A report by the Sum-Times mention that current Cubs manager Lou Pinella might return past the 2010 season. During the 2009 season, Pinella said he would retire after the 2010 season.
Pinella said this at the RedsFest: ''Look, I wouldn't manage this year if I didn't have the competitiveness and the desire to win. I look forward to this team bouncing back from last year and playing really, really well and giving ourselves a chance in postseason again."
''I don't know [what it would take to want to return]. I like to talk about our baseball team, our organization. I don't like to talk about myself. We'll see what happens. I enjoy what I do, and as long as the organization is pleased -- but let's see. I'm 66 years old. I'm no spring chicken.''
The Cubs have not spoke to Pinella about a possible return after the 2010 season but new owner Tom Ricketts said he thinks Pinella is one of the best managers. Mr. Ricketts will evaluate the Cubs front office after the 2010 season.
About a possible return, Pinella said this: ''We'll see, but I'm really looking forward to this season, working with our new owner and his family and getting this team back on top again."
''I met [Ricketts] in Phoenix [at the Cubs' organization meetings] about a month ago, and I came away very impressed. This is what the Cubs needed, a guy who's been a Cub fan his whole life and who is competitive and has built a successful business, and now he wants to win with the Cubs. I'm looking forward to that transition.''
If Pinella is open to returning next year, I would only sign him if his head is straighten and don't make any bad moves because he mad a lot of bone head moves last season in my opinion.
I will keep you posted as the Winter Meetings starts tomorrow.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Bradley Deal Getting Closer and Other Notes Heading Into the Winter Mettings...
According to Bruce Levine, Milton Bradley will be gone time the Winter Meetings is over on Thursday. He predicts the Rays get Bradley, Mets get Pat Burrell and the Cubs get Luis Castilla in a 3 way deal. He also mentions that a 4th team may get involve to get the money figured out. If the Cubs do end up trading Bradley and getting Castilla in return, they would of solved 2 problems in 1 trade. 1 problem would be they traded Bradley, that they have been trying to do since September and 2nd, they get a 2B in returnwhich they really need. I say he would be traded in that 3 way trade in the earlier days of the Winter Meetings so Jim Hendry can work on
Other News:
The Cubs like Mike Cameron a lot and are planning on meeting with him in Indy to talk about a 1 year deal to be the Cubs CF in 2010. If he asks for to much, the Cubs will move on to plan B and that is Rick Ankiel. I do not care which one the Cubs sign because they are both good at defense but not really good at hitting. I would sign the cheaper one and I think that could be completed at the Winter Meetings depending on the Bradley trade. In the same report, it says the Cubs like Marlon Byrd but he is to expensive for the Cubs.
Bruce Levine said the Cubs would offer contracts to all arbitration eligible players. This list consists of Tom Gorzelanny, Carlos Marmol, Angel Guzman, Sean Marshall, Mike Fontenot and Neal Cotts. I do not agree with that because Fontenot and Cotts should be non-tendered. They do not deserve making million but I expect Fontenot to be traded.
Yesterday I posted that the Cubs are interested in pitcher Vincente Padilla but Cubs officials shot that rumor down. I am happy because Padilla is not a good clubhouse guy and a overrated pitcher. He will also probably make to much money.
I will keep you posted.
Other News:
The Cubs like Mike Cameron a lot and are planning on meeting with him in Indy to talk about a 1 year deal to be the Cubs CF in 2010. If he asks for to much, the Cubs will move on to plan B and that is Rick Ankiel. I do not care which one the Cubs sign because they are both good at defense but not really good at hitting. I would sign the cheaper one and I think that could be completed at the Winter Meetings depending on the Bradley trade. In the same report, it says the Cubs like Marlon Byrd but he is to expensive for the Cubs.
Bruce Levine said the Cubs would offer contracts to all arbitration eligible players. This list consists of Tom Gorzelanny, Carlos Marmol, Angel Guzman, Sean Marshall, Mike Fontenot and Neal Cotts. I do not agree with that because Fontenot and Cotts should be non-tendered. They do not deserve making million but I expect Fontenot to be traded.
Yesterday I posted that the Cubs are interested in pitcher Vincente Padilla but Cubs officials shot that rumor down. I am happy because Padilla is not a good clubhouse guy and a overrated pitcher. He will also probably make to much money.
I will keep you posted.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Cubs Lead in Race for Vincente Padilla...
According to a report, the Cubs and Cardinals are leading the race for pitcher Vincente Padilla. Padilla who is not a good clubhouse guy was released by the Rangers last year and pick up by the Dodgers. When he joined the Dodgers, he went 3-0 with a 3.70 era after miserable stats with Texas..
In the heading, I wrote the Cubs are leading because Matthew Leach reported that don't read much into the Cardinals signing Padilla.
I would not sign Vincente Padilla because he has a Bradley type attitude in the clubhouse and that is the reason the Cubs are trading Bradley. But I would only sign Padilla for a 1 year deal worth 2 million and to be the 5th starter behind Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster and Wells. He is probably looking for a deal around 1 year 4-6 million or a 2 year contract worth about 8-12 million all together.
I will keep you posted as the rumors start flying.
In the heading, I wrote the Cubs are leading because Matthew Leach reported that don't read much into the Cardinals signing Padilla.
I would not sign Vincente Padilla because he has a Bradley type attitude in the clubhouse and that is the reason the Cubs are trading Bradley. But I would only sign Padilla for a 1 year deal worth 2 million and to be the 5th starter behind Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster and Wells. He is probably looking for a deal around 1 year 4-6 million or a 2 year contract worth about 8-12 million all together.
I will keep you posted as the rumors start flying.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Cubs Trade Aaron Miles and Jake Fox to Oakland... Update
UpdateL 6:01: The Cubs are giving 1 million to the Athletics. In the deal the Cubs save 1.7 million which is a steal. Now they have about 2 more million to spend on free agents.
Breaking News: The Cubs have traded 2B Aaron Miles and utility man Jake Fox to the Oakland Athletics for minor leaguers Jeff Gray, Ronny Morla and Matt Spencer. The Cubs are also giving cash to the Athletics.
Jeff Gray is 27 years old. He went 2-2 with a 1.54 era in 41 innings last year.
Ronny Morla is 21 years old. He went 1-7 with a 4.86 era in 63 innings last year.
Matt Spencer is 23 years old. He batted .294 with 10HR and 29RBI in 93 games and 371 at-bats.
I like the trade for the Cubs because the Cubs don't need Miles no more because of Baker and Fox has no place on the team. After first writing that Jim Hendry was trying to trade Miles and Fox about a couple hours ago, it happens.
More to come.
Breaking News: The Cubs have traded 2B Aaron Miles and utility man Jake Fox to the Oakland Athletics for minor leaguers Jeff Gray, Ronny Morla and Matt Spencer. The Cubs are also giving cash to the Athletics.
Jeff Gray is 27 years old. He went 2-2 with a 1.54 era in 41 innings last year.
Ronny Morla is 21 years old. He went 1-7 with a 4.86 era in 63 innings last year.
Matt Spencer is 23 years old. He batted .294 with 10HR and 29RBI in 93 games and 371 at-bats.
I like the trade for the Cubs because the Cubs don't need Miles no more because of Baker and Fox has no place on the team. After first writing that Jim Hendry was trying to trade Miles and Fox about a couple hours ago, it happens.
More to come.
Multiple Teams Interested in Jake Fox, Cubs Looking to Deal Aaron Miles...
Heres the latest as the Winter Meeting approach:
Bruce Levine is reporting that multiple teams have contacted the Cubs about Jake Fox. Fox who is 27, is primarily a DH for an American league team. Levine mention 2 teams that have express interest in Fox and they are the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics. He also states that Fox is not an NL player and should go to the AL where he can play DH and some times in the field. I think Fox will be traded this Winter and I say he will be traded at or before the Winter Meetings for 1 or 2 prospects.
In other news, Jim Hendry is trying to trade 2B Aaron Miles but no teams were mention of who are interested. Hendry said he will pay a portion of Miles 2.7 million contract. I think Miles will be traded or release at the Winter Meetings. If he is traded, I say they will get 1-2 prospects like what they would get if they traded Fox.
I will keep you posted.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Cubs Had Interest in Rafael Betancourt, But Do They Still...
The Cubs did have interest in relief pitcher Rafael Betancourt before the Colorado Rockies offered him arbitration. Betancourt was a type A free agent and the Cubs would have to give up there first round draft pick but the Cubs draft pick is number 16. The top 16 picks in the draft are protected and can't be lost by signing a type A free agent. If the Cubs do in fact sign Betancourt, they will have to give up there second round pick, 49th overall.
Betancourt made 3.35 million in 2009 and the Rockies had to offer Betancourt any where from 4-6 million on arbitration. If that is true then, the Cubs would have to sign him to the same deal on a 1 year deal or sign him to a multiyear deal worth about a little less.
A Cubs source with knowledge of the situation said there is nothing to it at this time. The Cubs had to talk about it, is what I conclude from that sentence.
Other teams that have said to be interested before he was offered arbitration are the Giants and Phillies.
I don't think the Cubs will sign him because they won't want to give up a draft pick for a relief pitcher and the money will get out of hand.
I will keep you posted.
Betancourt made 3.35 million in 2009 and the Rockies had to offer Betancourt any where from 4-6 million on arbitration. If that is true then, the Cubs would have to sign him to the same deal on a 1 year deal or sign him to a multiyear deal worth about a little less.
A Cubs source with knowledge of the situation said there is nothing to it at this time. The Cubs had to talk about it, is what I conclude from that sentence.
Other teams that have said to be interested before he was offered arbitration are the Giants and Phillies.
I don't think the Cubs will sign him because they won't want to give up a draft pick for a relief pitcher and the money will get out of hand.
I will keep you posted.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Cubs like Ankiel, Fontenot Drawing Interest and other notes...
Notes from Hot Stove Cubbies:
The Cubs want to sign Rick Ankiel to a 2 year contract because that way they will be able to give him less money a year instead of giving him more money on a 1 year contract. I am in favor of that deal because he has a cannon or a arm and this lets the Cubs move Fukudome back to right where he is a better defender. He will most likely bat 5th in the lineup in my opinion. But first the Cubs will have to trade Milton Bradley which I see him being dealt at the Winter Meetings starting on Monday.
The Cubs will look for another starting pitcher that will come cheap because they are injury prone and hope they succeed. Names on the list are Noah Lowry, Mark Mulder, Brett Myers, and Eric Milton. I wouldn't mind seeing any of these players in a Cubs uniform next year becuase they will come cheap and I don''t like going with Samardzija as the 5th starter come opening day.
The Rangers have interest in cheap utility mans Mike Fontenot and Jeff Baker. Fontenot is expected to be a non tender contract and then will become a free agent. The Cubs would love to trade Fontenot instead of getting nothing for him. I think the Cubs will trade Fontenot to the Rangers for a PTBNL or a mid level prospect. Baker on the other hand will come more expensive and the Cubs will tender him so he can be their utility man in 2010. I think Baker will not be traded and will be on their 2010 roster.
The Cubs will not sign Marlon Byrd because of his price tag. That is fine with me.
The Cubs are expected to sign Danny Rodriguez, probably to a minor league deal. Rodriguez posted a 3-0 record in Winter ball with a era of 1.25. This signing is not a big deal but maybe it will work out and he will pitch really good.
Bruce Miles thinks the Cubs will tender all 9 of there players. I think they will tender 7 but not Mike Fontenot or Neal Cotts. They both do not deserve to be making in the millions and the Cubs know that.
Today the Cubs did not offer arbitration to any of there 4 free agents, Type A Kevin Gregg, Type B Rich Harden and neither Reed Johnson or Chad Fox. This was not a surprise but I would love to see Rich Harden get offer and I am going to miss seeing him in Cubbie blue next season.
Busy day of rumors but it was fun hearing all it. Just can't wait for Monday. I will keep you posted.
The Cubs want to sign Rick Ankiel to a 2 year contract because that way they will be able to give him less money a year instead of giving him more money on a 1 year contract. I am in favor of that deal because he has a cannon or a arm and this lets the Cubs move Fukudome back to right where he is a better defender. He will most likely bat 5th in the lineup in my opinion. But first the Cubs will have to trade Milton Bradley which I see him being dealt at the Winter Meetings starting on Monday.
The Cubs will look for another starting pitcher that will come cheap because they are injury prone and hope they succeed. Names on the list are Noah Lowry, Mark Mulder, Brett Myers, and Eric Milton. I wouldn't mind seeing any of these players in a Cubs uniform next year becuase they will come cheap and I don''t like going with Samardzija as the 5th starter come opening day.
The Rangers have interest in cheap utility mans Mike Fontenot and Jeff Baker. Fontenot is expected to be a non tender contract and then will become a free agent. The Cubs would love to trade Fontenot instead of getting nothing for him. I think the Cubs will trade Fontenot to the Rangers for a PTBNL or a mid level prospect. Baker on the other hand will come more expensive and the Cubs will tender him so he can be their utility man in 2010. I think Baker will not be traded and will be on their 2010 roster.
The Cubs will not sign Marlon Byrd because of his price tag. That is fine with me.
The Cubs are expected to sign Danny Rodriguez, probably to a minor league deal. Rodriguez posted a 3-0 record in Winter ball with a era of 1.25. This signing is not a big deal but maybe it will work out and he will pitch really good.
Bruce Miles thinks the Cubs will tender all 9 of there players. I think they will tender 7 but not Mike Fontenot or Neal Cotts. They both do not deserve to be making in the millions and the Cubs know that.
Today the Cubs did not offer arbitration to any of there 4 free agents, Type A Kevin Gregg, Type B Rich Harden and neither Reed Johnson or Chad Fox. This was not a surprise but I would love to see Rich Harden get offer and I am going to miss seeing him in Cubbie blue next season.
Busy day of rumors but it was fun hearing all it. Just can't wait for Monday. I will keep you posted.
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