John Grabow 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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Cubs Likely To Sign John Grabow

1:47pm: Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune believes a Grabow deal may be finalized "in the next week or so." 9:12am: The Cubs are nearing a deal with lefty reliever John Grabow, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The writers say the Cubs are "making progress" on a possible two-year deal. Of course, we've read these rumors for a few weeks now.   Continue Reading

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Cubs Rumors: Harden, Grabow, Zambrano

It's not all about Milton Bradley. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune has some more Cubs rumors as the GM Meetings continue... Free agent Rich Harden wants to return to the Cubs. His agent is likely to meet with Cubs GM Jim Hendry soon. The Cubs are expected to sign lefty reliever John Grabow to a two-year deal with an option for 2012. Agent Barry Praver says there's been no talk of waiving Carlos Zambrano's no-trade clause. The Cubs are likely to move Kosuke Fukudome to right, so they will be looking for a center fielder.   Continue Reading

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Cubs Rumors: Hendry, Bradley, Iwamura

Cubs GM Jim Hendry told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune that he doesn't feel like he's "on the clock" this year, even though new owners are taking over and the Cubs are coming off a disappointing season. Instead, Hendry says he's focused on building a strong team for 2010. The Cubs are working on re-signing John Grabow and they'd also like to acquire a speedy leadoff hitter. The club's direction depends on its ability to move Milton Bradley and the $21MM remaining on his contract. Sullivan speculates on a possible trade that would send Bradley to the Rays for...   Continue Reading

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Cubs Discussing Contract With John Grabow

The Cubs are still discussing a new contract with lefty reliever John Grabow, according to ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine. Levine says they're talking about a two-year deal in the $6.5-7.5MM range (plus incentives), with Grabow's agent pushing for a third-year vesting option. I still don't understand the Cubs' infatuation with Grabow, who turns 31 in a few days. He managed a 3.36 ERA in 72.3 innings, but walked 40 and had an xFIP over 4.90. If you're tight on payroll there are better ways to spend $3-4MM.   Continue Reading

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Cubs Rumors: Bradley, Grabow, Reed Johnson

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune and Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times discuss the Cubs' offseason plans in new articles today. Both writers agree that unloading right fielder Milton Bradley (owed $21MM) is at the top of GM Jim Hendry's to-do list. Wittenmyer's sources suggest the Cubs might be able to move Bradley without eating 80% of his contract. Sullivan believes the Cubs could kill two birds with one stone by trading Bradley for their desired "RBI guy," one who carries an equally poor contract. Magglio Ordonez and Jose Guillen come to mind for me. However, the Tigers would...   Continue Reading

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Cubs Rumors: Grabow, Harden

The Cubs have four players headed for free agency this winter: reliever John Grabow, outfielder Reed Johnson, reliever Kevin Gregg and starter Rich Harden. Thanks to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, we already have news on two of them... John Grabow has begun "preliminary talks" with the Cubs about returning for the 2010 season. He wants to come back, and has made that known. "It's just a matter of finding common ground," said the left-hander, acquired from the Pirates on July 30. "It won't happen until the season is over." Rich Harden has also made it known that he'd like to...   Continue Reading

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Pirates Eyeing Rick Ankiel, Possibly John Grabow

The Pirates have money to spend in free agency and a desire to be more aggressive than last year, GM Neal Huntington told Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Huntington admitted that former Pirates may be of interest, leading Kovacevic to speculate that lefty reliever John Grabow could be a target. Kovacevic also learned that outfielder Rick Ankiel is on the Pirates' radar. A few weeks ago, we discovered that the Pirates will have less than $30MM committed heading into 2010 after beginning this season with a $48.7MM payroll. Grabow may re-sign with the Cubs before reaching free agency. But...   Continue Reading

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Cubs Rumors: Piniella, Grabow, Johnson

A few 2010 Cubs notes... ESPN's Buster Olney says Cubs manager Lou Piniella "has told others that one way or the other, 2010 will be his last season managing." Olney wonders if Piniella may have just been speaking out of frustration. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says Piniella wants a "top-of-the-order speed guy" as well as a "middle-of-the-order run producer." However, the Cubs' 2010 payroll under new owner Tom Ricketts is not yet known. Wittenmyer says Piniella and GM Jim Hendry will be back next year. Which players would you like them to target? Wittenmyer says the Cubs want...   Continue Reading

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Cubs Start Talking Extension With Grabow

The Cubs have started discussing a two-year contract extension with John Grabow, according to ESPN.com's Bruce Levine. The lefty, who is scheduled to hit free agency after the season, would be a setup man to Carlos Marmol and occasional closer in the Chicago 'pen. Grabow has allowed just 55 hits in 66 innings this year with the Pirates and Cubs. He has 53 strikeouts, but has walked 39 along the way. If the extensions to Trever Miller and Ryan Franklin are any indication of the market for relievers, Grabow, who made $2.3MM this year, could be in line for about...   Continue Reading

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