The Cubs Off-Season Report - 12/21/05

By Neil on December 21, 2005 7 Vote 0 Votes

More Cubs Rumors

The Cubs Rumor Mill and Hot Stove were back in action on Tuesday. The major news out of Chicago was the signing of free-agent outfielder Jacque Jones to a 3-year, $16 million dollar contract (scroll down for the full report and a XM Radio interview with Jm Hendry). This signing had major effects on the Cubs Faithful and many doubt if this was the right signing for the Cubs. Jones said during a phone interview on Tuesday night that he knows he must improve on his batting average and is working on improving his game everyday. Larry Bowa mentioned on Tuesday morning he thought Jacque Jones would make a good fit in right field for the Cubs and the Cubs would outbid the Cardinals for his services. Jeff Erickson from RotoWire (who is not a Cubs fan, VERY obvious) mentioned on Tuesday he thought Jones would be a good fit with the Cubs.

According to a report from Newsday late Tuesday night, the Yankees agreed to terms with Johnny Damon on a 4-year, $52 million dollar deal. I can hear it now....the Curse of Johnny Damon....have fun at the barber!!!! I have updated news on Kevin Millwood, Matt Clement, Kenny Lofton, Kerry Wood, Jose Vidro, Corey Patterson, Joe Borowski, plus additions to the Cubs Rumor Mill: Ryan Church, Eduardo Perez and Gil Meche and a name I would like to throw out, Wade Miller. Also, the Cubs new Scouting Director, Tim Wilken.

According to several reports on XM Radio, Kevin Millwood was in Texas on Tuesday visiting the Rangers. Jeff Erickson mentioned the Rangers are probably the favorite to land Millwood now the Mariners have signed Jarrod Washburn to a 4-year, $37.5 million dollar contract (Rob Dibble said he did not like the Mariners signing of Washburn)

There was a lot of speculation on Tuesday concerning the signing of Washburn with the Mariners. Most of the experts think the Mariners overpaid and still do not have enough starting pitching. Ronnie Lane and Rob Dibble mentioned on Tuesday they thought the Mariners waited too long to get into the free agent pool and the Mariners may be banking on trading Jeremy Reed to the Red Sox for either Matt Clement or Bronson Arroyo to get more starting pitching (ESPN mentioned the same).

Kenny Lofton signed a 1-year, $3.5 million dollar contract (plus incentives) with the Dodgers on Tuesday.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays designated Joe Borowski for assignment on Tuesday.

According to the Associated Press the Chicago Cubs hired Tim Wilken as the director of amateur and professional scouting on Tuesday. Wilken has been with the Devil Rays since the 2003 season and was the assistant to the GM and assisted the scouting department. Before the 2003 season, Wilken spent 24 years with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

The Washington Examiner mentioned on Tuesday the possibility of Kerry Wood being traded to the Nationals for Jose Vidro and Ryan Church. Church played in 102 games for the Nationals in his first full season in the Majors. The lefty hit .287 with 9 home runs and 42 RBI's with a .353 OBP and a .466 SLG. Church also struck out 70 times in 268 at bats. With Kerry Wood's no trade clause and the signing of Jacque Jones on Tuesday. I doubt this will actually transpire.

On Monday, the Newark Star-Ledger mentioned the Cubs interest in former Devil Ray, Eduardo Perez. Perez played in 77 games for the Devil Rays in 2005. Perez hit .255 with 11 home runs, 28 RBI's, a .368 OBP and a .497 SLG. Perez had most of his success with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1999-2003. Perez could be a good addition to the Cubs bench and provide depth from the right side of the plate at first base and in the outfield.

A report on ESPN.com and the Tacoma News Tribune mentioned the Mariners are talking to the Cubs about a trade that would send Corey Patterson to the Mariners for right-handed pitcher Gil Meche. Meche was 10-8 with a 5.09 ERA in 29 games (26 starts) for the Mariners in 2005. Meche is 27 years old and has a 44-36 career record in 3 seasons with the Mariners posting a 4.70 career ERA. ESPN suggested that the Mariners might not offer arbitration to Meche, but a report on Mariners.com late on Tuesday confirmed the Mariners have offered arbitration to him.

While I was going through ESPN.com's rumor mill on Tuesday, I noticed Wade Miller's name on the list for the first time. ESPN mentioned the Red Sox were not going to offer Miller arbitration and a report on Red Sox.com late on Tuesday, confirmed that report. Could the Cubs sign Miller to a minor league contract? Miller is coming off a 4-4 record with a 4.95 ERA in 16 games with the Red Sox in 2005. The Sox signed him last off-season after coming off of rotator cuff surgery. Miller's 2005 season was cut short by surgery on his right labrum. I just remember the days of him in an Astros' uniform....could the Cubs sign him and take a risk. He has a 62-43 career record with a 3.98 ERA. Miller was VERY good once....could he be good again?

57 days until pitchers and catcher report for Spring Training and 103 days until Opening Day in Cincinnati.

Remember to check back for your Cubs Off-Season reports. If anything happens it will be in 'Cubs News from the Wire' and you will be able to read about the Cubbies here.

Well, that's the news (Cubs Rumors) and I'm sticking to it!!

Sonny D

This was my post on an earlier thread:

That is the problem with us Cubs fans, we always try to look at "the bright side of things". We have become preconditioned to settling for mediocrity by Cubs ownership for too many years. We are "teased" by management acting like they are going after "Big Name" players, only to lose out to another team and then settling for 3rd tier free agents and players. Although I prefer Pierre over Furcal as a leadoff hitter, there would have been nothing wrong with Pierre, then Furcal in the batting order. Instead we saved our money to sign a 120k RF in Jones. If the Cubs want to "salvage" this offseason, they MUST trade for Julio lugo and make a run at Millwood (or send more prospects for a starting pitcher). But then again, why send prospects for proven All-Stars when we can play them for $500k a year until they themselves become all-stars and move on to teams that will pay them accordingly........

Sincerely,

Another Dissapointed Cub Fan

The ONLY bright spot to this whole offseason has been Pierre. What he brings to the table, both as a leadoff hitter and as a teammate, is incredible. As Jason said earlier, his caught stealing % is 23%, compared to all the other leaders his is right there. His career OBP is .355, career batting average is .305, and everyone is still questioning the guy???? He has one "off" year, and everyone is making him out to be a "1 year" player. If this was my club, I'd sign Pierre to a long term contract right away (while he's still fairly reasonable, afterall, that's what the Tribune co likes, reasonable price tags, and get Pie in at right when he's ready. So what if we have a 5mil/yr, 120k outfielder in jones playing backup, the Tribune Co can afford it......

mike rice

If we don't sign Pierre to a long term deal then giving up our prospects was just stupid. If we are not sure about Pie, we Could always put Harrison back in center. So why give up the prospects for 1 year of Pierre ? I still think we need starting pitching or none of this matters anyway. All we have is Carlos , Glendon Rousch and rest we don't know about.

Shaun

Abover average players are not needed at all holes. What is needed is a healthy staff and chemisrty in the clubhouse along with a great table setter. The Chicago White Sox were full of average players, who played great together....as much as I hate to admit. I think they had two players that hit above .280.

Jason B. from AZ

David,

Pierre's OBP and defense are better than Jones, and his caught-stealing numbers are actually pretty low, it is just that he attempts so many that it looks like he is caught a lot. I compared Pierre in some earlier post to other SB guys around the league, and here were some results: Here are the top 4 leaders in SBs, and how many times they were caught stealing, as a percentage of total attempts

Figgins 21%

Reyes 20%

Podsednick 28%

Pierre 23 %

and to throw in everyone's favorite trade topic, Julio Lugo, he is at 22%.

Pierre has good numbers, and all his numbers are better than Jacque Jones, except for power numbers. I think the Cubs are settling for mediocrity, and banking on promise/potential if they don't sign Pierre long-term.

Jerry,

Would you give Aramis Ramirez or Derrick Lee to another team, if they gave you a Corey Patterson/Matt Murton/Prospect? Probably not, right? So that is why I don't think this trade will ever happen. Besides, we don't need one awesome hitter...we have a lot of holes to fill, and need above-average players at all those holes.

Jerry

TRADE RUMOR

After digging into many sources and making a wild card conclusion that, according to the Boston Globe, that Manny Ramirez will not report to the Red Sox spring training camp and demands a trade. I see something very possible and maybe it has some validity.

Red Sox, Cubs and a West Coast Team make a 3-team trade-

Red Sox sending Manny Ramirez to the Cubs for Corey Patterson (to fill the Damon centerfield vacancy), Matt Murton (to fill the left (Green Monster) side vacated by Ramirez), a pitching prospect and the PTBNL the Red Sox owe the Cubs, and maybe Todd Walker for Cora as Boston has Loretta now.

The Red Sox swings this deal because David Wells is part of the deal going to the West Coast team for some outfielders, afterall they did recently sign Seanez.

daverj

I think you are right Jason, the Jones signing means that the Cubs likely will not sign Pierre to a long term deal. I'm not sure I like it either, but the Cubs must be concerned about Pierre's defense, low OBP last year and high caught stealing rate. While last years number are similar, Jones has more upside than Burnitz and was the best outfield free agent option still available. The Cubs had to go 3 years to match the Kansas City offer to Jones (although the Cubs offered $2 mil less than KC). The Cubs outfield for 2007 will likely be Jones, Pie and Murton.

Jason B. from AZ

Hey Neil,

I had to admit to being disappointed about the Jones signing. If it was for 1 year, I would have been fine with it, as he is a Burnitz-rent-a-player type, in my eyes anyway.

But when you lock him up for 3 years, and his numbers aren't any better than Patterson's or Burnitz's numbers...something doesn't add up.

I mentioned before that I believe Hendry loves to "catch lightning in a bottle". Just like with Barrett, the Cubs are hoping a guy will improve upon his numbers...which tells you that they are gambling, and NOT getting players that already have great numbers.

Riddle me this Batman: If Murton is the future, and Pie is the future, where does Pierre fit in? Are you seriously going to tell me that you will not sign Pierre to a multi-year deal, but you will sign Jones to one?

If you do sign Pierre long-term, then where does Pie play in the next 3 years? Either Murton has to suck, or be traded, or Jones becomes the most expensive fourth OF in all of baseball.

I just don't get it.

Pierre = Good

Jones = Burnitz