The Cubs held a press conference today to discuss their $500MM plan to "save Wrigley Field and invest in the city." The deal has not been finalized, but an agreement has been reached with the city of Chicago. "If this plan is approved, we will win the World Series for our fans and our city," said owner Tom Ricketts. Elsewhere in baseball's central divisions:
- The Twins recalled one of their best prospects today from Triple-A, promoting outfielder Oswaldo Arcia and placing Wilkin Ramirez on paternity leave. Arcia, a 21-year-old from Venezuela, was ranked the 41st best prospect in the game by Baseball America and placed 59th on Keith Law's list for ESPN. Arcia seems unlikely to stick, with Ramirez due back in three days.
- Another top central division prospect may have his service clock started soon, as John Fay of Cincinnati Enquirer says the Reds "will likely call up left-hander Tony Cingrani from Triple-A to make [Johnny] Cueto's next scheduled start." Cueto is on the DL with a strained right lat muscle, and the Reds limited to Cingrani to two innings in his Sunday Triple-A start. Cueto will miss three or four starts, Reds manager Dusty Baker told reporters today.
- "I think he has a chance to be a true No. 1," a scout tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports regarding Twins prospect Alex Meyer. The Twins acquired Meyer from the Nationals straight up for Denard Span in November.
- Though Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and Rangers GM Jon Daniels have not discussed swapping Oscar Taveras and Jurickson Profar, ESPN's Jim Bowden continues to advocate this potential "challenge" trade. Bowden admits that his first trade as Reds GM was a challenge trade in its own right, as he dealt Paul O'Neill and a minor leaguer to the Yankees for Roberto Kelly. Concludes Bowden, "True, that O’Neill-for-Kelly deal will haunt me to my grave, but it was the gutsiest trade I’ve ever made."
