The Cubs will reportedly meet with Jon Lester a day after being outbid on one of the team’s off-season targets. According to a report from WEEI, Lester has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Chicago. The Cubs’ brass will roll out the red carpet and tell the southpaw why he should sign and front the Cubs rotation. Based on Alex Anthopoulos’ comments to Peter Gammons, it’s going to take at least a six-year contract for the Cubs to sign Jon Lester. Estimates on a six-year deal for Lester have … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Royals Reportedly Will Not Be Able to Re-Sign James Shields and Other Cubs Rumors
Multiple reports have suggested the Royals will try to re-sign James Shields this off-season, but according to a report from Andy Martino, Kansas City does not think they will be able to outbid a team like the Red Sox for his services. Boston is expected to make a full court press for Shields once he hits the market. According to the report, Kansas City will not be able to match the four or five year offer a team like the Red Sox could make to Shields. The Cubs are believed to have some level … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Second-Tier Rumors, MLB Sets Qualifying Offer and Cubs News
The Cubs are in the market for pitching this winter and are expected to add at least one starter to the roster. While the focus is on the front office signing a top of the rotation-type starter such as Jon Lester, the Cubs have been connected to second-tier starters such as Jason Hammel and Justin Masterson. And the White Sox could be interested in both free agent starters according to a report from Bruce Levine. As Levine pointed out, both the Cubs and Sox feel they have the pitching … [Read more...]
Cubs Expected to Hire Hitting Coach Soon, Manny Ramirez Reportedly Not a Candidate
The Cubs are looking for two new hitting coaches in the wake of Bill Mueller stepping down from his position with the team. A week after Theo Epstein announced assistant hitting coach Mike Brumley was not asked back for the 2015 season, Mueller resigned and walked away from the second year of the contract, that included an option for the 2016 season, he signed last fall. Bill Mueller was the team’s third hitting coach since the start of the 2012 season. Multiple reports indicated the front … [Read more...]
Reports: Bill Mueller Resigned as Cubs Hitting Coach
Updated 3:39pm CDT – Cubs confirmed reports Bill Mueller will not return as the Cubs hitting coach for the 2015 season. Mueller decided not to return due to family reasons and the front office’s decision not to retain assistant hitting coach Mike Brumley. According to reports from ESPN Chicago and Comcast SportsNet, Bill Mueller has resigned his position as Cubs hitting coach a week after assistant hitting coach Mike Brumley was not retained for the 2015 season. Mueller and Brumley were … [Read more...]
Manny Ramirez will Reportedly Work this Off-Season with Javier Baez
During the press conference to formally announce the Cubs new partnership with the South Bend Cubs, Theo Epstein fielded a question about Manny Ramirez’s future with the organization. Epstein said then that Manny Ramirez was interested in returning to the Cubs down the road in some capacity. Ramirez reportedly made a connection with several of the Cubs minor league players, especially with Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and Arismendy Alcantara, during his time in Arizona and with the Iowa … [Read more...]
Rick Renteria, Majority of Cubs Coaching Staff Returning in 2015
Theo Epstein held his season ending press conference Tuesday afternoon. And the first line of business for the day was to announce Rick Renteria and a majority of his coaching staff will return for the 2015 season. The Cubs did not offer Mike Brumley the assistant hitting coach’s job, but would like for him to stay in the organization in a different role. Unless changes are made that were not announced Tuesday, Renteria’s entire staff will return with the exception of Mike Brumley. Rick … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Starlin Castro Not Expected to Play Again This Season
According to multiple reports, Starlin Castro will not play again this season. Castro is still in a walking boot and with only four games remaining on the schedule Rick Renteria said Tuesday it would be difficult for him to return this year. Starlin Castro has not stopped rehabbing the sprain left ankle that appears to have ended his season on Sept. 2. But Castro has not resumed baseball activities, which signals the end of his year without the coaching staff having to say a word to the Cubs … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Hendricks Continues Impressive Start and Other Cubs News
Kyle Hendricks not only followed Jake Arrieta’s very good outing Monday night, but he topped it. Hendricks tossed 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball against a very good Brewers offense. Hendricks worked quickly, kept the ball down and threw strikes. Hendricks has received praise for his preparation between starts and his ability to execute a game plan. After Tuesday’s game, Kyle Hendricks said the scouting reports he receives in the majors helps and “make it much easier just to follow … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Anthony Rizzo Named NL Player of the Week and Cubs News and Notes
Anthony Rizzo had a very good weekend in Arizona. Rizzo went 5-for-11 in the three games with three home runs and was named National League Player of the Week on Monday. Rizzo hit three longballs, two on Friday, and drove in four runs. And his 23 home runs on the season equaled a career-high in homers he set last year. Anthony Rizzo is now tied with Giancarlo Stanton for the National League lead in homers and is tied for fourth in all of baseball in longballs behind Jose Abreu (29), Nelson … [Read more...]