When the Chicago Cubs dumped Milton Bradley for Carlos Silva in December, the reaction from fans was universal: sigh. This is the best they could do? Really? Really?? Silva had just struggled through what could very literally be the worst two seasons a pitcher could have and remain in Major League Baseball. Expectations were low. […]
Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella confirmed yesterday that there would be no leadoff platoon this year, and announced that Ryan Theriot would be the leadoff hitter. Theriot batted .283 in 42 games in the leadoff spot last season when he took over for Alfonso Soriano, who was dropped to sixth. The Cubs, who used six […]
Last Wednesday, Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee fouled a ball off his foot, and was pulled early from a Spring Training game. No one was terribly concerned – and I don’t want to induce PANIC, I’m not terribly concerned yet either – but Lee hasn’t seen game action since. Manager Lou Piniella reiterated yesterday […]
That headline feels like it should be followed with “or else.” But no, I don’t intend it to be threatening. That’s just your insecurity talking. The MLB Network is going to air a crap ton of Spring games this year, so in addition to the handful of games on WGN, you’ll be able to catch a […]
Most of the Chicago Cubs’ lineup this year is set. We know that Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez will hit three and four. We know that Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano will hit five and six. We know that Geovany Soto and the second baseman will hit seven and eight. But one spot yet undecided […]
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 […]
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 […]
Two weeks ago, it looked like the St. Louis Cardinals were going to lose Mark DeRosa, Joel Pineiro, John Smoltz, and Matt Holliday this offseason. Things were looking up for the rest of the National League Central. And then yesterday, the Cardinals re-signed Matt Holliday to a seven year, $120 million deal. Humbug. Setting aside […]
Jim Hendry’s never-ending quest to add a “veteran” “right-handed” arm to the bullpen has turned toward the lower cost end of the spectrum, which is a good thing. Hendry — whether via trade or free agency — wants to add a veteran bullpen pitcher. Former White Sox right-hander Jose Contreras has been a part of […]
The Chicago Cubs are looking to fill some holes in the outfield, of which there are currently two: center field and primary reserve. Free agent Cub Reed Johnson could fill either role, but for whatever reason, the Cubs seem eager to look elsewhere first. One option to fill the reserve role is Colorado Rockies outfielder […]
The Chicago Cubs just released their 2010 Spring Training schedule. And, well, here it is: March 4 vs. Oakland Athletics March 5 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks March 6 vs. Chicago White Sox March 7 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (ss) and at Chicago White Sox, Glendale, Ariz. March 8 at Oakland Athletics, Phoenix March 9 vs. Milwaukee […]
Chicago Cubs second baseman and semi-utility player Mike Fontenot was awarded Super Two status yesterday, which means he is now arbitration eligible. Fontenot had 2 years, 139 days of service time to tie Orioles center fielder Adam Jones and Reds pitcher Micah Owings but won the tiebreaker for “Super Two” status because he had more […]
If the Chicago Cubs are ultimately able to move Milton Bradley, they will have to find someone to take over his right field duties (or center field, should Kosuke Fukudome slide back over to right). But that somebody won’t be Colorado Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe, who’d previously been rumored on the block. It looks like […]
The 2010 Major League Baseball draft order is out, pending changes due to free agency signings, and the Chicago Cubs come in at 16th. That the Cubs are 16th and not 17th is actually quite huge: now, if and when the Cubs sign a Type A free agent who has been offered arbitration by his […]
The Cubs head out to San Francisco to play spoiler to a Giants team that is in the desperate throws of a final playoff push. Oh to be them. A refresher on the series preview here at Bleacher Nation: The idea is to hook you up with the bare minimum of what you need to […]
The waiver trade deadline, 1 p.m. EST, has come and gone. Remaining Chicago Cubs are pitchers Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman – the subjects of increased trade chatter after their public waiver claims – as well as all other Cubs. It seems the Chicago Cubs like their chances to pull off an improbable comeback in […]
Despite the recent waiver claims of pitchers Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman, the Chicago Cubs say they aren’t currently pursuing trades with the claiming teams. In fact, they haven’t even yet been contacted by those claiming teams about a trade. It’s possible that the claims were merely “blocks” – the waiver system allows teams with […]
