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Hot Stove Digest: Cubs agree to deal with Koji Uehara

Koji Uehara will pitch for the Cubs in 2017. (Getty Images/Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox)
Koji Uehara will pitch for the Cubs in 2017. (Getty Images/Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox)

Welcome to The Stew’s Hot Stove Digest, our daily rundown of MLB news, rumors and gossip for Hot Stove season. Here you’ll find a quick recap of all the day’s action and other fun stuff from around the internet that we think is worth your time.

WHAT A RELIEF: The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a deal with free-agent reliever Koji Uehara. The 41-year-old Uehara posted a 3.45 ERA over 47 innings with the Boston Red Sox last year. He’ll likely slot into a setup role behind the newly-acquired Wade Davis. Uehara is still an effective pitcher despite his age, but doesn’t often pitch on back-to-back days anymore. [@JonHeyman]

GETTING CLOSE: The St. Louis Cardinals are getting close to signing outfielder Dexter Fowler. St. Louis has been linked to Fowler all offseason, so it’s not surprising they would be interested in the 30-year-old. Fowler hit .276/.393/.447, with 13 home runs, over 551 plate appearances with the Chicago Cubs last year. [@BNightengale]

WHO’S NEXT: The Washington Nationals are looking at pretty much every reliever still on the market. The club has made a push for former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, though it’s said Jansen already has a significant offer from the Miami Marlins. If the team misses out on Jansen, they could pursue either Alex Colome or David Robertson in a deal. [@Ken_Rosenthal]

The Andrew McCutchen situation got a lot murkier at the Winter Meetings. (Getty Images/Justin K. Aller)
The Andrew McCutchen situation got a lot murkier at the Winter Meetings. (Getty Images/Justin K. Aller)

STAYING PUT: After shopping outfielder Andrew McCutchen early in the offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates are now going to keep him, according to general manager Neal Huntington. The Pirates were pretty open about the fact that McCutchen had been available for trade, but nothing materialized during the Winter Meetings. At this point, they might be better off holding onto the 30-year-old and hoping he rebuilds some of his value in the first half of 2017. [@Sawchik_Trib]

WE’RE LISTENING: The Detroit Tigers entertained offers at the Winter Meetings, but none of them involved All-Star first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Earlier in the offseason, rumors emerged suggesting the Tigers were willing to trade a number of their players, including Justin Verlander and Cabrera. It’s unclear whether they’ve changed their mind, or whether they haven’t received offers they are happy with at this time. [@BNightengale]

JUST TALKING: The Colorado Rockies continue to pursue Mark Trumbo. The 30-year-old outfielder is coming off a career-year in which he blasted 47 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles. If Trumbo joins the Rockies, the team would likely trade an outfielder to make room for him. That could happen anyway, as the team also inked Ian Desmond on Wednesday. [@BNightengale]

DONE DEAL: The Atlanta Braves have traded Tyrell Jenkins and Brady Feigl to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Luke Jackson. The 25-year-old Jackson posted a 3.69 ERA over two minor-league levels last year. He was bombed in a brief stint in the majors, posting a 10.80 ERA over 11 2/3 innings. Jenkins, 24, also reached the majors last season and had similar struggles, putting up a 5.88 ERA in 52 innings. Feigl was limited to just six innings last year as he attempted to come back from Tommy John surgery. [@ChrisCotillo]

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik