Cubs Rumors

Cubs Or Retirement For Kerry Wood

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 19, 2011 at 4:43pm CDT

Kerry Wood, out for the rest of 2011 with a torn meniscus in his left knee, told Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago that he will retire if the Cubs aren't interested in bringing him back in 2012. Wood, who intends to undergo surgery next week before beginning a six-week long recovery process, turned down more lucrative offers to return to Chicago on a one-year, $1.5MM contract last offseason.

The Cubs selected Wood in the first round of the 1995 draft and he has since developed strong ties in Chicago, where his family started the Wood Family Foundation this summer. In 51 innings of work, he posted a 3.35 ERA with 10.1 K/9, 3.7 BB/9 and a 35.8% ground ball rate this year. The two-time All-Star is still just 34, so he figures to have more innings in him if his health holds up.

Since the Cubs have yet to appoint a permanent GM, there's no guarantee that the team would like to have Wood back, but it's hard to imagine that there wouldn't be some mutual interest.

NL Central Notes: Pujols, Cardinals, Fielder, Cubs

By Luke Adams 2 | September 18, 2011 at 11:55am CDT

The Cardinals still don't know whether or not Albert Pujols will be playing in St. Louis past this season, and the team is making moves to prepare for either scenario, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cards are currently negotiating with the agents of Lance Berkman and Rafael Furcal in an effort to retain both players on short-term deals. Strauss adds that the team hopes Pujols' future will be decided no later than December 11th. Here's the latest on a couple other NL Central clubs:

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders which teams will pursue Prince Fielder this winter. He essentially rules out the Brewers, and runs through a few other possibilities.
The Cubs' new GM may have some work to do on the starting rotation, but the bullpen is looking strong, writes Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times.
With no GM in place, the Cubs' 2012 manager is still a question mark, but Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe thinks hiring Ryne Sandberg would provide a major public relations bump for owner Tom Ricketts. Chicago would embrace Sandberg's "lunchpail mentality," says Cafardo.

Central Notes: Indians, La Russa, Verlander

By Dan Mennella | September 17, 2011 at 9:40pm CDT

A few links to pass along regarding clubs in the Central divisions …

The Indians are facing an offseason of difficult decisions, writes Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. With basically the same roster, the Tribe's payroll would jump from $49MM in 2011 to roughly $70MM next season, explains Hoynes. Several key players like Shin-Soo Choo, Justin Masterson, Chris Perez and Asdrubal Cabrera will be eligible for arbitration, and the Indians own options on Grady Sizemore ($9MM) and Fausto Carmona ($7MM).
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa dismissed a rumor that he will manage the Cubs next season, writes Kevin Roberts of MLB.com. A report surfaced earlier this week that the Cubs would hire La Russa and Reds GM Walt Jocketty (formerly the Cards' GM) in an effort to lure impending free agent Albert Pujols this offseason. This one seems to be falling apart, as Reds owner Bob Castellini has said Jocketty will be back with the Reds in 2012.
The AL MVP Award is now Tigers righty Justin Verlander's to lose, opines Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).

Rosenthal On Votto, Epstein, Sabathia, Beinfest

By Zachary Links | September 17, 2011 at 3:56pm CDT

Let's take a look at this week's edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..

The Reds aren't going to shop Joey Votto but they'll at least listen to trade inquiries this winter. Cincinnati could come back with Votto for one more year at $9.5MM and play Yonder Alonso in left field but Votto's salary rises to $17MM in 2013 and Alonso's best position is first base. Reds owner Bob Castellini won't want to trade Votto, just as he didn't want to deal veterans at the deadline. However, the Reds would be looking at much more value for Votto at two years away from free agency rather than one year away.
The Red Sox will likely avoid a historic collapse but if they don't, all bets are off. Manager Terry Francona is technically unsigned for next season as they hold options on him for the next two seasons. Meanwhile, GM Theo Epstein might want to leave for the Cubs regardless, if the Cubs give him more power in baseball operations. The question still remains whether BoSox owner John Henry would allow him to talk with one year left on his contract.
It would be interesting to see how the Yankees react if, as expected, C.C. Sabathia opts out of his contract. The Bombers have had contentious negotiations with key players in years past, but Sabathia is different. The hurler is only 31-years-old and coming off of three outstanding years in New York. If the talks to turn ugly, he'll certainly have other options.
Marlins GM Larry Beinfest has let it be known that he would like a chance at the Cubs position. Rival executives say that Beinfest is unhappy with the recent reassignment of Jim Fleming the increasing involvement of owner Jeffrey Loria. The Cubs' level of interest in Beinfest is currently unknown.

Dempster Has Not Thought About Player Option

By Mike Axisa | September 17, 2011 at 12:10pm CDT

Ryan Dempster is scheduled to start for the Cubs tomorrow, and it might be his last start at Wrigley Field as a Cub. Dempster holds a $14MM player option for next season, but he told MLB.com's Carrie Muskat that he hasn't put much thought into whether or not he'll exercise it yet…

"I never even thought about that," said Dempster. "As a player, you just want to see where everything's going and what direction they want to go and things like that more than anything. You know how much I love playing here. Hopefully, it's not just about staying here for next year but staying past next year. I'll worry about what's on the field first."

Dempster added that there are a lot of factors that will go into the decision, which is understandable. The free agent market for starters is quite thin beyond CC Sabathia (assuming he exercises his opt-out) and C.J. Wilson, so it's not a stretch to say Dempster would be the third best pitcher available and the top righty (ahead of Edwin Jackson).

The 34-year-old Dempster is in the middle of his worst season as a Cub, pitching to a 4.66 ERA in 183 1/3 innings across 31 starts. Unless he pitches very deep into the game in his last two starts, he'll fail to crack the 200 innings plateau for the first time since moving back into the rotation in 2008. It's worth noting that his strikeout (8.7 K/9), walk (3.4 BB/9), and home run (1.0 HR/9) rates are right in line with his previous seasons.

Quick Hits: Wilson, White Sox, Cubs, Fielder

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 15, 2011 at 4:01pm CDT

Links for Thursday, before the Rays visit the Red Sox for a four-game series that's critical to the American League Wild Card race…

Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker hears that Yu Darvish is undecided on whether it's the right time for him to join an MLB team. The Japanese right-hander could be available via the posting system this offseason.
C.J. Wilson, who will hit free agency this winter, likes pitching under pressure in September, T.R. Sullivan writes at MLB.com. The Rangers left-hander has lowered his ERA (3.01) and walk rate (2.9 BB/9) this year, setting a career-high in innings pitched (209) with an improved strikeout rate (8.2 K/9) and an All-Star berth.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears from someone close to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen that there’s just a 10% chance the skipper will return to Chicago next year. Though Guillen is under contract in Chicago, he appears to be tiring of his current role and his relationship with GM Kenny Williams appears “unsalvageable,” Rosenthal reports.
There’s almost no chance that the Cubs will have their next GM in place by the end of the month, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi hears from one agent who expects the Cubs to try to get “the biggest name they can," and goes on to discuss some of the high-profile candidates who have been linked to the job.
Jon Heyman of SI.com suggests the Orioles, Rangers or Dodgers could sign Prince Fielder this offseason (Twitter link).

NL Central Notes: Fielder, Cubs, Cardinals, Pirates

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 15, 2011 at 9:00am CDT

The Brewers have a 99.8% chance of going to the postseason and the Cardinals have a 4.5% chance of advancing, according to Baseball Prospectus' playoff odds report. Meanwhile, the Astros, Cubs and Pirates are setting themselves up for top ten picks in next year's draft. Here's the latest from the NL Central…

Prince Fielder told Colin Fly of the AP that nothing has changed regarding his status with the Brewers (link via the Miami Herald). Fielder told TBS that this is probably his last season with the Brewers, but many people around the game have been saying that for over a year now.
Casey Coleman has two starts remaining to remind the Cubs what he's capable of heading into 2012, Gordon Wittenmyer writes at the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Cardinals’ biggest trade of the summer paid off in last night’s win against the Pirates, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. They obtained 24 outs from Edwin Jackson, Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski, the trio of pitchers GM John Mozeliak obtained for Colby Rasmus.
The Pirates secured another losing season with the loss and Bill Brink of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sums up Pittsburgh's up-and-down year nicely: "They traveled to the same destination for the 19th year in a row, but this season, the Pirates took the scenic route."

Quick Hits: Cubs, Millwood, Cameron

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 14, 2011 at 11:11pm CDT

The Tigers extended their winning streak to 12 games with a comeback victory against the White Sox today. Here are this evening's links…

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that scouting director Tim Wilken is scheduled to meet with Cubs ownership about an extension similar to the four-year deal farm director Oneri Fleita recently signed. Former Cubs GM Jim Hendry recently met with commissioner Bud Selig and could resurface in a high-profile job before long, according to Wittenmyer.
MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes provided the latest Cubs updates this morning and we heard later in the day that the Reds intend to keep Walt Jocketty in Cincinnati.
Kevin Millwood told Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post that he hopes to pitch in the Major Leagues again next year. Rockies manager Jim Tracy says he can imagine Millwood returning to the organization in 2012.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald hears that the Marlins released Mike Cameron after he got into a "verbal altercation" with a flight attendant that prompted the charter company to complain.

Indians Notes: Shapiro, Carrasco, Santana

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 14, 2011 at 9:55pm CDT

On this date in 1997, Jim Thome hit his 40th homer of the season for the Indians, who went on to win the American League pennant. Here's the latest on the current version of the Indians, who have a 0.0% chance of returning to the postseason this year, according to Baseball Prospectus' playoff odds report…

Indians president Mark Shapiro hasn't had contact with the Cubs about their open GM job, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Shapiro is involved in making the Indians more successful on and off the field and appears to be happy in his role, Hoynes writes. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported yesterday that the former GM might be intrigued by the Cubs job.
The Indians announced that Carlos Carrasco had Tommy John surgery in New York City today, as Dr. David Altchek repaired the ulnar collateral ligament in Carrasco’s right elbow. Recovery time is generally a year or more, so the Indians won’t be counting on Carrasco in 2012.
Indians manager Manny Acta told Todd Wills of MLB.com that Jeanmar Gomez will be a name to consider for next year's rotation. Gomez has allowed just three earned runs in 17 1/3 innings since being recalled from Triple-A at the end of August.
Carlos Santana could be a long-term solution behind the plate or at first base, Acta told Wills. The Indians' decision will depend, in part, on others, such as Matt LaPorta.
The 26-year-old LaPorta has had his chances. In what amounts to two full seasons, he has 30 homers and a .234/.300/.394 line. He has always destroyed minor league pitching, but he hasn't helped the big league club nearly as much as expected.

Potential Suitors For Aramis Ramirez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 14, 2011 at 2:34pm CDT

Aramis Ramirez is looking for a multiyear deal this offseason and it sounds like he’s prepared to test the market if the Cubs don’t re-sign him first. The Cubs have a $16MM option for the 33-year-old in 2012 ($2MM buyout). If they pick up the option, Ramirez will have to decide whether to accept or decline and become a free agent.

He has a .304/.356/.508 line with 25 homers, so other teams would figure to have interest, especially since he probably won't cost a draft pick. Here’s a look at some of the suitors agent Paul Kinzer may hear from this offseason…

Apparent Fits

Cubs – Though Ramirez says he’d like to stay in Chicago, it will be hard to determine the team’s interest until they complete their search for a new general manager.
Orioles – Chris Davis is auditioning at third base and Mark Reynolds has moved to first. The Orioles could elect to keep that pair in place instead of pursuing Ramirez. Keep in mind that they’re likely to have someone other than Andy MacPhail running baseball operations this offseason.
Tigers – Brandon Inge is under contract for 2012 and Wilson Betemit hits free agency this offseason. Despite Inge’s success since returning from the minor leagues, he no longer appears to be the long-term answer for the Tigers. Promising 19-year-old Nick Castellanos just finished his first pro season and has yet to play above Class A.
Angels – Alberto Callaspo has a knack for getting on base, so the Angels aren’t desperate. That said, they had interest in Adrian Beltre last offseason, which suggests GM Tony Reagins would consider upgrading over Callaspo.

Other Possibilities

Reds – The Reds would discuss Ramirez if he hits free agency, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Scott Rolen is under contract for $6.5MM in 2012 and the powerful Juan Francisco is another intriguing option.
Rockies – The Rockies don’t have a long-term solution at third. Ian Stewart, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Jordan Pacheco are some more affordable internal options for Colorado GM Dan O’Dowd to consider.
Brewers – Casey McGehee's production has fallen off, though third base doesn't figure to be Milwaukee's offseason focus.
Dodgers – It's hard to say how liberally the Dodgers will be able to spend this offseason. They could decide to look for more offense than Casey Blake (out for the year after undergoing surgery for a nerve issue) and Juan Uribe (.557 OPS) offered at third.
Astros – The Astros aren’t likely to spend big this offseason, regardless of if and when Jim Crane officially becomes the new owner. Chris Johnson has just a .650 OPS, though he is considerably cheaper than Ramirez.
Marlins – The Marlins move to a new stadium next year, so they could have interest in Ramirez despite the presence of slick-fielding prospect Matt Dominguez.
Athletics – Scott Sizemore has been a pleasant surprise for the Athletics, another team that pursued Beltre last winter. In theory the A’s could shift Sizemore into a utility role, but free agent hitters aren’t generally drawn to Oakland.
White Sox – Ramirez likes Chicago and he offers more offense than Brent Morel. There’s talk that the White Sox may have to lower payroll, in which case another major free agent acquisition would seem unlikely.

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