Chicago Cubs Rumors

Cubs To Sign Grabow To Two-Year Deal

FRIDAY, 2:15pm: Wittenmyer hears that the deal is worth $7.5MM. The Cubs have officially announced it. THURSDAY, 10:53am: Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says the deal is believed to be worth at least $7MM in total. Dave Cameron of FanGraphs calls it a "waste of cash." 9:47am: Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Cubs have agreed to sign Grabow to a two-year deal. Sullivan's sources say the deal could be announced today. 8:13am: The Cubs are nearing an agreement with lefty John Grabow on a two-year deal, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago. It wouldn't be...   Continue Reading

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Latest Milton Bradley Scenario

1:36pm: MLB.com's Carrie Muskat hears from a Cubs official that there's nothing to the rumored three way deal between the Cubs, Rangers and Mets. However, four to six teams are interested in Bradley to varying degrees. 10:58am: The latest Milton Bradley trade scenario comes courtesy of Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, who considers Bradley going to the Rangers, Kevin Millwood to the Mets, and Luis Castillo to the Cubs. We talked to a source familiar with the situation who said that this deal is not being discussed. Backing that up, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan talked to a Rangers official who...   Continue Reading

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Heyman On Gonzalez, Wellemeyer, Rivera

SI's Jon Heyman kicks off his newest column with thoughts on his top 50 free agents. A few highlights from the list and elsewhere in the column... Via Twitter Heyman says Mets GM Omar Minaya likes Luis Castillo more than any of the 29 other teams do. Heyman groups the Cubs in as a possible Matt Holliday suitor, which does not seem feasible given the team's payroll situation. Lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez has "drawn interest from as many as 15 teams." A new name on the Brewers' radar as a "No. 5-type guy": Todd Wellemeyer. Heyman speaks of "indications the...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Bay, Orioles, Padres, Lo Duca

Let's round up some leftover Thursday links.... The Boston Globe's Amalie Benjamin spoke to Joe Urbon, Jason Bay's agent. Urbon suggested that discussion would continue with the Red Sox, but that interest in his client so far has been "extraordinary." Larry Stone of the Seattle Times warns Mariners fans not to get too excited about rumors of a three-way deal involving Brandon Morrow and the Tigers' Edwin Jackson. He thinks Morrow could be a valuable trade chip for Seattle though. In a Baltimore Sun column, Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly point out that the Baltimore Orioles' lack of big contract...   Continue Reading

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Aaron Heilman Trade Reactions

Plenty of baseball writers are already offering their opinions on the Diamondbacks' acquisition of Aaron Heilman, and speculating about what the pitcher's role might be in Arizona.... Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that some Diamondbacks execs have viewed Heilman as a starter in the past. MLB.com's Steve Gilbert, however, suggests that the team plans to use Heilman out of the bullpen. In a separate article, Gilbert writes that he likes the deal for Arizona, as a low-risk move with upside. He notes that the two prospects the D'Backs gave up "were not exactly setting the world on...   Continue Reading

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D'Backs Acquire Aaron Heilman

The Diamondbacks acquired Aaron Heilman from the Cubs, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says the Cubs obtained minor leaguers Scott Maine and Ryne White in return. Tim listed Heilman as a non-tender candidate last month, so it's not a surprise that the Cubs were willing to part with the 31-year-old righty. He pitched to a 4.11 ERA in 72.1 innings with the Cubs last year, allowing 68 hits and 34 walks, while striking out 65. Heilman has started before, but GM Josh Byrnes suggests to the Arizona Republic that the D'Backs see him...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Pirates, Cubs, Red Sox, Hawkins

Some more links to read through as we count down the hours until teams can start serious negotiations with all free agents... GM Neal Huntington tells MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch that the Pirates won't be spending big on relievers this year: "Our focus is going to be more on the borderline-type guys that may not get $3-4 million or may not even get a Major League contract," Huntington said. The Cubs probably can't afford Rich Harden or Reed Johnson, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Harden and Erik Bedard appear on Jeff Zrebiec's list of ten free agents the O's might target....   Continue Reading

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Stark On Bradley, Uggla, Yankees, Braves, Pedro

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark responds to some of Scott Boras' recent comments before providing some rumors in his latest Rumblings and Grumblings column: The Rays, Rangers and Jays appear to be the three likeliest landing spots for Milton Bradley. The Cubs say they don't want to eat much of the $21MM remaining on Bradley's contract, so a bad contract swap still seems possible. Stark hears that the Marlins were in serious trade talks with the Giants and Rangers about Dan Uggla. There's no indication that the Yankees are in on Jason Bay or Matt Holliday at this point. The Yanks figure...   Continue Reading

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Nightengale On Jackson, Swisher, Rays, Halladay

USA Today's Bob Nightengale suggests we keep an eye on a possible three-way trade between the Tigers, Mariners and one other club. The Tigers would give up Edwin Jackson and the Mariners would give up Brandon Morrow. Here are some more rumors to read as you wonder who that third team might be: Nightengale says the Rays are the "clear-cut favorite" to acquire Milton Bradley from the Cubs. The Yankees are apparently letting teams know that Nick Swisher is available. Swisher was involved in his share of trade rumors after the Yankees acquired him last season. The Dodgers are focusing...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Butler, Holliday, Counsell

A batch of links to kick off the work week... Newly minted Royals Player of the Year Billy Butler has not held long-term extension talks with the team, MLBTR learned on a conference call today. Butler will not be arbitration-eligible until after the 2010 season. Desipio on the Cubs-Curtis Granderson idea: "In the end, this smells like a winter of Brian Roberts and Jake Peavy trade rumors. One that ends with us talking ourselves into how Marlon Byrd isn’t so bad after all." Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports believes it's a three-horse race for Matt Holliday: the Red Sox,...   Continue Reading

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