By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune:
The Cubs have spoken to Rich Aurilia’s agent and may offer Aurilia a one-year deal to take Ronny Cedeno’s spot and back up Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee.
Ken Rosenthal mentioned the Cubs-Aurilia possibility back on December 8th. There is also mutual interest with Aurilia and the Giants. Aurilia, 37, had a .903 OPS against lefties in 2008.
By Tim Dierkes | at
A few Cubs notes from Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald…
By | at
Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker is relaying a report from Japanese-based Sports Hochi that states the Cubs are close to inking a one-year deal with left-handed pitcher Ken Takahashi. However, Newman translates quotes from Takahashi that suggest he has not yet chosen a team.
Newman calls it "very early speculation," but it’s definitely a situation worth eying. Sports Hochi believes that Takahashi would be used mostly in middle relief by the Cubs and could be in line for some spot starts. According to the report, the Cubs are looking for emotional support for Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Others have drummed up a similar idea in the past.
By Tim Dierkes | at
ESPN Radio’s Bruce Levine has some good info tonight.
The White Sox are seeking a top-of-the-order hitter, and they’ve discussed Michael Young with the Rangers. The Rangers asked for Jermaine Dye and Aaron Poreda, and the Sox are unwilling to trade Poreda. The Rangers like Dye, so maybe the two teams will find a match on players. Young is owed roughly $60MM over the next five years.
If the Cubs are to restart their talks for Jake Peavy, the new ownership groups for both the Cubs and Padres will have to be willing. Levine also notes that the Cubs have an eye on Mariners pitcher Aaron Heilman, a player they’ve shown interest in before. Levine speculates that Ronny Cedeno could be a fit for Seattle.
By Ben Jones | at
Barry Rozner of the Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Ill.) believes a new Chicago Cubs owner might increase general manager Jim Hendry’s payroll budget, which would make room to acquire Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres. Especially if that new owner is Tom Ricketts.
Ricketts will want to win and win fast, so if it’s him and it happens soon his first call might be to GM Jim Hendry with the news that he can up the payroll and get Peavy out of San Diego, Rozner writes.
Ricketts is the CEO of a Chicago investment bank named Incapital. Rozner wrote that Ricketts is a local guy who loves the Cubs and will have only their "best interests at heart. He even, reportedly, met his wife in the bleachers at Wrigley."
Peavy has been the subject of trade rumors since the offseason began, and the Cubs have been mentioned often in the same sentence.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Links for Friday…
By Tim Dierkes | at
THURSDAY: The Cubs’ three-year, $30MM deal with Bradley was finalized today.
TUESDAY: Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says the deal could be announced Thursday. He adds:
His new contract is believed to contain language that protects the team on the back end of the deal if Bradley misses significant playing time on the front end.
MONDAY, 3:10pm: According to ESPN Radio’s Bruce Levine, the Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30MM contract "with some options in the deal." Ken Rosenthal has a similar story, noting that the two sides have to "work through language issues."
Bradley, 31 in April, had a monster .321/.436/.563 line this year for the Rangers, but he spent only 165 innings in the field. This is the first multiyear deal of his career. If he stays healthy, the switch-hitter will give the Cubs balance in the middle of their order.
The Rangers will get a supplemental pick for their loss.
By Tim Dierkes | at
10:37pm: Kevin Towers said tonight the Braves made a good offer for Peavy a few months ago, but it was unclear whether Peavy would approve a trade there. He also said a proposal from the Cubs "would fill several holes" on the Padres’ roster. Peavy’s agent Barry Axelrod says a framework was in place with the Cubs at the Winter Meetings but they were "trying to fill out that framework" by acquiring some pieces.
Bruce Miles runs through the chances of the Cubs signing various free agent starters mentioned below.
3:32pm: Padres CEO Sandy Alderson doesn’t believe there have been new talks with the Cubs, though that is not exactly what Wittenmyer said below. Alderson said it’s likely Peavy will be with the Padres on Opening Day. He added that the Padres were never that close to a deal with the Braves and did not have an offer from the Cubs on which they could give a yes or no. Also, he doesn’t believe the team’s impending sale changes their position on Peavy.
10:03am: According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, "those close to Jim Hendry expect him to restart the Jake Peavy talks" now that the Cubs have unloaded salary with the Jason Marquis trade. Hendry admitted yesterday he hopes to add another pitcher before Opening Day.
Wittenmyer notes that the Cubs’ 2010 payroll was unaffected by the recent moves, so Hendry would need a nod from the new ownership group before taking on Peavy’s contract. The new ownership could be in place with just enough time for the Cubs to swing a Peavy deal, Wittenmyer believes.
As alternatives, Wittenmyer suggests Braden Looper and Tim Redding would fit better financially than Derek Lowe. Dave van Dyck wonders if Andy Pettitte could be a fit. Bob Klapisch says the Mets have considered Pettitte.
By Ben Jones | at
TUESDAY, 3:21pm: The Marquis for Vizcaino swap has been finalized. Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs are sending $875K to the Rockies. Jim Hendry said today he hopes to add another pitcher before Opening Day.
MONDAY, 9:55pm: The Chicago Tribune’s Dave van Dyck says the Cubs are "actively seeking more live arms, whether it be Jake Peavy or another starter to replace the innings of Marquis."
5:05pm: Chicago Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis is close to becoming a Colorado Rockies starter, according to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.
Muskat believes the deal, which will ship Rockies reliever Luis Vizcaino to the Cubs, will be finalized Tuesday. The move will free up Cubs money for the newly-acquired Milton Bradley.
Marquis (11-9, 4.53 ERA) is scheduled to make $9.875MM in 2009, the final year of the three-year contract he signed with the Cubs in December 2006. The Cubs are expected to pay $1MM of Marquis’ ’09 salary; Vizcaino will make $4MM this year, Muskat continued.
Muskat also notes that moving Marquis does not mean the Cubs will resume talks with the Padres regarding Jake Peavy, but more likely, Sean Marshall will fill the fifth spot in the Cubs’ rotation.
By Tim Dierkes | at
More Tuesday links…
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information
hide arrows scroll to top
