New Year Rumors.

Happy New Year To Everyone! Lets hope 2009 brings the Cubs a World Series!

- According to the Chicago Tribune, Paul Bako is expected to sign a contract with the Cubs for 500,000 dollars. He will be the 2nd catcher on the team.

- It appears the Cubs recent trades have no bearing on a potential Peavy deal. It was rumored that the deal was impending on a potential Jake Peavy trade. Towers also said a trade for Peavy to Chicago is "Doubtful." Honestly I think this is posturing, remember Towers said that the next time they talk about Peavy it will be under the radar and no one will know until it happens.

- Hendry talked on the radio yesterday so lets recap-

***** Trading Mark DeRosa was one of the most difficult decisions he has had to make as a GM.

***** The Cubs were too right handed and that is why he made the trade. ( more posturing, Jim would not have traded DeRosa and his production if he did not have another thing working)

***** Hendry is going to add a switch hitter or left-handed bat in the next 7-10 days.

***** Hendry want more speed along with a switch hitting or left-handed bat.

***** Hendry has had no talks with the O's all offseason and thinks MacPhail is content with keeping the player.

***** The Cubs will go to Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles at 2nd when the season starts. I like Fonty starting at 2b, another left-handed bat with decent pop!

***** Hendry likes his pen and it seems like that part is set.

***** The ownership deal has gone on longer than expected and Hendry has a payroll number he can work with until the situation is resolved within the next month.

***** Hendry said if he can make one or two more significant additions he considers this a good offseason. If they are Peavy and Bradley, it is a great off season!

Cubs ink Aaron Miles, DeRosa to the Indians?? UPDATES!

UPDATE-3:30pm- There is some speculation and talk around baseball that the 3 players acquired from the Indians maybe used to get Brian Roberts and not Jake Peavy. This is just talk and speculation but still something I wanted to let you guys in on. I find it curious that the Cubs would sign Miles if they planned on getting Roberts so that seems fishy, unless they include Cedeno, Theriot, or Fontenot in a deal for Roberts. That is the only way it makes somewhat sense to me.

UPDATE- 2:10pm- According to Bruce Miles and Bruce Levine, the Cubs ownership situation will have to resolved before a deal for Peavy is completed. It also should be noted that the Cubs have saved about 9 million dollars by making deals for Miles and Vizcaino, that 9 million will likely go to the first year of Milton Bradley's multi-year contract.

UPDATE!!!!!!! 12:30pm- Levine and Onley are saying it is a done deal for Mark DeRosa to the Tribe for three minor league pitchers; Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Caub.

Here is stats on each-

Jeff Stevens
Chris Archer
John Caub

It is rumored that these 3 pitchers will be sent along with others( maybe Pie, Cedeno, and/or Guzman) to the Padres for Jake Peavy. It is just a rumor right now but so far Levine has been right on with everything he has said that past 24 hours. Will Peavy be a New Year surprise??? Only time will tell!



-According to Bruce Levine and Chicago Sun-Times the Cubs have signed Aaron Miles to a two year deal worth 4.9 million dollars. This will allow the Cubs now to trade Mark DeRosa and give a full time starting job to Mike Fontenot at 2b(which I think he will do great at).

Miles by the way is a switch hitter and did very well in a Cardinal uniform. He hit .317 with a .355 OBP with 4 homers and 31 RBI last season. It will definitely lessen the blow of losing DeRosa while Miles can play every position on the infield, he too has played some outfield.

- Bruce Levine has been working some overtime today saying that a deal is close that would send Mark DeRosa to the Indians for two or three young pitchers. Levine has scooped the Aaron Miles, the Marquis to Rox, Milton Bradley "done deal" signing, and that the Cubs are "back in the mix" for Peavy. He has really poured in the news and rumors over the last 24 hours. So far he has been right on all!

Bruce Levine Update!

UPDATE-10:45pm- According to David Kaplan on Comcast Sportsnet Chicago, the Cubs are on the verge of signing Milton Bradley to a multi-year deal. A deal is expected to be announced next week after the new year.

UPDATE-7:25pm- The Marquis/Vizcaino deal is done and will be announced next 3 to 4 days.

Bruce was just on ESPN 1000 and has some good Cubs updates. Lets have a look-

- He said the Cubs ownership situation should be resolved "sometime in January."

- The Marquis trade will be completed the next 3-4 days and the Cubs will save 5.5 million or so.

- They are planning to use that money to sign Bradley, which he said the deal is done and will happen by next week.

- He also said there is about 2 to 3 teams that are talking to the Cubs about DeRosa and he could be traded within the next 3-5 days. WOW! That is a surprising comment from Levine!

- The prospects gained from trading DeRosa would be added to a deal for Peavy.

- Hendry is moving money around so these deals will happen.

- Vizcaino maybe traded before he puts on a Cubs uniform.


I would hate to lose DeRosa but if it nets us Bradley and Peavy, I am all for it!

Finally Marquis Traded???

Thanks to a poster for this!

ESPN's Steve Phillips is reporting that the Rockies and Cubs are close to trading Jason Marquis for Luis Vizcanio. Vizcaino is owed 3.5 million for next season with a 4 million dollar option for 2010 and 500K buyout.

Vizcanio is a 34 year old righty with some issues off the field but is a decent RP. He did well in 2006 with the Dbacks but watched his ERA go up each year after that. He would be a nice guy to add to the pen especially if the Cubs decide to let Jeff Samarjiza start next season. It could also open the door for Sean Marshall or Angel Guzman to join the rotation.

I am wondering if the deal would involve the Cubs sending money to the Rockies or if it is just a straight trade with each team swapping contracts.

I will let you know when more details come out.

Cubs News and Notes.....

- Buster Olney said something on Sunday that got a lot of people stressing. He said that the Cubs "have maxed out their spending for the winter." With the talks about Abreu, Bradley, Dunn, Lowe, and Peavy throughout the winter how can Olney say something like that. This is his thoughts in my opinion. He does not site a source on this information and I think it is just so he can have people read his column. Honestly not a lot to worry about.

- I do think the Cubs would prefer to wait until the ownership situation is somewhat resolved before they make deals. They said that the new owner could complete a deal by ST but it is likely the Cubs will know the owner sometime in January, which them would give the Cubs the go ahead to spend money on a left hand hitting RF. I also think the Cubs are waiting for Tim Redding to sign so they can trade Marquis and about half his contract. The Rockies have been saying they can only absorb about 3 million( which will not work for the Cubs).

I suggest the Cubs call the Mets and purpose a Brian Schneider for Marquis trade. Brian is owed 5.4 million for this season(earned extra .5 million for being traded) and 4.9 for 2010. Marquis is owed 9.875 million for this season. The Cubs would get a good defending left-handed hitting catcher to back up Soto. The Mets get an inning eater to fill out the 5th spot in the rotation that will only cost them 4.475 million for one year( which is a steal). The Mets then could sign Hendry Blanco for less money than Schneider and have a veteran presence and better defensive backstop to mentor Castro. This trade makes sense for both teams.

- Rumors are very slow, I will try to update this site as much as possible during this slow period. If you hear any rumors or Cubs talk feel free to post!