According to a report from Cubs.com, John Grabow was the last of the Cubs possible free agents to file for free agency on Monday. Grabow joined Reed Johnson, Rich Harden, Kevin Gregg and Chad Fox as the five Cubs on the 2009 roster to file for free agency ... Chad Fox's announcement had not been made public before Monday. The Cubs are expected to re-sign John Grabow this week before he hits the market on Friday. A report over the weekend indicated the Cubs faxed John Grabow's agent an offer … [Read more...]
Kevin Gregg Files for Free Agency
The Cubs' former closer was one of 31 players to file for free agency on Monday. Kevin Gregg is a Type-A free agent but the Cubs are not expected to offer him arbitration or attempt to re-sign the right-handed reliever. Kevin Gregg was acquired from the Marlins last winter for Jose Ceda. … [Read more...]
Harden and Johnson File for Free Agency
According to a report on Cubs.com, Rich Harden and Reed Johnson were among the 79 players to file for free agency on Thursday. The Cubs have exclusive negotiating rights until November 20 to work out new contracts with all of their potential free agents ... Reed Johnson, Rich Harden, John Grabow, Kevin Gregg and Chad Fox. … [Read more...]
Will Lilly’s Surgery Affect the Cubs’ Off-Season?
Congratulations to the New York Yankees on their 27th World Series Championship. The 2009 season ended exactly one month after the Cubs campaign came to an end ... Warm up the oven, it's time for the Hot Stove Season. The 15-day free-agent filing period begins on Thursday ... teams have exclusive negotiating rights for the next 15 days in order to try and re-sign their would-be free agents. The Cubs are expected to re-sign John Grabow to a contract at some point over the next two weeks and a … [Read more...]
Jaramillo a Matter of Time for the Cubs?
According to multiple reports it appears Jim Hendry's first off-season free agent target is former Rangers' hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. Jaramillo is regarded throughout the game as the best in the business and he could become the next hitting coach of the Chicago Cubs within the next two weeks. Rudy Jaramillo is under contract until October 31 but the Cubs have been given permission to talk to him. Bruce Levine, during his Saturday morning show on ESPN 1000, indicated he "would be shocked if … [Read more...]
The Cubs Payroll for 2009 and Beyond
With the recent struggles and the delay of the ownership change, many are concerned about how the team can and will move forward this season. According to many reports the Cubs payroll for 2009 is set around the $140 million mark. Until the Ricketts Family is in charge many are concerned the Cubs will not have room to add the players they need for this season. So while the rumors begin to swirl, here are the numbers for this season and beyond. … [Read more...]
From the Wire…Cubs Recall Jose Ascanio
According to a report from Cubs.com, Jose Ascanio was recalled on Sunday morning to take the place of Chad Fox on the Cubs active roster. Fox was placed on the DL with right elbow inflammation. Jose Ascanio has been in Iowa's rotation and has been impressive in six starts. … [Read more...]
A Failure to Execute – Cubs 6 Brewers 12
Game Thirty - Cubs 6 Brewers 12 WP - Yovani Gallardo (4-1) LP - Ryan Dempster (2-2) Save - None What was a lowing scoring game for the first six and a half innings turned into a long, ugly loss for the Cubs that likely saw a career come to an end. The Cubs offense failed to take advantage of an off night for Yovani Gallardo. He simply did not have it and left after five innings with his team up 3-2. The Cubs' offense failed to plate a run from third with less than two outs in two different … [Read more...]
Escaping from Houston with a ‘W’ – Cubs 8 Astros 5
Game Twenty-Eight - Cubs 8 Astros 5 WP - Ted Lilly (4-2) LP - Russ Ortiz (2-1) Save - None Ted Lilly labored through six innings on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park but still turned in a quality start, two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts...and earned his fourth victory of the year. Lilly gave up two runs in the first inning on Miguel Tejada's first home run of the season. Lilly left after six innings with his team up 4-2. Alfonso Soriano came out of his power slump and … [Read more...]
Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Astros – 05/06/09
Game Twenty-Seven: Cubs (14-12) vs. Astros (11-15) Game Time - 7:05pm C.T. Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 185 Location - Minute Maid Park, Houston Rich Harden (2-1, 5.11/1.42) vs. Mike Hampton (1-2, 4.88/1.45) Updated - 4:44pm C.T. - The Cubs Made Two Roster Moves - Chad Fox Recalled and Jeff Samardzija Optioned to Iowa Lou Piniella's everyday lineup will get back to work tonight in the place the season started. The Cubs open a brief two-games series at … [Read more...]