Baseball’s Winter Meetings are underway in San Diego and run through Thursday (Dec. 7-11). It is expected to be a rather busy week at the annual gathering throughout the game. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are expecting a lot of activity this week, but not necessarily with the Cubs. The front office has a list of areas they would like to address between now and Opening Night. Epstein and Hoyer would like to add veteran leadership to the bench, starting rotation and bullpen while trying to get … [Read more...]
Second-Tier Pitching Options for the Cubs
By all accounts, Jon Lester is at the top of the Cubs list and is the front office’s primary pitching target of the off-season. James Shields has been mentioned as a fallback option in case the front office can’t land Lester. The Cubs are reportedly interested in Max Scherzer as well. And Cole Hamels is also a possibility for the Cubs to upgrade the rotation. As Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have said, the front office would ideally add two starting pitchers this winter. Despite reports from the … [Read more...]
Cubs Position Analysis – Starting Pitchers
A strength for the Cubs the year before with a 3.97 ERA, starting pitching was an absolute rollercoaster for the team last season totaling a 50-63 record, 798 strikeouts in 927 innings with a 4.11 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. The Cubs were among the best in the league at the beginning of the year, but trades of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel left the team scrambling for arms as Travis Wood and Edwin Jackson continued to struggle. The team saw some impressive performances from Jake Arrieta and Kyle … [Read more...]
The Winter Meetings are Over … What’s Next for the Cubs?
The Cubs made three additions to the roster during the recently completed Winter Meetings, agreed to terms with another prior to baseball's annual event and Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are not done with the big league roster. Kyuji Fujikawa will be introduced at a press conference at 11:30am CST on Friday at Wrigley Field. With the additions of Fujikawa and Hector Rondon, this year's Rule 5 Draft pick, the Cubs' 40-man roster will stand at 39 players. The Cubs will have to open up at least one … [Read more...]
Report: Cubs Discussed Parameters of a Deal with Ryan Dempster’s Agent
According to a report from Bruce Levine, "the agent for free agent pitcher Ryan Dempster has had conversations with the Cubs about a possible return to the Cubs." The Cubs have not made an offer according to Levine's sources but money and length of a contract has been discussed. Ryan Dempster rejected a two-year, $26 million offer from the Royals and is looking for a three-year contract with an AAV in the $13 million range. Ryan Dempster is represented by Craig Landis and LSW Baseball's client … [Read more...]
Cubs Non-Tender Stewart, Make Roster Moves and Continue Looking for Pitching
The Cubs made three roster moves prior to Friday's deadline to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players. As expected the team did not tender a contract to Ian Stewart for next season. The Cubs would like to re-sign Stewart to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training but right now he is a free agent. The Cubs also announced they did not renew the contracts of Jaye Chapman and Zach Putnam. Both relievers were expected to be in the mix for a job in the Cubs pen in the spring. … [Read more...]
Rambling on the Eve of the Meetings
Hello again, everybody. It's the Friday before the Winter Meetings!! That simmering stove you have been hearing it about to start smoking really quickly. I mean, for other teams that is. The Cubs have already made two monumental signings. Nonetheless, baseball news really gets a breakneck pace next week. So, let's get down to the BRASS TACKS and enjoy some rambling. … [Read more...]
Cubs Searching for Solution at Third Base, Not Done Adding Pitching
The Cubs are not done with the roster and will reportedly keep looking for ways to add more talent to the mix. The Cubs added another arm to the pitching staff Tuesday with the signing of Scott Feldman ... the Cubs' fourth signing (plus a handfull of minor league deals) of the off-season. But Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein still have holes they would like to fill. The Cubs will have to make one roster move in the near future in order to officially add Scott Feldman to the 40-man roster. The Cubs … [Read more...]
Weekend Update … Tender Deadline and Pitching Questions Remain for the Cubs
It should be a busy seven days for the Chicago Cubs leading up to the Winter Meetings that officially begins a week from Monday. The deadline to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players is Friday (November 30) and the Cubs have five players that are arbitration eligible this off-season: Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija, James Russell, Luis Valbuena and Ian Stewart. The Cubs are expected to tender contracts to Garza, Samardzija and Russell and both Samardzija and Russell should receive nice … [Read more...]
More Roster Moves on the Horizon for the Cubs … and Other News, Notes and Rumors
When the off-season began, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer said they were looking to add at least two starting pitchers, an outfielder, a third baseman, a veteran back-up catcher and relievers to the Cubs roster. The Cubs added two players to the roster this week and there are more roster moves on the horizon. The Cubs announced the signing of catcher Dioner Navarro on Friday. The Cubs inked Navarro to a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $1.75 million that includes $250,000 in performance bonuses. … [Read more...]