Hot Stove Wrap Up 12/22 and Jim's Christmas Wishlist

Quote of the Day

"Who's on first, what's on second, I don't know's on third."  New Jimmy Fallon versions.  You should probably check it out if you haven't yet...

Welcome to today's Hot Stove.  We've got some quick updates today including a few rumored signings and trades, a couple of pitchers making a comeback, and Jim from Houston, Texas shares what he wants for Christmas as a Cubs fan in another special guest post of "My Christmas Wishlist."  Which I'm guessing is a LOT.  

Let's get this party started.  Only three days until Christmas and perhaps more importantly, only 52 more days until pitchers and catchers report...

Cody Ross says "Bye, bye Beantown"

• The Diamondbacks have made a splash by signing outfielder Cody Ross to a three-year deal worth $26 million.  Ross had a super year with the Giants in 2011 and hit 22 home runs with the Red Sox last year.  While other teams had been linked with the free agent, Ross lives with his family in nearby Scottsdale so it probably makes sense for him.  

• Now the Diamondbacks have a even more crowded outfield even with Chris Young gone.  Expect the trade rumors for Justin Upton to increase now that Ross is on board too.   

• Scott Kazmir has agreed to a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians.  Kazmir struggled with injuries in 2011, the last year that he pitched in the majors.  He did throw with the Sugarland Skeeters last year and displayed pretty good stuff in Puerto Rico ball this winter.  Let's wish him well and hope he gets back into form.  He's only 28, by the way.   

• Another pitcher making a comeback is Jeremy Bonderman who signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners.  Bonderman last pitched in 2010 and the 30-year-old will always have a place in my heart for shutting down the Yankees to clinch the ALDS in 2006.  Let's wish him well too.   

- The Red Sox are reportedly in trade talks as we speak for RP Joel Hanrahan which is probably a good deal since Andrew Bailey's status is still in the air.  We'll keep an eye on this one as the day progresses.  Like most trades, they usually go through while I'm typing these Hot Stove updates.

- Mariners have an interest in Raul Ibanez.  The Yankees need to step up their game.  

- OF Nate Schierholtz has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs.  A great defender, Schierholtz reportedly drew interest from several teams.  He also reportedly turned down more money to help man right field at the Friendly Confines.  

And again, we welcome guest blogger Jim R from Houston, Texas for this special edition of....

My Christmas Wishlist (All I Want for Christmas is...)

Yesterday, Eric M. from Missouri shared what he hoped the Cardinals would get this Christmas.  Today, we welcome Jim R. from Houston to share what he wants for Christmas.  Describing himself as having "a borderline idolatrous affair with the Chicago Cubs," you would think that at the top of Jim's wishlist would obviously be a Cub's World Series.  But alas, Jim is also a realist and knows that this won't happen (at least next year....or the next 50-100 years or so).  So here's what Jim wants for Christmas, and trust me, if any fan base deserves everything they want for Christmas, it's Chicago Cubs fans.  

The stage is all yours Jim, thanks for sharing....

All Jim Wants for Christmas is....

"As a Cubs fan, outside of what looks to be a somewhat confusing contract for a (decent) #4 starter in Edwin Jackson, my Christmas wish is for exactly what Jed and Theo are going for: "waves and waves of pitching." It'd be spectacular if the trade price for a guy like Rick Porcello came down and the Cubs could work something out. They need some semblance of a bullpen to go along with a nice group of back of the rotation starters, and an offense 

that features 2 (please God please) future stars in Castro and Rizzo and a motley crew of guys hoping to play well enough to get traded to a contender mid season.

I'm hoping for a Christmas miracle, not necessarily for this offseason, but for a couple of offseasons from now when studs like Verlander, David Price, and King Felix potentially become free agents. I'm hoping the young offensive players continue to develop. And perhaps most of all, I'm hoping for the Christmas miracle of waking up to see that Mike Trout suddenly patrols center at Wrigley in exchange for, oh I don't know, Marmol and Garza, or something stupid like that. Truly a Christmas miracle.

In short, my hope has quickly fallen into the normalcy of another wasted breath proclaiming that indeed, "This is the year." The Cubs have a couple more long, cold winters ahead."

Jim thank you for sharing.  I hope Cubs fans everywhere keep the faith in Theo/Jed/Sveum and maybe, just maybe, this year can be your year.  But probably not.  

Tomorrow, Joshua from Milwaukee shares his wishlist for the Brewers (hint: it doesn't involve Prince Fielder or J.J. Hardy back)  

Thanks for checking in baseball freaks, until tomorrow, I'm out!