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.
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!
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
