Here is the latest from the Hot Stove...
- The Cubs had 3 million fans enter Wrigley this season. It is the 6th consecutive year this has happened.
- Rogers from the Chicago Tribune runs down his list to get a power bat for next season. He list some guys that are free agents and some that could be acquired in a trade. He names off some names we already have heard like Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn but also names off guys like Tejada, Sheffield, Hawpe, Chris Young, and Ankiel that suprised me. If the Cubs can get Hawpe that would be the best fit for the Cubs along with Bobby Abreu. I also really like Adam Dunn and I am very surprised he does not mention Vlad or Damon.
- The Rangers and Royals have expressed they have no interest in Bradley. The Mets, Padres, Rays, and Giants are front runners to land Milton.
- The Chicago Sun Times talked to Ryno and he said his ideal job is to manage the Cubs. He is in line to become Lou's replacement at the end of next season many say. I would not be surprised if he manages the Iowa Cubs next season.
- The Cubs have a lot of interest in B.J. Upton if he is in fact shopped this winter. One baseball executive calls him a perfect fit for Wrigley Field and the Cubs. Nightengale says he is likely to be dealt.
- Zambrano said he will be back next season.
- Ted Lilly wants the Cubs to retain Reed Johnson and bring back Mark DeRosa. I agree with both moves but only if DeRosa is in a platoon roll in RF or a utility guy. There are too many good guys in the 2nd base market to have the Cubs go right after DeRosa. Chone Figgins, Iwamura, Hudson, and Polanco are all listed before Mark for guys to fill the 2nd base role next season.
- The Cubs might not offer arbitration to Harden. I think they would be stupid not too. The worst that can happen is he accepts and we get him for about 9 million next season.
- Muskat of MLB.com says the Cubs are in preliminary discussion with John Grabow about staying a Cub for next season. Grabow wants to stay and is confident a deal gets done. Harden also wants to stay but the Cubs may not want him back because of his injury woes.
- The Cubs plan on keeping "most of" their coaching staff including Larry Rothchild. The one coach they might not retain is Von Joshua. There is talk he may be sent to AAA and there is also talk that Ryno may be offered the hitting coach job or someone in AAA is offered the job and Sandberg moves up to AAA. I will keep you updated.
That is it for now Cub Fans!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Bradey Gone Per Piniella.... Other Rumors...
- No surprise here but still blog worthy. Lou said today on ESPN radio that Milton Bradley will not play another game for the Cubs. Lou suggested he will spend his last two years of his contract playing for someone else. Lou even said "now we try to find somebody else," and "I know Jim will work very hard at it."
- The teams interested in Bradley are the Rays, Giants, Padres, Mets, and Rangers. With the Rangers the most unlikely out of the list.
- The Mets are said to be dangling Luis Castillo or Oliver Perez to get Bradley on their team. The only way the Mets trade Castillo for Bradley is if the Cubs pay 8 million of Bradley's contract to offset the difference. Although they would do an even swap of Perez for Bradley but the Cubs are not fond of that deal.
- If hard throwing 18 year old lefty Yusei Kikuchi chooses MLB over Japan ball the Cubs will be right there to offer him a contract. They were over there earlier this year scouting him and like what they saw.
- Thinking outside the box??? Milton Bradley for Ryan Doumit? Bradley for Harang? Arroyo? Bradley for Magglio Ordonez? Jermey Bonderman? Carlos Guillen? Dontrelle Willis? Milton for Nick Swisher?
Could any of those happen? The contract money is close in all the deals. Could the Cubs find a match in any of those trades? I like the Milton for Swisher and Bradley for Guillen or Willis.
- The Cubs are leaning toward signing a bat for the outfield rather than trading for one. They have Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, and Vladimir Guerrero at the top of their wish list with Jermaine Dye, Mike Cameron, and Marlon Byrd as their plan B.
- The Cubs are also looking at free agency for a 2nd baseman but do find Mark Teahen and Brandon Phillips also very appealing. Both are rumored to be available this winter via trade.
Until Next Time.....
- The teams interested in Bradley are the Rays, Giants, Padres, Mets, and Rangers. With the Rangers the most unlikely out of the list.
- The Mets are said to be dangling Luis Castillo or Oliver Perez to get Bradley on their team. The only way the Mets trade Castillo for Bradley is if the Cubs pay 8 million of Bradley's contract to offset the difference. Although they would do an even swap of Perez for Bradley but the Cubs are not fond of that deal.
- If hard throwing 18 year old lefty Yusei Kikuchi chooses MLB over Japan ball the Cubs will be right there to offer him a contract. They were over there earlier this year scouting him and like what they saw.
- Thinking outside the box??? Milton Bradley for Ryan Doumit? Bradley for Harang? Arroyo? Bradley for Magglio Ordonez? Jermey Bonderman? Carlos Guillen? Dontrelle Willis? Milton for Nick Swisher?
Could any of those happen? The contract money is close in all the deals. Could the Cubs find a match in any of those trades? I like the Milton for Swisher and Bradley for Guillen or Willis.
- The Cubs are leaning toward signing a bat for the outfield rather than trading for one. They have Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, and Vladimir Guerrero at the top of their wish list with Jermaine Dye, Mike Cameron, and Marlon Byrd as their plan B.
- The Cubs are also looking at free agency for a 2nd baseman but do find Mark Teahen and Brandon Phillips also very appealing. Both are rumored to be available this winter via trade.
Until Next Time.....
Monday, September 28, 2009
Cubs Rumors.....
- Heyman says that the Padres are one of the rare teams interested in Milton Bradley and says the Rangers are a long shot to land him.
- The Chicago Cubs are not interested in re-signing fragile starter Rich Harden according to Paul Sullivan. Lou likes the depth the Cubs have right now with Zambrano, Dempster, Wells, Lilly, and a one of Gorzelanny, Marshall, or Samardzija.
- Lou also does not expect many changes this offseason. He would like to see about 5 different moves. I would like to see Bradley and Miles traded, add a bullpen guy, acquire a good 2nd baseman, get a guy for LF or CF, and sign Doug Davis.
- Ricketts should take full control of the Cubs between October 15th and the 30th.
- There is a lot of life to the Burrell for Bradley trade rumor. I might do that trade if it is just a contract swap.
- There are more rumors turning up that the Giants and Cubs could switch outfielders and contracts. The Cubs would acquire Rowand for Bradley. Rowand and Johnson are good friends and he would love to see Aaron come to the northside. If the Cubs did acquire Rowand they would also keep Johnson and may look for a lefty utility guy as the 5th outfielder which means Hoffpauir or Fox could start in Iowa next season.
That is it for now Cub fans....
- The Chicago Cubs are not interested in re-signing fragile starter Rich Harden according to Paul Sullivan. Lou likes the depth the Cubs have right now with Zambrano, Dempster, Wells, Lilly, and a one of Gorzelanny, Marshall, or Samardzija.
- Lou also does not expect many changes this offseason. He would like to see about 5 different moves. I would like to see Bradley and Miles traded, add a bullpen guy, acquire a good 2nd baseman, get a guy for LF or CF, and sign Doug Davis.
- Ricketts should take full control of the Cubs between October 15th and the 30th.
- There is a lot of life to the Burrell for Bradley trade rumor. I might do that trade if it is just a contract swap.
- There are more rumors turning up that the Giants and Cubs could switch outfielders and contracts. The Cubs would acquire Rowand for Bradley. Rowand and Johnson are good friends and he would love to see Aaron come to the northside. If the Cubs did acquire Rowand they would also keep Johnson and may look for a lefty utility guy as the 5th outfielder which means Hoffpauir or Fox could start in Iowa next season.
That is it for now Cub fans....
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Zambrano for Peavy? Bradley, Royals, No Match!
- Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune says some baseball people think the White Sox could have interest in Zambrano and may even include Peavy in a deal for him. He does say that Peavy may have more value than Zambrano, no argument there. I think the Cubs would and should jump all over that deal.
- Royals officials say that they have no interest in troubled outfielder Milton Bradley.
- Harden has been shut down for the year and will likely not be with the Cubs next year as they look for a stable inning eater this off season. Doug Davis tops my list.
- The Cubs top priority this off season is getting a consistent speed guy who can play 2nd base. They have Chone Figgins at the top of their wish list but if money gets too much they will look at guys like Orlando Hudson, Placido Polanco, Felipe Lopez, Adam Kennedy, or Akinori Iwamura. They could also target Mark Teahen through a trade but with the flooded 2nd base market the Cubs are likely to get on of the players above for a good price.
- The Cubs also plan on addressing their bullpen and outfield if they trade Milton Bradley and do not acquire an outfielder in return. For outfield help the Cubs are looking for a low cost veteran and will not get in a bidding war for players like Matt Holliday. Instead they will look at center fielders like Mike Cameron, Marlon Byrd, and maybe even Andruw Jones. They could also get a guy for right field and keep Fukduome in CF. They could consider Jermaine Dye, Bobby Abreu (oh please!), Randy Winn, or even Vladimir Guerrero.
- The Cubs are confident in Soto and like Koyie Hill as his backup so changes there are not likely. The same with LF, CF or RF, 3rd, SS, 1st, Closer, and 4 spots in the rotation.
That is it for now Cub fans!
- Royals officials say that they have no interest in troubled outfielder Milton Bradley.
- Harden has been shut down for the year and will likely not be with the Cubs next year as they look for a stable inning eater this off season. Doug Davis tops my list.
- The Cubs top priority this off season is getting a consistent speed guy who can play 2nd base. They have Chone Figgins at the top of their wish list but if money gets too much they will look at guys like Orlando Hudson, Placido Polanco, Felipe Lopez, Adam Kennedy, or Akinori Iwamura. They could also target Mark Teahen through a trade but with the flooded 2nd base market the Cubs are likely to get on of the players above for a good price.
- The Cubs also plan on addressing their bullpen and outfield if they trade Milton Bradley and do not acquire an outfielder in return. For outfield help the Cubs are looking for a low cost veteran and will not get in a bidding war for players like Matt Holliday. Instead they will look at center fielders like Mike Cameron, Marlon Byrd, and maybe even Andruw Jones. They could also get a guy for right field and keep Fukduome in CF. They could consider Jermaine Dye, Bobby Abreu (oh please!), Randy Winn, or even Vladimir Guerrero.
- The Cubs are confident in Soto and like Koyie Hill as his backup so changes there are not likely. The same with LF, CF or RF, 3rd, SS, 1st, Closer, and 4 spots in the rotation.
That is it for now Cub fans!
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