Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at the CCO…. What are you thankful for today?
The Cubs are looking at Kaz Matsui, a report in the Sun-Times confirmed a meeting between Jim Hendry and Matsui actually took place, but have the Cubs made an offer? Some are speculating the Cubs will offer Matsui a 3-year deal to play on the North Side, however there has not been an official word from the Cubs stating an offer has been made.
The same report in the Sun-Times reinforced the Cubs interest in Kosuke Fukudome and mentioned the Japanese outfielder has received a 4-year, $18 million dollar offer from the Hanshin Tigers and a 4-year, $20 million dollar offer from the Yomiuri Giants. Fukudome is scheduled to meet with his U.S. agents, Joe Urbon and Steve Hilliard of Octagon, on November 29th. The Cubs….
Jason Kendall agreed to a 1-year deal with the Brewers on Wednesday. Financial terms were not released but the deal reportedly includes a vesting option for 2009. The deal is pending a physical next week. If Kendall signs….the Cubs will receive a sandwich pick (between the 1st and 2nd rounds) from the Brewers as compensation.
Glendon Rusch has a lot to be thankful for this year. He is healthy and pitching once again. Rusch is hoping to be back on a big league mound next season. There is a lot of interest in Rusch according to Dan Evans of West Coast Sports Management. Rusch said he “would be receptive” to returning to the Cubs.
From Jayson Stark….
The ESPN baseball analyst confirms this winter will be filled with trades and not free agent contracts. Stark mentioned a few of the bigger names that are on the trading block and what it would take to land their services….but he mentioned two players the Faithful could be interested in. Stark said the Reds “are aggressively dropping Ryan Freel’s name” and according to the same report Josh Hamilton is “also available in the right deal.” Remember the Cubs took Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft last year and then sold him to the Reds.
From Around the League….
The Mariners met with Hiroki Kuroda in Japan this week and made a “pitch” to him to sign on to pitch in Seattle. Kuroda has said he would like to play on the west coast, but some think the Cubs are still interested.
But the Mariners might not be alone…. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies have made an offer to Kuroda as well.
Johnny Estrada had a “rough year” in Milwaukee according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel but despite trading for Estrada, the Mets could non-tender the catcher according to the New York Daily News.