TUCSON, Ariz. -- Despite the fact that nearly all of baseball's general managers and a handful of agents are together this week, only one notable player has changed teams so far.

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.

Teams have started preliminary trade talks -- finding out which opposing players are available and which of their own players are coveted. Agents and teams have also expressed interest to each other to hold 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.''

According to a report Thursday's New York Times, Mets owner Fred Wilpon has given a directive to Phillips to pursue Glavine. On Wednesday, Glavine's agent met with Phillips but the Mets supposedly did not make a formal offer to the pitcher, the newspaper said.

Arizona and Colorado have talked about swapping outfielder Larry Walker and third baseman Matt Williams. The Rockies are also exploring 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.

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.''

So far, the Phillies have been the most aggressive team this offseason. They offered Thome a reported five-year, $75 million contract, Glavine about $30 million for three years and a three-year contract to Bell.

But the Indians are still hopeful they can keep Thome, the top hitter on the market despite offering the slugger a four-year package believed to be worth between $40 and $48 million.

"The only thing they can offer Jim more of is money,'' Indians GM Mark Shapiro said. "If it comes down to that, we'll probably lose the player. I still feel Jim Thome is a player who valued more than that.''

The cost-cutting Braves have only offered Glavine a one-year deal, worth about $9 million. That could force the two-time Cy Young award winner to leave Atlanta after 16 years.

Glavine was 18-11 with a 2.96 ERA this season and has 242 career wins.

"The chance today of Tom Glavine leaving Atlanta is a very real possibility,'' said Gregg Clifton, Glavine's agent. "Six months ago that wasn't the case. But today, the chance that Tom Glavine will play with another team is a very viable possibility. It's not just smoke.''

Clifton has also talked to the Yankees and Mets, while Texas has expressed interest in the pitcher.

Cashman has other decisions to make first, including whether to exercise Andy Pettitte's $11.5 million option for next season by Friday.

"Brian expressed his interest in Tom,'' Clifton said. "But he said he'd have to make a few maneuvers for that interest to come to fruition. Given the timing, I don't know if that can happen.''

For now, the Mets and Phillies are the most aggressive teams.

Clifton said Glavine would probably visit Philadelphia next Thursday and Friday and thinks the Mets could make an offer soon. Glavine wants to see who the Mets hire as pitching coach before making a decision.

"It was more discussion. It was a step toward a potential offer,'' Clifton said about his meeting with Phillips. "I think the Mets were very serious.''

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.

"He's a good handler of pitchers and has done a good job for a long time,'' Cubs GM Jim Hendry said. "He was in the All-Star game last year and part of a world championship team and a strong contributor.''

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.

Also Wednesday, the NL champion San Francisco Giants hired manager Felipe Alou to replace Dusty Baker.

The 67-year-old Alou inherits a team that came within six outs of a World Series title. He was fired by Montreal in 2001 and was a bench coach in Detroit last season.

"When I received the first notice that I might be the guy, or the club was interested in me, I was really shocked,'' Alou said. "I was working with a team in the Dominican Republic and was far from major league baseball.''

Baker, meanwhile, is close to wrapping up his deal to take over the Chicago Cubs.

"I'm sure we'll have discussions today and tonight and hopefully work our way to a conclusion shortly,'' Hendry said.

Seattle also could hire a new manager later this week.