According to multiple reports, the bankruptcy judge in Delaware "ruled that Tribune Co. and the Chicago Cubs can proceed with the team's $845 million sale to the Ricketts Family" on Tuesday.
According to a report from Dave Kaplan, the sale could close late next week with the Ricketts Family finally taking control of the organization. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Ricketts Family is looking "forward to getting to work on leading the team to a championship."
The report in the Tribune indicated the sale should be completed by the end of the month.
Stay Tuned ... the two and a half year sale process is nearly complete.
Subscribe
Very good news. I am excited to get the ball moving this off-season. Should be interesting to see what the club does. What does everyone view as the top priority??? (Besides moving Milton which I am sure is the consensus across the board) I know it will mostly be through trades, but what will/should JH be looking for? Who should he use within the organization to get those pieces here via trade? Just curious what you all think.
Hendry should be looking over his shoulder is where he should be looking.
He should be the first to go.
The day after Ricketts takes control...
I'd love to see the following press release:
Rothchild released/Maddux named pitching coach.
After customary platitudes,I would like to see something like the following statement from Tom Ricketts:
"We are now entering a rigorous operations analysis period that should take about 30 days. Every important aspect of operations will be assessed. One aspect of that analysis will be to determine a "working budget" number for 2010. Player assessments will be completed, and team needs and prospective changes will be determined. Organizational strengths and weaknesses will be identified. Organizational changes will be considered.
"Our "fresh set of eyes" during these deliberations will be Sandy Alderson, who will join me in the Office of the Chief Executive. He will attend all critical meetings during our 30 days of operations analysis, and I will likely do the same. At the end of the period of operations analysis, (or during that process if timing is critical), I will announce any upper-level management and operating decisions that are made.
"I'm sure that you understand that many of the assessments and possible changes must remain in house. I do pledge to be as open as is practical during the weeks and months ahead.
"We are committed to having the best team that all circumstances allow going into the 2010 season. We expect to compete for a playoff spot in 2010, and we expect to have more success in post-season baseball in the future than we have had recently. Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series for Cubs' fans everywhere."
Actually, the statement from Ricketts should be: "We are pleased to lead the management for Cub fans everywhere. As a first step in creating a new direction and commitment to success we have asked Jim Hendry, Lou Pinella and Larry Rothschild to leave the organization, effective immediately. These are difficult decisions, but ones that are necessary to promote the change required to drive winning results. Over the next 30 days we will form a new leadership team that will be ready to make its successful mark in advance of the forthcoming winter meetings. As such, more news to follow".
Bryan..."in additition...Milton Bradley,
and Alfonso Soriano will be moving into
the Hendry Household for the length of their contracts...Since we could find no other takers and under no circumstances
could afford to put them on the field...we felt this would be the most effective use of their services.
Alfonso graciously will give Milton
persomality and anger management lessons under the watchful eye of Jim Hendry."
Bryan...If Ricketts does make that announcement now...He should already have in place or close to a decision on a new GM...it's too close to a critical time of the offseason to go through a long process of finding a new GM.
I also would like to see the management team replaced...BUT...I want Better management in it's place...and a hurried decision does not lend itself to better management.
Suzy...agree with both your posts. In regards to GM, Steve Stone is sitting on the south side (I'm sure unhappy with the chemistry with his "he gone" partner), and would be a wonderful fit. I'm sure there are numerous other quality names out there, but I'd prefer we NOT get a retread guy in the likes of Dusty or Lou. Someone fresh. But I agree...let's get the right person v. just speed of decision.
Any BTW, I do appreciate the thoughts of Hendry hosting Soriano and Bradley thru their contract period. He caused it, now live with it!
Finally, finally, finally!!!
Love the fact that there is still Cubby news and the CCO lives on! Jim and Bryan GREAT posts! I love em both and cannot wait til Mr. Ricketts finally gets the chance to speak to us... the loyal army of faithful!
As far as Moves
Deal Milton-Burrel's fine, but my guess would be that we can do better value wise and no I am not talking about the numbers declining Granderson. I do like the Zobrist/other guy (Sorry it is escaping me) from TB talks.
Package-Fontenot, Heillman, (Lee??????) And any number of prospects to Texas for Chris Davis or Mitchell Moreland
Package-Whatever Colorado wants for EY Jr.
Deal whoever you feel is not a "right fit for the Cubs" IE: Fox, Hoffpauir, etc... to an AL team and get faster, younger, cheaper and talented.
Finally and most importantly: The kids you have that you deem untouchable, that you absolutely do not want to give up :Castro, Jackson, Lemaihue (SP) and a host of others.... Fast track them and tell them that 2011 is their year! Allow Ryno to manage the 2011 project in AA and groom him for the 2011 job. You bring in an energy filled, talented, Chemistry filled youth movement surrounded by the solid Vets that you have left, sprinkle in a few free agents here and there and POWER towards 2011!
Your draft picks get away from this most athletic kid in the bunch, and you lean towards the best pure hitter available, and the best pure defender at the position, and a slew of electric arms.
Does this sound like the Red Sox? Good... it should! They are loaded with homegrown, young talent. They have 2, count them 2 World series titles in the past decade, I WANT THAT! They are a perennial playoff contender, in a highly competitive division and league...If you keep knocking on the door, it will come crashing down a time or two.
Cub fans unite for what should be one hell of a ride over the next 2 off-seasons. And to steal Neil's famous words....It all starts with Tom Ricketts and one smart move at a time!
Keep it real Cubby fans and for god's sake stay warm!
One more thing.... IF you can in any way shape or form get Carl Crawford either by FA or via trade MAKE THAT MOVE! I think the Cubs could be contenders in 2010 with addition by subtraction and C. Crawford patrolling CF and leading off. He would look real good in Cubby Blue.
Cloycub...Carl Crawford should be our A#1 priority this offseason....but I doubt that Hendry's acquisition scorecard has anyone under the age of 33 on it.
While Crawford would be a great addition
to the Cubs...my gut tells me the whole reason the Rays traded Kazmir in August was so they could afford to keep Crawford. If I'm the Rays...I want to keep him.
Isn't nice that with a new owner coming in...anything seems possible?
Getting rid of Milton and adding a CF are top priorities. An upgrade at either 2B or SS would be a bonus. However, here's another name I'm curious about.....Billy Wagner. He's been extremely vague about where he wants to play next year. There's been rumors about him retiring, but I don't think he will. He went through the whole rehab process and was very effective when he did pitch. He'll want to pitch for a contender. What kind of money/contract would he want at this point of his career? Can you imagine the back of our bullpen with a two-headed monster of Marmol (righty) and Wagner (lefty)? NASTY!!!
Aaron, I agree with you here///I've been watching him...But the key is whether he really does retire or not.
He only went to the Red Sox with the proviso that they NOT pick up his 8 million contract...because he wanted to close and was blocked by Papelbon.
So I would assume the contract level would begin at 8 ,ill or thereabouts.
The othee consideration would be Marmol's psyche. He's primed to close...
anything less would be a disappointment
from his view. Given the walks he gave up last year...I would not mind having someone else CAPABlE of closing...but don't know that the Cubs could legitimately sign Wagner...AND guarantee the closer's job to him.
But it would be a great back end of the
bullpen.
Another thought is BJ Ryan...if he reagains his form with extra injury rehab time...I could see the Cubs giving him another look-see if he is any better
this spring....The verdict is still out.
On the hitting coach front:
Rudy Jaramillo (Texas hitting coach) is available and supposedly one of the best in the Biz and he has been linked to the Cubs.
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/10/is-rudy-jaramillo-on-cubs-radar.html
I know there is a lot of sarcasm being expressed here (and I appreciate it), but some things aren't going to happen. Lou isn't going anywhere. Ryno needs another year with several of his future ML team members, and a new manager of any competence would want 3 or 4 years.
If both Bradley and Soriano were dumped, both would be playing somewhere for the major league minimum, and we would be eating most of $28 mil the next two years and $18 mil for some years beyond that. Soriano will stay, and we'll hope he gets better--which could happen. He doesn't have to play regularly if he doesn't produce.
Dumping everyone named would probably be a $35 mil hit next year. That could force the team to move ARAM and Z or D just to cover the payroll shortfall. We would get some talent in return.