The Cubs made it official Monday and announced the one-year deal with Trevor Cahill. The veteran right-hander was placed back on the 40-man roster, which stands at 39 players. The team has not given a timetable on a Jason Heyward announcement. The front office will have to open at least one spot in order to complete the Starlin Castro–Adam Warren trade with the Yankees.
Update 8:53am CST – Jason Heyward will be introduced today at a 2:30pm press conference. It’s official, Heyward has signed with the Cubs.
Kris Bryant had a sensational rookie season, one that was recognized by the BBWAA and Baseball America as the best in baseball. Bryant set franchise rookie marks for home runs and RBI, helped the Cubs win 97 games and earn a spot in the post-season tournament that ended in the NLCS.
Kris Bryant, along with Bryce Harper, will be recognized Thursday by their hometown. Bryant and Harper will receive keys to the city from Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman. According to the Sun-Times, Las Vegas has handed out only three keys to the city prior to Bryant and Harper.
Kris Bryant talked to reporters Sunday at Soldier Field and said the additions the front office has made this off-season “says a lot about the organization.”
Bryant has been following along with the moves that are being made. He has been rather impressed players are taking less money to play for the Cubs. Bryant thinks the additions of Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist are “great because we were a team that struck out a lot and us younger guys are probably going to take some time to adjust to that.”
It surprised Bryant the Cubs signed both Heyward and Zobrist. But he admitted he was sad to see Starlin Castro had been traded.
Kris Bryant said “everybody’s real excited” and he cannot wait for next year.
Johnny Cueto
The Giants added another starting pitcher Monday when Johnny Cueto decided to take his talents to San Francisco. Cueto landed the huge contract he was looking for and should slide in behind Madison Bumgarner and ahead of Jeff Samardzija in Bruce Bochy’s rotation.
Cueto agreed to terms on a six-year, $130 million contract that includes an opt-out after the second year. If Cueto is healthy and pitches well, the Giants inked him to a two-year, six-year contract as FanGraphs put it. The deal also includes a club option for a seventh year.
San Francisco is paying Cueto rather well despite the team’s plan is “to have lower pitch counts for Cueto than he had when he was with the Reds.” Bobby Evans, the Giants GM, is “cognizant Cueto has thrown a ton of pitches.”
The Giants will pay Cueto $23 million per season over the first two years of his contract. With $46 million paid out in two years, Cueto would turn his back on $84 million if he opts out after the 2017 season.
According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Giants are the first team to sign two free agent pitchers in the same off-season to contracts worth $90 million or more.
After the news hit the wire Cueto signed with the Giants and the large amount of money he is now guaranteed, Jeff Passan posted, “Total money spent on starters this off-season: $943,300,000. Add in relievers and teams have spent $1,120,950,000 … $1.2 billion … on pitching.”
News, Notes and Rumors
• Giants’ GM Bobby Evans said Monday they “are still processing” the outfield options. The Giants have signed Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto and are likely out of the market for Alex Gordon and Yoenis Cespedes. Dexter Fowler was of interest to the Giants and could still be on their list. Fowler will not take the same level of financial commitment it will require to sign either Gordon or Cespedes.
• Chicagoland Radio and Media reported Ron Coomer will return to the Cubs radio booth next season after signing a multi-year contract.
• Ken Rosenthal reported the breakdown on Jeff Samardzija’s five-year, $90 million contract with the Giants. Samardzija received a $9 million signing bonus, $3 million paid up front with $6 million paid in four equal payments of $1.5 million from 2017-20. Samardzija will receive $18 million annually from 2017-20.
• According to Jerry Crasnick, free agent utility man Sean Rodriguez is “attracting interest from four teams, including the Pirates and Tigers.”
• Owen Watson asked, will the Cubs’ historic combo of young talent produce a dynasty?
• Cubs buy championship influence with John Lackey, Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward according to Comcast SportsNet.
• FanGraphs looked at why the Cubs might be looking for a cost-controlled starting pitcher … How badly do the Cubs need a starting pitcher?
And last, but not least, Wrigley Field is under wraps … photo credit to @WrigleyBlog
This Day In Cubstory
2014 – Cubs signed free agent Jon Lester
2014 – Cubs sent INF Marco Hernandez to the Red Sox to complete the trade for LHP Felix Doubront
2012 – Cubs signed free agent Chang-Yong Lim
2006 – Cubs signed free agent Daryle Ward
2005 – Cubs signed free agents David Lee and Brian Reith
2003 – Cubs selected John Foster from the Brewers in the Rule 5 Draft
2003 – Royals selected Jason Szuminski from the Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft
2003 – Cubs traded Damian Miller to Oakland for Michael Barrett
1999 – Cubs signed free agent Joe Girardi
1997 – Cubs selected Roosevelt Brown from the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft
1997 – Cubs selected Danny Young from the Pirates in the Minor League Draft
1997 – Oakland selected Javier Martinez from the Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft
1984 – Cubs signed amateur free agent Dave Pavlas
1981 – Luis Montanez, born
1978 – Michael Wuertz, born
1976 – Aaron Miles, born
1963 – Cubs acquired Fred Norman from the Athletics for Nelson Mathews
1912 – Cubs traded Joe Tinker, Grover Lowdermilk and Harry Chapman to the Reds for Bert Humphries, Pete Knisely, Red Corriden, Art Phelan and Mike Mitchell.
1905 – Cubs traded Button Briggs, Doc Casey, Billy Maloney, Jack McCarthy and $2,000 to the Brooklyn Superbas for Jimmy Sheckard