Several teams, including the Cubs, are looking to sign a starting pitcher or two before Spring Training begins. The Cubs could be waiting for the free agent market to play out a little to see who is left that would fit their needs. Jed Hoyer said they are looking for "innings" and the Cubs have been connected to Paul Maholm and Jason Hammel. But the Cubs might have internal options that would fit their needs. A.J. Burnett, Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez figure to be the next starters in … [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...]
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...]
Ryne Sandberg, A Baez Walk-Off and Other Cubs News and Notes
Friday was a pretty typical day in the life of the Chicago Cubs. The front office made their daily roster moves before news surfaced that one of the best players in the history of the organization and a Hall of Famer, whose retired number flies daily in the ballpark he once called home, was hired to manage the Philadelphia Phillies on an interim basis. The big league team that scored a grand total of four runs in the previous three games combined then took the field and shut out their long-time … [Read more...]
Cubs Add Jake Arrieta to the Rotation
The Cubs announced prior to Wednesday’s finale with the Reds that Jake Arrieta would be recalled from Triple-A Iowa and start Friday’s opener against the Cardinals. Arrieta has been pitching in Iowa’s rotation since the Cubs acquired him, along with Pedro Strop, from the Orioles last month for Scott Feldman. Arrieta posted a 2-2 record in seven starts with the I-Cubs. In 30 1/3 innings, Arrieta allowed 16 runs, 12 earned, on 32 hits with 16 walks and 39 strikeouts (3.56 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP). … [Read more...]
From the Wire … Cubs Option Boscan to Iowa, Call-Up McDonald, Transfer Neal to 60-Day DL
According to multiple reports, the Cubs roster shuffle continued on Saturday afternoon. The Cubs made three more roster moves and optioned catcher J.C. Boscan to Triple-A Iowa to make room on the active roster for OF Darnell McDonald. The Cubs selected the contract of OF Darnell McDonald from Triple-A Iowa and added him to the 40-man roster. The Cubs transferred OF Thomas Neal to the 60-Day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for Darnell McDonald. Dioner Navarro has rejoined … [Read more...]
Is Bryant Daytona Bound? And Other Cubs News and Notes
Kris Bryant extended his hitting streak to 12 games and drove in the winning run for the Hawks on Friday night. Bryant went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored and he hit a sac fly in the ninth that gave Boise a 5-4 walk-off victory over Vancouver. After a predictable slow start, Bryant is hitting .315/.381/.648/1.029 with six doubles and four home runs in 15 games. Reports on Friday afternoon indicated Bryant could be promoted to Kane County in the near future. But could Bryant skip … [Read more...]
Rambling About the Cubs as the Dog Days Are Upon Us
As the season trudges on, and thoughts of 2014 fill my head, it is hard to describe the current installment of the Chicago Cubs. The names, faces, trades and waiver moves come together to make one random story of a season. With less than two months to play, it is hard to imagine the Cubs will get to 100 losses, but if another Samardzija start ends in 12 runs for the opponent … who really knows. So let’s get to it. … [Read more...]