The Hot Stove is Getting Hotter!

Here is the latest from the Hot Stove….

- The Cubs are interested in Orlando Hudson because they do not have complete faith in Darwin Barney or Blake DeWitt as a full time 2nd baseman. Hudson will likely get a one-year deal worth between 3-5 million coming off a down year. I hear Hudson becomes more likely if they acquire a cheap 1st baseman such as trading for Adrian Gonzalez or Chris Davis. Or maybe even signing a guy like Lance Berkman, Brad Hawpe, or Nick Johnson.

- Bruce Miles says the Cubs have no interest in Vicente Padilla and even stated they had a chance to get him the past couple seasons and passed.

- The Cubs planned on offering Javier Vazquez a deal but he signed with the Marlins before anything was offered.

- The Cubs also lost out on another pitcher in Jorge De La Rosa, he signed with the Rockies.

- After Jim evaluated the market for starters it seems Jim has turned his attention to in Bruce Levine’s words “former star pitchers who have had injury problems of the past few seasons.” The Cubs like Jeff Francis, Aaron Harang, Erik Bedard, and Brandon Webb.

- The Cubs have had conversations with the agents of most of the pitchers above and are asking for medical files and where they are in conditioning. The Cubs are also seeing what the agents contract demands are for each player.

- Jim Hendry loves Erik Bedard and almost traded for him in a couple of occasions but it seems their top target is Brandon Webb.

- The Cubs would love to bring Carlos Pena’s power and glove to Wrigley Field. It has been rumored that Pena maybe wanting to re-establish his value much like Adrian Beltre did with Boston. Bruce Miles said the Cubs would be “happy to sign Pena for one year” but they are not going to give many years to a guy like Pena.

- Lance Berkman is going to meet with the A’s on Tuesday but the Cubs are still interested. It all comes down to money.

- The Cubs are one of several teams interested in Jesse Crain according to Peter Gammons. He is a 29 year old Type B free agent righty who had a 3.04 ERA with Minnesota last season.

- The Cubs plan on offer contracts with Marmol, Marshall, Gorzelanny, and Soto but Koyie Hill and Jeff Baker could get tricky. If the Cubs do not like Hill’s or Baker’s contract demands then they will non-tender them. Paying anything over 1 million for each player is a mistake.

- If the Cubs non-tender Baker they could use that money to sign a guy like Bill Hall or Andy LaRoche.

- The Cubs do not expect to make any moves until Thursday’s non-tender deadline. The Cubs could find themselves a player or two in that group.

Until Next Time…