The extra-long Holiday Weekend was filled with more rumors than actually movement throughout the game. That was until Sunday morning when news surfaced the Tigers and RHP Jordan Zimmermann had agreed to terms on a five-year, $110 million contract.
One possible option for the Cubs to upgrade the rotation was taken off the board with Zimmermann now in Detroit. Jeff Samardzija and John Lackey may have moved closer to the top of the Cubs list in the process.
David Price and Ben Zobrist rumors outweighed the Cubs being connected to Alex Gordon again.
The Winter Meetings begin in a week. And it’s shaping up to be a rather wild two weeks around the league.
Here are the headlines with all of the news and rumors to get you caught up from Thanksgiving.
Crane Kenney Answers Questions, Discusses Wrigley Field and Business Side of the Cubs
Crane Kenney met with a small group of the independent media prior to Thanksgiving. Chicago Cubs Online attended the meeting at the Cubs’ offices.
The Cubs President of Business Operations gave updates on The 1060 Project and supplied renderings of what the Plaza will look like once complete. The Cubs’ new clubhouse is on schedule for Opening Day 2016.
Kenney talked about the first year of the left and right field video boards. The security change for next season at Wrigley, the Ricketts family owned rooftops will soon have its own website and in-market streaming.
This is a must-read report, full of information and details.
The Daily CCO: Samardzija, Zobrist and Lackey Updates and Other Cubs News
The Cubs are looking to add a starting pitcher through free agency. Jeff Samardzija and John Lackey are strong possibilities. Samardzija and Lackey are drawing a lot of interest.
Ben Zobrist rumors picked up before the holiday. And he could end up signing a nice contract with a team in the NL East.
Report is loaded with news, notes, rumors, links, Geovany Soto signing with a new team and This Day in Cubs History.
Cubs 2015 Position Review – Bullpen
Chris wrapped up his series looking back at the 2015 season position-by-position.
The Cubs bullpen led by Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop performed a lot better than they are given credit for this past season. Justin Grimm was also pretty good.
If you missed one of Chris’ reports, take the time and look back at the incredible season again.
From the Wire: Cubs Acquire LHP Rex Brothers from Rockies for Minor League LHP Wander Cabrera
The front office acquired another reliever for a prospect. The Cubs sent minor leaguer Wander Cabrera to the Rockies for lefty Rex Brothers.
Brothers has had success in the ninth inning. If Chris Bosio can get him to throw more strikes Brothers might be a very good pickup.
Willson Contreras, Jeimer Candelario Ranked at the Top of the Best Prospects from the Arizona Fall League
Willson Contreras and Jeimer Candelario performed extremely well this fall in Arizona. Both of the Cubs’ prospects created quite the buzz and impressed the scouts on hand.
Contreras and Candelario were ranked at the top of the prospect lists by several respected talent evaluators.
Click on the link to find out where two of the Cubs’ top prospects ranked.
The Daily CCO: Thanksgiving Day Cubs News, Notes and Rumors
Thanksgiving Day was rather quiet but there was a lot of player movement throughout the league the day before. Rex Brothers is happy to be with the Cubs. Ben Zobrist stayed in the news. And a Cubs’ prospect was suspended.
Report includes all of the news, notes, rumors, links and This Day in Cubs History.
Cubs Reportedly One of Five Teams to Show Major Interest in David Price
The Cubs may no longer be the favorites to sign David Price. But the Cubs are still in the mix, along with four other teams, including the Red Sox.
The Daily CCO: Anthony Rizzo is Fourth on Olney’s List of First Basemen and Other Cubs News
Anthony Rizzo finished fourth in the NL MVP voting and Buster Olney thinks he is the fourth best first baseman in the game. And Arismendy Alcantara showed signs of getting on track in Winter Ball.
Report includes news, notes, rumors and This Day in Cubs History.
Cubs Considered Favorites to Sign LHP Adrian Morejon
The Cubs have spent big money on the International market. And the front office does not appear to be done. With being in the max penalty, the Cubs are expected to sign more talent before June 15 and that includes a 16-year old lefty in Adrian Morejon.
Report includes scouting information on the teenager.
Prospects the Cubs Could Lose in the Rule 5 Draft
The Rule 5 Draft is Dec. 10 and the Cubs are expected to lose RHP Corey Black. The hard-throwing right hander was not protected and will likely be part of another organization by this time next week.
The Cubs left several players unprotected that teams could gamble on … click on the report for the details.
Free Agent Profile: LHP David Price
Chris started a new series focused on the free agents the Cubs have been linked to and could sign in the very near future.
First up was David Price.
The Daily CCO: Alex Gordon Continues to be Connected to the Cubs and Other News and Rumors
Peter Gammons keeps hearing about the Cubs being interested in Alex Gordon and John Lackey.
The Blue Jays overpaid for a fourth or fifth starter for their rotation when J.A. Happ was inked to a three-year, $36 million contract.
Report includes a suggested trade for Shelby Miller, an update on Gerardo Parra, news, notes, links, rumors and This Day in Cubs History.
David Price Update: Blue Jays Out? Red Sox Reportedly All In
Reports from Jon Paul Morosi and Shi Davidi pointed to the Blue Jays being out of the David Price sweepstakes with the signing of J.A. Happ.
The Red Sox could be willing to overpay to land David Price. Dave Dombrowski is focused on Price and Boston may have passed the Cubs in the Price derby.
Tigers and RHP Jordan Zimmermann Agree to Terms on a Five-Year Contract
Reports surfaced late Saturday night the Tigers were in serious discussions with Jordan Zimmermann. Before noon on Sunday, Zimmermann and the Tigers reportedly agreed to a five-year, $110 million contract.
The Daily CCO: Red Sox Viewed as Prohibitive Favorites to Sign David Price and Other Cubs News
The Boston media is ready to start producing David Price jerseys. The Red Sox are prohibitive favorites to sign Price according to Nick Cafardo. And Pete Abraham expects Price and David Ortiz to be posing for photos together in Spring Training.
More on Ben Zobrist as his market has started taking shape. Joe Ross, Tyson’s little brother, is garnering a lot of attention from teams.
Jason Heyward is about to get paid. The Nationals are looking to overhaul their bullpen. And the Indians are shopping in the Shane Victorino aisle for an outfielder.
All of the news, notes, links and of course the rumors are included … plus This Day in Cubstory.
Cubs Face Tough Decision with Travis Wood
Wednesday is the deadline for teams to tender contracts to unsigned players for next season. The Cubs have nine arbitration eligible players on the 40-man roster … and a big decision that faces the front office on the future of Travis Wood with the organization.
Travis Wood has gotten expensive, unless he is starting games, but has value to the point it would be hard to see the Cubs non-tender him and let him walk away without anything in return.