More Hot Stove Action....

- The White Sox have officially acquired Mark Teahen and it is unlikely he is traded again this offseason.

- Brett Myers will not be offered a contract by the Phillies according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Cubs have some interest in Myers, especially with Ted Lilly's health up in the air.

- J.J. Hardy was traded to the Twins today and there goes another player the Cubs had interest in.

- Whether the Cubs sign Reed Johnson mainly depends on what they get for Bradley in a trade, if they trade him.

- Rich Harden and Reed Johnson filed for free agency today but Jim is still in contact with them and their agents.

- Hey folks, I think Starlin Castro may be the real deal!

- According to MLB Daily Dish, the Cubs could have interest in Scott Podsednik. I only see him as a 4th outfielder.

That is it for today.....

Lilly Out, Another Target Traded, and Other Talk....

- There is a rumored trade that has been going back and fourth on whether it is true. The report earlier today is that the White Sox traded Chris Getz and Josh Fields for Mark Teahen. Teahen was on the short list of players the Cubs have been watching via the trade market. More on this as it becomes available.

- The Red Sox also acquired a guy the Cubs had an eye on last season and was rumored as an inexpenisve replacement for Milton Bradley, Jeremy Hermida. The Sox got him for pitchers Jose Alvarez and Hunter Jones. Interesting move for the Sox.

- Ted Lilly underwent arthoscopy surgery yesterday which surprised us all. Jim Hendry has said he does not see the Cubs adding pitching depth because Lilly should be throwing around April with no set backs. Jim, learn your lesson, nothing goes as plan. Lilly will start the season on the 15 day DL according to reports. Regardless what Jim says other media outlets are reporting the Cubs will look to add pitching depth, some even saying a top of the rotation starter, maybe even resigning Rich Harden. Let's look at some affordable options for the Cubs-

Erik Bedard- Coming off an injury, maybe a cheap deal but not a guarantee he won't hit the DL with Lilly.
Doug Davis- Ideal inning eating lefty, should rank right up there.
Justin Duchescherer- Maybe to expensive but could go in the pen once Lilly comes back.
Randy Johnson- Cubs had interest last season, would like to see him here for a 3 million a year.
Noah Lowry- Will come cheap with big upside.
Brett Myers- Phillies will probably re-sign him but I would love him on the Cubs. Could work in the pen as well.
Vicente Padilla- Good option.
Ben Sheets- If he does not break the bank, he should be at the top of the list.
Brad Penny- Another guy who could come cheap.
John Smoltz- Would love to sign him!
Randy Wolf- May come too expensive but would be ideal.

The Cubs have also entertained the idea of trading Milton Bradley to the Rangers for Kevin Millwood. That would be a done deal in my book!

- The Cub Reported has what they think will happen with the Cubs in the coming weeks. They note that Heilman maybe traded to the Giants with Bradley for Rowand. I would also do that deal in a second! They also mention that depending on Milton Bradley will determine whether the Cubs bring back Reed Johnson. They do mention Rajai Davis as an available outfielder who is eligible for salary arbitration as a "Super Two." He would come cheaper than the Reed Johnson salary which would be around 3 million a year. Here is Rajai Davis stats. At only 30 years old and posting 41 SB last season he could be a very valuable 4th outfielder for the Cubs. I like the Davis idea.

The GM meeting start Monday in Chicago, so expect the Hot Stove to get really HOT!

Iwamura to Pirates Then Cubs?

I am hearing that the Cubs still have interest in acquiring recently traded infielder Akinori Iwamura. Iwamura was traded to the Bucs for reliever Jesse Chavez. Iwamura would be one of the Pirates highest paid players at almost 5 million due next season.

The Cubs were to have reported interest in Iwamura recently and even talks about a package deal of Iwamura and Burrell for Bradley was rumored. I am now hearing that Jim Hendry could be in contact with the Pirates about Iwamura and maybe even Ryan Doumit who is another high price player on the Pirates. But what would the Cubs give up? You guessed it, Milton Bradley.

Bradley is owed 23 million over the next two seasons and Doumit and Iwamura are owed 13 million over the next two seasons combined. That is not including the two club options on Ryan's contact. The Cubs of course would have to fork over some cash to get the deal done and maybe include a player like Mike Fontenot or a minor league arm but I can see this as a possibility.

Doumit has primarily been a catcher his career but has logged innings in RF and 1st as well. He is a very good athlete and it would not be any different from running Hoffpauir or Fox in RF. Iwamura would be used either as a expensive utility player or an affordable starting 2nd baseman. Here is Doumit's career stats and Iwamura's career stats.

Pittsburg would be ideal for Milton. It would be a low pressure rebuilding team surrounded by young talent that he could mentor. The Pirates would get a guy that could in fact be the vocal leader of the team and Bradley would have the chance to stick it to the Cubs during the next two seasons.

If anything this rumor is very interesting. Lets see if it has legs!

Bradley, Hendry, and Ricketts.....

- Sullivan mentions today that the Cubs could trade Milton Bradley to the Rays for Iwamura and Burrell. I have been saying that for a while! If Hendry can pull that off, I say do it!

- Hendry says he does not believe his job is in jeopardy and is just working towards building a strong team for 2010.

- The Cubs are working on signing John Grabow to a multi-year deal worth right around 7 million.

- The Cubs would also like to sign a speedy leadoff hitter. Figgins seems the logical fit even though I think Iwamura could fill the role if they traded for him.

- The Cubs do not want to get in a bidding war for Chapman so they are likely to search for pitching depth elsewhere.

- The Cubs are looking for another "Rich Harden" type player for next season. They want a guy the can buy low and have tons of upside. Players like Eric Bedard, Noah Lowry, and Ben Sheets could fit the bill.

- One Cubs exec says if Mark Teahen or JJ Hardy are non-tendered expect the Cubs to be "serious players" for one if not both players.

- Tom Ricketts has stated that he want the Cubs payroll to remain in the top 3 in baseball. That is some great news Cub fans!

Til Next Time!

This and That....

- There has been a lot of media outlets that have said that the Cubs are interested in trading Milton Bradley for Gary Matthews Jr. Although Matthews numbers have decreased since going to the Angels, he still plays really good defense, is a switch hitter, and is owed 23 million over the next two years which is very similar to Bradley. One good thing for the Cubs is that Matthews would be reunited with hitting coach Jaramillo, someone who made him an impact bat in Texas. The question is will the Angels want to add a bad news player like Bradley. I know personally I would do the deal.

- Buster Onley rattled off some places that Bradley could be going and for the player the Cubs would get.

Carlos Silva and the M's- No Way!
Derek Lowe and the Braves- Yes Please!
Gary Matthews Jr. and the Angels- Sure!
Carlos Lee and the Astros- OMG YES!
Zito or Rowand and the Giants- Rowand Yes, Zito NO WAY!
Oliver Perez and the Mets- Nope.
Dontrelle Willis and the Tigers- Sure.
Scott Linebrink and the White Sox- Sure.
Pat Burrell and the Rays- Yep

- Another name being thrown out there is Bradley for Kerry Wood. I would love to welcome Woody back. There is also talk around Eric Byrnes and the Yankees Nick Swisher. I would not mind seeing any of those either.

- The Cubs have some interest in new free agent Noah Lowry according to league sources. He was recently removed from the 40 man roster so he has became an unrestricted free agent. His agent said Noah is completely healthy and throwing three days a week on his normal off season program without any restrictions. The Cubs have talked to the Giants in the past about deals involving Noah so there is know interest there. He should be an inexpensive pick up for the Cubs since he has not appeared in a game since August of 2007 due to arm injuries. Lowry's people believe the Giants misdiagnosed and mistreated his injury but is fine now. If the Cubs did sign Noah he would compete for the 5th spot in the rotation against Shark, Marshall, and Gorzalanny.

That is it for now Cub Fans!

Bradley Update and More....

- We have heard that Vernon Wells for Milton Bradley was gaining steam but then Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune squashed that rumor by saying it has "no legs at all" and added the Cubs have not even talked about Wells.

It was hard to imagine a Wells for Bradley trade would have worked with all the money involved. I would still like to see them try to match up and maybe add more players to the deal to offset the money. How about Wells for Fukudome, Mile, and Bradley? It would only be a 46 million dollar difference then. The Jays then could throw in 20 million to get the deal done. So basically the Cubs would add 26 million over the next 5 seasons for Wells which would be a steal.

- Bruce Levine said "Milton Bradley for Pat Burrell has been on the table for three weeks." Burrell makes 9 million next season and Bradley makes 23 over the next two seasons. The only way I do this trade is if the Cubs pay only Burrell's salary and 7 million or less for Bradley's salary or they include Iwamura in the deal with no money exchanged.

- Ryan Dempster told the Chicago Tribune that the players would give Bradley another chance. Honestly if they did that is fine but I think this is just posturing to make him more valuable as trade bait. I just see no way he is in Cubbie blue next season.

- Here are some other trades to consider: Bradley for Juan Pierre, Bradley for Carlos Guillen, Bradley for Francisco Cordero or Aaron Harang or Bronson Arroyo. I still like Luis Castillo for Milton Bradley!

- Here is a great Q and A with new Owner Tom Ricketts.

That is it for now Cub Fans!

Levine Drops A Bomb!

WOW Bruce, it is only October and you drop this bomb!

- Bruce Levine said in his chat that that Cubs will not have the payroll to add big salaried players so Jim may have to go the trade route to improve the team and shed salary.

- He likes O-dawg in a one year deal if they cannot get Figgins.

- He said there is no way Bradley stays here but does not see the Cubs just giving him away but may swap bad contracts.

- Tom Ricketts has taken over the Cubs and the welcome home party for him will be in the form of a press conference at Wrigley on Friday.

- He does not see Lackey, Chapman, or any other big named pitcher to be signed for next season. They will only have the payroll right around 140 million next season, very similar to last season.

- Here come the Bomb! Levine first says in response to if Milton Bradley returns " Jim Hendry has been working on playing Bradley since the last quarter of the season. Tampa is still a very viable team, but keep your eye on Toronto, which has money problems and is dying to move outfielder Vernon Wells."

Then he says " The Cubs have talked to Toronto about different scenarios that may include players like Vernon Wells and Bradley"

Now Wells is due 98.5 million over the next 5 seasons, a lot like Soriano. Bradley is owed 23 million over the next two seasons bring the difference to 75 million. The Jays would have to pay at least half the amount to get a deal done. The Cubs just cannot afford to take on that much money so they would have to eat some or take on a player like Soriano (90 million left), Zambrano (74 million left), or Fukudome and Miles together (combined 28 million). The gold ideal situation for both teams would have the Cubs get Wells for Bradley with the Jays paying 50 million of Wells' contract and all of Bradley's. That would have the Jays saving 25 million total and the Cubs only spending the amount on a really good guy for CF.

Another great move would have the Cubs trading Zambrano and Bradley for Wells and Halladay straight up. The Cubs will be taking on only 15.75 million in contract money for a true Ace and really good defensive outfielder. I would love that deal but it would not happen because the Jays would want more talent and Z has a no trade clause that he may not waive to go to Toronto.

I like Bradley for Wells but only if the Jays pay a large portion of Vernon's contract.

I will keep you posted!

Cubs Update.....

- The sale of the Chicago Cubs will be completed by the 30th of October where a press conference is expected at Wrigley Field.

- David Kaplan expressed that Milton Bradley will not be in a Cubs uniform next season. Hendry right now is just trying to to find "the right deal" and he is posturing by saying Milton is still a Cubs etc...etc....

- Jarmillo feels Soriano's problems are mechanical and has nothing to do with his eye sight or heavy bat.

- The possible destinations for Milton Bradley are Tampa, the Giants, Boston, or Seattle. There has also been talk about Toronto and San Diego as well.

- Jim Hendry is happy to have Tom Ricketts as their new owner. I think we all are Jim.

Til Next Time....

Cubs Like Chapman... Other Clubs Like Bradley?

- The Cubs are very interested in free agent lefty Aroldis Chapman. The Cubs do have competition for the 21 year old lefty though. The Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, and Cardinals all have interest. Many say that Chapman will want a contract in the 40-60 million dollar range. I do not see the Cubs going that high.

- Bradley may have more suitors than we all thought. According to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com "You would be shocked at the level of interest." The Cubs remain confident that they can trade Bradley without assuming the vast majority of the 21 million remaining on this contract in the next two years. In fact Tom Ricketts has set a limit on how much money the Cubs will include in a deal, one source said to Ken. The Cubs can take back a contract but pay only a fixed amount of cash. Tom has got this one right! No need to trade him for a bag of balls or release him especially since Jaramillo is on the north side. He could in fact fix Bradley's swing, but probably not his attitude. I am still in favor of Bradley being traded.

- MLBTR.COM has their annual "Offseason Outlook" for the Cubs so go check it out. He has the Cubs committed to 124.2 million before raises to Hill, Baker, Theriot, etc... Cotts, Heilman, and Fontenot are non-tender candidates. I only consider Cotts a non-tender, the rest can be trade bait.

I really disagree with Tim on the Bradley situation. There are clubhouse issues along with chemistry issues that are beyond repair. That ship has sailed. I like his idea of signing Billy Wagner and think it is wise to sign Grabow but think he is under estimating the payroll flexibility this offseason. The Cubs will have money to spend.

- Good article by Bruce Levine on Jaramillo. I really like this guy!

Til Next Time.....

Jaramillo The Cubs New Hitting Coach...

According to David Kaplan and Bruce Levine the Cubs have signed Rudy Jaramillo to a 3 year deal worth 2.42 million. This will make him one of the highest paid hitting coaches in baseball. Rudy has had success with players such as A-Rod, Milton Bradley, Soriano, DeRosa, and many others. The Cubs are expected to make an announcement today.

All players interviewed has said he is the best in the game. This is a good start for the Cubs off season!