I know what some of you may be thinking.
Or quite possibly none of you.
But why did I? Oh HOW. COULD. I. have not mentioned the departure of the one and only, slider low and away, slider low and away, slider low and away,
Slider low and away
Slider low and away tossing Michael Wuertz. It’s simple.
I forgot. (more…)
The Cubs are back!
Once again haunting Ho Ho Kam park in preparation for the 2009 season. Full squad workouts began at their Mesa, Arizona facility on the 20th with only one notable name missing, that being their pirouetting, non-righty hitting, early season mania-inducing only to be disappointed/confused at WHAT EXACTLY IS HE SWINGING AT?! right center fielder Kosuke Fukudome.
But more on him later. (more…)
Sorry I haven’t been around as much lately. I was very busy over the holidays when the Cubs traded utility player Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians for three pitching prospects. I’m like most Cubs fans out there that do not agree with the trade but not a whole lot we can do when we aren’t Jim Hendry!
Soon after the DeRosa trade, their were reports that Jason Marquis would be traded to the Colorado Rockies for a relief pitcher. Now, it looks like that trade will happen this week so look for Marquis to be moved while the Cubs will pick up part of his salary.
Last but not least, on Monday afternoon the Cubs and Milton Bradley agreed on a three year contract as long as he can pass his physical in Chicago. Bradley will be paid $30 million over the three years as long as he can stay healthy.
The Chicago Cubs and starting pitcher Ryan Dempster have signed a new four year contract ESPN.Com is reporting. The four year deal will pay Dempster $52 million total including a $4 million dollar signing bonus. The contract will pay Dempster $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. Dempster has a 2012 option for $14 million
It is a decent contract, but I would have preferred for it to be around $45 million total and not so backloaded but I can see why Jim Hendry and management did it this way. They had to break the $50 million mark or you know Dempster would have been very serious about leaving Chicago and signing with another team. By back loading the contact, it also lets the team still actively look at trading for Jake Peavy.
Say what Cubs Fans?
The Chicago Cubs announced on Thursday that they would not be re-signing closer Kerry Wood after he has spend the last ten seasons with the team. General manager Jim Hendry said that Wood deserves the three or four year contract that he is asking for but right now the Cubs just can’t give that to him.
To fill Wood’s role, the Cubs traded for Kevin Gregg on Thursday as well. The Cubs will be sending Jose Ceda to the Florida Marlins in exchange for Gregg. Gregg wasn’t that great last year in the closers role so I hope he a setup mane for Carlos Marmol. Marmol needs to be the closer of this team in my opinion.
What do you think Cubs fans?
Alex Cintron has been released by the Chicago Cubs. Cintron was mostly planned to be a backup for Ronny Cedeno or Mike Fontenot if they were ever included in a trade for Brian Roberts.
With Cedeno and Fontenot staying with the Cubs, Cintron really had no value with the team, and will now be looking elsewhere to play in 2008.
The Chicago Cubs have signed former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Reed Johnson. Johnson was released by the Blue Jays after they figured out they didn’t have much room for Johnson on the roster.
Johnson is expected to playtoon with Felix Pie in center field.
On Friday the Chicago Cubs trimmed their spring roster to 50 players after sending down 7 players. Billy Petrick was sent to Triple A Iowa, while Tyler Colvin was the most notable player that was send to minor league camp.
Colvin isn’t the only player being sent to minor league camp as Esmailin Caridad, Jose Ceda, Geoff Jones, Andres Torres, Bobby Scales, Wellington Castillo, and Josh Donaldson we also sent to minor league camp.
Bruce Levine has reported that the Chicago Cubs have signed Alex Cintron to a minor league contract. Most Cubs fans this morning are asking why Cintron? The Cubs already have quite a few players that can play the middle infield positions.
Is this just an insurance incase Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot, and Ryan Theriot stink it up? I think there is going to be another move after this one, that will involve Cedeno more then likely where he will be headed to the Baltimore Orioles in the Brian Roberts deal. Hmm sure makes things interesting!
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.
