Jim Hendry addressed the media yesterday on the state of the team. So with that along with that come more Cubs rumors and news-
- Buster Onley said the Cubs are open for business and reports Jeff Baker and Kerry Wood are the most coveted players in the trade market since they are cheap and very useful for contending teams.
- Buster also said there is mixed results about Carlos Pena since he is a streaky power hitter. Pena has recently been linked to the Angels and Dbacks.
- The Pirates have contacted the Cubs about a familiar face, Aramis Ramirez.
- Kerry Wood is near the top of the Dbacks targets.
- Hendry said there will not be a fire sale because they will not trade away their young core which includes Carlos Marmol, Darwin Barney, and Starlin Castro.
- The Tigers are looking for starting pitching and could be contacting the Cubs about Zambrano, Dempster, or even Randy Wells.
- The Cubs released Doug Davis.
- The Cubs have kicked the tires on Scott Kazmir and are considering inking him to a minor league deal.
- Jim indicated he does not like the terms buyers and sellers because he considers his team to be both. He will sell off players that don’t fit into the future but may acquire impact players for next season.
- Levine adds more to the Ramirez trade rumors saying that Aram could change his tune considering his wife and child go back to the Dominican by early August for fall classes. Ramirez main concern about a trade is uprooting his family so he may accept a trade now compared to when he was originally asked.
- Levine also says teams like Detroit, San Francisco, and Cleveland could have interest in Aram. He said the Giants could move Sandoval to 1st to accommodate Aram. While the Indians and Tigers are getting little production at 3rd so they seen like a match. The Indians have a couple of players that really interest me; Carlos Santana, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Grady Sizemore. I think the Cubs could lump in Pena and Soto along with Ramirez and get Chisenhall and Santana in a deal. Now that would be building for the future!
- Kerry Wood will be activated off the DL on Friday.
- According to Sahadev Sharma of ESPN Chicago says players like Sean Marshall, Matt Garza, and Geovany Soto are not available because they are under team control and can still produce at a high level. He also states the Cubs will be looking to unload Zambrano and Soriano while getting value for Pena, Fukudome, and Aram.
- Cashner could start rehabbing this weekend and Hendry hopes to have him back sometime this year but it will likely be in a reliever role.
- The Cubs planning on keep Dempster for the rest of the season instead of trading him unless they are blown away by an offer and Dempster approves the trade.
- If the Cubs do trade Soriano and/or Zambrano then they will be even bigger players in the free agent market next season.
- Sources say the Cubs free agent target list is very short and could change depending on who they receive in trades. But right now 3 names top the list C.J. Wilson, Prince Fielder, and Yadier Molina.
- There is a lot of talk that Jim Hendry could make his last moves as Cubs GM at the trade deadline. Ricketts indicated that the Cubs management, the coaching staff, and players will be evaluated at the end of the season. Such speculation sparked the rumors of other GMs being interested in the Cubs GM job. Here is the list we have heard at HSC- Josh Byrnes, Billy Beane, Andrew Friedman, Ned Colletti, Greg Maddux, Rick Hahn, Pat Gillick, Allard Baird, and Ben Cherington. Out of those Rick Hahn, Billy Beane, Pat Gillick, and Andrew Friedman look the best. I view Maddux as a good option for President.
- Is Mike Quade’s job in jeopardy? Well considering he will be re-evaluated at the end of the season I would say it is not safe. It also depends if Hendry is retained or not. If Hendry and President Kenney are replaced, the guy coming in may decide to replace Q with “their guy.” Rumors have been circling that if the Cubs do make a change Ricketts would have more of an influence this go around on the manager. If you recall the rumors last season that Ricketts wanted Sandberg and Hendry wanted Quade. So one can assume if one goes the other one does as well. It also might be time for the owner of the Cubs to flex his muscles and give the fans what they want, Ryne Sandberg as manager!
- Little FYI on how Ryno is doing in the Phillies system. He has the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in first place with a 46-33 record. Before Ryno arrived the IronPigs in the past 3 season did not spend a single day above .500. Ryno is now 330-310 overall as a minor league manager. Ricketts needs to bring in his guy! Ryne Sandberg!
Until Next Time…
5 comments:
Ramirez isn't going anywhere. If he is traded, his option for next year automatically vests. No team would trade for him without the Cubs picking up at least half of that money. His buyout for next year is $2MM. The Cubs would have more money to spend on the free agent market by keeping Ramirez and buying him out then trading him and picking up any of his contract.
the only 2 i see getting traded are PENA and FUKUDOME. The rest have no trade clauses make to much or just stink. But i sure hope its possible to trade SORIANO for ZITO with a little tinkering. My first choices to go would be HILL, WELLS and GRABOW, i don't see anyone wanting them.
Hello! Congrats for your site, it's great and visit it on a daily basis. I wanted to comment that I would love the idea of the cubs trading for Hamilton and Davis from Texas rangers. Do you think the rangers would make available Josh Hamilton for the right package? I think something like Soto, Cashner, Colvin, Vitters and some other prospect could net both for the cubs, what do you think?
HAPPY 4TH, after looking over 2012 free agents at 3B. There aren't any better than Ramirez, Vitters is getting better but still not ready.So i think Ramirez stays one more year. 1B on the other hand has Pujols who i think will resign with cards. So that leaves Fielder
and Berkman. 2013 WRight and Youkilis could be available at 3B.
Signing Wilson as a free agent would give the cubs a left handed starter they need badly. And hopefully Cashner and Guzman are healthy. Just my 2 cent worth.
antonio is an idiot
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