Happy Valentine's Day ... The long off-season is just about over. Cubs' pitchers and catchers officially report to Fitch Park in just four days. One of the Cubs' off-season targets was taken off the board Monday when Yoenis Cespedes agreed to a four-year, $36 million deal with the Oakland A's. Cespedes is expected to be in the A's Opening Day lineup instead of beginning the season in the minors. With Cespedes no longer an option, the Cubs have reportedly turned their attention to signing … [Read more...]
Cubs Not Seriously in Mix for Cespedes, Focused on Soler?
According to a report from Joe Frisaro, "the Marlins position as frontrunner for Yoenis Cespedes appears to be getting stronger ... and the buzz in the industry is Chicago is focused on 19-year old Cuban sensation Jorge Soler." The report from Frisaro was the second one on Sunday that indicated the Cubs have turned their attention to Jorge Soler. Kevin Goldstein reported earlier in the day that the Cubs "are making a very, very big play for Jorge Soler." Jorge Soler has not established … [Read more...]
Weekend Update … Cubs Working Toward the Start of Camp
The last week of the Cubs' off-season will be filled with decisions and meetings leading up to players' physicals on Friday and the first official on field workouts of the spring in six days. The Cubs organizational meetings will take place Wednesday and Thursday prior to pitchers and catchers reporting Saturday to Fitch Park. The Cubs still have work to do with the roster. They have not officially announced the signing of Gerardo Concepcion. If the reports are accurate and Concepcion agreed to … [Read more...]
Rambling on a Whim and a Choi
It's Friday, we're eight days from the greatness of Spring Training, the Cubs have three players in another guy's top 100 prospects, we haven't signed Cespedes and it looks like Soriano is wearing the blue pinstripes this season at 1060 W. Addison. So, with that said, and with many more things unfurl, let's get rambling. … [Read more...]
Down to Single Digits … and Other Cubs News and Notes
The countdown to pitchers and catchers officially reporting to Fitch Park has reached the single digits ... just nine more days before Cubs Camp begins. While Yoenis Cespedes was receiving a tour of the Marlins' new stadium, the Cubs released their television schedule for the upcoming season. Opening Day from Wrigley Field against the Nationals (April 5) will be televised on WGN TV ... along with at least 62 other games this season. The Cubs complete 162-game schedule will be televised this … [Read more...]
Cespedes Update, New Numbers, Fitch Park … and Other Cubs News and Notes
10 days until pitchers and catchers officially report to Fitch Park ... The Cubs loaded the equipment truck Tuesday that is bound for Mesa. Several players are already at Fitch Park preparing for the start of Spring Training and the new arrivals include Matt Garza, David DeJesus, Dave Sappelt, Jeff Samardzija, Josh Vitters and Darwin Barney. The Yoenis Cespedes tour began Tuesday. Cespedes acquired a visitor's visa and arrived in Miami Tuesday afternoon. Cespedes reportedly met with his agent, … [Read more...]
Cubs Continue Tweaking the Roster … and Other News and Notes
There are only 11 days before pitchers and catchers officially report to Fitch Park and the Cubs' new regime is not finished tweaking the roster. After avoiding arbitration in January by agreeing to a one-year, $1.1 million contract for 2012, the Cubs designated Blake DeWitt for assignment Monday to make room on the 40-man roster for Adrian Cardenas. The offensive oriented utility man was a sandwich pick of the Phillies in 2006 and one of the top prospects in Oakland's organization after Billy … [Read more...]
Weekend Update … Thirteen Days Until Cubs Camp Officially Begins
The countdown to pitchers and catchers officially reporting to Spring Training has begun. It is only 13 days before the first workout for Cubs' pitchers and catchers at Fitch Park. The first full squad workout is on February 24 and the Cubs' first Cactus League game against the A's is less than a month away (March 4) ... Cubs baseball is just around the corner. The Cubs have more roster decisions to make in the near future. According to multiple reports, the contract Gerardo Concepcion agreed … [Read more...]
Rambling about the Cubs with Visions of Mesa
After a crazy a week, full of news and groundbreaking signings like those of Trever Miller and Matt Tolbert combined with another eye-opening list of prospects from BA that no one has ever thought of before, it is hard just to catch one's breath. Can you sense the sarcasm? Good, because I am laying it on pretty thick. And as I am typing this, word breaks across the wire that the Cubs landed themselves a 19-year-old Cuban prodigy. I am pretty sure that I had something to with that by typing … [Read more...]
From the Wire … Cubs Sign Gerardo Concepcion
According to multiple reports, the Cubs have signed free-agent Cuban lefty Geraldo Concepcion. The 19-year reportedly inked a $7 million contract with the Cubs according to Enrique Rojas. The length of the contract has not been announced. Updated 7:15pm CST with scouting report on Gerardo Concepcion. Updated 7:45pm CST with more information on the signing ... according to the Tribune, Gerardo Concepcion will receive an invite to Spring Training. According to Enrique Rojas, Concepcion's deal is … [Read more...]