Friday was a busy day throughout the game as baseball prepared for the Winter Meetings that begin Sunday. The Cubs made five roster moves and tendered contracts, as expected, to all four of their arbitration eligible players for next season.
The Cubs offered contracts to Jake Arrieta, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Justin Grimm after signing LHP Brian Duensing to a one-year, $2 million contract earlier in the day.
The Cubs non-tendered LHP Gerardo Concepcion, LHP Zac Rosscup, RHP Conor Mullee and INF Christian Villanueva. With Friday’s moves, the Cubs’ 40-man roster stands at 35 players.
The Cubs are focused on adding pitching as the Winter Meetings quickly approach. The Cubs are looking for young, controllable starting pitchers and exploring ways to add late-inning relievers to Joe Maddon’s bullpen for next season.
The Cubs have been connected to free agent Kenley Jansen even though the front office is not expected to open up the checkbook again this off-season and sign another long-term, big money player.
According to ESPN Chicago, the Cubs “are kicking the tires on all types of relievers, from free agents to potential trade targets.”
The Cubs are interested in Greg Holland and according to Jesse Rogers they have shown interest in Wade Davis (Royals), Alex Colome (Rays) and A.J. Ramos (Marlins).
Jon Heyman reported the closer market is heating up. Teams were waiting on the CBA to be agreed upon and there could be a lot of movement, with the likes of Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon, before the Meetings officially begin Monday.
According to Jerry Crasnick, Mark Melancon was making progress Friday on a deal that could be in the four-year range worth around $60 million. The Giants and Nationals are in the mix for Melancon. Crasnick spoke with one executive that thinks Jansen will sign for five years and $80-90 million.
The Yankees are considered the favorite to sign Aroldis Chapman. According to Jon Heyman his demands of a $100 million contract are not accurate. Chapman is expected to set the All-Time mark for the biggest contract signed by a relief pitcher both in terms of AAV and total value.
The Cubs are expected to “intensify their search for pitching, everything from headliners to insurance policies to prospects.” And for the Cubs, according to Comcast SportsNet, the Winter Meetings will be all about the hunt for pitching.
Welington Castillo
The Diamondbacks non-tendered catcher Welington Castillo prior to Friday’s deadline. The former Cubs’ catcher turns 30 on April 24 and is coming off a solid season at the plate.
Castillo batted .264/.322/.423 with 24 doubles, 14 home runs and a .745 OPS. Castillo set career highs in doubles (24), RBI (68) and hits (110).
The D-Backs turned around and signed veteran catcher Jeff Mathis to a two-year contract and will pay him $4 million over the next two seasons. Mathis automatically makes the D-Backs a better team. Mathis is a leader and a very good receiver. What Mathis does not bring to the table offensively he will make up for in other areas.
MLB Non-Tenders
There were 35 players that became free agents Friday after their teams decided not to offer them contracts for next season. RHP Tyson Ross, C Welington Castillo, RHP Rubby De La Rosa, RHP Seth Maness and OF Ben Revere headlined the list of players that can now sign with another organization.
- LHP Gerardo Concepcion
- RHP Conor Mullee
- INF Christian Villanueva
- LHP Zac Rosscup
- RHP Tyson Ross
- C Welington Castillo
- RHP Rubby De La Rosa
- OF Ben Revere
- INF/OF Cody Asche
- RHP Matt Carasiti
- INF/OF Stephen Cardullo
- RHP Chris Withrow
- LHP Jeff Locke
- C Eric Fryer
- RHP Louis Coleman
- C Ramon Cabrera
- RHP Keyvius Sampson
- OF Gabriel Guerrero
- RHP Seth Maness
- INF Gregorio Petit
- LHP Cody Ege
- RHP Yorman Landa
- INF Ryan Brett
- LHP Jacob Lindgren
- RHP Blake Smith
- OF Jared Hoying
- RHP Jeff Manship
- RHP Vance Worley
- C Bryan Holaday
- 1B Chris Carter
- INF Alexi Ramirez
- RHP Jon Edwards
- RHP Erik Johnson
- INF/OF Jose Pirela
- C Hector Sanchez
LeBron James
LeBron James honored his bet with Dwayne Wade and went all out with his Cubs uniform. Wonder how Ryne Sandberg felt about seeing his number worn by another player …
The moment has FINALLY arrived! @KingJames rocking the @Cubs gear to honor his World Series bet payoff to @DwyaneWade. ???? pic.twitter.com/9WCgGAILt2
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) December 2, 2016
Thank you to @KingJames for being a good sport, and to @DwyaneWade for making it happen! https://t.co/9ycdXzyVFK pic.twitter.com/595WoSlntI
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) December 3, 2016
LeBron took this seriously, name and number and everything #Cubs #Bulls pic.twitter.com/d9qXvkklep
— Chris De Luca (@ChrisDeLuca) December 2, 2016
The Bulls beat the Cavaliers 111-105.
News, Notes and Rumors
• According to Joel Sherman, the Rangers highly considered Cubs assistant GM Shiraz Rehman to replace Thad Levine when he left to be the Twins General Manager.
• Jon Jay will wear No. 30 for the Cubs.
• The Tribune reported Kris Bryant’s future free agency unaffected by new labor deal.
• Phil Rogers listed 10 potential landing spots for Dexter Fowler … Nationals, Giants, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Rangers, Mariners, Dodgers, Indians, Mets and Orioles.
• South Bend Cubs and Cubs minority owner Andrew Berlin compares selling bottles with business of baseball.
• LHP David Rollins changed teams again. The Phillies claimed Rollins off waivers from the Rangers. Rollins has been with the Mariners, Cubs, Rangers and now the Phillies this off-season. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Phillies non-tendered Cody Asche.
• Jerry Crasnick reported the Braves “still have interest in Chris Sale and Chris Archer” even with adding the veteran starters to their rotation. The Braves would prefer Sale and are “not so high” on Sonny Gray. According to Crasnick, the Braves are “telling teams they’re very reluctant to part with Ozzie Albies in any deal.”
• The Giants are looking for a bat in the outfield and have talked to the Tigers about J.D. Martinez according to Jeff Passan.
• The Nationals acquired C Derek Norris from the Padres for RHP Pedro Avila.
• The Rockies and LHP Jake McGee avoided arbitration with a $5.9 million contract for next season.
• LHP Marc Rzepczynski received a two-year, $11 million contract from the Mariners. According to Jerry Crasnick, Rzepczynski will be paid $5.5 million per season.
• The Angels signed C Tony Sanchez and LHP John Lamb to minor league contracts.
• According to Bob Nightengale there were 107 therapeutic use exemptions granted in Major League Baseball last season, 105 were for attention deficit disorder (ADD).
• Tickets are now available to Woody’s Winter Warm-Up … Click Here
• The Dead and Company are playing at Wrigley Field on June 30 and July 1 … Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 9 at 10:00am CST
The 2016 World Series Film premiered Friday on FS1, exactly one month after the Cubs became World Series Champions … here are a few of the highlights:
Tie game. 10th inning. #WorldSeries. Game 7.
And then…. rain. pic.twitter.com/V8n5k6SXCU
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 3, 2016
A storybook ending. They did it.
The @Cubs won the 2016 #WorldSeries. pic.twitter.com/CtVL11S4Jx
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 3, 2016
One month ago today. A dream come true. A moment the @Cubs & their fans will never forget.
It really happened. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/TT1ViALoVG
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 3, 2016
This Day in Cubstory
2014 – Cubs signed free agent Jonathan Herrera to a minor league contract
2009 – Cubs signed free agent Bobby Scales
2009 – Cubs traded Jake Fox and Aaron Miles to the A’s for Ronny Morla, Matt Spencer and Jeff Gray
2008 – Cubs signed free agent Chad Fox
2003 – Cubs signed free agent LaTroy Hawkins
2002 – Cubs released Chris Stynes
1993 – Cubs signed free agent Randy Veres
1991 – Cubs signed free agent Mike Morgan
1990 – Cubs selected Russ McGinnis from the Athletics in the minor league draft
1990 – Cubs released Kevin Coffman
1982 – Manny Corpas, born
1979 – White Sox selected Bruce Kimm from the Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft
1973 – Cubs selected Herb Hutson from the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft
1971 – Cubs acquired Jose Cardenal from the Brewers for Jim Colborn, Brock Davis and Earl Stephenson
1963 – Damon Berryhill, born
1958 – Mike Martin, born
1956 – Cubs selected Cal Neeman from the Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft
1952 – Cubs traded Dick Manville and $25,000 to the Pirates for Clyde McCullough
1951 – Cubs selected Chris Kitsos from the Dodgers in the Minor League Draft
1951 – Browns selected Vern Morgan from the Cubs in the Minor League Draft
1951 – Cubs selected El Tappe from the Yankees in the Minor League Draft
1951 – Cubs selected Bob Zick from the Athletics in the Minor League Draft
1951 – Cubs acquired Toby Atwell from the Dodgers for Carmen Mauro
1941 – Cubs acquired Bob Bowman from the Giants for Hank Leiber
1937 – Cubs purchased Johnny Moore from the Phillies