Oooh, tell me more about this beard

While most hot stove rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, it's no less entertaining with nothing else happening in the baseball world this time of year.

If I were properly motivated or compensated, I'd love to go through each newspaper and start a power ranking system for who was spot on with their predictions and rumor-mongering and who was apparently making stuff up as they raided the hotel minibar and prepared to hit send on their laptops.

I'd really love to see if the writers who are seen as the gold standard when it comes to insider information really do hold up to any scutiny.

Well, sorry, that's just not going to happen this time around, but I do have a nice list compiled by Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe team that has the following notes of interest:

2. Milton Bradley is in intense discussions with the Cubs.
3. The Tigers are eyeing Kerry Wood on a two-year deal.
8. Talks were again heating up between the Padres and Cubs on Jake Peavy.
13. If the Cubs obtain Jake Peavy, Jason Marquis or Rich Harden become trade bait.
14. Jim Leyland has grown a winter beard.

God, I love Leyland. He's the crustiest old-school manager you could hope for.

(Image from: MLB.com)