Editor’s Note: Yes, it’s that time of year again – the time for us to settle back into our protective bubble where the Chicago Cubs are destined for greatness, and every other team in the National League Central is bound for spectacular failure. If you’d care to check out last year’s fare: St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati […]
If there is one player the Chicago Cubs cannot afford to lose this year – for a variety of reasons, some performance-related, and some attendance-related – it’s probably shortstop Starlin Castro. Not only is Castro a unique talent and tearing the cover off the ball this Spring, the Cubs don’t have much in the way […]
While it has been assumed by most that, since he was acquired last year in the Ted Lilly trade, Blake DeWitt was *the* Chicago Cubs’ second baseman until further notice, I suspected that he could find himself in a bit of a battle this Spring with infielder Jeff Baker and possibly an up-and-comer like Darwin […]
This week, the Texas Rangers went from we-aren’t-trading-Michael-Young to we-have-to-trade-Michael-Young back to we-aren’t-trading-Michael-Young, all in the span of a few days. It is safe to assume that the book-ends of that back-and-forth are mere posturing, and, as an expensive, disgruntled, superfluous player, Young’s days in Arlington are numbered. The Chicago Cubs have never been a […]
The starting pitching glut continues to threaten Tom Gorzelanny’s existence as a Chicago Cub, and, indeed, the Cubs are hearing from a number of teams about the lefty. The Washington Nationals are the latest to showing interest, according to a major-league source. The New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles have been said to be interested […]
AOL Fanhouse’s Ed Price has a source who is indicating that the Cubs have been in contact with former Cy Young pitcher Brandon Webb. While most rumors have the Cubs looking at the middle tier of free agent starters, it would be no surprise to see the team go after a reclamation project/high upside type, given […]
As I mentioned earlier this week, despite lip-service entreaties from the Chicago Cubs, Ryne Sandberg is a mortal lock to leave the organization. Where he will end up is still a matter of considerable debate, and, of course, in what role. The Toronto Blue Jays were the only team (other than the Cubs) to express […]
Current Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ted Lilly was a bit of a long shot to return to the Cubs as a free agent this Winter. But it became a much longer shot recently – Lilly is selling his Chicago home. Former Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly has just listed his six-bedroom, nearly 5,500-square-foot mansion just west […]
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 […]
When the Chicago Cubs traded Ted Lilly to the Los Angeles Dodgers last week, Ryan Dempster became the unquestioned number one in the Chicago Cubs’ rotation. But despite that nominal accolade, Ryan Dempster wishes Lilly was still around. He misses the bulldog. ”With Teddy, I always appreciated him every day for what a teammate he […]
Per multiple reports, the Chicago Cubs have traded pitcher Ted Lilly and second baseman Ryan Theriot to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Part of the return is expected to be second baseman Blake DeWitt, but no word yet on dollars and the rest of the return. We’ll keep you posted. UPDATE: Looks like the Cubs are […]
With trade partners dwindling, the Chicago Cubs might be able to package two of their movable parts together in one deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers are talking to the Cubs about a trade for both left-hander Ted Lilly and second baseman Ryan Theriot, according to a major-league source. It is not known […]
Late yesterday, a rumor started circulating that the Cubs and Phillies had agreed to swap lefties Ted Lilly and JA Happ, but it seems to have died on the vine. Whether it was because of Ted Lilly’s partial no-trade clause (which includes the Phillies), or because there wasn’t anything to the rumor in the first […]
A trio of rumors has popped up on Twitter regarding the Cubs’ efforts to deal Ted Lilly: The market for Lilly has picked up, according to Stark. The Tigers are involved, and so are the Dodgers, Twins and Phillies. The Phillies have inquired on Lilly, according to Rosenthal. Ed Price of AOL FanHouse hears rumblings […]
If Chicago Cubs starter Ted Lilly is not traded before Saturday’s trade deadline, it won’t be for a lack of visibility. Eight top scouts were on hand to watch Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly and Astros right-hander Brett Myers pitch on Tuesday night in Houston. Both pitchers are coveted by numerous teams as the trade deadline […]
The Chicago Cubs are now actively shopping pitcher Ted Lilly, and would like to have a deal in place before Lilly’s next start, which is scheduled for Tuesday. With contenders struggling to find the right match for available starters Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren on the trade market, interest in Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly has […]
We’re just a week away from the non-waive trade deadline, and the Chicago Cubs have yet to make a move. But having just lost two of three to the woeful Astros, the Cubs have no doubt cemented their status as sellers – and the first piece to go will probably be pitcher Ted Lilly. Unlike […]
Though he didn’t even appear in the game, last night’s shellacking of Carlos Silva made it incrementally more likely that Chicago Cubs starter Ted Lilly would be traded. With just over a week to go before the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, the Cubs are no doubt continuously evaluating their position vis a vis […]
The Chicago Cubs stand a miserable 39-50 at the pseudo midpoint of the season with almost no mathematical chance of making the playoffs. Their payroll – more than $146 million – is the highest in the National League, and the third highest in baseball, but it hasn’t bought success. And the man most responsible for putting the […]
Now that Cliff Lee is off the trade market, Chicago Cubs starter Ted Lilly becomes the best available lefty starting pitcher on the market, and remains one of the best two or three available overall. It seems highly likely that, if the Cubs decide to move Lilly and he’s amenable to waiving his limited no-trade […]
One of the many pieces the Chicago Cubs would no doubt like to move is currently-restricted pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Still away from the team while he receives anger management treatment and evaluation, Zambrano would likely welcome a trade – despite his no-trade clause – as he’s going to be stuck in the bullpen upon his […]
Chicago Cubs utility player Jeff Baker is headed to an eye specialist for an examination of his right eye, which started given him problems late in yesterday’s game against the Dodgers. Specifically, he lost vision in his right eye. Baker didn’t react when the Dodgers’ Russell Martin lined a single past him to lead off […]
The Chicago Cubs just took two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers on the strength of two dominant pitching performances from Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly. The latter pitcher’s performance, according to Dodger third baseman Casey Blake, was enhanced by some old fashioned cheatin’. “I know he doesn’t have an overpowering fastball,” Blake said. […]
Surprising news out of AAA Iowa today, as top pitching prospect Andrew Cashner – he of the sub-1.00 ERA as a starter at Iowa – is being moved to the bullpen today. “It surprised me when I first heard about it,” said Cashner, who got the news Wednesday. “I talked to (the Chicago Cubs) about […]
Chicago Cubs reliever starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano is being stretched out for a return to the rotation, having thrown a simulated game yesterday. Zambrano threw 73 pitches Monday in a simulated game at Wrigley Field, his first extended outing since switching to the bullpen on April 22. Zambrano is being stretched out so he can […]
With a theoretical surplus of starting pitchers, and an actual need for a late-inning reliever, rumors about Chicago Cubs trades were bound to start swirling. And Joel Sherman of the New York Post offers a doozy, but one that mostly emanates from the penumbras of his mind – and not any concrete source. The thrust? Sending Carlos […]
