According to various reports – including CBS Sports and a multitude of Tweets – the Oakland A’s have ponied up to land free agent starting pitcher Ben Sheets, and will announce the signing later this afternoon. The deal is thought to be for one year and between $8 to 10 million.
Even though the Chicago Cubs have placed Ben Sheets on the back burner while they search for a fourth outfielder and reliever, the back burner is apparently not too far back. According to Jim Bowden, the Cubs are among a handful of teams in “negotiations” with the free agent starter. After his successful throwing session last […]
Late last week, the Chicago Cubs reportedly entered negotiations with reliever Kiko Calero to fill the “need” for another right-handed, late-inning reliever. For whatever reason, those talks have cooled – with some speculating that Calero is holding out for a two-year deal, and the Cubs wisely sticking to a one-year offer, given Calero’s shoulder issues. […]
We’re getting very close to anointing this an obsessive watch, people. The only thing holding it back is that the acquisition of a fourth outfielder doesn’t have quite the same cachet as a Jake Peavy or Brian Roberts or a New Owner. That said, a new report suggests the Chicago Cubs view Jermaine Dye and Xavier Nady […]
Last week it was reported that the Chicago Cubs had decided to remain in Mesa, Arizona for Spring Training, with the last remaining hurdle being the approval of the Mesa City Council. Hurdle cleared. The East Valley Tribune in Mesa reported Monday night that the Mesa city council “approved it’s end of a deal to […]
A small note here, as it’s unlikely to result in a major league contract. At some point soon, the Chicago Cubs, along with several other teams, will watch rehabbing reliever Oscar Villarreal throw. The White Sox and Cubs are among the teams invited to watch reliever Oscar Villarreal pitch. Villarreal, 28, who has nearly six […]
The list of possible fourth outfielders for the Chicago Cubs is long: Xavier Nady, Jermaine Dye, Reed Johnson, Rocco Baldelli, Fernando Tatis (?) and Jonny Gomes are among the possibilities. The Cubs figure to take their time, and get the best deal available. Or have they already made their choice and started negotiations? According to […]
Baseball Prospectus is out with its Top 11 prospect lists – presumably they do Top 11 to differentiate from everyone else – but for the Chicago Cubs, they’ve actually offered a Top 15 list. Five-Star Prospects 1. Josh Vitters, 3B 2. Starlin Castro, SS Four-Star Prospects 3. Hak-Ju Lee, SS 4. Brett Jackson, CF Three-Star […]
It shouldn’t be a big surprise, but – right or wrong – the Chicago Cubs are not focused on the fifth starter (or fourth starter, while Ted Lilly recovers from shoulder surgery) role right now, believing internal candidates could successfully fill the role. Instead, the Cubs are focusing on the need for a fourth outfielder […]
Some folks around the Cublogoverse are pretty excited that Jose Contreras has not landed on the Chicago Cubs. I was fairly ambivalent about the prospect of landing Contreras, thinking that he would get a minor league deal and an invite to Spring Training. Apparently he actually got a big league deal. Jose Contreras has signed […]
Apologies to recently re-signed minor league veterans Mark Johnson and Scott “John” McClain. They were signed to minor-league deals earlier this week, and we were remiss in reporting it. Each got a Spring Training invitation, but to the minor league portion. The Cubs have signed a couple of familiar faces to minor-league deals and invited […]
Everyone’s got an opinion on former slugger Mark McGwire’s recent admission that he used steroids during his playing career. For a variety of reasons, the “admission” was deficient, and a few folks have called McGwire on it. But none better than former Chicago Cubs ace and Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins. “How many pitchers do […]
Despite reports earlier this week that the Chicago Cubs had decided to remain in Mesa, Arizona for Spring Training, pending a city vote on Monday, things may not actually be official. At least Florida doesn’t think so. “Where we are today is in the running,” Crist said from the pitcher’s mound during a press conference […]
Last year, Mike Fontenot was anointed the Chicago Cubs’ starting second baseman out of Spring Training following a 2008 season where he was dominant at the plate in a part-time role. He struggled. The Cubs responded to his struggles (and Aramis Ramirez’s injury and Aaron Miles’ totally unpredictable sucking) by acquiring second baseman Jeff Baker from the […]
Add another name to the list of possible fourth outfielder options for the Chicago Cubs: Jonny Gomes. After raking for the Cincinnati Reds last year, Gomes was non-tendered for fear that he’d bring in too much money for the small-market club in arbitration. Gomes, 29, was presumed to be looking for a starting gig, but […]
Free agent starter Ben Sheets threw for several teams including the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, the session was widely well-received. Sheets’ fastball hung around his normal range, and his breaking ball looked crisp. He’ll throw again next week for teams – if he’s not already signed. For now, Buster […]
The Chicago Cubs have chosen to stay in Mesa, Arizona for Spring Training, according to a report. The Mesa City Council will soon vote on a financial package necessary to support various improvements, which will keep the Cubs Springing in the city.
