The Royals sign free agent catcher Jason Kendall to a two-year contract, replacing Miguel Olivo who became a free agent himself. In other signings, the White Sox add former Seattle Mariners closer J.J. Putz to their bullpen. Putz’s season with the Mets ended on June 9th when he underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery.

The Pirates sign Bobby Crosby (.231, 22, 64), the 2004 American League Rookie of the Year, to a $1 million, one-year contract. Last season, the 29 year-old versatile infielder played multiple games for the A’s at all four infield positions.

Faced with a glut of expensive relief pitchers, the Braves trade Rafael Soriano to Tampa Bay for Jesse Chavez. Soriano will have an outstanding as the Rays’ closer, leading the American League in saves.

The 2009 Rule V Draft is held. The Nationals select OF Jamie Hoffmann from the Dodgers with the first pick, but immediately send him to the Yankees to complete an earlier trade for P Brian Bruney. The Pirates select OF John Raynor from the Marlins with the second pick. Two other selections serve to complete trades made earlier this week: P Ben Snyder, taken by the Orioles, becomes the player to be named later in yesterday’s trade with Texas which brought P Kevin Millwood to the O’s, and 3B Jorge Jimenez, taken by the Astros, is the missing piece in their trade with the Marlins for P Matt Lindstrom.

The Astros sign free agent 3B Pedro Feliz to a one-year contract.

The Milwaukee Brewers go shopping for pitchers today, as they announce the signing of free agent starter Randy Wolf to a three-year deal worth $30 million and reliever LaTroy Hawkins to a two-year, $7.5 million deal.

The Rangers send starting pitcher Kevin Millwood to the Orioles for reliever Chris Ray in a move designed to give Texas additional financial flexibility to pursue free agent starter Rich Harden.

Chone Figgins (.298, 5, 54) and the Mariners finalized the $36 million, four-year deal which will bring the former L.A. Angel to Seattle. The 31 year-old infielder, who primarily played third, will switch to a new position if free-agent Adrian Beltre, the team’s current third baseman, returns to the team after an injury-plagued season.

The first blockbuster deal of the winter meetings is a three-team effort: the Yankees receive CF Curtis Granderson, the Diamondbacks get Ps Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson, and the Tigers obtain Ps Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth and Phil Coke and OF prospect Austin Jackson. The deal will be beneficial to all three teams.

The Nationals sign veteran C Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year deal worth $6 million. The deal comes as a surprise as “Pudge” was expected to finish his career with the Texas Rangers.