Kerry Wood's status with the Cubs for the 2008 season and beyond remains unknown but a report in the Chicago Sun-Times on Saturday morning indicated Wood could return to the North Side next year. A deal would likely need to get done in the next 9 days before Jim Hendry loses his exclusive negotiating rights with the club's former ace. According to Gordon Wittenmyer, Wood realizes his best chance for success at the Major Leagues right now would probably be out of the pen. Of the four Cubs free agents, Wood appears to be the only one that could be back with the club next season. The Cubs concluded their organizational meetings and Jim Hendry called them "very, very productive."
Daryle Ward's $1.2 million dollar option for 2008 was picked up and Craig Monroe likely will be the next Cub to file for free agency. Here is the rest from around the league including an update on a former Cubs' pitcher and right fielder....
Sammy Sosa announced on Friday night that he would like to play baseball in 2008, of course for a 'small' fee....$7 million dollars.
Bruce Miles brought up Kosuke Fukudome again....here is more on Fukudome.
Glendon Rusch is back in the news. The former Cub was cleared to pitch again in August and recently worked out for scouts in Southern California. The workout apparently went well and Rusch is hoping to make a comeback. Ten teams had scouts in attendance in a warehouse that adjoins the offices of West Coast Sports Management....those teams: Twins, Padres, Astros, Royals, Mariners, White Sox, Marlins, A's, Reds and Rockies.
The Devil Rays are changing their name to just 'The Rays' and Paul Sullivan mentioned maybe the Cubs should change theirs....
Scott Boras has everyone in baseball talking A-Rod, 24-7....A-Rod this, A-Rod that. Granted he is the best player in baseball, but what has he won? Is any player worth $360 million dollars? Some franchises are not even worth that much. Buster Olney said the offer the Yankees were planning to make, $250 million, was about a $100 million less than what Boras thinks Rodriguez is worth.
According to a report by Ken Rosenthal, the Brewers are talking to Francisco Cordero about a new contract but if Marino Rivera resigns with the Yankees then Cordero will become a very expensive closer. Rosenthal mentions the deals that B.J. Ryan (5 years, $47 million) and Billy Wagner (4 years, $43 million) signed before the 2006 season.
The Yankees decided to keep Bobby Abreu for another year....with a $16 million dollar price tag.
133 players have filed for free agency.
The Mariners declined options on Jose Guillen and Chris Reitsma on Friday.
The Giants have made Tim Lincecum available for the right offensive player.
The Orioles will once again try to trade Miguel Tejada this off-season. Tejada has 2 years left on his current 6-year, $72 million dollar contract.
Well, that's the latest from the rumor mill....and I'm sticking to it!!
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The more I read about Borasss and A-rod I really start to think if A-Rod would actually help the team. Yes he is great at the plate, but has he ever brought a team to the promise land. You say Texas sucked well how could they afford anyone else. What did he do for the yankees? What did he do for the Mariners? I really hope no-one pony's up the money Borasss wants. He is ruining a game i love. People from my fathers generation are disgusted with athletles today. My father hasn't had anything to do with basball since 1994 and alot of his friends feel the same. This is a guy who had season tickets for years.
Sorry just rambling. Having deja Vu. Am I the only one who remembers what was going on in baseball right before 1994?
A few thoughts....
* Any info on Fukodomes defense? His offense would certainly be a plus. I also would like to see Jose Guillen in our OF.
* I wonder if the Giants would trade Lincecum for Pie straight up?
Jim (TP),
LOL...you're a comedian....I would do that trade in a heartbeat.
As for Fukodome, all indications are his defense is as stellar as Ichiro. I also agree about Guillen.
Other Jim,
I completely agree with you about Bor-Ass. He is ruining the game. I was actually listening to ESPN radio this week and they were talking about these issues as well. Here's the deal...Yes, the game is making a ton of money right now, and the owners are making a lot----but that's their damn right---to have profits---it's all about free enterprise. Boras wants the players to make more than the owners, and that is WRONG...the players are pampered and they take on NO risk at all. HOWEVER, the owners are also at fault---especially Tom Hicks, who I think is equally at fault as Bor-Ass. Unfortunately, when owners get together to keep the price of contracts reasonable, Bor-Ass cries foul---cries "collusion". But for the good of the game, their needs to be a salary cap, much like football. In order to pay for all of these contracts, many teams have been forced to build new stadiums, which cost taxpayers a TON of money in the long run (and they're already starting to turn them down---see Minnesota's problem initially, and especially Florida), but ultimately, that costs falls to you and I---the average Joe fan. I remember in 2001, I could get into a Cubs game for as little as $10. I'm sure in the '80sthey were WAY affordable, but I never attended a game then---you get the point. It's just that pretty soon, if contracts keep going up, the average fan won't be able to attend, and maybe, just maybe "Satan"----I mean Bor-Ass, might realize how he's ruined the game.
$350 million just to talk to AROD!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I sincerely hope nobody take him up on that offer. I hope he's out of baseball, just as much as I hope Bonds is out of baseball next year.
Anyway....enough of that, back to the team....
I'd make Wood, Colon, Affeldt, Guillen, Francisco Cordero, Romero, Rowand, and Jenkins priorities in the FA market, and I'll explain each one briefly
Wood-'nuff said
Colon-former ace that could return to glory?
Affeldt-strong lefty reliever we'll need
Guillen-power and rbi threat for OF, strong arm too
Cordero-closer to replace Dempster
Romero-effective lefty to replace Wuertz
Rowand-we go after him late to see where we're at
Jenkins-provide power bat off bench and spot start
Through trades, we need to look at Miguel Cabrera, Willis, Dunn, Hawpe, Crawford, and though the roids cloud is over him---possibly Tejada if the Orioles drop their expectations.
I just think that if we make the tweaks to the bullpen, and can find takers for Jones, Marquis, Dempster, Wuertz, and possibly Cedeno, Marshall, and Pie for the right young talent, then we'll be set. There are shrewd moves to be made, because teams don't want to overspend anymore....Jones is a bargain with his salary and worth at least a decent prospect---Dempster is worth 2, and our young guys could be put in a package for someone.
I really do think Pie is the real deal---provided he can make some adjustments to shorten his swing---unlike Patterson, so if we're stuck with him in CF, it's not that bad. But I really think we need to have a power bat in the OF to go with Soriano, and we cannot be stuck with Theriot for the full season at SS---he's just not an everyday player, and it showed after July. And let's not forget our minor league system. Guys like Petrick, Veal, Gallagher, Samardzija, Patterson, Hoffpauir, Josh Kroeger, Hart, Sam Fuld, Tyler Colvin, etc., etc.
I mean, these guys are not that bad of options if we can't sign anybody...Unfortunately, none of them have real power except Hoffpauir.
Jim...I put info on Fukudome's defense in the article I did about him a short time ago. Click on the last sentence in blurb I mentioned about what Bruce Miles said....hope that helps. From what I have read he is solid defensively....
Aaron/Neil:
Thanks for the insight on Fukudomes defense. Come to think of it, Every Japanese position player in MLB is a solid to great defender.
Aaron:
Very true on the cost of going to the ballgames.
I am fortunate that I know a few people that have the night game/weekend package and I am able to get
tickets at face value. But, when you factor in the
$40.00 a ticket (My wife Hazel, myself, kids Gina & Ryne) plus $35.00 parking thats $195.00 before even sitting down. Now add another $60.00 for concessions
that comes out to a very expensive 3 hour outing.
That is the reason why we as a family go to one or two games a year. I go to a few more games because I am able to score some tickets from work but never the less it still is expensive.
Aaron during the 80's my friends and I would sneak downtown on the train from glenview to catch games. Get some bleacher seats and hope some drunk would buy us a beer. The whole day would cost about $20.
$350 million for one player
NFL games in LONDON
Talk of a Superbowl in London
T.O.
Micheal Vick
What the Hell happened