After much anticipation (OK, maybe not that much), the Reds have finalized their contract with David Weathers. To make room on the roster, they've DFA'd Brandon Claussen.

Marc has some quotes from Claussen if you're into reading the unconquerable spirit that lives on in even those who should be feeling pretty conquered.

It's true that Claussen failed to live up to his high expectations last season. Coming out of spring training, he predicted that the Reds starters would be going 7-innings deep, which was true of a couple of them. Not him of course, but a couple of them.

What I'll miss most about Claussen is the relentless pickle jokes Bellyscratcher loved to make at his expense. Maybe the Cardinals will pick him up. I bet she would relish that.

The Cubs must see that it would be virtually impossible for them to be as bad as the Pirates, so instead, they're trying to be not-quite-as-bad but for a whole lot more money.

At least, that's the only reason I can see for them signing Jason Marquis to a 3-year, $20 million contract (via GROTA):

The Cubs filled out their rotation on Friday night by signing free-agent Jason Marquis to a three-year deal worth approximately $20 million, sources said.

The signing, which was first reported by the St. Louis-Post Dispatch, ends the Cubs search for two starters, following the four-year, $40 million deal for Ted Lilly on Wednesday.

Marquis, 28, went 14-16 for St. Louis in '06 with a 6.02 earned-run average in 2006. he was 3-10 with a 6.72 ERA after the All-Star break, costing him a rotation spot in the postseason.

The Cubs believe pitching coach Larry Rothchild can fine-tune Marquis and make him a more consistent pitcher. His best season came in 2004, when Marquis went 15-7 with a 3.71 ERA. His career record with Atlanta and St. Louis is 56-52 with a 4.55 ERA.

I don't usually quote an entire story, but every word of this is golden (plus, it's really short). So the Cubs believe that Rothchild can succeed where Duncan could not? Marquis wasn't even on the Cards' post-season roster, and the Cubs are giving him $7 million a year? His best season was in 2004, and they're signing him to a three-year deal?

Maybe they're hoping he can spell Soriano in center. I remember him being a pretty good hitter.

The winter meetings are over, and this year's edition was a turkey. The Reds weren't involved in any big deals, and the one big rumor, about the Reds offering Mark Loretta a deal, was one that sounded just horrible.

They did manage to pick up a couple of guys, though: they selected right-hand pitcher Jared Burton from the As in the Rule 5 draft. The Cubs selected Josh Hamilton from the Devil Rays the same way, then traded him to the Reds. Which is really less of a trade than a sale. I mean, I don't go around saying I went to the store and traded $20 for a miniature statuette of Sean Casey grounding into a double play.

But I digress.

Of course, both deals are interesting, and of course, the Reds needed some pitching fodder. But all you're going to hear about is Hamilton.

Quotes via Marc about the deals:

Wayne on Hamilton:

“There's risk to everything you do. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

The risk, in this case, is the chance that Hamilton will succumb to the drug habit that has rendered him useless the last few seasons. Hamilton, however, sounds determined to stay clean:

UPDATE 2: Hamilton:

“When I got the news I started shaking because I was so excited.”

“Jerry (Narron) saw me catch and pitch in one game. I remember him being at the game and being in awe and knowing who he was.”

“I guarantee I'll come in in the best shape of my life.”

“I didn't think (the Devils Rays) thought that anyone would take a chance.”

So at least we won't have to worry about him going the way of Josh Hancock. That's a relief.

Since he's a Rule 5-er, Hamilton has to say on the 25-man roster all season, or the Reds have to offer him back to Tampa Bay. Personally, I think Kriv-dawg is too stubborn to do a thing like that, but apparently the Rays think different.

Quote from DDN, (ht BubbaFan):

The large hook in this deal is that the Reds must keep the 25-year-old outfielder on their 25-man roster for the entire 2007 season or offer him back to the Devil Rays for $25,000. And the Devil Rays fully expect to get him back.

“At this point of his development, he needs to play, and it will be difficult for him to stick on the Reds roster,” Tampa Bay Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman said. “If we had kept him, he would have played this year at Class A. We fully expect the Reds to offer him back and we'll take him with open arms.”

No official word from the Reds on any of what's going on, but there are plenty of rumors, including:

• The Pirates Zach Duke for an OF
• The Reds' interest in Rodrigo Lopez
• Chris Denorfia to the Marlins
• The Reds pursuing Eric Gagne
• Marc Lancaster moving to Tampa Bay

Maybe we'll get some real action today.

I don't usually like to put up open threads because I'm afraid no one will post on them, and I'll look like a big, fat loser with no friends. But yesterday, discussion of the Mark Loretta rumor had to go on a thread about Adam Dunn, and that just ain't right. The team's subsequent denial of the rumor never made it in the comments at all.

These things need a space all their own.

So, feel free to comment on what you hear about today, winter-meeting-wise. And start a diary if you're so inclined. I'll try to check in from work, but they have this crazy idea about me actually working while I'm there. The nerve of some people!