It is December 1st....just two more days until the Winter Meetings begin and the Cubs will travel to Nashville with a couple of holes in their roster to fill. While there has not been an official announcement, from all indications Kaz Matsui has agreed to terms with the Astros on a 3-year, $15 million dollar deal....some outlets are reporting it could be a little more. Lou Piniella apparently talked with Matsui over the phone, through a translator, to no avail. According to a report by Paul Sullivan, the Cubs offered Matsui a 3-year, $14 million dollar deal. Sullivan reported the Cubs have "four or five trade possibilities" heading into the meetings.
The Cubs are still targeting Kosuke Fukudome and "are prepared for a bidding war if he decides to leave Japan." The White Sox, Padres, Dodgers and Rangers are rumored to be interested in signing the Japanese outfielder. Fukudome has not made an announcement on whether he has decided to stay in Japan or play in the U.S. next season....the Cubs were looking for "some kind of indication this week."
Here is the rest from the mill on the day after the Cubs received their playoff shares and raised their ticket prices between 12-23%....
The Cubs....
The report in the Tribune mentioned the Cubs are looking to "add another reliever this off-season." Jason Marquis is penciled in Piniella's rotation along with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill and Ryan Dempster. Sullivan's report stated the Cubs "are leaning toward giving Felix Pie the everyday job in centerfield." Also, they are going to look for a left-handed infielder to "spell" Ryan Theriot at short.
As of the first of December, Alfonso Soriano will be the leadoff hitter next season according to a report on Cubs.com. If the Cubs would have landed Kaz Matsui the plan was to move Soriano down in the lineup according to Paul Sullivan.
The Cubs are trying to get Felix Pie to be "a little more selective at the plate." Gerald Perry has worked with Pie in the Dominican and Pie received a visit from Jim Hendry this week.
The Twins have not decided yet if they will tender a contract to Craig Monroe before the December 12th deadline. The Twins were scheduled to speak with Monroe's agent on Friday. If the Twins do not sign Monroe for the upcoming season, the Cubs will not receive the infamous player to be named later....stay tuned.
From Around the League....
Cesar Izturis agreed to a 1-year, $2.85 million dollar deal with the Cardinals on Friday. The signing of Izturis should end the David Eckstein era in St. Louis. Izturis can earn up to $3.5 million through incentives.
Speaking of the Cardinals....they "have strong interest" in Chris Capuano according to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cardinals are not focused on Senator Mitchell's report according to John Strauss.
Scratch one off the list.... The Cubs were rumored to be interested in trading for Ryan Church of the Nationals, but Omar Minaya and the Mets beat Jim Hendry to it. On Friday Minaya traded prized prospect Lastings Milledge to Washington for Church and catcher Brian Schneider. The move could result in the Mets deciding to non-tender Johnny Estrada.
The Rangers announced they will not offer arbitration to Sammy Sosa, Brad Wilkerson, Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Jamey Wright.
Troy Percival signed a 2-year, $8 million dollar deal with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. The deal includes an incentive package that could earn the veteran reliever another $4 million dollars.
HBO is planning a movie about the book "Game of Shadows." Barry Bonds is not happy and Ron Shelton (Bull Durham and Tin Cup) will be the director.
Jason Kendall is looking forward to next season.
The Pirates are open to trade Matt Morris according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The Tigers are interested in signing LaTroy Hawkins according to Detroit Free Press.
And finally....the Rockies "are trying to finalize a deal" with Steve Trachsel according to a report in the Rocky Mountain News. The human rain delay could be coming to a park near you once again this spring and summer.
And Ryan Theriot's good job batting leadoff last year is being discarded why?
That job should be the Riot's hands down. Everyone here knows I have a hard on for the guy, so bias aside. Am I the only one who wants to see him bat at the top?
If JH doesn't upgrade at SS with Greene, Tejada or another power hitting SS, I'd like to see Theriot as our lead-off hitter too. I agree that he as pretty good there last year.
Anyone hear anything about us going after Wilkerson? I haven't, but Hendry was rumored to be trying to deal for him a couple years ago. Wilkerson's been slowed by injuries the past couple years, but if he's healthy now, I think he'd be a nice back-up at all three OF positions and 1B and left handed bat off the bench.
David, I have not heard or read anything about the Cubs bing interested in Brad Wilkerson. But like you, I remembered Hendry showing interest in him a couple of years back that is why I included the 'blurb' about him.
Whoa whoa whoa. Matt you are WAAAAAYYYY off base.
Back yourself up..none of the stats sure do.
You want the Cubs leadoff hitter minus Sori's power, with an OBP of .326, a SLG of .346, and a .266 avg..
Sori had a BETTER OBP and that is WITH his power threat...his avg was right at .299, and his SLG was .560...
PWNED.
If we don't get Fukudome, why are the Cubs not looking at Aaron Rowand? I know we need a left handed hitter, but Pie isn't ready to hit on a daily basis in the Big Leagues. At some point, we have to give him a chance to play everyday, but I think we should at least look at Rowand in CF, then package Pie to get either Santana or Haren.
We need another SP, Haren or Santana would be perfect and a package of Pie, Marshall, Hart, Guzman, Soto, or others. If Soto was included, we could grab Johnny Estrada since the Mets aren't going to tender him. He's a switch hitter and a solid catcher.
Thoughts?
No way Soto is going to be dealt. This kid has a ton of upside, and should be a fixture behind the plate for years. Estrada is a clubhouse cancer, and has had problems with every manager he's played for (even Bobby Cox).
Hey Chad good to hear from you. On Aaron Rowand, from what I have read he is asking for a 5-6 year contract and rumors have it between $10-12 million a year. Is Rowand worth it? With all of the "abuse" his body has taken would he be healthy for the length of the contract? I like the way Rowand plays the game, but as you mentioned, the Cubs are looking to add a lefty and from Randy Bush and Lou Piniella said this morning on ESPN 1000 they are prepared to have Pie and Fuld battle it out in Spring Training for the centerfield spot.
I like Sean Marshall but I think he could be used as a piece in a trade but not Kevin Hart. Hart can help in the pen (long man) or in the rotation. Hart appears to have something to offer, I would like to see the Cubs give him another year at the Major League level.
On Angel Guzman, I do not know if you saw the news but he had TJ surgery and will miss the entire 2008 season.
On Geovany Soto, I agree with Bryan he has a large upside but I will admit starting the season with Soto and Henry Blanco is a risk but one that might be worth taking. Blanco's health is concerning. He is playing winter ball.
I would pass on Johnny Estrada. Too may question marks.
The minority law establishes that there has to be at least one Puerto Rican on the team. So far Pagan is a huge question mark, therefore Soto is untouchable. LOL!
Seriously at this point Soto projects to be the best addition this team will have in the 08' campaign. Good defense, good arm and good bat have not been seen in a Cub uniform since Jody Davis? Soto should be great for some years but I believe nobody is untouchable. If a package of him and maybe Marshall nets us Santana or Harem It would have to be considered. Personally I would like the kid to be a Cub for a long time if he can live up to the expectations he has created for himself.
I will keep saying that we are one ace away from the World Series. Why not Bedard for Hart, Marshall and Patterson? He is an ace. The other option is the improbable Prior back to 03’ form?
Soto & Pie - Are they Corey Patterson, Gary Scott, Rick Wilkins?
Why not choose to get a proven SP, whether it's Santana or Haren. There are options in the OF out there. Rowand has at least 5 years left and at 5 yr./55 million, he's worth it, in my opinion, only if we don't get Fukudome and we trade talent to get pitching.
I just think that Hendry is putting all of his eggs in Fukudome's basket.
On the other hand, I like trading to get Carl Crawford too. Imagine this OF: Soriano, Crawford, and Fukudome. Murton, Pie, and others would expendable to get Crawford.
Is there any truth to the Crawford rumors? I know historically the Rays are impossible to deal with, but Crawford is worth dealing with the Rays for. Looking back, I'm glad we didn't give up our prospects for Aubrey Huff or Julio Lugo. Crawford is completely different. Speed, Left-Handed, and Lead-off. He meets all of our needs. Would you be opposed to trading Pie, Murton, and Hart to get him? We may have to throw someone else in on the deal.
What would it take to get Crawford?
Chad...as of now, the Rays are trying to make teams believe Crawford is out of the market after the Delmon Young Trade but I don't buy it. They are just making it clear to everybody that they want a lot back in return for him...but he is going to be traded because the Rays won't pay up the big bucks next season.
Crawford is an elite player and one of the attractions for the fans in Tampa. Maybe Marmol,Marshall, Cedeno and Hart will do the trick. It is an awfull lot to give but woth it IMO.