Official releases should be flying out of the offices at 1060 West Addison on Wednesday. Not only are the Cubs expected to announce deals with Xavier Nady and Chad Tracy, there is a press conference scheduled for 11:30am CST on Wednesday morning in Arizona. At that time, the Cubs are expected to make the official announcement that Mesa is their first choice to build their new Spring Training complex ... dubbed Wrigleyville West. The Cubs announced their Spring Training broadcast schedule on … [Read more...]
From the Wire … Nady Agrees to Terms with the Cubs and Ben Sheets to the A’s
According to a tweet from Tim Brown at Yahoo Sports, the Cubs have agreed to a one-year deal with Xavier Nady ... pending a physical. XM Radio reported Ben Sheets has agreed to a one-year deal with the Oakland A's worth $8 million. Updated - 12:02pm CST - Ken Rosenthal confirmed the Nady deal with the Cubs. Updated - 12:35pm CST - According to a report from Bruce Levine, the Cubs and Xavier Nady have agreed to a one-year contract pending a physical. Updated - 12:55pm CST - According to a … [Read more...]
Park and Nady to the Top of the Cubs List?
The conflicting rumors and reports that surfaced on Monday are what make baseball's off-season interesting and frustrating all at the same time. For the last week, it appeared that Ben Sheets was out of the Cubs' picture. The Cubs publicly stated during the convention they are not pursuing a free agent starter ... and several reports from the media indicated the same. Then Jim Bowden tweeted and reported during his show Monday night on XM Radio that the Cubs are one of five teams negotiating … [Read more...]
Is Jonny Gomes the Cubs First Choice?
Two of the Cubs rumored options have come off the "big board" in the last 48 hours. Rick Ankiel agreed to terms with the Royals and Jose Contreras will pitch for Charlie Manuel in Philly this season. Jim Hendry has two spots he would like to fill before Spring Training ... a right-handed outfielder and a reliever. According to Dave Kaplan, the Cubs are in negotiations with Jonny Gomes. Lou Piniella's former outfielder is the Cubs first choice to fill one of their two needs. Here's the latest … [Read more...]
The Latest Buzz on the Cubs
Pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park in 28 days and Jim Hendry still has work to do. The Cubs would like to add a right-handed fourth outfielder and a right-handed relief pitcher before camp. The Cubs have been connected to several players in recent days by the mainstream media to fill those holes. On the outfield front, Jermaine Dye appears to be the front-runner but Xavier Nady, Rocco Baldelli and Ryan Spilborghs remain on their radar. Plus, Bruce Levine mentioned the Cubs could still … [Read more...]
Is Luke Gregerson on the Cubs Radar?
Jim Hendry is not done with his roster, he said as much during the Cubs Convention ... and the hot stove warmed up a little on Monday with just under a month to go before pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park. According to a report from Bruce Levine, Luke Gregerson of the Padres interests the Cubs. Levine mentioned the Cubs interest in the right-handed reliever in his report about the Cubs interest in Jermaine Dye. Jason Frasor is still in the mix for the backend of the pen according to … [Read more...]
Cubs Convention Day Two: Lou Piniella, Crane Kenney and the Afternoon Sessions
The afternoon sessions on Saturday have been a little more relaxed in recent years ... but not at the 25th Cubs Convention. After Lou Piniella and his coaching staff fielded more questions and revealed a couple of interesting tidbits, Crane Kenney and the Cubs Business Management dealt with a variety of topics ... … [Read more...]
Optimistic Excitement at the 25th Cubs Convention
For one weekend a year the Chicago Hilton is turned blue. This year, however, it is just a little different. The Cubs have new owners and there was renewed optimism once again at the first day of the Cubs Convention. Familiar faces, with some new ones mixed in, packed every square foot of the grand hotel to kickoff the upcoming baseball season ... and of course, Cubs past and present joined in to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original fan fest. From the exhibit halls to the Opening … [Read more...]
Chicago Cubs Projections for Twenty-Ten: The Starting Staff
The second of the CCO's three-part series on the Chicago Cubs Projections for Twenty-Ten will center on Lou Piniella's starting staff ... Part one focused on Lou Piniella's starting eight. With Ted Lilly beginning the season on the DL, the starting rotation has as many question marks as the rest of the roster. The Cubs are rumored to be interested in Ben Sheets to fill one of the voids in the rotation. With Lilly and a healthy Ben Sheets, the Cubs could end up with one of the best rotations in … [Read more...]
Cubs News, Notes and Possible Interest in Xavier Nady and Jermaine Dye
With the Cubs Caravan beginning on Wednesday, the rumor mill took a small break in favor of actual news. The Cubs invited 19 non-roster players to big league camp. Ivan DeJesus and Matt Sinatro switched roles. DeJesus will be the Cubs first base coach while Sinatro will serve as a special assistant to Lou Piniella ... and handle advance scouting. An announcement is expected by the end of next week on the Cubs first choice for their new Spring Training home. And what would the winter be without … [Read more...]