Rumors Heating Up!

UPDATE!!!- 4:30 pm- Change of plans! The Yankees deal fell apart and the Rangers are on the benefiting end. The Rangers acquired Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe for Josh Lueke, Matthew Lawson, Beavan, and prize prospect Justin Smoak. The Rangers got a great #1 starter and I put them as a favorite to win the World Series. While the Mariners got a ton of quality prospects and definitely cashed in! Now the Yankees join the Mets, Twins, Red Sox, Rays, and Phillies for Ted Lilly's services. It is also rumored that the Rangers are interested in acquiring Derrek Lee to fill there void at 1st base.

I will keep you updated!


- Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, Jeff Baker, Derrek Lee, Kosuke Fukudome, and Xavier Nady are likely to be moved sooner rather than letter because the Cubs are finally getting more serious about trades says Ken Davidoff of Newsday.

- According to David Kaplan and Fred Mitchell the Cubs are getting more serious about trading “cumbersome salaries” and ownership expects to finally address the issue by talking to the media at some point about the team’s direction. Here is what Tom Ricketts has to say-

"It has been very difficult for the family and the team the first half of the season," chairman Tom Ricketts told season ticket holders. "This is not where the family wanted to be in the first half of the season."


Fukudome, Lee, and Lilly are the Cubs biggest contracts that are likely to be moved because of the amount of money and the trade value each player has. Soriano, Aramis, and Zambrano have hefty contracts (among other things) that get in the way of their trade value so they are likely to stay put. I also would not be surprised to see Fonty, Baker, Theriot, Nady, Marshall, Howry, and Grabow going on the move as well.

- Now that Cliff Lee is off the table pitchers like Roy Oswalt, Dan Haren, and Ted Lilly will be targeted by the teams that lost out on Lee. The Mets, Red Sox, Rays, Rangers, Mets, and Phillies all could be fighting for the three top pitchers that are being shopped. The Twins, Rangers, and Mets seem to be looking for a lefty starter and really like what Ted Lilly brings to the table plus he is in the final year of his contract with only about 6.5 million left for this season. The Cubs maybe targeting a young ML ready 1st baseman or at least one that is close to being ML ready. The Cubs reportedly like Justin Smoak (Rangers), Ike Davis (Mets), and they also like young third base prospect Danny Valencia, outfielder Aaron Hicks, and catcher Wilson Ramos.


It is finally good to see that the Cubs are moving in the right direction and if it these moves are done right it should be a fun trade deadline!

The Cubs Are Ready To Sell

- Zambrano should start throwing again this week but will still receive “treatment.” He is expected to have a rehab stint before joining the team. It seems the timetable on Big Z maybe returning the week before the trade deadline. Oddly enough Z maybe gaining interest on the trade market but only if the Cubs pick up the majority of his contract. It is not known what his duties will be on the Cubs once he returns.

- The Phillies, Red Sox, and Tigers all have been scouting the Cubs recently. Reports from Bruce Levine and other media outlets have all three teams scouting Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot. All three teams need middle infield help and can acquire either one for cheap considering some think they are non-tender candidates next season.

- The Cubs are ready to cash in there trade chips according to sources including Peter Gammons who says that they are ready to deal Ted Lilly but will likely try to sign him in the offseason. Another trade chip is Derrek Lee who should gain interest from the Giants, Angels, Yankees, and Mets. It is also rumored that the Cubs want to cash in some of their players for a close or ML ready young 1st baseman. Guys like Smoak from Texas and Ike Davis from the Mets could appeal to the Cubs.

I will keep you updated!