Cubs Rumor Mill Update

- The Cubs are interested in utility player Adrian Cardenas who was recently designated for assignment by the A's to make room for Johnny Gomes. Cardenas just turned 24 in October and was a first round pick in 2006 by the Phillies. He was once was compared to Chase Utley which you will find here and you can see his very impressive numbers in 6 minor league seasons here. If the Cubs acquired Cardenas it means a player like Blake DeWitt could find himself the odd man out because Adrian has more upside, younger, and is a lot cheaper.

- The Cubs have 3 prospects in the MLB.com top 100 prospects with Brett Jackson (33), Anthony Rizzo (37) and Javier Baez (62).

- It is unclear whether the Tigers are in on Cespedes but many media outlets are reporting that they are in fact in on Yoenis. You can also add two other "mystery" teams to the Cespedes sweepstakes which I thought could be the Cards and Braves. I now believe the Dodgers are heavy on Cespedes as well and could be labled as one of the mystery teams.

- Oh, did I forget to mention that Cespedes is officially a free agent. If you followed me on Twitter (@HotStoveCubbies) then you would have heard right when it happened.

- Cespedes prefers the Chicago Cubs to Miami; in fact he may prefer the Cubs over any team in baseball according to my sources.

- Gerardo Concepcion's agent says he has at least 10 offers on the table and he could be making a decision by this weekend. A source told me the Cubs bid aggressively on Concepcion because scouts view him as high as a #3 starter and as low as a long-reliever/5th starter. Reports say the Rangers, Yankees, Cubs, and White Sox have been the most aggressive.

- A source told me it is very possible that the Cubs get both Concepcion and Cespedes before the middle of Febuary and also ink Soler before July. The source also says the scouts as well as Jed, Jason, and Theo are very high on all three.

- To make the Kerry Wood move official the Cubs have removed Manny Corpas off the 40 man roster and will likely start in AAA Iowa. Although he will have a chance to win a spot as a non-roster invitee in ST.

Until Next Time....