MLB Rumors

The Hot Stove is heating up once again, as a flurry of new activity has stoked the dying embers and re-ignited the flame.

We've got major trades to report, some more free agent signing rounding out team rosters, and we'll even throw in a few rumors to marinate on this Friday night.

Bleacher Report sends you into the weekend right, and satisfies your baseball cravings with all the latest news and buzz.  Here are 12 of the biggest recent stories across baseball.  Dig in!

This new decade of ours is only one baseball season old, but baseball fans have already seen the future in some respects. Buster Posey, Jason Heyward, Starlin Castro, Mike Stanton and Stephen Strasburg each had huge rookie seasons, and they are not alone. Meanwhile, Albert Pujols shows no signs of slowing down as he enters his second decade of dominance over the league. Nor are CC Sabathia or Joe Mauer done building their Cooperstown cases.

After keeping Twins nation in constant anxiety for the last two weeks, Carl Pavano and his moustache have finally climbed on board for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press has reported that Minnesota and Pavano agreed to a two-year, $16.5 million.

In signing relief pitcher Rafael Soriano, the New York Yankees took a big step in shoring up their bullpen before heading south to Florida for spring training.

The team had already made a number of signings including pitcher Pedro Feliciano, pitcher Mark Prior and catcher Russell Martin.

The Yankees also retained two major free agents in agreeing to terms on multi-year deals with closer Mariano Rivera and shortstop Derek Jeter.

We're still in January, but most MLB team's rosters are taking shape for 2011.

Almost all of the major free agents have been signed, and we can start to look forward to Spring Training and the regular season beyond, anticipating the action on the field finally taking center stage again.

But we still have a few weeks of Hot Stove action left to get through and there are still plenty of juicy rumors to address.  Here is a look at some of the latest.

Since signing Cliff Lee to a surprising five-year contract, the Philadelphia Phillies have been eerily quiet in the market this offseason.

The team certainly isn't going to make any splashes quite as large as it did with the Lee signing, but by no means does that mean that the franchise isn't going to build depth for another possible World Series run.

Albert Pujols has told the St. Louis Cardinals he wants a new contract by the beginning of spring training, or he will sever negotiations and become a free agent in the fall, sources told ESPN the Magazine's Buster Olney.

The Cardinals exercised Pujols' option for next season in October, which will pay him $16 million. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak refused to comment on the state of the negotiations Saturday.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com, former New York Met and current free agent pitcher John Maine's agent Rex Gary has been contacted by NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies along with a few other teams.

Gary has said, "We have spoken to a lot of teams and there is a lot of interest."

Rafael Soriano headlines the market of remaining free agents this MLB offseason.

The biggest hitters left on the market are all aging stars like Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero and Manny Ramirez.

There are also plenty of pitchers on the market, including Jeff Francis and Brad Penny.

But the number of teams with enough money to sign some of these players is starting to drop off. If teams haven't made moves by now, they might not make moves at all.

However, there are still a few teams, like the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets, with money to spend.

Another day of no good news out of New York Yankees front office regarding signing a player who can help the team win in 2011. 

GM Brian Cashman’s latest rumored pursuant is pitcher Justin Duchscherer.

Once again, Cashman continues confusing Yankee fans, as Duchscherer is a nightmare version of ace Zach Greinke.