The front office checked off one of the boxes from the off-season to-do list when the Cubs landed John Lackey on Friday. The Cubs and Lackey agreed to terms on a two-year, $32 million contract. The Cubs acquired a reliever via a waiver claim and announced its 2016 Spring Training Schedule. With the Winter Meetings getting underway, rumors and speculation dominated the headlines for three days. The Cubs thought they had a foundation of a deal in place for a starting pitcher. A long-time … [Read more...]
Free Agent Profile: RHP Mike Leake
With so many big names available on the starting pitching market, it seems like Mike Leake gets left out of the conversation a lot. Recently though, it was reported that the Cubs were interested and speaking to his representation and it took a lot of fans by surprise. Let's take a look at why the front office was interested in Mike Leake and what he could bring to a team on the rise. Leake should be fairly familiar to Cubs fans due to spending most of his six-year career with the … [Read more...]
Report: Cubs Interested in John Lackey on a Two-Year Deal
Update 2:23pm CST – According to Tim Brown, the Cubs “are pretty hot on John Lackey at the moment.” The Cubs are discussing two- and three-year deals with him. With the cost of starting pitching seemingly going up by the hour, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal, John Lackey “is becoming increasingly attractive to the Cubs.” The front office, Joe Maddon and several of the players, including Jon Lester, have ties to Lackey. And the Cubs could be interested in Lackey on a two-year … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Schwarber Ranked Tenth Best Left Fielder and Other Cubs News and Rumors
Buster Olney’s series of ranking the top players at each position resumed with a look at the 10 best left fielders in the game. Starling Marte topped Olney’s list followed by Michael Brantley and Yoenis Cespedes. Kyle Schwarber checked in at No. 10, behind Mets’ rookie Michael Conforto. Buster Olney’s top 10 left fielders: Starling Marte, Michael Brantley, Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton, Christian Yelich, Alex Gordon, David Peralta, Brett Gardner, Michael Conforto, Kyle … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Shelby Miller, Tender Deadline and Cubs News, Notes and Rumors
With David Price in Boston, Zack Greinke expected to stay on the West Coast and Jordan Zimmermann in Detroit, the second-tier of free agent starters should begin signing soon. The trade market for starting pitchers is heating up and Shelby Miller appears to be at the top of a lot lists. The Cubs are one of at least 20 teams that have reportedly talked to the Braves about Shelby Miller. According to Joel Sherman, the Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Giants “are particularly interested” in … [Read more...]
Scott Kazmir Reportedly High on Cubs List of Free Agent Starting Pitchers
According to a report from Bruce Levine, free agent left-hander Scott Kazmir on high on the Cubs’ list of free agent starting pitchers. The Cubs are looking into the second tier of free agent starters according to Levine. Jeff Samardzija, John Lackey and Mike Leake have also been connected to the Cubs. Kazmir is not attached to draft pick compensation because he was dealt from Oakland to Houston in-season. Of the four possible free agent starters the Cubs could be interested in signing, … [Read more...]
Cubs Pitching Rumors: Shields Still on Radar? Braves Place High Price on Miller, Carrasco and Ross Updates
The Cubs are in the center of the starting pitching rumors as baseball gears up for the Winter Meetings. David Price continues to be linked to the Cubs while the front office continues to explore all options. David Kaplan added a name to the list of possibilities when he reported the Cubs were talking to Mike Leake along with Jeff Samardzija and John Lackey. The Cubs could add a starter through free agency that can give Joe Maddon innings in the third or fourth spot in the rotation. The … [Read more...]
Cubs Reportedly Talking with Free Agent RHP Mike Leake
The Cubs would like to add multiple starting pitchers to the Major League roster this off-season. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are expected to sign at least one free agent starter. And the Cubs have been linked heavily to the big names on the market, David Price and Zack Greinke, and the second tier of veteran starters. The Cubs are believed to be very interested in a reunion with Jeff Samardzija and are one of the teams in on John Lackey. According to David Kaplan, the Cubs are also talking to … [Read more...]
Should the Cubs Be Looking at Mike Leake as an Option for the Rotation?
The front office’s focus this winter is to add pitching to the roster. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer said they would like to add at least one quality starting pitcher, either through a free agent signing or a trade. The Cubs lack of pitching depth could lead to the team acquiring multiple starters. The Cubs have been connected to top of the rotation free agents David Price, Jordan Zimmermann and Zack Greinke and mid-rotation free agents John Lackey and Jeff Samardzija. Epstein and Hoyer could … [Read more...]
Cubs Could Reportedly Take Up to the Deadline to Add a Starting Pitcher
The Cubs are expected to be active before the non-waiver trade deadline (Friday, 3:00pm CDT) and have been linked by the mainstream media to just about every player that is known to be available. The Cubs would like to add at least one starting pitcher, a late-inning reliever and a bat. Reports have suggested the Cubs would like a utility player and/or a lefty hitting outfielder that can play all three spots. Based on Jed Hoyer’s comments on Friday, the Cubs are working the phones and … [Read more...]