Rick Renteria was formally introduced to the Chicago media on Thursday and donned a Cubs’ jersey for the first time. Renteria will wear no. 16, his old high school number. Renteria has contacted all of the players via texts, phone calls or emails and has been watching video of the players as he continued his recovery from right hip surgery. Renteria indicated one of the first calls he made was to Starlin Castro. Renteria talked to Castro in length and called him a "wonderful kid." Renteria … [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 Outright Six Players Off 40-Man Roster
The Cubs made six rosters moves on Wednesday morning and reduced the 40-man roster to 37 players. The Cubs activated RHP Rafael Dolis, RHP Zach Putnam and OF Thomas Neal from the 60-day DL, all three players cleared waivers and were outrighted off the 40-man roster. The Cubs also waived OF Darnell McDonald, catcher J.C. Boscan and RHP Trey McNutt. McDonald, Boscan and McNutt cleared waivers and were outrighted off the 40-man roster. … [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...]
Minor Matters and Other Cubs News and Notes
The Cubs minor league system had another good week. Several of the top prospects in the organization continue to improve and the front office has started promoting players with a month of games left to be played. Kyle Hendricks earned a promotion to Triple-A Iowa and was replaced on the Smokies’ roster by Dayan Diaz. Albert Almora keeps hitting and received a day off on Saturday … and Kris Bryant extended his hitting streak to nine games on Saturday night. … [Read more...]
Cubs Option Clevenger to Iowa, Transfer Putnam to 60-Day DL and Update Baker’s Status
The Cubs made two roster moves on Friday and updated the status of one of their injured pitchers. Steve Clevenger was activated from the 60-day DL and optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Clevenger was on a rehab assignment with the I-Cubs that expired last week. Clevenger reportedly tweaked his left oblique just before his rehab assignment expired. Clevenger was expected to be examined by team doctors before the Cubs activated him from the DL. To make room on the 40-man roster for Clevenger, Zach … [Read more...]
From the Wire … Henry Rodriguez Added to 25-man Roster, Raley Optioned to Triple-A
As expected, according to multiple reports, the Cubs have activated Henry Rodriguez and the former Nationals' reliever will be in the Cubs' pen on Friday night. To make room on the active roster, the Cubs optioned Brooks Raley back to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs acquired Henry Rodriguez on Tuesday for minor league RHP Ian Dickson. Rodriguez was DFA'd by the Nationals on June 4 after posting a 0-1 record in 17 games with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Rodriguez has a big arm and if the Cubs can get … [Read more...]
Draft Update and Other Cubs News and Notes
The Cubs are signing the players they selected in last week’s draft and while only one signing has been confirmed by Baseball America, many of the players have already reported to the Cubs’ facility in Mesa … the first stop in their professional career. The Cubs are working on signing Kris Bryant and are hoping to finalize the contract soon so he can begin his Cubs’ career. Jason McLeod said after the draft they expect him to report to Boise soon after he signs. Baseball America reported … [Read more...]
Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Reds – 06/12/13
Game Sixty-Three: Cubs (25-37) vs. Reds (39-26) Game Time – 1:20pm CDT Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 185/844 Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago Travis Wood (5-4, 2.65/1.01) vs. Mike Leake (5-3, 2.93/1.32) Weather permitting … The Cubs will try to do something they have not done in a long time, beat the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have lost 11 straight to the Reds at Wrigley and 12 straight day games. The Reds seem to take their … [Read more...]
From the Wire … Raley Recalled from Iowa, Putnam Placed on the DL
According to multiple reports, the Cubs have recalled LHP Brooks Raley from Triple-A Iowa to take Zach Putnam's spot on the active roster. The Cubs placed Zach Putnam on the 15-day DL with elbow soreness on Wednesday morning. Putnam is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday. Raley is expected to remain with the club until at least Friday. Multiple reports indicated on Wednesday morning that newly right-handed reliever, Henry Rodriguez will not be added to the Cubs active roster until the … [Read more...]