Hopefully today is just as exciting and crazy as yesterday was, except that today I would hope a thing or two actually happens. Just like yesterday I'll have every possible rumor about both the Cubs and the Sox up as soon as I see it. Ken and Greg put together an excellent Day 1 recap post last night that should do a fine job of getting you caught up on what exactly was going on the first day of the Winter Meetings.  You can read all of Tueday's rumors and signings here.

UPDATE #18 - We're getting around to this a little late, but there has been a whirlwind of rumors regarding the Seattle Mariners and Milton Bradley. Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports reported that the Cubs and M's were talking about a Bradley-Carlos Silva swap. In one word: yuck. Luckily, that rumor was shot down by both Gordon Wittenmeyer and Carrie Muskat. According to both of them Seattle is not the surprise AL team. Taking Carlos Silva would not only make for one of the heftiest pitcher-catcher batteries ever, it would be a terrible move. Silva has absolutely tanked in Seattle, and though he might fare a little better in the NL, Jim Hendry has to demand something better for a guy with Milton's potential value. I understand the leverage isn't there but come on. The Milton saga drags on...

UPDATE #17 - According to stud left-hander Matt Thornton, the Sox are hot in pursuit after JJ Putz.  Putz is currently a free agent coming off an OK season in New York.  Thornton claims he and Putz have a "bromance" so that seems to be a good thing... I think.  Putz was paid $6 million last year, but I doubt he commands that much this offseason.  This would be an awesome signing for the Sox if they can get it done, but I'm not holding my breathe because as much as I trust Matt Thornton, he's not the one with the check book, so there's only so much convincing he can do.

UPDATE #16 - In a phone interview with the Tribune, Coco Crisp says the Sox have expressed interest to both his agent and Coco himself.  The Sox made a little room as far as the future by locking down Teahan today, and thoughts are they are turning towards the leadoff spot.  Crisp says, "I enjoy the park (U.S. Cellular) and the city and have a lot of family come out to see me. We're in a wait-and-see process right now. We'll have to see what teams bring to the table."  Seems like he's thinking heavily about it, and I would have to imagine if the Sox put a reasonable offer out he'll go for it.  Matsui or Crisp, I honestly think I'd rather have Coco, but that's mainly based on his status as a leadoff hitter.  When have the Sox ever needed a power bat?  Looks like the Sox might be leaning speed over power, but we will have to just wait and see.

UPDATE #15 - Joel Sherman has tweeted that the Rangers are out on Milton Bradley. I find that interesting after the comments Ron Washington made this morning. Let's hope the surprise team actually exists and the market for Milton has simply stayed the same as it was this morning.

UPDATE #14 - Gordon Wittenmyer has tweeted that a "surprise AL team" has stepped up and a Milton Bradley deal could be imminent, even as soon as tonight. We can rule out the Rays, Rangers and Royals as the mysterious team. My guess is that it could be Toronto for these reasons: (1)new GM possibly looking to make a splash, (2) they need a run producer, (3) appear willing to take on at least some money because they were looking at Ryan Doumit earler and (4) they fit the small-market criteria for him to feel comfortable. Toronto sports fans are known for undying love of their teams, so maybe all the warm fuzzies will do well for Milton. This could all be smoke and mirrors but I'm pretty sure all cub fans and Jim Hendry himself just want this to be over. In the perfect world the surprise team is the Mariners offering Felix Hernandez or Indians offering Grady Sizemore...we all can dream.

UPDATE #13 - Hideki Matsui rumors are popping up again from the New York media.  Looks like it will be White Sox vs. Angels in the Godzilla sweepstakes.  Now that Granderson is a Yankee, Matsui, Damon, or Cabrera pretty much has to go.  Cubs want Cabrera, Sox want Matsui, I wouldn't be surprised if the Yanks let them both go and they go after Bay or Holliday to fill the hole.  Matsui has been making $13 mil each of the last 4 years, and the Sox only have around $5 mil to spend for that spot, so it will come down to Matsui's other offers.  I'd rather see the Sox stay with the plan and no offer more than they have for Matsui.  For $5 mil its a good move, anything more is too much.

UPDATE #12- A slow afternoon on both sides of town leads us to some NL Central news. The Pirates seem to be very active today. They are reportedly very close to signing former ROY Bobby Crosby and giving him a chance to compete with our favorite ex-Cub backup infielder Ronny Cedeno for the starting shortstop job. Not a big move considering Crosby hit .223/.295/.357 last season but he had been drawing interest from the Tigers and Rockies, among other teams. Crosby is a good, low risk reclamation project for the Pirates. They are also reportedly shopping Ryan Doumit, and the Blue Jays are a possible trade partner. Doumit is due over $9 million over the next two years so this could be a further salary dump for the Pirates. Either way, it seems the Pirates have had plan since Neal Huntington took over as GM and are sticking to it.

UPDATE #11- Now that the Granderson deal is agreed upon and essentially done, Melky Cabrera may be available. There are definitely some pluses to Cabrera (25, switch-hitter, decent average/power, affordable) but there are some drawbacks too (not great defensively, doesn't have great speed, slugging/OBP aren't spectacular). The Cubs could obviously do a lot worse than Cabrera - cough Rick Ankiel cough - but I think Cameron is still a better fit at this point. Let's see if this develops into anything as the Yankees clearly aren't being idle in Indy.

UPDATE #10- Bruce Levine's chat produced a few things. First he thinks MB might be dealt in the next 24 hours and that there have been rumbling of some new teams being involved. Also he says that the Cubs and Rockies have talked as late as last night, possibly about a Brad Hawpe trade. Guess the Cubs don't care about outfield defense.

UPDATE #9- I figure I'll put my personal reaction to this Granderson deal on here while we wait for the Chicago teams to do something. Looking at this deal the Cubs didn't really have a Scherzer or Jackson type to give the Tigers. Randy Wells simply doesn't have enough upside or a track record to make a team like the Tigers trade for him as the main piece to a deal. If the Cubs had a major league ready center fielder in the minor leagues then we wouldn't even be talking about Granderson right now. While it is disappointing that such an ideal fit came and went from the market,we shouldn't be too upset. The Cubs really didn't have the kind of guys that the Tigers wanted since I'm guessing Starlin Castro was untouchable.

Don't be discouraged though, if anything this has put the Cubs as the top destination for the remaining center fielders on the market. While I do think Mike Cameron will be the guy, Rick Ankiel and Marlon Byrd are also possibilities. None of them are the fit that Granderson would have been, but they also won't cost us some important pieces in the farm system that is just now returning to being respected across baseball.

UPDATE #8- The Tigers/D-Backs/Yankees trade is waiting on the Yankees. I would imagine this gets done soon. Jon Heyman has the details. Yankees get Granderson, D-Backs get Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy, Tigers get Mizzou grad Max Scherzer, Austin Jackson, and Phil Coke. This could be done at any moment.

UPDATE #7- The Royals say they don't have Milton on their radar. The White Sox have given Mark Teahen a three year extension.

UPDATE #6- Jerry Crasnick of ESPN confirms the Cubs interest in Mike Cameron, but repeats the Milton Bradley must go first thing. My guy feeling is the MB trade and Cameron signing will probably happen at the same time. Really it would be an upset if Cameron wasn't a Cub next season.

UPDATE #5- ESPNChicago is going to have a chat with Bruce Levine at noon that should provide us with plenty of good stuff to mull over this afternoon. Those still holding out hope for Curtis Granderson to come to the Cubs should probably prepare for some bad news. The Yankees, Tigers, and Diamondbacks are back to talking about a potential deal that would land Granderson in the Bronx.

UPDATE #4- Sox and Rays momentarily discussed a trade in which the Sox would get Carl Crawford in exchange for Carlos Quentin. As reported by the Sun-Times, this deal died awfully quickly. Doesn't seem like this would have been a bad fit for either of the teams, but it just switches needs for both sides. Sure the Sox need a little more speed, and the Rays could use Quentin's bat, but overall this never would work out. Also the Rays inquired on Jenks, but those talks went no where based on the Sox high asking price.

UPDATE #3- ESPNDallas.com's Richard Durrett told Tim Kurkijan this morning that the Rangers are definitely looking for a run-producing bat but have a "shopping list but not a lot of money to shop with." He said the Rangers are going to have to be creative financially because of their uncertain ownership situation. Clearly Milton fits the run-producing bill but not the financial creativity one, unless the Cubs eat the contract.  Ron Washington also said that he is confident the Rangers will add a big bat by April. He said Milton was a "very smart guy who knows when he has done wrong and didn't let it fester" and that handled him like a man. Sounds to me like Washington could be defending Milton for what happened last year; maybe this means he is pushing the Texas front office hard to get him.

UPDATE #2- The Brewers are looking to get better at pitching and they have offered free agent Randy Wolf a three year deal worth $28 million according to Jayson Stark. Wolf hasn't signed yet, but that is probably a good price for him. The Brewers will still probably need another starting pitcher- which they might take care of through trade. There is a John Maine for Corey Hart rumor floating around right now.

UPDATE #1- Fox Sports links the Cubs and former closer JJ Putz, along with naming half the NL. He would be cheap and a good guy to have as Marmol insurance, but I doubt with this list of suitors that Putz and the Cubs ever get together.

As of 8am central time this is what we know about Milton Bradley being dealt. Some have reported the Cubs and Royals have talked about a Bradley deal, while others have said it isn't a discussion. A Bradley-Burrell-Castillo swap seems dead because the Mets don't want Burrell or Bradley. The Rangers and Cubs might be talking or they might not. We just have to wait and hope something gets done so we can move on.

Lou talked yesterday. He really didn't say much though. It seems like after he took a bit of a mental break in 2009 he might be invested more in 2010, hopefully that is the case.

The banned rumor inventor has a piece about the Alex Rios claim tying up Kenny Williams hands. Personally I think Rios' defense is good enough in center where the Sox can't complain about him not hitting, with Quentin in one of the corners there needs to be a guy with some range out there. The problem for Rios and the Sox is that if he hits in the .200 range again Ozzie is going to bench him anyway.

The Sox might also be after WS MVP Hideki Matsui, but they want to know he can play the outfield a few times a week. Poor Rios' legs are going to fall off the days Matsui and Quentin play the corners.

Finally Bruce Miles blog has some nice nuggets up, key in there is that the Heath Bell rumors look dead. The Cubs can't afford to pay him right now.

Same as yesterday, each time I see a new rumor for either side of town, I'll toss it up here and tweet a new link.

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