Cubs Rumors

Stark’s Latest: Ohman, Rhodes

By Tim Dierkes | July 28, 2008 at 2:16pm CDT

ESPN’s Jayson Stark has some new rumor material.

Braves lefty Will Ohman is drawing plenty of interest, with the Tigers, Rays, Yankees, and Cardinals named as suitors. Perhaps the Yanks’ interest will diminish now that they have Damaso Marte.
The Marlins and other clubs may turn to Arthur Rhodes as a more reasonable Plan B if they aren’t able to pry George Sherrill or Brian Fuentes loose.
Given the emergence of Jeff Samardzija as a power bullpen arm, the Cubs are no longer looking for pitching. They desire a left-handed hitting center fielder, but that might wait until the offseason. It’s probably too early to say whether Jim Edmonds will be considered.

Odds and Ends: Happ, Igawa, Hawkins, Lowe

By Tim Dierkes | July 27, 2008 at 10:11pm CDT

Rounding up rumors and links from the weekend…

SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mariners are asking the Mets for Jon Niese for Raul Ibanez. Not likely.
ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Braves would require Conor Jackson from the D’Backs in a Mark Teixeira deal, but Arizona is not biting.
Another quick hit from Olney: the White Sox are surveying the relief market in the wake of Scott Linebrink’s shoulder injury.
Several readers have written in about Phillies’ lefty J.A. Happ being pulled early from a Triple A start (2.2 scoreless innings) with no sign of injury. Something to keep an eye on, as the Phillies hunt for a lefty reliever on the trade market. UPDATE: Happ may be getting the call to replace Adam Eaton.
Even on the DL, Phil Hughes has been in high demand.
The White Sox let Esteban Loaiza go.
No team claimed Kei Igawa off waivers. Also, the Yankees designated LaTroy Hawkins for assignment.
Ned Colletti on the possibility of trading Derek Lowe: "No."
Jim Bowden and Chad Cordero patched things up, making a re-signing possible this winter.
The emergence of Jeff Samardzija this weekend may make Scott Eyre or Jon Lieber expendable.
At least 20 teams have called about one of the Rangers’ catchers.
Jamey Newberg wrote a few days ago that most likely the only way Kevin Millwood can lock in his $12MM for 2010 will be to pitch 180 innings next year.

Cubs, Hendry Standing Pat

By Nat Boyle | July 27, 2008 at 11:45am CDT

According to Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Sports Tribune, Jim Hendry is comfortable with how the Cubs look going forward.

"’You have to stay on top of it,’ Hendry said. ’We got an extra bullpen guy in the trade with Oakland in Chad Gaudin. What you obviously need is for [Kerry Wood] to come back healthy and then everything else usually falls in line. And Samardzija is going to give us a lift.’"

Wood is aiming for Tuesday to be his return date. Along with Gaudin and Sean Marshall in the bullpen, the emergence of Jeff Samardzija may be all they need. Says Lou Pineilla, "If he continues to throw the ball [well], it’s almost like trading for a reliever."

On offense, Hendry feels Alfonso Soriano’s bat is only going to get hotter. He conclusively adds,

"’We aren’t hitting since the break like we want to, but we aren’t going to go out and replace our star players because they’re having a bad week,’ Hendry said. ’And the other players, let’s give them their due, the Ryan Theriots, Mike Fontenots, Reed Johnsons and Henry Blancos. Those people are doing more than their fair share. You don’t upgrade from that.’"

Odds And Ends: Sosa, Rhodes, Twins, Rays, Cubs

By Cork Gaines | July 26, 2008 at 3:58pm CDT

A few minor notes from around the MLBiverse…

The Mariners have signed Jorge Sosa to a minor league deal. This is Sosa’s third organization this season.
Despite reports that the Brewers would not add a relief pitcher, Milwaukee had a scout at Friday’s game and Geoff Baker believes the scout was there to watch Arthur Rhodes.
Joe Christensen says that the Twins may prefer to promote Francisco Liriano, and move him or another starter to the bullpen, rather than trade for a relief pitcher.
Joe Maddon says that there is only a "50-50 chance" that the Rays make a move before the deadline.
Jim Hendry says that the Cubs are not likely to make any trades unless an injury necessitates a move. Carrie Muskat says that a move may depend on how well Kerry Wood recovers from the blister on his throwing hand.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

George Sherrill Rumors

By Tim Dierkes | July 24, 2008 at 4:53pm CDT

4:50pm: The Baltimore Sun lists the Cardinals, Brewers, Dodgers, Cubs, Reds, Phillies, Marlins, and Tigers as teams represented at yesterday’s Orioles-Blue Jays tilt. The article implies that those clubs were there hoping to scout Sherrill, though a few might have been eyeing A.J. Burnett or both pitchers.

Jeff Zrebiec says the O’s want two or three prospects for Sherrill, who is under team control for a long time.

2:16pm: According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers are not engaged in trade talks for Orioles closer George Sherrill. The O’s are looking for a shortstop, and the Brewers aren’t willing to part with J.J. Hardy or Alcides Escobar. Makes more sense to wait until Escobar forces their hand, anyway.

GM Doug Melvin told Haudricourt he doesn’t expect to add a reliever this month.

Odds and Ends: Alvarez, Kotsay, Street

By Tim Dierkes | July 24, 2008 at 1:22pm CDT

Time to round up today’s links.

Hank Steinbrenner admits Barry Bonds’ name will be mentioned at today’s meeting of Yankees execs.
Mark Cuban is a finalist to buy the Cubs.
Pirates president Frank Coonelly expressed frustration with the Pedro Alvarez negotiations, in the first public comments on those talks.
Dejan Kovacevic’s source says the Pirates aren’t requiring two prospects for Xavier Nady or Damaso Marte. One elite prospect would work.
Mark Kotsay wonders if he’ll be traded this year. As with Mark Teixeira, it’ll depend heavily on the next week.
Richard Justice takes Drayton McLane to task.
DRays Bay relays a Peter Gammons report that the A’s are shopping Huston Street to the Red Sox, Rays, and White Sox.
David Weathers doesn’t remember which teams are on his limited no-trade clause.
Tom Henke’s Army is back, with reinforcements.
Sam Mellinger thinks the Royals should sign Rafael Furcal this winter. I concur.
Joe Posnanski believes that the Royals should try Tony Pena Jr. as a pticher, all kidding aside. He bemoans the lack of "outside the box" thinking in baseball.

Yankees Eyeing A.J. Burnett?

By Tim Dierkes | July 21, 2008 at 10:29am CDT

Back on July 10th, ESPN’s Jayson Stark said it was "dubious that Toronto would even talk to [the Yankees] about A.J. Burnett." Presumably this is because the Yankees and Jays are division rivals. It should be noted, though, that J.P. Ricciardi and Brian Cashman matched up on a July ’02 trade that sent Raul Mondesi to New York for prospect Scott Wiggins.

Yesterday, CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler wrote:

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told Toronto reporters that he now doesn’t expect to trade A.J. Burnett. But Burnett’s Friday night start at Tampa Bay attracted more than a dozen scouts, including two from the Yankees. Several of the scouts in attendance didn’t stay for the rest of the weekend series, a clear indication that they were in town strictly to watch Burnett.

So while we have nothing concrete, there are signs that the Yankees are looking at Burnett. The Cubs reportedly had a guy watching him, too. He and Justin Duchscherer are the two best remaining starters who could conceivably be pried loose via trade.

Cubs Rumors: Fuentes, Greene

By Tim Dierkes | July 17, 2008 at 4:20pm CDT

Cubs beat writer Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald has a new blog post up.

Miles’ Cubs sources "emphatically" denied interest in Padres shortstop Khalil Greene. And as we noted Monday, the San Diego Union-Tribune killed that rumor several hours after they posted it.
Jim Hendry is in the market for a reliever, and Miles expects him to be one of many GMs inquiring on Colorado’s Brian Fuentes. Roughly a dozen teams are eyeing the lefty, so the Rox should get something good.
Miles mentions the possibility of the Cubs pursuing an extra bat, presumably of the bench variety.

Odds and Ends: Sexson, K-Rod, Halladay

By Tim Dierkes | July 15, 2008 at 10:54am CDT

Random links for the day…

We’ll have our weekly live chat here today at 2pm CST.
R.J. Anderson of DRays Bay writes the Rays Comprehensive Trade Post.
Brian Cashman confirmed interest in Richie Sexson.
Danny Knobler quotes Francisco Rodriguez as saying that the Angels offered him three years, $34MM in November.
Josh Hamilton called all his friends to tell them he was a Cub, then had to call them all back.
People in Pedro Alvarez’s neighorhood expect him to sign.
Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay wants to see the team make some progress.
Viva El Birdos would like to see the Cardinals acquire Jarrod Washburn.
Ichiro’s profane, annual AL All-Star team pep talk.

Cubs Inquired On Khalil Greene?

By Tim Dierkes | July 14, 2008 at 10:02pm CDT

10:01pm: The below-referenced article has been pulled from the Union-Tribune website, so I assume it turned out to be untrue.

3:26pm: According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union Tribune, the Cubs recently inquired on Padres shortstop Khalil Greene. The Padres prefer not to sell low on Greene, however.

The Cubs have been linked to Greene in the past, and the Padres were asking about Felix Pie about a year ago. Perhaps Pie has lost the untouchable label with his .264/.315/.442 performance at Triple A. He’s hitting better lately, though.

Greene is on the first year of a two-year, $11MM deal. He’s said he wants to stay in San Diego, though Kevin Towers once suggested he might prefer to be on the East Coast near his family. Greene’s had a rough year with a .216/.264/.329 line in 375 plate appearances.

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