When the Chicago Cubs tendered Koyie Hill a contract yesterday, leaving four catchers on the 40-man roster, many were concluding it meant the Cubs (other than being cripplingly stupid) would soon be dealing a catcher. That’s a logical conclusion, to be sure – of course, I’d say there was still no need to tender Hill, but whateves.
It’s also possibly an accurate conclusion.
A Major League source indicates that the Cubs are very close to pulling the trigger on a Chris Davis trade. The Ranger first baseman is blocked by Mitch Moreland, and would be an inexpensive option with a high upside for the Cubs. In turn, the Rangers are looking for one of Welington Castillo or Robinson Chirinos. The Cubs would probably have to kick in a little something more.
Baseball’s Winter Meetings start on Monday. It could be an interesting week.
I just heard that Ron Santo passed away. I grew up watching him play ball for the Cubs since his rookie season and loved the guy. When we played as kids we used to impersonate Santo by bouncing a ball off our chest like we were blocking a hard hit smash the way he used to do. Ah, the memories of Wiffle Ball when we had to bat like whoever it was in the lineup we chose that day, batting like Santo and then being out by a mile trying to stretch a single into double. He pushed, he competed. HIs fan like passion in the booth was great as were his mispronunciations and such – just like Harry.
I cried when I heard the news today. I/we lost one of the greatest Cubs – and one I loved from his first appearance. God bless you Ronnie. May we meet again in the next life.
I just heard that Ron Santo passed away. I grew up watching him play ball for the Cubs since his rookie season and loved the guy. When we played as kids we used to impersonate Santo by bouncing a ball off our chest like we were blocking a hard hit smash the way he used to do. Ah, the memories of Wiffle Ball when we had to bat like whoever it was in the lineup we chose that day, batting like Santo and then being out by a mile trying to stretch a single into double. He pushed, he competed. HIs fan-like passion in the booth was great as were his mispronunciations and such – just like Harry.
I cried when I heard the news today. I/we lost one of the greatest Cubs – and one I loved from his first appearance. God bless you Ronnie. May we meet again in the next life.
is there a link to this story btw or where did you hear it?
not questioning that you did indeed hear or read it, but just wondering how recently as I can’t find anything of late besides your report.
No link – this is from one of my sources. He turned me on to the Davis rumor a few days before Levine first reported it, so this source has at least a little credibility with me (enough to post the story, anyway).
I posted the following today with the online chat session with Bruce Levine (http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/2852/chat-alert-levine-and-padilla-at-1030-a-m) regarding Chris Davis:
11:22
[Comment From GuestGuest: ]
Are the Cubs still interested in Chris Davis from the Rangers, they have a need for catching and it would seem the Cubs offering arbitration lines up with the Cubs parting with one of their catching prospects?
Tuesday December 7, 2010 11:22 Guest
11:24
Bruce Levine:
Yes, Texas wants Robert Chirronos, a hard-hitting 27-year-old catcher. The Cubs and Texas are looking to expand the deal where it would be Chirrinos and a pitcher going to the Rangers for Davis and a pitcher, a reliever off the big-league staff. That deal is still being explored by both sides.
[...] to Bleacher Nation, the Cubs could be closing in on Texas Rangers’ 1B Chris Davis. We have heard this already by [...]
[...] that Castillo will be traded, as the Cubs front office is not high on him at all. According to Bleacher Nation, a source says the Cubs are “very close” to pulling the trigger on a trade that would [...]
[...] we reported last week, the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers are working on a trade involving first baseman Chris Davis, and [...]