Relief pitcher Michael Wuertz and the Chicago Cubs have agreed on a one year contract to avoid salary arbitration.  Wuertz will make $860,000 so he will receive a little raise but not the $900,000+ he was hoping for.

Wuertz went 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA last year.  If he can put away batters instead of throwing a bunch of crap to them when he gets them 0-2 or 1-2 I think he can be very good out of the bullpen.  Key is keeping the pitch count down when he does get in there and be under control.

Cubs Blog

I have to really question this signing by general manager Jim Hendry.  The Cubs have signed Japenese relief pitcher Shingo Takatsu this Chicago Tribune is reporting.  Yes, that is the same player that tried pitching for the Chicago White Sox and was terrible.

I don’t know what Hendry was thinking here.  Sounds like a stupid signing to me.

Jon Lieber is headed back to the Chicago Cubs after agreeing on a one year contract in the 3.5 million range.  Lieber will more then likely take over the 4th or 5th spot in the Cubs pitching rotation.  The deal could work its way up to the 7-8 million range if he hits all of his incentives.

Now what do the Cubs do with Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, Ryan Dempster?  Could that trade to Baltimore happen in the next few days?  Looks like it just might!

Cubs Blog

The Chicago Cubs have signed Chad Fox to a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training.  Most Cubs fans that I have talked so far are thinking WTF?!  LOL Chad Fox?!

 I don’t see the reason for this move to be honest.   The only thing Fox will be doing is taking up a spot on a minor league roster that a younger guy could have and use to develope more.

Bad move Hendry! – Cubs Blog

We would like to Welcome you to the Friendly Confines of CubsHomePlate!  Cubshomeplate is a brand new Chicago Cubs Blog where we will be blogging about our favorite team the Chicago Cubs!  The Cubs made the playoffs last season, but were swept away in the first round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Lets hope this next year has a different ending to it!

The Cubs have recently signed free agent Fukudome from Japan and he will be playing right field for the Cubs.  The Cubs will have to decide on Felix Pie or Sam Fuld for the center field position, and we all know that Alfonso Soriano will be playing in left field full time in 2008.

As far as the rest of the roster, Jim Hendry is still trying to get alteast one more pitcher.  One name that is being thrown around today is Joe Blanton of the Oakland A’s.  Who knows if anything will come of it however.  One thing is for sure, I do not want to see Ryan Dempster in the starting rotation for the Cubs.  Please, don’t let that happen Hendry!

I would like to welcome you to post comments about our articles.  If you agree or disagree, there is always room for some good Cubs talk!  Go Cubs!