Report: Fredi Gonzalez is Chicago Cubs’ Top Choice for Next Manager
The Chicago Cubs will search far and wide for their next manager, as they should. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a first choice already – and according to “sources,” that top man is former Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Sources say that Gonzalez is at the top of general manager Jim Hendry’s wish list in the early stages of the process and that he prefers a manager with major-league experience — with Class AAA manager Ryne Sandberg considered the strongest, if not only, serious candidate without that.
Gonzalez’s communication skills with Latin players he has managed, as well as his swift and decisive handling of Marlins star Hanley Ramirez’s loafing earlier this season, are considered significant strengths in his favor.
Gonzalez, 46, has a strong relationship with Hendry that goes back three decades and included time together in the Marlins organization.
Reached by phone Tuesday night, Gonzalez would neither confirm nor deny interest in the job or contact by the Cubs.
”I don’t have anything I can tell you,” he said, ”except Jim and I go back to my high school days. He coached one of the opposing teams when I played. And we worked together with the Marlins.”
Asked specifically whether he had interviewed or expected to, he declined comment. But indications are he’s in the first group of candidates on Hendry’s interview list. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
Gonzalez is also expected to be pursued heavily by the Atlanta Braves to replace retiring skipper Bobby Cox. Gonzalez was a coach with the Braves from 2003 to 2006.
While with the Marlins, Gonzalez had a .497 winning percentage, including back-to-back winning years in 2008 and 2009. He was widely regarded as one of the best young managers in the game, if not one of the best regardless of experience.
For my part, I view Gonzalez and Joe Girardi as options 1 and 1A in the managerial search. If the Cubs land one of them, I certainly won’t complain, but that said, I remain open minded with respect to whomever the Cubs end up with. So far, I don’t see anyone on the list that I’d scream bloody murder about – like I did (on the inside) when the Cubs went with Dusty Baker, and, to a lesser extent, Lou Piniella.
The Chicago Cubs Will Sign Adam Dunn if Marlon Byrd Has His Way
With a gaping hole at first base, left vacated by Derrek Lee who was traded to the Atlanta Braves two weeks ago after manning the spot for almost seven seasons, speculation as to whom will be the next first baseman is bound to bandy about for the next few months. So I guess I’m saying prepare yourself – it could reach Obsessive Watch status.
Adam Dunn, a free agent after this season, will likely be a primary target, assuming he doesn’t sign the extension that the Nationals are so desperately trying to get him to sign. That is, at least, according to Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd.
“Definitely. You know the guys we’ve lost this year,” Byrd said. “Quality guys like [Ted] Lilly [traded to the Dodgers] and [Derrek Lee [traded to the Braves]. You’re thinking you have to replace those guys. Our clubhouse is good, but we need some athletes out there. I have an idea who they should bring in, the type of players. I think I have an idea of who to bring in to help us win.”
I asked Byrd what impact Dunn would have on the Cubs.
“He’s a definite automatic. I think anyody wants a guy like that,” Byrd said. “Hopefully the team he is on doesn’t hold on to him so that we get a shot at him next year because thump from the left side like that just doesn’t come around often. You always want a guy hitting 30 to 40 home runs a year on your team. He’s certainly one of the guys I’ve been thinking about.” ESPN Chicago.
Dunn’s general lack of athleticism leads me to question Byrd’s successive comments that the Cubs need “some athletes” out there, and that the Cubs should go after Adam Dunn. Nevertheless, Dunn figures to be one of the better options available to the Cubs this winter.
Could Marlon Byrd Head Back to the Rangers?
Tomorrow marks the last day that a team can make a trade (via the waiver system) for a player, and include that player on its post-season roster. The Chicago Cubs have already made a couple waiver trades, sending Mike Fontenot to the Giants and Derrek Lee to the Braves.
But are the Cubs done dealing? They are assuredly still working the phones to try and outsource Kosuke Fukudome and Xavier Nady, but beyond that, no one believes the Cubs are considering moving anyone else.
Well, except maybe Richard Durrett, who writes the Texas Rangers blog for ESPNDallas. In a list of potential acquisition targets for the Rangers, Durrett lists a Cub – but not one you’d expect:
Marlon Byrd, Cubs: I only throw this in there because I find it intriguing, but Byrd fits the mold. He can play all the outfield positions and has a big bat against lefties. Byrd is hitting .366 with four homers and 19 RBIs against left-handed pitching this season. But, of course, he has two more years left on his contract in Chicago and I can’t think the Cubs would consider dealing him. Even if they do, it would involve a top prospect. So I can’t see it happening. But could you imagine Byrd back in the Rangers’ clubhouse down the stretch? ESPN Dallas.
Byrd’s contract escalates the next two years ($5.5 million in 2011, $6.5 million in 2012), and it’s possible that the Cubs could have Tyler Colvin or Kosuke Fukudome handle center field until prospect Brett Jackson is ready for the bigs (perhaps as soon as mid-season next year).
But that’s where the “this is possible” stops.
The Cubs love Marlon Byrd, and given his production and defense this year, they’ve got him relatively cheap over the next two years. Further, would Byrd really pass through waivers without being claimed by any NL team or any AL team with a worse record than the Rangers? Given his contract, it seems like a number of teams would be happy to take him on for the next couple of years, even if they’re not competitive this year.
In short, a trade of Marlon Byrd seems highly unlikely for a number of reasons.
The Problem with an Interim Manager Like Mike Quade: Tyler Colvin to Remain in the Outfield
Being the manager of the Chicago Cubs – even in a mere interim capacity – brings with it certain indelicacies. Most notably? The microscope. Every move you make is scrutinized by a rabid pack of irrational freaks.
Today, I am but one of those freaks.
Cubs interim manager Mike Quade took the reigns yesterday, and in his first lineup, there were more than a few surprises: Alfonso Soriano had been dropped to 7th (good move), Geovany Soto was back to 8th (bad move), and Blake DeWitt was batting leadoff (more on that in a bit). But the most surprising move was a guy that didn’t move: Tyler Colvin was back in right field, not at first base, where we’d been told for days he would be playing this series.
And it wasn’t just a one-game aberration, either. Quade says he doesn’t expect to put Colvin at first any time soon.
“Nothing imminent for me there. We’ll pick a spot,” Quade said. “Maybe see him over there in a late-inning game, where maybe it makes sense to do that. It’s something that we’ll look at, but sparingly, probably.”
Colvin, who started in right field, has been working out at first since the Cubs traded three-time Gold Glove Award winner Derrek Lee to the Braves on Wednesday. The rookie hasn’t played first since his sophomore year in college at Clemson. He had his most intense workout Sunday under the tutelage of bench and infield coach Alan Trammell.
“It’ll hold off. I guess I’m not quite ready,” Colvin said. “It’s good to work over there and I’ll do the work on the side and I’ll be ready for it. It’s fine taking fungos the whole time, but game speed, that’s different. Once I get some balls hit hard at me, I’ll see what I do with those.” cubs.com.
Here we see the clear problem with having an interim manager like Mike Quade. Do I mean that Quade is, himself, a problematic manager? Of course not. I’m sure his managerial style is just fine.
The problem is: he’s up for the Cubs full-time gig in 2011. So when it comes to making choices on a game-to-game basis, Quade is going to make the choices that help the team win today – even if the choice is at the expense of the future of the organization. Quade has himself called his interim job an “audition.” Does anyone really believe he’s going to do anything that lessens the chance he’ll win during his audition? More on the conflicting incentives the Cubs have created, after the jump.
Tyler Colvin is Likely to Start Playing Games at First Base This Week
With Derrek Lee off to the Atlanta Braves, and without a clear replacement in the Chicago Cubs’ system, outfielder Tyler Colvin will start playing some games at first base starting this week. His debut at the position will likely come in the early week series against the Nationals.
Colvin has been working out at first base for more than a week now, even though he hasn’t played the position since his early college days.
“It’s going to be a few days,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said of Colvin’s timetable [for starting at first base]. “He’s comfortable over there. When we do this we’re going to do it on the road. We’re not going to do it at home.
“He’s got good hands. It’s a question of game speed. But he’s done it before. It’ll give us a chance to park him over there from time to time and let him play. We’ll go from there.”
The Cubs hit the road Monday when they travel to Washington, and Piniella said to expect Colvin to make his debut in that series.
Derrek Lee, who has won three gold gloves, including two with the Cubs in 2005 and 2007, was asked if Colvin has the ability to excel as a first baseman.
“I’m sure he could,” said Lee, now with the Braves. “If he takes the time and puts in the effort, I’m sure he’ll figure it out over there.” Daily Herald.
Colvin is certainly athletic enough to man the position, and he’s clearly got the right body size. Again, though, I submit that the Cubs are looking at Colvin not necessarily as the long-term answer at first, but more likely to see if he’s an option they can consider if they’re unable to land a first baseman in the offseason.
It’s Official: Cubs Trade Derrek Lee to Braves
We’ll have some further analysis and commentary about the deal soon, but for now, I wanted to make sure to get you the basics.
Lee, who invoked his 10-and-5 rights and rejected a trade to the Angels in late July, agreed to a deal Wednesday with the Atlanta Braves, who were looking to upgrade their lineup. The Cubs acquired right-handed pitchers Robinson Lopez and Tyrelle Harris and left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Lorick.
Lee needed to undergo a physical and also clear waivers before the trade could be completed. He had an epidural injection in his lower back on Monday to ease discomfort from a bulging disc but was expected to be ready to play Thursday. The Cubs, coincidentally, open a three-game series against the Braves on Friday. cubs.com.
And with that, if it weren’t clear enough already, the Chicago Cubs have closed up shop for the 2010 season. Derrek Lee will be missed – in a general sense, mind you. Not this year. No one could be missed this year.
Reports: Derrek Lee to Be Traded to Atlanta Braves
The Chicago Cubs on the verge of trading first baseman Derrek Lee to the Atlanta Braves, according to multiple reports. Lee is in the last year of his contract with the Cubs, and earlier this year vetoed a trade to the Los Angeles Angels. Why he would now decide not to exercise his no-trade rights and permit a trade to the Braves is unclear, but this rumor has legs. In fact, sources are indicating that Lee would indeed waive his no-trade clause to head to the Braves.
The Braves are expected to assume much of Lee’s remaining 2010 salary (having passed on signing some high cost draft picks earlier this week), which is about $3 million, and the Cubs aren’t expected to get much in the way of prospects.
Aramis Ramirez Unlikely to Be Traded
It was an exciting 24 hours, but the odds of Aramis Ramirez being traded to the Atlanta Braves is approximately 0 to 1. Or 0 to 1,000,000. Whichever seems more unlikely to you.
You can forget about any of those rumors that have third baseman Aramis Ramirez going to Atlanta to replace the injured Chipper Jones. Cubs people were quick to dismiss them.
Ramirez, who has 10-and-5 rights and no-trade protection, holds an option on next year’s contract, and he has indicated he will exercise it. He has had a down year at the plate, much of it because of injury, and there might not be much of a market for him.
On top of that, if Ramirez were to be traded, an option for 2012 kicks in, making him a cost-prohibitive option for most teams. Daily Herald.
As I said yesterday, the deal would have made little sense from the Cubs’ perspective, unless they are going into a full rebuild. There is no third baseman ready to go in the Cubs’ system, and Blake DeWitt doesn’t have a big league bat at third. Throw in the fact that Jim Hendry has said the Cubs will not rebuild next year, and you’ve got a highly unlikely trade scenario that just got an obvious back of the hand.
