November 2006 Archives

The Cubs are going to add at least two pitchers to the starting rotation for 2007....that is a fact. Jim Hendry has been reiterating that point over and over again for weeks. Who they will add is anyone's guess at this point and that is what makes the off-season so much fun. Rumors....who to believe who not to believe. But the bottom line is discussing baseball at the end of November is what makes this sport so special.

Several names have been mentioned in Cubs' circles over the past couple of weeks....Gil Meche, Vicente Padilla and Ted Lilly but two names in particular are worth taking an extra look at....Jason Schmidt and Jake Westbrook. Both names moved to the front of the rumor mill earlier in the week so since pitching wins championships....

The Cubs are expected to formally introduce Alfonso Soriano at a Thursday Press Conference according to several reports including one on WGN. Soriano will wear his familiar number 12 when he is introduced to the press and to the Cubs Faithful. Earlier in the week the details of Soriano's contract were released and here is the breakdown....

The Chicago Cubs, I have heard, are now the Illinois Yankees of the baseball world. Apparently they spend obscene amounts of money and have signed just about every good free agent on the market thus far. In fact, Lou Piniella has assured us all that Jim Hendry is really Pac-Man, gobbling up players in a giddy and previously unimaginable Tribune shopping spree. So, I assume, that all the other teams in the league will just forfeit now, right? You know better....

A late report on Tuesday night by Dave van Dyck in the Chicago Tribune stated the "Cubs deny offering Schmidt huge deal". A quote from the report stated, "The Cubs are not believed to have made a solid offer, certainly not at those figures." According to the report the Cubs do have an interest in Schmidt and "have talked to his agents several times" and van Dyck went on to state, "knowing it might take more money to lure him to the Midwest from the West Coast."

A new addition for the Faithful.... The CCO is pleased to announce the addition of another view to the site. Thomas Edgar writes for his own blog, www.cubsfanhell.com, and will add his perspective about the Cubs Farm System on a weekly basis for Chicago Cubs Online. I encourage everyone to check out his site....

With the recent selections of Ryan Howard and Justin Morneau as their respective leagues MVP's it got me to thinking. Where is all the Cubs talent that was supposed to be coming from our loaded farm system? Morneau was drafted in 1999 and Howard in 2001 so we certainly have someone that was drafted about that time that should be ready for big league greatness? Well I went back and looked at the 1999 and 2001 drafts to see who the Cubs picked before Morneau was picked in the 3rd round in 1999 and Howard was picked in the 5th round in 2001.

While most Monday nights are spent watching football on the tube, these days the Faithful must have their eyes on the news wire. The Bears are playing well this season and for all of the Giants fans....two words....Vince Young. But with the Winter Meetings around the corner teams are preparing to make their moves and the Cubs still have a lot of voids to fill.

A late report from the Chicago Tribune by Dave van Dyck mentioned a few familiar names that could take the mound for the Cubs next season....

The Cubs were quiet over the long Holiday weekend while the Astros and Brewers attempted to play a little catch-up in the roster department. The National League Central, on paper, is shaping up to be very competitive next season....unlike 2006.

The Winter Meetings start one week from today and if the first two weeks of the free agent signing period are any indication it should be a very eventful couple of weeks for the Cubs. Here is a recap from the news and rumors from over the weekend, a confirmation on a DFA and an updated off-season MLB calendar....

The past two Sundays have been big days for Jim Hendry....two weeks ago Hendry resigned Aramis Ramirez and Kerry Wood, last Sunday he made the biggest off-season splash in recent history with the signing of Alfonso Soriano. Does Hendry have anything up his sleeve for today? The Cubs continue to force moves by other teams to get better within the National League Central. The Astros made noise on Friday with the signings of Carlos Lee and Woody Williams....the Brewers struck on Saturday with a little noise of their own when they completed a 6-player deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Here is the rest from around the league and a check-in with the CCO's favorite off-season grader....

Updated - 3:15pm C.T. - Soriano to Play Winter Ball?

The Cubs signing Alfonso Soriano to the 8-year, $136 million dollar contract last week has had ripple effects throughout the league. Teams are actually concerned with what the Cubs are doing....how many times has that happened? The Dodgers, Angels and Astros all overpaid for big time talent, the same as the Cubs did just 6 days ago. The Astros’ signing of Carlos Lee could have other effects on their team just as the way Jim Hendry hopes the Soriano signing has an effect on which free agent pitchers would like to play at Wrigley. With Lee on board in Houston, a report in the Houston Chronicle suggests that signing could bring Andy Pettitte back to Houston, as well as Roger Clemens. The Astros did make a good signing on Friday as well when they inked Woody Williams to a 2-year deal (with a 3rd year club option) worth $12.5 million.

More from the rest of the league, a market for Jacque Jones? And what effect D-Mat might have on the free agent pitching market....

According to a report on ESPN Radio during the Dan Patrick Show, the Houston Astros have agreed to terms with Carlos Lee on a 6-year, $100 million dollar contract. The Cub killer will be patrolling left field for the Astros for a long time.

The deal includes a 4-year no trade clause and a limited no trade clause for the last two years of the contract.

Updated - 7:18pm C.T. - The Astros agree to terms with Woody Williams to a 2-year, $12.5 million dollar contract.