“Jeremy is excited to join the Rockies, and I see this as a positive result for all parties,” Guthrie’s agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, said in a statement. “Negotiations with the Orioles were steady yet slow, and an arbitration hearing seemed possible and even likely. Once informed of the trade, Jeremy decided to make a showing of good faith and agreed to a deal within the Rockies’ payroll structure, since he felt it important that his relationship with his new team get off on the right foot. Jeremy is excited about a fresh start with a new organization and a contending team close to home.”

Guthrie then agreed to a one-year deal with the Rockies for $8.2mm, thus avoiding arbitration.

Guthrie will be a free agent after the 2012 season and according to Connolly, he had been rumored to be on the trading block.

Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.

Slowey, 27, is a career 39-29 and a 4.66 ERA in 100 career appearances all for the Minnesota Twins. He was previously traded to the Rockies this off-season in exchange for RHP Daniel Turpen.

Putnam, 24, was 1-1 with a 6.14 ERA in 8 appearances last season. He also made his Major League debut last year.

Image taken by laffy4k and used under the Creative Commons License Agreement

Both sides had been talking about the deal for the last few days with one of the issues being how much of Scutaro’s $6mm salary Colorado would take on which now appears to be all of it.

The deal may pave the way for Boston to sign Roy Oswalt as they were looking to shed payroll to sign him.

Scutaro posted a career high .299 avg in 445 plate appearances last season.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe notes that Nick Punto and Mike Aviles will likely platoon at shortstop instead of bringing up defensive wiz Jose Iglesias from the minors initially at the start of the season.

Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.

Image by Keri Sullivan under the Creative Commons License.

Pineda who in his rookie season went 9-10 with a 3.74 era and averaging just over a strikeout per inning. He will now slot in behind CC Sabathia and in front of Ivan Nova in the Bronx Bombers rotation.

Campos, 21, posted a 2.32 era at single-A this year and possess an “electric” fastball.

Montero, saw limited action after being called up in September, but didn’t waste the opportunity to display his talent and power. In 61 at-bats, he hit .328 with 4 home runs and 12 RBI’s. He will most likely take over the full time DH role.

Noesi, who only has 56 big-league innings under his belt, was considered by many at one time as one of the Yankees top prospects (#7 in 2011 per BA). Last year at Triple-A, he posted a 3.28 era while averaging just over 7 strikeouts a game.

Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.

Rizzo who appeared to be blocked now by the recent acquisition of Yonder Alonso will be reunited with his old bosses, Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2007 draft while in Boston. Rizzo was traded to the Padres last offseason as a piece of the Adrian Gonzalez trade.

Rizzo hit only .141 in 151 at-bats but posted better numbers at Triple-A hitting .331.

Cashner posted a 1.69 ERA in 10 2/3 innings as he was dealt with rotator cuff issues this past season.

Image taken by SD Dirk and used under the Creative Commons License Agreement.

The Rockies have also agreed to a one-year contract with third baseman Casey Blake.

Image by Joel Dinda under the Creative Commons License.

Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel adds that the deal is not finalized, but the Marlins have agreed to pick up $2.5 million of Zambrano’s $18 million salary for 2012.

Zambrano went 9-7 with a 4.82 ERA last season with the Cubs. Zambrano appeared on his way out of Chicago as he was suspended twice by the team for his actions and comments.

Back in October, Zambrano first made it known that he wanted to join Ozzie Guillen down in Miami during a radio interview.

Image by Barbara Moore under the Creative Commons License.

Image by Mark Larson under the Creative Commons License.

Image by Dave Newman under the Creative Commons License.

Frasor earned $3.5mm last season while throwing 60 innings. For each inning Frasor pitched, he earned $58,333 or $61,403 for each strikeout (57 strikeouts).

Frasor had his $3.75mm team option picked up by the White Sox prior to the trade.

In 418.2/3 innings in the big leagues, Frasor has posted a 3.74 era while striking out 446.

Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Commons License Agreement.

Quentin who had a career year in 2008 when he hit .286 with 36 home runs and 100 RBIs, has seen his production slip where he hit .254 with 24 home runs and 77 RBIs. Though even with the numbers he put up last season, Quentin will become the biggest power threat in a power hunger San Diego lineup.

Quentin made $5.05mm last year in arbitration and is under team control for one more season.

Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Commons License Agreement.

The deal will provide the Red Sox a proven closer which was needed when Papelbon signed with the Phillies. Bailey posted a 3.24 ERA in 41 2/3 innings while saving 24 games for the Athletics. The Sox also have recently acquire  right handed pitcher Kyle Weiland who was acquired from the Astros as a set up man for Bailey.

Reddick who was finally given a chance to play everday, hit .254 in 278 plate appearances while accumulating 7 home runs.

Image by ChipMaheney under the Creative Commons License.

Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.

The deal was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Image by SD Dirk under the Creative Commons License.

Image by SD Dirk under the Creative Commons License.

Weiland went 0-3 with a 7.66 ERA in 24.2 innings and Lowrie hit .252/.303/.382 with 6 HR’s and 36 RBI’s with the Red Sox in 2011. Melancon went 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in 17.1 innings with the Astros in 2011.

Image by BeGreen90 under the Creative Commons License.

Rosenthal says that the team’s financial flexibility isn’t as “significant” as everybody expected, and that’s why they are exploring “more cost-effective moves” like trading for pitchers such as Matt Garza, Gio Gonzalez and Wade Davis.

With Fielder on his way to commanding at least a $150 million contract, and Darvish about $100 million including the posting fee and his contract, the Rangers have cheaper options by trading for any of the above named pitchers.

Garza was 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA in 198 innings with the Cubs in 2011.

Gonzalez went 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA in 202.0 innings with the A’s in 2011 and Davis went 11-10 with a 4.45 ERA in 184 innings with the Rays in 2011.

Image by imagesbyferg under the Creative Commons License.

The Brewers agreed to a three-year deal with Aramis Ramirez earlier today.  That move made McGehee expandable for Milwaukee.

Image by Steve Paluch under the Creative Commons License.

Image by Joel Dinda under the Creative Commons License.

The 30-year-old Francisco hit .244 with six home runs and drove in 34 runs over 100 games with the Phillies.

Gailey, 26 and a native of Philadelphia, was 5-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 45 relief appearances in the Blue Jays’ Minor League system in 2011.

Image by veggiefrog under the Creative Commons License.

All of those pitchers are available for trades. Floyd, Danks and Gonzalez would probably cost the Red Sox top prospects, but to land Rodriguez, the team would probably have to eat most of his salary.

Danks went 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA in 170.1 innings and Floyd went 12-13 with a 4.37 ERA in 193.2 innings with the White Sox in 2011. Gonzalez went 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA in 202.0 innings with the A’s in 2011. Rodriguez went 11-11 with a 3.49 ERA in 191.0 innings with the Astros in 2011.

Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.

Image by Evan Wohrman under the Creative Commons License.

Balester was orginally an Expo and had a 5-16 record with a 5.17 ERA in 62 games (22 starts) for the Nationals from 2008-2011.  The 24-year-old Perry was 5-6 with a 4.07 ERA in 149 relief appearances for the Tigers over three seasons.

Image by Rob Pongsajapan under the Creative Commons License.