Winter meetings musings ...

Some thoughts on Major League Baseball's winter meetings, which concluded late last week in Las Vegas:

• One of the biggest winners was the New York Mets, who made a couple of moves to bolster a woeful bullpen. They signed Francisco Rodriguez to a somewhat sensible (three years, $37 million) and acquired former Seattle closer J.J. Putz to serve as his setup man. There is still some work to be done, but the Mets shouldn't have quite as many eighth- and ninth-inning problems if K-Rod and Putz stay healthy.

• The award for chutzpah goes to New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who showed some nerve in negotiations for an aborted trade that would have sent outfielder Melky Cabrera and lefty pitcher Kei Igawa to Milwaukee for center fielder Mike Cameron. Less than 48 hours after the Yanks broke the bank for ex-Brewer C.C. Sabathia (seven years, $161 million), Cashman had the audacity to ask Milwaukee management to eat some of Cameron's $10 million salary for next season.

Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin reportedly stormed out of the room. I can't say I blame him.

• With the Yankees overpaying for both Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, is Joba Chamberlain headed back to the bullpen? Assuming Chien-Ming Wang comes back from his foot injury, the Yankees would appear to have enough rotation depth to put Chamberlain back in the setup role for Mariano Rivera.

The Yanks are still trying to lure Andy Pettitte back to the fold and prospect Phil Hughes appears to be fully recovered from his rib injury — Hughes was dominant in a late-season stint in Triple-A and in the Arizona Fall League.

• Cleveland acquired second baseman Luis Valbuena in a three-team trade with Seattle and the Mets, which may necessitate a shift throughout the infield. Don't be surprised if the Indians move second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to shortstop, pushing Jhonny Peralta to third base. The moves could be a major defensive upgrade.

Signing Kerry Wood as the new closer was a solid move, solving a long-festering problem.

• St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa has made no secret that he covets lefty closer Brian Fuentes, who seems unlikely to return to Colorado. Another option could be former Dodgers closer Takashi Saito, who wasn't offered a new contract.

Don't be shocked if the Cardinals also try to make a reclamation project out of former Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera, a hard-throwing 6-7 righty that has never been able to reach his potential — Cabrera was non-tendered by the Orioles, making him a free agent.

• The Cubs struck out on their two major objectives — acquiring San Diego ace Jake Peavy and finding someone to take Jason Marquis' salary off their hands.

I'm also a little leery of the decision to let Kerry Wood go. Carlos Marmol may be fine as the closer and Jeff Samardzija could work out as the setup man, but you can just never have too much bullpen. The Cubs may also regret trading one of their best pitching prospects to Florida for retread Kevin Gregg,

I wonder if the Cubs' window of opportunity is closing. Derrek Lee is 33 and looks to be in decline, and Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez (is he really just 30 years old?) aren't getting any younger, and those three players are cornerstones of the offense.

Ryan Dempster (resigned to an expensive four-year deal) isn't likely to repeat his 2008 performance and there are major questions whether he can stay healthy as a starter. And Carlos Zambano's arm problems may not be totally solved by a winter's rest.

The Cubs' fall from the top of the NL Central may be faster than anyone imagined.