Cubs and Prior avoid arbitration

The Cubs and Prior avoided arbitration earlier today by agreeing on a 1 year deal. The deal includes a base pay of 3.575 million, which is less than he made last year. Tho Prior wanted 3.875 million, he could still get it becuase he also has performance bonus in the contract that could push it up to 3.8 million.

According to Cubs.com, next up is Zambrano. Zambrano did set the Season opener as his deadline for a long term deal to be reached. If the cubs cant reach it by then they run the same risk of losing him as they almost lost Aramis this year. Thats something Jim wants to avoid. Z has said he hopes the Jim "has some money for Z." You got to think that if a deal doesnt get done, Z will be the hottest player on the market next year. Having said that Jim and Z both have stated that Carlos wants to be a Cub his entire career and I think they will fullfill that by signing him to a long term deal during Spring Training.

The Cubs release Rusch

The cubs announced today that they have released Rusch. Not really big news and its not that unexpected but I thought I would let everyone know.

My prediction on our opening 25 man roster

Note- I changed this a bit, thanks to some posters giving me some info on the 25 man roster so I can better predict this( I must have thought the Cubs still had Dusty managing)haha

This isnt a big prediction on our 25 man roster but here it is anyways-

1. Soriano CF
2. Derosa 2B
3. Dlee 1st
4. Aram 3b
5. Jones RF
6. Barrett C
7. Murton LF
8. Izzy ss

Bench
Theriot IF/OF
Ward 1st/OF
Floyd OF/1st
Blanco C
Pagan OF
T. Perez inf

Dempster CL
Eyre
Howry
Wood
Cotts
Miller


1. Big Z
2. Lilly
3. Prior
4. Hill
5. Marquis

Pie, Marshall, Cedeno, Navoa, Guzman, Weurtz, Mateo, and Marmol etc. start in AAA... and Rusch likely to be released or traded.. I cant see us holding 3 lefty relievers, so I can see Ohman getting traded out of the three leftys .I love our pitching staff with Prior in there. Of course if he is not ready then place Miller there.

Floyd added to bench

I already stated this Sunday but heres the offical release from cubs.com-

CHICAGO -- The Cubs completed their offseason acquisitions Wednesday, signing free agent outfielder Cliff Floyd to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2008.
Floyd, 34, batted .244 in 97 games with the New York Mets last season, hitting 11 homers and driving in 44 runs. He would most likely platoon in left in the Cubs' outfield after hitting .266 against right-handers, and is part of new manager Lou Piniella's plan to have a deep bench.
It will be a homecoming for Floyd, a Chicago native, who has played for the Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox and the Mets. He has a career .279 average.
Floyd, who was on the '97 World Series champion Marlins team, was limited to 332 at-bats last year because of an injured Achilles tendon.
He was a three-sport star in baseball, football and basketball at Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill.

Like I have said numorous times this does nothing but help the cubs!

Cubs new depth chart

The cubs updated there new depth chart-

CF- Sori- Pie
RF- Jones- Coats
LF- Murton- Pagan
3B- Ram- Coats
SS- Izzy-Cedeno-Theriot
2B- Derosa- Theriot
1st- Dlee- Ward
C- Barrett-Blanco-Soto-Reyes

1. Big Z
2. Lilly
3. Marquis
4. hill
5. Prior
6. Miller
7. Marshall
8. Guzman

Dempster
ryu
wood
cotts
mateo
howery
eyre
navoa
ohman
rusch
weurtz
walrond
marmol

I agree with everything on here, I love the idea of Sori in center and it looks like a winner to me.. the only person left to add is Floyd when they finalize his deal

Erstad signs with Chicago, Sox that is.

Cubs fans have been holding there breath on where the oft injured Erstad would end up and he has landed in White Sox territory, All cubs fans have to believe that the white sox did the cubs a favor, it has been rumored that he might be a cub and a stop gap for Pie but thats all dismissed today by him joining the sox pending a physical.

Alot of this has to do with Sori wanting to play center and thats why I think Erstad is not a cub, and i think i speak for all cubs fans when i say im glad to see him join the White Sox!

MY COLTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!!

I HAVE BEEN A COLTS FAN ALL MY LIFE, I WENT THRU TEAMS THAT JUST WON 4 GAMES IN A SEASON, NOW I GET TO WATCH THEM IN THE SUPERBOWL!!! THE MONKEY IS OFF PEYTON'S BACK!! GO COLTS!!!

UPDATE

According to ESPNNEWS the cubs have signed Cliff Floyd this will add a power lefty to there bench and will spell Murton and Jones in the oufield.

Floyd sign by this week??

This has been rumored for a while now but it looks for sure thanks to mlbtraderumors-


I know I've used that headline at least twice before. But the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a Cliff Floyd deal might be completed this week.
The catch was getting Alfonso Soriano to sign off on trying center field. It appears that he's willing to try it - it was revealed to the crowd at the Cubs Convention yesterday. Soriano could shift to right field in 2008 when Felix Pie is ready.
Floyd will be the fourth outfielder for the Cubs. He'd make a solid bat off the bench. Lou Piniella seems to like Matt Murton and he'll hopefully get 500 ABs.
Meanwhile, the Daily Southtown reports that Jacque Jones could still be traded if the Cubs think Pie is ready to debut in right.

This move makes so much since, now that Sori will be in center like i stated yesterday it lets them sign Floyd to a deal and insure that he can spell Murton and Jones.. It even makes it possiable to trade Jones and gamble on Pie becuase if Pie doesnt work out you have Floyd to take the position in right.. This will just improve the team more.

Soriano in Center??

Lou said today that he is serious considering putting Soriano in center next year. He said since he says he is willing to play center (as he stated on the radio) he may just get the job. Sori played great defense in left field at RFK, and i think he will do really well in center in Wrigley. He has the speed and arm to be a great CF. I also seen on the cubs.com message board that a poster said he talked to Lou today and said his lineup is this ( not to say he actually did but this is a very realistic lineup that makes since)

1. Sori CF
2. Derosa 2B
3. Dlee 1st
4. Aram 3b
5. Jones RF
6. Barrett C
7. Murton LF
8. Izzy ss

Big Z
Lilly
Hill
Prior( if not heathy then Marshall/Miller
Marquis

The only thing I would change is to put Murton in the 2 hole and Derosa in the 7 hole.. Thats a really good lineup considering 1 thru 7 can hit double digit in homers, that rotation looks really tough.. I think the cubs should add Floyd to come off the bench and give Murton and Jones a rest once in a while.. He would do nothing but improve this team.. Im so pumped for the season, I hope it gets here quick!