"Another day passed without any news from the warehouse, leaving me with little to do besides count the number of calls and text messages that went unreturned and sweeping up about 12 pounds of pine needles that fell off my Christmas tree as I carried it outside.

At least some of my energy wasn't wasted.

For what it's worth, I've heard from an industry source that the Orioles and Cubs discussed a trade involving Alfonso Soriano. It may not have gone far - FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweeted yesterday that the Cubs couldn't find a match for Soriano after talking to "a few teams" - but that's the scuttlebutt.

ESPNChicago.com reported that the Cubs talked to "at least eight AL teams over the last six weeks" regarding Soriano, a clear signal that he's mostly viewed as a designated hitter.

I know what some of you are thinking, so I'll point out that Soriano started 153 games at second base with the Rangers in 2005, but has appeared in only four since that year - none of them as a starter. He's been playing left field, and not at a high level. He committed seven errors and posted a .965 fielding percentage in 128 games last season.

The Cubs gave Soriano an eight-year, $136 million contract in 2006 after he hit .277/.351/.560 with 41 doubles, 46 homers, 95 RBIs and 41 stolen bases in his only season with the Nationals. "