According to reports out of Chicago and on XM Radio, the Cubs have traded Jacque Jones and cash considerations to the Tigers for Omar Infante.
Updated – 7:59pm C.T. with More Information on the Trade
Update – Jacque Jones is scheduled to make $5.5 million in 2008 with a $1 million dollar bonus due from his original 3-year contract he signed before the 2006 season. According to a report on Cubs.com, the ‘cash considerations’ in the deal is expected to be the prorated signing bonus. The Cubs, in effect with the trade, will save $5.5 million on their payroll for 2008 if the report’s speculation on the cash that exchanged hands is correct. The Cubs have not made an official announcement yet on the amount of money that changed hands in the deal.
Omar Infante is arbitration eligible for the 2008 season and made $1.3 million in 2007.
According to a report on Yahoo.com with the trade of Jacque Jones on Monday, Jim Hendry stated:
“The Cubs would probably turn to young players such as Felix Pie and Sam Fuld in center, adding that infielder Ronny Cedeno also has been working in the outfield.”
The deal apparently started taking shape at last week’s GM meetings. Both Hendry and Dave Dombroski started talking about each other’s needs. The trade was apparently finalized on Sunday night. Hendry also stated in the report from Yahoo:
“We tried to wrap this up as soon as we could. We both have other issues to address.”