Alex Rios Claimed on Waivers. Other Notes...

- Alex Rios was claimed off of waivers today and the Jays can now either let the team take him and his contract, work out a trade, or pull him back. It is likely the winning team will just assume his entire contract. I have been told by a Cubs official that the Cubs did not put a claim on him.

- Waldo commented on this earlier. The Yankees put Robinson Cano on waivers but are unlikely to trade the 2nd baseman. The Cubs need to put a claim on him regardless and try to swing a deal. What a great #2 hitter he would be!

- The Cubs recently took a shot at B.J. Ryan, now it is time the take a shot at John Smoltz who was designated for assignment today. Smoltz has been anything but good for the Red Sox but he has throw strikes at least, only walking 9. He does have an ERA of 8.32 but that could drop a lot once he gets back to the NL. He would be great as a reliever or starter on the team right now.

- Carlos Zambrano was scratched from tonight's start with lower back stiffness. Marshall got the start and did not do well. Soto was also activated today with Micah Hoffpauir going to Iowa. Interesting move by the Cubs. Although Fox is more valuable than Hoffpauir right now.

- The Cubs released Jason Waddell for violating team rules.

Ryan Released Today

- According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times B.J. Ryan asked for his release and the Cubs granted it. Ryan could not get a feel for his velocity or command. It was worth a gamble.

- The Associated Press says that Hall of Famer and current Cubs minor league manager Ryne Sandberg wants to make it back to the Majors. If he waits until the 2011 season he could be the manager of the Chicago Cubs. Lou's contract is up after the 2010 season. The Cubs will be free of contracts such as Derrek Lee and Ted Lilly after 2010 (unless they are extended) which would give the Cubs and Sandberg some money to work with. I am all for Sandberg as manager of the Cubs in 2011, with Rick Sutcliffe as pitching coach, and Mark Grace as hitting coach. I would love that!

- The Cubs should add Chone Figgins to next year regardless of who is on their radar. He could be good at 2nd base or even a utility guy. This is the guy the Cubs needed this season and will likely need him next season.

Cubs Put Claim on Teahen? Roster Moves....

-Jon Heyman along with other ML sources says the Cubs will make a claim on Mark Teahen when he is put on waivers. The Cubs would likely be one of many teams looking to put a claim on him. He is under team control for a while, can play various positions, and is only making 3.5 million this season. Although, in this market a lot of smaller teams may not want to claim 3.5 million so there is a chance.

- The Tribune says the Cubs will send down Sam Fuld when the activate Aaron Miles off the DL today. The Cubs place Andres Blanco on the DL with a calf strain and called up Tom Gorzolanny before yesterdays game.

- Soto could be activated today but more he will likely return to the Cubs on Friday in Denver.

- B.J. Ryan could be heading to the big leagues soon with not giving up a run yet in his rehab stints in Iowa. He has walked 5 in 5 innings but has stuck out 4. If the Cubs do activate Ryan and Soto soon they could send down Shark and Stevens to make room for the two. That would give the Cubs 12 pitchers and 13 position players.

Rays May Trade Kazmir and Crawford? Cubs Benefit?

The Rays are considering trading Carl Crawford and Scott Kazmir because of financial reasons. We all know how much Jim Hendry and Sweet Lou like Carl Crawford. They tried to trade Rich Hill and others for him back in Novemeber of 2007, but was then pulled off the trading block in December.

The Cubs would more than likely not want to get Scott Kazmir (even though he would be good in the NL) because he is a fly ball pitcher and they have good starting pitching depth.

Crawford on the other hand would be ideal for the Cubs. He would provide them with speed (51 SB), great defense (.991 fielding% and 5 assists) , great base running instincts (9 times CS), good average (.314), nice power (11 homers), high OBP (.373), and a all around great guy! He has a 10 million club option in which the Rays are expected to exercise and he would be in the last year of his contract. But in the next few years the Cubs will shed some payroll so they could sign him to an extension if he is traded to them. The Cubs payroll goes from 137 million this year to 119 next season, then to 96 million, and finally 54 million in 2012. So signing him to a long term deal is not out of the question, especially if it is backloaded.

For the answer to the "left handed" bat the Cubs have been needing for the past 3 seasons at the age of 28, it is worth taking him on for at least the 2010 season.

Teams Looking to Deal in August?

Jon Heyman of SI.com listed players who would clear waivers, could clear waivers, and will not clear waivers, but could be dealt to the claiming team. Lets have a look.

Players that would clear waivers-
- Bronson Arroyo
- Adam Dunn
- Jose Guillen
- Aaron Harang
- Adrian Beltre
- Aubrey Huff
- Jason Giambi
- Melvin Mora
- Miguel Batista
- Juan Cruz
- Ty Wigginton
- Ron Mahay
- Willie Bloomquist
- Lyle Overbay
- Willie Taveras

Out of these players I can see the Cubs looking at Adam Dunn or Willy Taveras if an injury occurs to any other outfielders. I can also see them looking at Ron Mahay, Ty Wigginton (for a super utility guy), and Willie Bloomquist (also super utility guy).

Here are the players that COULD clear waivers-
- Jon Garland
- Doug Davis
- Gil Meche
- Alex Rios
- Mark Hendrickson
- Johnny Peralta
- Jamey Carroll
- Ron Villone

Jamey Carroll (super utility guy) and Doug Davis should be the only players on that list that should interest the Cubs.

Players that probably will not clear waivers, but could be dealt to claiming team-
- Roy Halladay
- Felix Hernandez
- Heath Bell
- Adrian Gonzalez
- Marco Scutaro
- Chad Qualls
- Michael Wuertz
- Brian Bannister
- Josh Willingham
- Gary Sheffield
- David Eckstein
- Jason Frasor
- Mark Teahen

A lot of good players on this list. The Cubs really need a player like Qualls or Bell in their pen. They could also use Marco Scutaro. Mark Teahen would be the best guy to land on this list minus Felix and Doc.

Lets hope the Cubs do some moves in August because they will not make the playoffs with the team the have right now. The do not have consistent production from RF, 2nd base, and their late inning relief. Not to mention I think they need a Closer.

Jim will have to make something happen!

So Much For Not Having Money.

I am hearing from a really reliable source that the Cubs were talking to the Orioles on Friday morning about a potential deal where switch-hitting leadoff man Brian Roberts would be sent to the Cubs along with a minor leaguer.

According to my source the O's were going to pay 20 million of Roberts salary if they could get Jeff Samardzija, highly touted prospect Hak-Ju Lee, power hitter Jake Fox, prospect Alex Maestri and Mike Fontenot.

There was a couple of sticking points for the deal but did not kill that did not kill it. The Cubs did not know if the Shark would be willing to waive his no trade clause and whether the Cubs could afford to take on Roberts contract at 4 years 20 million dollars. As it neared the afternoon the Cubs brass got the O.K. to add the money and Jeff said he would waive his no-trade clause for a chance to start in Baltimore.

All this work was for nothing because when Andy MacPhail presented the deal to Peter Angelos, he vetoed the trade. There was no reason giving by my source why Peter would veto such a trade when he is getting 5 good young ball players, 3 with ML experience and two that could be ready in a year or two. Not to mention that the O's would get our #2 prospect and #10 prospect according to baseballamerica.com.

I honestly think the O's would have gotten a little better of a deal than the Cubs would because the Cubs are giving up quite a bit of talent for Roberts and a minor leaguer but they are in win now mode so I would have approved the trade.

The Cubs would have gotten a good 2nd baseman for the next 4 year at a cheap price. Not only would he provide the Cubs with stolen bases but he is a true leadoff hitter. It's a shame this deal did not go through because I feel this would have put this team over the top.

The Orioles would have gotten a guy that could immediately step into the rotation in Shark and at 2nd base in Fontenot. Not only that they would get a really good power bat in Jake Fox. He could play some outfield, 3rd, and 1st but would primarily be their DH. The O's then would receive a really good defensive shortstop with an good bat but is a couple of years away in Lee and Alex Maestri could step in as a top notch reliever next season. What a young good team the O's would have for years to come!

It is really crazy how now we hear trades that were purposed but did not happen. In the past we heard Nate McLouth for Felix Pie straight up, the Cubs turned that one down a couple of years ago. Mark Prior, Felix Pie, and prospect for Miguel Tejeda and Erik Bedard, the Cubs also turn down that one years ago as well. But this one is hardly the Cubs fault. I guess we can hope for this to be revisited maybe through waivers? Not likely.

Waiver Rules. Update!

UPDATE @ 4:45pm- According to Bruce Levine and other sources the Cubs will look to add a top notch defensive outfielder via waivers (rules listed below). I am also hearing that the Cubs may put Aaron Miles, Milton Bradley, Mike Fontenot, Jeff Baker, Aaron Heilman, and others on waivers to gauge interest by other clubs and maybe to just pass off the remaining balance on their contracts to the acquiring team. especially Aaron Miles who has yet to contribute anything worth mentioning this year.

Thanks to Yahoo! Answers for this information on Waiver Rules-

The only players that can be traded are those on waivers..here is how waivers work in the MLB.

Any player under contract may be placed on waivers at any time. If a player is waived, any team may claim him. If more than one team claims the player from waivers, the team with the weakest record in the player's league gets preference. If no team in the player's league claims him, the claiming team with the weakest record in the other league gets preference. In the first month of the season, preference is determined using the previous year's standings.

If a team claims a player off waivers and has the viable claim as described above, his current team (the "waiving team") may choose one of the following options:

1. Arrange a trade with the claiming team for that player within two business days of the claim.

2. Rescind the request and keep the player on its major league roster, effectively canceling the waiver.

3. Do nothing and allow the claiming team to (1) assume the player's existing contract, (2) pay the waiving team a waiver fee, and (3) place the player on its active major league roster.

If a player is claimed and the waiving team exercises its rescission option, the waiving team may not use the option again for that player in that season. If no team claims a player from waivers in three business days, the player has cleared waivers and may be assigned to a minor league team, traded, or released outright.

The waiver "wire" is a secret within the personnel of the Major League Baseball clubs; no announcement of a waiver is made until a transaction actually occurs. Many players are often quietly waived during the August "waiver-required" trading period to gauge trade interest in a particular player. Usually, when the player is claimed, the waiving team will rescind the waiver to avoid losing the player unless a trade can be worked out with the claiming team.

So you see that the august waiver trade period is the only way guys get traded after the deadline because its a different type of trade.

Thanks to the Sandman!

Busy Day for All Clubs Except Cubs.

Today was a busy day for a lot of teams in baseball but not the Cubs. Lets take a quick look at the other deals today.

Jake Peavy sent to the White Sox for minor leaguers. Peavy approved the deal this time.

Marlins got Nick Johnson.

Reds got Scott Rolen for Edwin E.

Yanks got Jerry Hariston Jr.

Braves got Adam LaRoche for Casey Kotchman. Interesting trade.

Twins got O-Cab.

Red Sox got Victor Martinez.

Tigers got Jarrod Washburn.

A lot of trades today not including the Cubs. I am glad that the Cubs did not try to trade for an injured Peavy and his large contract. That would have been a bad idea. I am also glad the Cubs did not make a non-sense trade like they did for Craig Monroe, Jody Geurt, and Matt Lawton in years past.

One thing that does surprise me is that the Cubs did not try to acquire an everyday 2nd baseman. Frankly, a Mike Fontenot and Jeff Baker platoon at 2nd does not spell out World Series Champions or even making it to the playoffs. There was plenty of players that were rumored to be available such as Mark Teahen, Willie Bloomquist, or Brandon Phillips. The Cubs simply decided to pass on all options for 2nd base which is a shame. Also the fact the Cubs had the farm system to get such players is upsetting.

My only hope now is that either Fontenot or Baker pick it up, or that they start Andres Blanco at 2nd because he at least has a great glove and a switch hitter, or they get someone through waivers in which the 3 I listed above will likely be claimed before the Cubs can get them or will not be put on waivers at all.

I do think Hendry dropped the ball on this, the Cubs needed an everyday 2nd baseman.

Trade Reflection.

With the Cubs adding Tom Gorzelanny (who is heading to AAA for the time being) and John Grabow and the Cubs trading Jose Ascanio, Kevin Hart, and Josh Harrison to the Bucs. It is now time to see how Hendry did on this trade.

Kevin Hart and Jose Ascanio are both really good arms and both throw hard and have command issues. Josh Harrison is a decent 3rd baseman but is a couple of years away from the big leagues. The Pirates like adding pitchers to rebuild their team and these two are really good building blocks.

The Cubs get a solid lefty for their back of the pen to help out with Marshall. Posting a 3.42 ERA in 45 games with 41 K's and 28 walks. I really like those numbers on a bad team like the Pirates. Tom Gorzelanny who was suppose to be a potential number 2 pitcher for the Pirates scuffled the past two years will look to repeat his 2007 numbers when he went 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA in 200 IP for the Cubs. In AAA this season he is pitching real well going 4-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 15 starts. He will likely be called up Tuesday to start.

In the end this looks like a pretty even trade with the Pirates getting two young hard throwers and the Cubs receiving two good lefties. A Win-Win in my book.

Cubs Get Two Gs!

UPDATE 4:55 pm- ESPN Chicago says the Cubs sent pitchers Kevin Hart and Jose Ascanio to Pittsburgh for Grabow and Gorzelanny. Cubs.com confirms this adding the Pirates got third baseman Josh Harrison. Seems like a fair trade.

We heard earlier today that the Cubs were in serious discussions with the Pirates about Tom Gorzelanny and John Grabow. Now Kovacevic is saying the is almost done. Chris De Luca says the Cubs are close ot getting just Grabow and ESPNChicago's Jon Greenberg agrees that they are in the final stages of getting Grabow. Jon Heyman says a deal for both are very close.

From my source it is said that the Cubs are on the verge of getting both Grabow and Gorzelanny. It is not know what the Pirates will recieve in return by my source says "don't be shocked" if it includes Kevin Hart or a middle infielder. He says the club will use Gorzelanny as a starter and take the place of Hart in the rotation.

I am also hearing word on from another source that the Cubs plan on flipping Tom Gorzelanny to another team for a "versatile player with a good bat." We touched on an "Unfounded Rumor" earlier that involves both Grabow and Tom, could this be the same rumor? Is Teahen coming? I will update you as I hear or see it.

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- Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times said earlier today that the Cubs are looking to add a platoon partner for Milton Bradley in RF. He names off Jermey Hermida and Mark Teahen (both good options). After this rumor was published ESPN's Jayson Stark and Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says the Cubs are only looking for a left handed reliever, not a bat.