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Ken Rosenthal burst back onto the scene with a slew of new trade and signing rumors for us to mull over.  A summary:

The Cubs are still looking to trade Jacque Jones, who carries a reasonable price tag. Rosenthal says a Cliff Floyd signing is likely, though the Chicago papers reported nothing new on that front earlier this week.  As expected, the Cubs would like a veteran to bridge the gap to center fielder of the future Felix Pie.  Ryan Church, Steve Finley, or Darin Erstad could be that guy.  Bernie Williams is a long shot, though the Cubs do have a good relationship with Scott Boras.

Kevin Towers will speak with David Wells tomorrow.

The D’Backs entertained the notion of trading Chad Tracy for Mike Gonzalez and then acquiring Morgan Ensberg. They couldn’t get a deal done with Pittsburgh, however.  The Bucs refuse to include Chris Duffy in any deal; the Braves wanted him for Gonzalez.  I think Ensberg is primed for a major comeback in 2007. I don’t see how the Astros think they can afford to lose him.

Seems likely Tomo Ohka’s two offers are from the Nats and Mets.  We know that the Pirates are in there too. The Bucs could end up with Brian Lawrence instead though.

The Astros could put Chad Qualls in the rotation if they are short on starters.  Qualls last started at Triple A in ’04, and it didn’t go well. Relievers converting back to starting seems all the rage this year with the inflated market for starting pitchers.

The Rockies still have interest in Rodrigo Lopez, and they like Ramon Ortiz as well.

Armando Benitez will likely need to prove himself in spring before any team acquires him.

I’m happy to announce that I have chosen a guy named Greg Chandler to help with my fantasy baseball Excel project.  Greg will be helping me re-design the RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide with the goal of having the product hit the market in a week or so.  I’ve already started posting position rankings on RotoAuthority.com as a sneak peek.  The Guide will cost just $9.99.

Many sincere thanks to all who wrote in with interest in the project.  I believe there were upwards of 60 inquiries from qualified Excel gurus.  Just sifting through all the talent was a project in itself.

Are you a master of Microsoft Excel, looking to earn a few hundred bucks by helping me with a fantasy baseball project?  Read the details below and if you’re the guy or gal please drop me a line at mlbtraderumors@gmail.com.

I need someone who is an Excel master.  I’m talking advanced skills in both functionality and aesthetics.  Myself, I know my way around a spreadsheet and do vlookups in my sleep (I can’t believe I just said that).  I need someone who can do much more – apply the most advanced Excel functions artfully to reduce processing time and create a gorgeous looking, user-friendly spreadsheet.  I’ll tell you all the things this spreadsheet needs to do and you’ll make it work. Additionally, it’s been mentioned to me that I might be better served using Access somehow.  I’m all ears and skills in that are probably helpful to my goals.

Often people with these types of skills work in accounting or as an actuary.  It’s not a requirement for this project, but it’s a good sign to me that you are an Excel master.  Either way please explain your qualifications in your email.

As I said, it’s a fantasy baseball project, so it’s more fun than your usual TPS reports.  I would need the brunt of the work hammered out within one week, with minor tweaks done throughout the season.  I’m guessing it would be roughly 10-15 hours worth of work.  I haven’t decided the exact amount that will be paid for the project, but I’m flexible and fair and we will agree on money before any work is done.

If you’re interested in this project, please send an email to mlbtraderumors@gmail.com explaining your qualifications.  Thanks.

The Indians finally signed Keith Foulke officially.  He gets $5MM in ’07 with another $2MM in incentives.  There’s a similar mutual option for ’08.  Foulke and Joe Borowski will compete for saves.

The Marlins would consider giving up Yusmeiro Petit for Armando Benitez, not a bad idea for the Giants.  However, Benitez will have to prove his health first.  The Giants are out on David Wells, making San Diego his likely suitor.

The Cardinals are being given every chance to improve their offer to Mark Mulder to rival those from Texas and Cleveland.  It seems the Cards would go to two years, so it may just be a matter of dollars.  Mulder could decide by this weekend. 

That whole Milledge for Blanton thing?  Not so much, says a Mets official.  Mets fans should be relieved.

Ready for fantasy baseball yet?  Check out my first baseman rankings at RotoAuthority.

Here are some smaller signings and rumors around baseball today.

According to RotoWorld, the Twins have signed Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract.  He gets $1MM for making the team and can earn another $2MM.  Neither the Cards nor Yankees could get anything useful out of him in 16 starts.  Logic dictates that Ponson won’t make the Twins’ rotation, but you never know.

Joel Pineiro will likely join the Red Sox for $4MM guaranteed.  It seems like a lot of money for someone with Pineiro’s history, but I guess Jason Marquis set the bar.  The 28 year-old righty posted a 4.81 ERA in 24 relief innings in 2006, so hopefully he can recapture that, er, magic.

David Newhan may become a Met, but I don’t see how he would make the team. He seems to be living off a couple of solid months from 2004.

The Denver Post tells us that the Rockies are doing some curious things: entertaining signings of Darin Erstad, Jon Mabry, and/or various washed up catchers, considering a Rodrigo Lopez trade, and working on an extension for Jamey Carroll.  I see.  Well then.

The Pirates are in on this Brian Lawrence character.  [Insert requisite mention of Opening Day starts here].  I think the question we’re all thinking right now is: where would this leave Shawn Chacon?

Brian Lawrence wants to pitch for the Rockies, and they’ve attended his private workouts.  The Nationals acquired Lawrence for Vinny Castilla on November 3rd of last year, only to learn in February he’d be out for the season with a labrum tear.  Lawrence is a pitch-to-contact guy with good control.  His heavy groundballing style could fit in Colorado.

The same Denver Post article mentions that Javy Lopez’s agent has had discussions with the Rox.  Teams don’t like to turn rotations over completely to rookie catchers, so Chris Iannetta may unfortunately have some company for a season or two.  The Rockies previously hoped to sign Rod Barajas.

Tracy Ringolsby writes that the Orioles still want to sign Shannon Stewart on an incentive-laden deal.  Seems pointless to me. Ringolsby also says the Padres are the frontrunners for David Wells, who wants $3MM.  That makes sense for any NL team, but Wells wants to pitch in California.

Mark Mulder returns from Tahiti soon and will decide whether to become an Indian, Ranger, or Cardinal.  For his career’s sake, he should probably go back to St. Louis.

One way or another, the Yankees will import a lefty reliever.  Ron Villone and Scott Schoeneweis are being discussed.

For the fantasy baseball geeks out there, check out my Randy Johnson projection at RotoAuthority.  And for the Yankee fans, here’s my take on Kei Igawa (yes, I know that he has a third pitch).  Where do you stand on these two southpaws?  Make your projection and have it preserved forever in the comments.  Other odds and ends:

Lot of Alex Rios rumors floating around, but nothing I can confirm.  I did verify that Rios placed at #41 on D.A. Humber’s Top 50 Awesome Players list.

Southside Sox weighs in on the McCarthy/Danks trade.  Well reasoned.  And then on the other end of the spectrum, there’s this.  The silliest argument against Kenny Williams’s decisions this winter: "Remember when the Sox had a fifth starter competition, with guys I never heard of, and it didn’t work out?  That proved that John Danks et. al can’t possibly succeed."

Word on the street is that Baseball Prospectus injury analyst Will Carroll may be taking his baseball services over to ESPN.

Does anyone else feel a void in their life without Buster Olney’s blog for a week?

Did you realize Baseball Digest Daily snagged all these sweet exclusive interviews throughout 2006?  I definitely hadn’t.  Have a look at their Top Personalities of 2006.

On an unrelated note, I updated the sidebar on this site with some new links.  I’ve now got links to each team’s rumors.  I also updated the free agent position lists.  There’s not much left in the cupboard.  I completely redid the free agent reliever post.

And finally I’ve made it where clicking on the banner returns you to the main page.  Long overdue.  Still on the fence about links opening in new windows – I’ve done it on RotoAuthority.com and I don’t like it.

According to the Chicago Tribune (registration required), a man named David Dright of Chicago got a hold of financial records for 91 Major League players, including Jim Thome, Moises Alou, and Pedro Martinez.

He found unshredded loan applications, tax returns, and other private documents in a dumpster next to the SFX agency in Northbrook, IL.  Dright has a past history of identity theft, with Juan Pierre and Miguel Tejada involved among others.

Teams were adding all sorts of small bits and pieces today; I thought I’d round them up in a single post.

The Nats re-signed Robert Fick, who will turn 33 in March.  Fick catches and plays first, plus maybe some outfield in a pinch.  It’s been a while since he hit for any power.

The Royals added some pitching depth in Zach Day, who’s 28.  He’s coming back from rotator cuff surgery, and hasn’t been a factor since 2004.  They also re-signed Brandon Duckworth, a 31 year-old AAAA type guy.  He had a 2.42 ERA in 74 Triple A innings this year.  Finally, KC signed reliever David Riske, who turned 30 this year.  Riske’s posted some solid ERAs but it seems like a house of cards given his declining strikeout rate.  Riske would probably get the ball in the ninth if Octavio Dotel gets hurt.

I’ve received many emails about the Braves signing Chris Woodward.  Why, I’m not sure.  Usually I ignore signings of this stature.  30 year-old backup infielder who can’t hit.  I would think Martin Prado and Willy Aybar are still the frontrunners for the second base gig in Atlanta.