The news from the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday morning is that the Chicago Cubs have offered starting pitcher Ryan Dempster a four year contract worth $50 million. Dempster can probably get more around the $60-$65 million for four years if he chooses to go out and test the free agent market. Will he stay with the Cubs for the $12-$13 million per year? We should know soon I would expect.

The Cubs rumors are still going around about Jake Peavy. However at this time it looks as if the Cubs will need a third team to get involved if they want to land Peavy. The Padres aren’t excited about the young arms that the Cubs are trying to send to the Padres. Peavy will either land with the Braves or Cubs and we should know before Thanksgiving.

Cubs Rumors

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Scott Eyre will be taking it easy for a few days as he rests his pitching arm/elbow.  Hopefully that is all Eyre will need after his elbow started to hurt over the weekend.  If Eyre does have to start the season the disabled list, look for the Cubs to use Carmen Pignatiello out of the bullpen.

The Chicago Cubs have expressed interest in Reed Johnson who was released by the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend.  Johnson could be the right handed outfielder the Cubs have been looking for all off season.  Johnson could help out in centerfield as well as the corner outfield positions as well.  Something could happen in the next 48 hours involving Johnson and the Cubs.

Cubs Blog

General Manager Jim Hendry has said over and over that he would like to add a right handed outfielder that could possibly play all three positions before the season starts.  He has tried to trade for the Texas Rangers Marlon Byrd in the past when he offered Matt Murton straight up.

Nothing has been talked about for a few weeks until today.  It appears that the Rangers would like to do the deal, but only if the Cubs can include a pitching prospect it sounds like.  They feel that Byrd is move valuable then Murtan because of his defensive abilities.

Doesn’t sound like something will get done unless Hendry will include a pitching prospect.  If a deal does get done, Byrd will more then likely platoon with Felix Pie in center field.

Cubs Rumors

The Brian Roberts to the Cubs Rumors have not stopped even though the trade was first talked about before the Winter meetings.  If the deal were to happen today, it looks like the Cubs would be sending Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, and Ronny Cedeno to the Orioles for Brian Roberts.

Personall, I think two pitchers and Cedeno is a little bit too much for Roberts.  But you have to give up something to get something in return so I can see where they are coming from as well.  I just don’t like getting rid of pitching depth, when a team can always use that.  Look at how many pitchers the Cubs went through last year, it is always nice to have a pitcher like Marshall or Gallagher come in and throw some innings when needed.

Do you like a Marshall, Gallagher, Cedeno deal for Roberts?  Leave us a comment and let us know!