Weekend Update It could be a very busy 72 hours throughout the game leading up to Christmas, especially if the Rakuten Eagles finally make a decision, one way or the other, to post Masahiro Tanaka. Players prefer to know where they will be playing prior to the holidays and there are several free agents still unsigned for next season. The last high-dollar, long-contract, free-agent position player of the off-season came off the board on Saturday when Shin-Soo Choo agreed to a seven-year, $130 … [Read more...]
Jed Hoyer Talks Cubs at the Winter Meetings
Jed Hoyer joined Casey Stern and Jim Bowden during Inside Pitch (MLB Network Radio) from the Winter Meetings on Wednesday afternoon. Jed Hoyer did not confirm or deny the Cubs’ interest in Shin-Soo Choo but gave a little detail on the thought process that goes on before signing a big name free agent. Hoyer discussed Jeff Samardzija, what effect trade rumors have on players and his shortstop Starlin Castro. … [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...]
Winter Meetings Day One: Cubs Emphasizing Pitching In All Trade Discussions
2013 Winter Meetings - Day One Jeff Samardzija is reportedly the Cubs’ player that attracted the most attention on the first day of the Winter Meetings. The Cubs are listening to offers for Samardzija but are asking a steep price for him right now. Jed Hoyer maintained the Cubs would prefer to sign Samardzija to a contract extension. Nate Schierholtz is also drawing interest according to Gordon Wittenmyer. There was a little noise on Schierholtz earlier in the winter, but those rumors … [Read more...]
Cubs Could Be Busy at the Winter Meetings
2013 Winter Meetings - Day One Will the Cubs be active at the Winter Meetings? Major League Baseball’s annual gathering officially begins on Monday morning. The Cubs are believed to be looking for a starting pitcher, help in the pen, an outfielder and players that can help round out the bench. The Cubs are expected to shop Jeff Samardzija over the next four days. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will weigh the offers they receive for Samardzija against keeping him until later in the winter, or … [Read more...]
Time for the Cubs to Shop at the Winter Meetings
Baseball’s Winter Meetings officially kickoff Monday in Orlando and the Cubs are reportedly looking to add relievers, at least one starter, an outfielder and players to round out the bench to the roster. But the big noise around the Cubs during the coming week will be about two starting pitchers … one Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are listening to offers for and one the front office is waiting to see if he becomes an option to sign. The Cubs have maintained their desire to lock Jeff … [Read more...]
Baseball’s Super Tuesday and Cubs News and Notes
Tuesday was one of the busiest days throughout the game in recent memory. There were a total of 12 different deals done in what has been nicknamed as ‘Transactions Tuesday’. The deals began early in the day when A.J. Pierzynski agreed to a one-year contract with the Red Sox and ended with the Yankees agreeing to a one-year deal with Kelly Johnson. The transactions on Tuesday included free agent signings, two-team swaps and even a three-team trade. One of the players the mainstream media … [Read more...]
The Samardzija Rumors Continue and Other Cubs News and Notes
Weekend Update After a rather quiet holiday weekend, the Cubs figure to be very busy over the next seven days leading up to Baseball’s Winter Meetings (Dec. 9-12). Monday is the deadline for teams to tender contracts to players for the 2014 season. And the trade rumors should increase significantly over the next week as the front office continues to listen to offers for Jeff Samardzija and possibly Nate Schierholtz. … [Read more...]
Updating Samardzija, Tanaka, the Posting System and Other Cubs News and Notes
After a rather busy weekend, the Jeff Samardzija rumors quieted down on Monday. Jed Hoyer reiterated the team’s desire to sign Samardzija to a contract extension, and he explained the team is staying in contact with Samardzija and his agents. At least six teams (Nationals, Orioles, Pirates, Rockies, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays) have contacted the Cubs about Samardzija with the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks appearing to be the most interested. Toronto and Arizona tried to trade for Samardzija last … [Read more...]
Cubs Close to Announcing Coaching Staff? And Other News and Notes
The Cubs were expected to announce Rick Renteria’s coaching staff this week. The official announcement may be a couple of days away but they appear close to finalizing the coaching staff according to Bruce Levine. Rick Renteria said good-bye to San Diego on Wednesday and is reportedly ready for the next step in his career with the Cubs. Chris Bosio and Lester Strode have been retained to handle the pitching staff and Mike Borzello is expected back as well. As for the other five positions … [Read more...]