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 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.

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 2009 Winter Meetings start slowly in Indianapolis, IN, with the only deals announced on the first day being SS Adam Everett re-signing with the Tigers for one year, and the Nationals acquiring reliever Brian Bruney from the Yankees for a player to be named later.

The Veterans Committee holds two votes for election to the Hall of Fame, in the managers and umpires category and the executives category. In the first group, former umpire Doug Harvey and manager Whitey Herzog are elected and will be inducted in 2010. No one from the second group receives the required 75% of votes. Harvey is the first umpire elected in 11 years.

The Lowell Spinners, the Red Sox short-season affiliate, well-known for their unique promotional events, publicly extend an invitation to Michaele and Tareq Salahi to attend the team’s Eighth Annual Alumni Dinner to be held later this month at the city’s Memorial Auditorium. The infamous couple has become recently newsworthy for their appearance at a White House State Dinner without being included on the guest list.

After trying seven shortstops since Nomar Garciaparra’s 2004 trade to the Cubs, the Red Sox give Marco Scutaro an opportunity to play the position, inking the 34 year-old infielder to a two-year deal with a club option for 2012. The free-agent, who hit a career-best .282 along with 12 homers and 60 RBIs for Toronto last season, will replace Alex Gonzalez, who left the Red Sox after Boston declined his $6 million option and recently signed with the Blue Jays.

The Seattle Mariners also dip into the free agent pool, signing infielder Chone Figgins to a four-year, $36 million deal. It’s still not certain whether Figgins will play 2B or 3B for his new team, as this hinges on whether Seattle re-signs 3B Adrian Beltre. While the deal is announced today, it will only be finalized on December 8th. However, Figgins will be a huge disappointment and will be released before the end of his contract.