they have not have substantive talks in Vegas, the Rockies and Mets have been in talks for nearly a [...]

This morning on WFAN’s Boomer and Carton Show, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets and Francisco Rodriguez are in ‘serious discussions,’ and are ‘closing in on a deal.’
According to Heyman, ‘It looks like K-Rod will be their new closer.”
The way I understand it, Rodriguez’s agent and the Mets essentially agreed in principle late yesterday to a [...]

The Mets met today with the Beverly Hills Sports Council, who represent free agent closers Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman.
From what I can gather, Kerry Wood’s agent will be in Las Vegas later tonight, at which point he too will schedule a meeting with the Mets.
According to the New York Post, FoxSports.com and SI.com, the Mets offered Francisco Rodriguez [...]

According to ‘sources,’ “The Mets will meet with Brian Fuentes Monday at 12:30 p.m. here at the Bellagio and a sitdown with Trevor Hoffman will follow shortly afterward,” writes Ken Davidoff and David Lennon in a report for Newsday.
…in other words, the heat is on Francisco Rodriguez…Omar Minaya waits for no one…let’s go, buddy…grab for the [...]

According to Jon Heyman at SI.com, the Mets prefer Francisco Rodriguez, followed by Brian Fuentes, then Kerry Wood, then, if all else fails, a Trevor Hoffman-Huston Street combination.
…from what i understand, they prefer a K-Rod-Street combination, and feel confident it can happen, though that, of course, depends on Colorado’s asking price…
“The goal would be to [...]

According to Buster Olney, in a post to his blog for ESPN.com, the Mets may decide to make appropriate offers to each closer, ‘and the first one to jump at their proposal will be signed.’
“For example,” Olney explains, “It is not known exactly what the Mets intend to offer to the top-flight closers, but let’s say [...]

Free-agent RHP Trevor Hoffman has had talks with the Mets about meeting at the Winter Meeting or in New York, ‘or perhaps both,’ according to the New York Post, who cites the player’s agent.
…unless he is open to being a set-up man, ‘with experience as a closer,’ i hope Omar Minaya’s interest is limited to simply asking for an [...]