The Cubs have shifted from developing players to playing for the win, writes Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. The eye-opening moment came last week when manager Joe Maddon removed closer Hector Rondon from the ninth inning of a 5-4 game. Now the club is going with a closer-by-committee approach – a familiar tactic from Maddon’s days in Tampa Bay. Maddon himself confirms that he prefers to have a set closer – it makes his job easier. However, doing the best thing for the club is a positive wake up call for the entire roster.
Here’s more from the senior circuit’s central division:
- Maddon says that recently signed reliever Rafael Soriano may not reach the majors until around the All-Star break, tweets MLB.com’s Bruce Levine. Before he can shake off the rust in the minors, Soriano must obtain a visa. As we learned on Friday, the reliever can opt out of his deal if he’s not on the active roster by the All-Star Game. He’ll earn a pro-rated $4.1MM base salary with up to $4MM in incentives. Additional visa delays could have implications for his salary and opt-out clause.
- Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez does not have a no trade clause, but he’s not letting trade rumors affect him, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Ramirez has hit just .223/.263/.406 on the season. He had his best game yesterday, bopping three doubles and driving in five RBI. Ramirez plans to retire after the 2015 season so it’s reasonable to assume he’s open to finishing the season with a contender. He has recently been tied to the Mets, but New York is looking for either a clear upgrade at third base or a versatile player. Ramirez will need more games like yesterday to fit the bill.
Congratulations to A-Rod for becoming only the 2nd player in MLB history to reach 2000 career rbi…….
Congratulations to A-Rod for spending several years traveling the country on behalf of the Taylor Hooton Foundation and meeting with high school athletes across the country, even joining them in signing petitions swearing they will never touch PED’s. All the while he was a client of Biogenesis and lying to every kid he met…Congrats.
“bopping three doubles and driving in five RBI.”
lol
Extra Income upto 68$ daily@ mlbtraderumors
>/
I wouldn’t let trade Rumors effect me either if I was hitting 223, But being release would have my all Day Attention !
Hello, Maddan has always been in it to win it!
Ramirez should waive his no trade clause. He’s wants to be lazy and could really give 2 ****s about winning. He’s been a non hustling player since he was since the Cubs. He’s one of the reasons Castro doesn’t hustle out a grounder.
Closer by committee scares me. Rondon has good enough stuff to be a closer he’s just still young and not seasoned enough to be a lock down closer yet. The Cubs have always struggled with finding a true closer so I guess by committee is alright for now. I expect the cubs to make a move before the deadline to pick up a veteran true closer they can count on in the ninth inning. Someone like Chapman, or Papelbon.