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 potential free agents John Grabow and Reed Johnson back on the right terms, but may be less inclined to retain pitchers Rich Harden and Kevin Gregg. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune has a headline saying Johnson wants to return next year, but doesn't address it in the body of his article.
- Wittenmyer and Sullivan both reject the report from ESPN's Bruce Levine yesterday saying the Cubs have begun extension talks with Grabow. Pet peeve: Wittenmyer and Sullivan elected not to cite Levine's report specifically. Anyway, Sullivan says the Cubs "are expected to re-sign the left-hander to a two- or three-year deal" even if they're not talking yet.
