Fuentes, 33, spent the previous four seasons as the Rockies' closer. He saved 111 games during that span and was named to three All-Star Games.

He was hoping to land with the Angels. "Anaheim would be a great fit, being a California kid," Fuentes told the Merced Sun-Star earlier in December. "That would be my first choice."

The Cardinals appeared to be his second choice, but his agents put off Mozeliak while waiting to see how the Mark Teixeira free-agent sweepstakes played out. When the New York Yankees got Teixeira, the Angels had the flexibility to offer a deal similar to the Cards' proposal.

"I can't be upset that somebody wants to go somewhere else," Mozeliak said.

Miles wanted to remain in St. Louis. But when Mozeliak wasn't able to drum up trade interest in second baseman Adam Kennedy - and his $4 million salary for 2009 - he opted not to give Miles a qualifying offer.

That put Miles into the free-agent marketplace. The Cubs signed him to a two-year deal worth $4.9 million, doubling what he made as a Cardinal. His base salary was $1.4 million last season and $1 million in 2007.

"It couldn't happen to a nicer guy," Mozeliak said. "This is just a unique opportunity that he had."

Miles will likely start at second base. He could also lead off if Cubs manager Lou Piniella moves Alfonso Soriano lower in the order.

"I'm excited to be a Cubbie," Miles told Chicago Cub beat writers on a conference call Wednesday afternoon. "Being a Cardinal was great, and that part is over now. Now I'm ready to be a Cubbie and play the game the right way."

The Miles signing was one of several moves Cubs general manager Jim Hendry made before ringing in the new year.

After adding Miles, Hendry traded second baseman Mark DeRosa to Cleveland for young pitchers Jeff Stevens, John Gaub and Chris Archer. To clear more budget space, he was also working on a deal to send former Cardinals pitcher Jason Marquis to Colorado for reliever Luis Vizcaino.

By building a stockpile of young pitchers and clearing much of Marquis' salary off the books, Hendry could position himself to sign outfielder Milton Bradley.