While the Faithful wait for the Cubs to take the field tonight in San Francisco….here is the latest news from the North Side. Also, feel free to discuss the latest rumors from Peter Gammons and Phil Rogers on pitchers the Cubs may or may not be interested in trading for…. The Mill
On Monday, Peter Gammons said the Cubs could be interested in:
- C.C. Sabathia – Many doubt the Cubs have enough to land the Indians’ ace
- Rich Harden – The Cubs are monitoring
- Randy Wolf – Matt Murton for Wolf?
- A.J. Burnett – Cubs keep looking at
- Aaron Cook – Interested, but not available
- Bronson Arroyo – Kicked around
- Kevin Millwood – See Bronson Arroyo
- Greg Maddux – See Randy Wolf
Quote from the report by Gammons, “It may come down to July 28 but we almost certainly will do something. But we don’t want to give up Gallagher at this point.“….from a Cubs’ official.
On Sunday, Phil Rogers mentioned Jon Garland’s name. Could the former Cubs’ farm hand finally help the team that originally drafted him?
The News
According to a report in the Sun-Times, Alfonso Soriano will fly back to Chicago on Thursday to have more X-rays on his left hand. WGN showed Soriano taking fielding practice in San Francisco during Tuesday’s game and if he is cleared could start “taking batting practice this weekend” in St. Louis.
Lou Piniella stated Kosuke Fukudome would hit in the 2-hole when Soriano returns according to a report in the Sun-Times. Jim Edmonds will hit 5th against right handers and Ryan Theriot likely 8th with Mark DeRosa and Geovany Soto hitting behind Aramis Ramirez against southpaws.
Carlos Zambrano is expected to be activated from the DL on Friday and start against Braden Looper in the series opener in St. Louis. Piniella announced Sean Marshall and Ted Lilly will start the other two games of the series but has not decided if Marshall will pitch Saturday or Sunday. Jason Marquis will not start against his former team and Piniella said he would decide the rotation for the final 6 games leading up to the All-Star break later in the week.
Speaking of southpaws, Rich Hill had a terrible outing in Mesa in the Arizona rookie league and the Cubs are contemplating shutting him down for a while. Hill walked 3, hit a batter, gave up a hit and 5 runs….in a 1/3 of an inning.
Reed Johnson is expected to return from the DL on Thursday.