BASEBALL Lack of dealing by GMs, agents

The only deal so far is the Cubs got catcher Damian Miller from Arizona for two minor league players.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Big league general managers have done a lot more talking than trading so far.
While GMs and agents have spent much of the past three days laying the ground work for possible deals, only one notable player has changed teams.
The Chicago Cubs beefed up their catching Wednesday, acquiring Damian Miller from Arizona for two minor leaguers.
But the lack of dealing isn't from a lack of trying.
"We've talked to a lot of people this week. But 99 percent of what we talk about doesn't lead to anything," Diamondbacks GM Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "This one just happened to work out."
Most of the work being done at the general managers' meetings is setting the stage for the next two months.
Trade talks
Teams have started preliminary trade talks -- finding out which players are available and which are coveted. Agents and clubs have also expressed interest in holding more significant talks in the next few weeks, possibly at next month's winter meetings.
But except for the Philadelphia Phillies, who made contract offers to free agents Jim Thome, Tom Glavine and David Bell on Tuesday, most teams are moving cautiously.
"It will be a slower-developing market, which is what we anticipated coming out here," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "Teams have contracts they would like to trade to change their configuration."
Arizona and Colorado have talked about swapping outfielder Larry Walker and third baseman Matt Williams. The Rockies are also trying to see if there is any interest in overpaid pitchers Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle.
Florida, which is looking to unload Charles Johnson and Preston Wilson, could be interested in Hampton.
The Mets might be willing to take on Neagle as long as the Rockies take back one of New York's undesirable players: Jeromy Burnitz, Rey Ordonez or Roger Cedeno.
Yanks eye payroll cut
Even the usually free-spending Yankees are looking to slash payroll. GM Brian Cashman is under orders to save money and is looking to deal Raul Mondesi, Rondell White and Sterling Hitchcock.
"I have a lot of ideas floating around," Cashman said. "I'm just waiting for responses."
After a couple of weeks of talks, the Cubs and Diamondbacks were able to make a deal. Arizona sent Miller to Chicago for left-hander David Noyce and outfielder Gary Johnson.
Miller, 33, batted .249 with 22 doubles, 11 homers and 42 RBI in 101 games last season for the Diamondbacks, who won the NL West.
Chicago was looking to upgrade its catching. Joe Girardi is a free agent and Todd Hundley, who hit .211 last season, has been in two-year batting slump.
There was only one other deal made. Oakland acquired right-hander Roy Smith from Cleveland on Wednesday for cash considerations.