so there goes another utility infield candidate.  I think Quail and I both pointed to MIles as one of the better choices from a fairly weak field of free agent utility infielders. 

Reportedly this signing was made in order to allow the Cubs to trade DeRosa to the Indians for multiple young pitchers.  If that is true, combined with the trade of Marquis to the Rockies, the Cubs appear to be positioning themselves for another run at Peavy.  The Cubs also are rumored to pick up Milton Bradley for their outfield.  That isn't a bad choice, if it happens, but it is a tad risky.  One wonders if we will see some kind of blow up in the dugout between Piniella and Bradley.  Dugout fisticuffs are known to happen in Cubbie land.

You can head on down to MLBTR if you want to see the source of some of these tidbits.

As for the Astros' search for a utility  infielder...how about Craig Counsell?  Is he a cinch to re-sign with the Brewers or something?  (Maybe Ol' Pete will give us some insight.)  Counsell is a good defensive player, puts up a good OBP, though with little power.  He seems like a nice Loretta-like player.  (OK, maybe better defensively than Loretta, but not as consistent offensively...however, you get the idea.)  A recent article at beyond the boxscore looked at the weak crop of FA utility infielders and concluded that Counsell is probably the best.