Reed Johnson Rumors

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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Odds & Ends: Cubs, Cuddyer, Eyre, Marlins

Let's check out a few Saturday evening links.... Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune writes that the Chicago Cubs seem prepared to part ways with Rich Harden and Reed Johnson. ESPN.com's Rob Neyer isn't a big fan of the Minnesota Twins' decision to exercise Michael Cuddyer's 2011 option. Potential free agent Scott Eyre will have surgery on his left elbow, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Zolecki mentions that Raul Ibanez and Brad Lidge will also go under the knife. Eyre and Ibanez should be ready for the start of spring training, but Lidge may need a little more time....   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: Johnson, DeRosa, Zambrano

Some rumors on the Cubs as their season comes to an end... Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says Cubs GM Jim Hendry had one of his worst offseasons last winter. Aramis Ramirez tells Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune it's not Hendry's fault that the Milton Bradley signing didn't work out. In the same article we hear that Ted Lilly wants the Cubs to hold onto Reed Johnson and bring back Mark DeRosa. And Carlos Zambrano has a prediction: "Like Arnold Schwarzenegger said, 'I'll be back'." Dunno if Schwarzenegger had a no-trade clause, but Zambrano does, so he has...   Continue Reading

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Perrotto's Latest: Cubs, White Sox, Chipper, Josh Johnson

The latest from John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus: The Cubs are trying to sign John Grabow and Reed Johnson before they reach free agency. Perrotto says those that know Chipper Jones believe he would actually retire after next season if he can't perform up to his standards. There's a possibility the Marlins will try to deal Josh Johnson this winter even though he won't be a free agent until after 2011. Johnson is not anticipated to take a hometown discount to stay in Florida. Perrotto expects Russell Branyan will re-sign with the Mariners before he reaches free agency. Seems like...   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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Odds & Ends: Ryno, Young, Johnson, Rangers

A fresh batch of links as Saturday afternoon baseball gets underway... Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune believes Ryne Sandberg has "added to his managerial portfolio by guiding Double-A Tennessee into the Southern League playoffs." Could "Ryno" eventually replace Cubs skipper Lou Piniella? Mark Zuckerman of The Washington Times spoke Friday with Dmitri Young, who isn't sure if he's ready to retire. "Right now, I'm not even thinking about it," said the 35-year-old Young. "I'm just here right now just to heal up and clear my head on everything. And then [in the] offseason, we'll see." According to Andrew Simon...   Continue Reading

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Cubs Rumors: Fukudome, Dempster, Wood

Let's check in on the Cubs' offseason plans. Cubs manager Lou Piniella says the Cubs will move Kosuke Fukudome to center field to platoon with Reed Johnson. This move implies Jim Edmonds won't be back. Technically Edmonds could play right field, but he also needs a platoon partner. The Cubs figure to be in the market for a lefthanded hitting right fielder. Piniella expects the team to fill their holes via trade. Brian Giles, Randy Winn, and Jeremy Hermida could fit the bill. Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald reminds fans that Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee have no-trade clauses,...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Matt Murton

Yesterday, Tim asked the question, "Who Wants Matt Murton?" As we await the answer to that question, only one thing is clear, the Cubs don't. Surprising for a player that is only 26 and PECOTA projects to have an .821 OPS, 19.8 VORP and 2.4 WARP in 2008 assuming he can find a team that will give him big league at bats. With only two years of service time, Murton is still a year from arbitration and four years from free agency, so he should be able to command a solid relief pitcher in return. Let's take a look at...   Continue Reading

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Cubs Sign Reed Johnson

1:48pm: The Chicago Tribune says the deal is for $1.3MM. BP's Nate Silver weighs in on the move here. 12:35pm: Levine now reports that the Cubs have signed Johnson. For a team focused on winning now, it's not a bad move. Only drawback might be the Murton situation. Meanwhile, Evan Grant says the Rangers reduced their demands for Marlon Byrd but the Cubs still decided to pass. 11:41am: It's all Reed Johnson, all the time here at MLBTR. Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 says the Cubs will make a contract offer to Johnson once he clears waivers about twenty minutes...   Continue Reading

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