The Jeff Samardzija rumors were fueled over the weekend by the comments Matt Garza made about his former teammate. Garza said Samardzija needs to focus on pitching his way out of Chicago and Samardzija is pitching like a top of the rotation starter, one that could fetch a nice return from a contender at some point in the near future. The Cubs and Jeff Samardzija are no longer talking about a contract extension after not finding a middle ground during the off-season. The Cubs see better days … [Read more...]
Winter Meetings Day Three: The Cubs Are Not Just Hanging Out in Orlando
2013 Winter Meetings – Day Three The Cubs continued laying the groundwork for future trades and possible free agent signings on Wednesday. Theo Epstein indicated the team has offers out to free agent starters and relievers plus a trade on the table for a position player. Theo Epstein addressed the Cubs lack of activity at the Winter Meetings. Epstein said the club is working on improving the team and added, "We’re just not hanging out at the old Dolphin." The Cubs continued talking trades … [Read more...]
Reports Pointing Toward Rick Renteria Being the Cubs Next Skipper
If the timeframe reported on Monday night was correct, the Cubs’ front office should find out at some point on Wednesday if Boston will grant them permission to interview Torey Lovullo for their managerial opening. The decision made by the Red Sox ownership to deny Lovullo a shot at a big league skipper’s job raised a lot of questions about Boston’s organization. And while the Sox are sticking to the agreement reached by both teams more than two years ago, the overall public perception of the … [Read more...]
Cubs Listening on Samardzija? Looking to Extend Wood? And Other News and Notes
Two more of the Cubs’ off-season storylines have surfaced, even without a manager or a coaching staff in place. And both involve pitchers that were in the Cubs’ rotation a year ago. According to a report from Buster Olney, the Cubs and Diamondbacks will continue talking about a trade that would send Jeff Samardzija to Arizona. Rumors last July indicated the D-Backs called the Cubs about the availability of Jeff Samardzija and once Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer asked for Archie Bradley and Tyler … [Read more...]
Baseball’s Other Season is Underway and Other Cubs News and Notes
Baseball’s off-season officially began as soon as the Series ended Wednesday night in Boston. The Cubs cleared three spots on their 40-man roster when Dioner Navarro, Scott Baker, Kevin Gregg and Matt Guerrier were allowed to hit the free agent market, as expected. The Cubs reportedly would like to bring back Scott Baker and Dioner Navarro and prior to the end of the season, Matt Guerrier indicated he would like to sign a minor league deal with the Cubs in the off-season and compete for a job in … [Read more...]
Can’t Skip Over the Cubs Manager News and Other Notes
The Major League Baseball season will come to an end this week and once the last out of the Series is recorded the off-season officially begins and all 30 teams will start preparing for next season … and beyond. The Cubs’ front office will continue to focus on finding a new manager while addressing the coaching staff and player personnel. Scott Baker, Kevin Gregg, Matt Guerrier and Dioner Navarro will officially hit the free agent market after the Fall Classic which will open three spots … [Read more...]
Early Off-Season Storylines for the Chicago Cubs
The Cubs’ managerial search continued on Monday when Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer reportedly interviewed Rick Renteria in San Diego. Renteria is the third candidate known to have interviewed for the Cubs’ job. Epstein and Hoyer are expected to speak with Dave Martinez this week in Chicago about the skipper’s job after receiving permission from the Rays to talk to Joe Maddon’s bench coach. The Cubs’ skipper search is expected to expand and include additional candidates, but as of Monday, some … [Read more...]
Yankees Won’t Allow the Cubs to Speak with Girardi
According to a report from Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, the Yankees will not grant the Cubs permission to talk to Joe Girardi about managing the team if they ask. Feinsand reported the Yankees are not willing to give the Cubs a chance to lure Girardi away "while they are trying to hammer out a new deal to retain the manager." Reports Wednesday night and early Thursday morning suggested the Cubs are prepared to make Joe Girardi one of the two, if not the highest paid manager in … [Read more...]
Rambling as the Cubs Season is Almost Over
Hello again, everybody. We are here. It is the last weekend of the season. It has been another tough trudge through mud kind of campaign, and there is so much up in the air as we close the books on another year of baseball on the Northside. This offseason is bound to bring changes to this team. From players to coaches to beer, things are definitely changing in and around Wrigley Field. And it sure would be really friggin’ nice if Wrigley Field itself could start changing as well. So, with … [Read more...]
Cubs Wrap-Up Wrigley with a ‘W’ – Cubs 4, Pirates 2
Game One Hundred Fifty-Nine – Cubs 4, Pirates 2 WP – Jake Arrieta (4-2) LP – Francisco Liriano (16-8) Save – Kevin Gregg (33) Jake Arrieta notched a quality start in his last outing of the year and Darnell McDonald smacked a three-run homer off Francisco Liriano in the sixth inning as the Cubs beat the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon in the final game of the season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished the year with a 31-50 mark at home and showed their appreciation to the fan base by tipping … [Read more...]
