Scratch Eric Wedge and Ted Lilly off the list of possibilities for the Cubs this winter … and beyond.
Eric Wedge officially became the new manager of the Seattle Mariners on Monday, reuniting him, for now, with Milton Bradley … and Ted Lilly agreed to terms with the Dodgers on a new three-year deal over the weekend, a formal announcement is expected on Tuesday. When Jim Hendry dealt Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to the Dodgers at the deadline last July, along with cash for Blake DeWitt, Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach, rumors suggested that the Cubs might try and re-sign Lilly over the winter. Lilly liked his time in Los Angeles and apparently Ned Colletti did as well.
The Dodgers agreed to terms on a three-year contract with ‘The Bulldog‘ last weekend and are expected to make the formal announcement on Tuesday. Lilly signed a four-year deal with Jim Hendry in the winter of 2006 worth $40 million … arguably the best free agent signing by the Cubs’ GM..
Eric Wedge, the former Indians’ skipper, was introduced as the seventh manager of the Seattle Mariners since 2003 on Monday. Wedge was a finalist for the Cubs job and interviewed with Jim Hendry, Randy Bush and Tom Ricketts. Reportedly the interviews with the Cubs went well … and many gave him a shot at being the 52nd manager in the history of the Chicago National League Ball Club.
Wedge will be formally introduced in a press conference on Tuesday.
Jack Zduriencik might have kept Jim Hendry from continuing his string of poor decisions from the past two off-seasons.
Bruce Levine reported Saturday that the Cubs could name their new manager as soon as this week … stay tuned.