Cubs Trade Rumors

Cubs Ted Lilly will miss start of season
Comment
November 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"Ted Lilly will miss the start of the 2010 season after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles. How long Lilly will miss is unknown, but the Cubs left-hander said Wednesday he won't begin throwing again for "four months or so." Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said the Cubs were encouraged there was no significant damage to the labrum or rotator cuff, and said surgeon Lewis Yocum thinks there's "a good possibility Ted would be pitching in April" if all goes well. Lilly was reluctant to have the surgery but decided it was his best option in the long run. "I didn't want to go into the season doing what I was doing at the end of the year, where I was missing starts," ..."
Rays working on Iwamura deal
Comment
November 3
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Just got back to New York and heard from an industry source who's not with the Rays that they are on the verge of completing a trade of 2B Akinori Iwamura. The Rays were looking to do some kind of deal since they weren't planning to pick up the $4.85-million option to bring him back. What's interesting is that the source indicated the deal wasn't with the Cubs or the Dodgers as has been speculated on but to an unexpected team. Hmmm. The Rays are operating under something of a deadline since they have until one day after the end of the World Series to either pick up the option or pay a $550,000 buyout and allow Iwamura to become a free agent. They have been working on essentially a ..."
Cubs deny Bradley-for-Wells trade talks
Comment
November 1
ESPN.com
 
"Although the Cubs have had discussions with Toronto about different scenarios, Cubs sources on Saturday vehemently denied that there is any type of a trade for Milton Bradley for Vernon Wells being discussed. Bradley had two years left on his contract at $21.5 million. Wells has five years left at $98 million, including $23 million each in the last two years of the contract."
Wells swap 'has legs'
Comment
October 31
Toronto Sun
 columnist Bob Elliott
"It's not a match made in heaven. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The Chicago Cubs would like to -- have to -- deal disgruntled outfielder Milton Bradley. And one player they are eyeing as a target destination is the Blue Jays, with centre fielder Vernon Wells going to the Cubs in return. "It's early on, but we think this one has some legs," said one Cubs official. "But they aren't the only team we are talking with." Bradley, 31, who was suspended for the remainder of the season by the Cubs on Sept. 20, has two years and $21 million US remaining on his contract. Wells has six years left on his contract extension, $107 million remaining, including the $8.5-million final instalment of his ..."
Fla. group touts advantages in fight for Cubs
Comment
October 30
East Valley Tribune
 
"A Florida development team took aim at Mesa on Thursday by boasting of their ongoing talks with the Chicago Cubs as they work to snag the team's spring training from Arizona. The Ricketts family, which owns the Cubs, recently traveled to the area around Naples, Fla., to look at potential spring training facility sites, said Craig Bouchard, whose Chicago-based Esmark company is talking with the Cubs. With the owners coming to Mesa next week for the first time, Bouchard tried to portray the sequence of visits as an advantage or signal that benefits Florida. "They came here first, and they're going out there next," Bouchard said. Bouchard is working on a proposal with Gary Price, a Naples ..."
Tigers join Chapman sweepstakes
Comment
October 27
SI.com
 
"The Tigers have joined the host of teams expressing interest in Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman, a source tells SI.com. The team has contacted Chapman's camp in attempts to schedule a meeting later this week or early next week, the source said. Chapman, a 21-year-old who has hit 102 mph on radar guns, has garnered substantial interest from major league teams since he defected July 1. His zipping fastball, youth, projectable frame (6-foot-4 and lean) and a shallow free-agent pitching pool are expected to make Chapman one of the most expensive players on the market this offseason. Several industry sources expect Chapman will command more than the $32 million the Yankees paid Cuban ..."
Mets not interested in Lackey or Bradley; Holliday tops their list
Comment
October 26
SI.com
 (scroll down)
"The Mets don't seem inclined to pursue top free-agent pitcher John Lackey, who will surely shoot for a $100 million-plus contract in light of A.J. Burnett's $82.5 million deal. They do want to add a solid starting pitcher (they may try a do-over on Randy Wolf), but their big-ticket target is most likely going to be a left fielder. Matt Holliday is believed to top their list, though Jason Bay will certainly suffice. Bobby Abreu is another top free-agent outfielder, while Carl Crawford could be available in trade. The Mets have no interest in taking on Milton Bradley's problems."
Multiple teams interested in Bradley
Comment
October 22
Foxsports.com
 (scroll down)
"Multiple teams are in contact the Cubs about outfielder Milton Bradley, with one source saying, "You would be shocked at the level of interest." The Cubs remain confident that they can trade Bradley without assuming the vast majority of the $21 million remaining on his contract over the next two years. New owner Tom Ricketts has set a limit for how much money the Cubs will include in a deal, one source says. The Cubs can take back a contract but pay only a fixed amount of cash."
La Russa will have options, if he wants them
Comment
October 22
Foxsports.com
 columnist Ken Rosenthal
"A year from now, four marquee franchises — the Braves, Cubs, Mets and Dodgers — all could have managerial openings. Tony La Russa isn't likely to be interested. Bobby Valentine might be. La Russa, 65, currently is deciding whether he wants to return to the Cardinals. He does not sound enthused about starting over with another club. If La Russa manages next season, it will be with the Cardinals. And even if he signs only a one-year contract, he probably would be unwilling to accept a multi-year deal with another club next winter. "Looking ahead, I don't see that I can ever make that commitment to someone," La Russa said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "The way I look at it now, when ..."
Cubs zeroing in on hit guru Jaramillo
Comment
October 20
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"One of the Cubs who could have used Rudy Jaramillo most in 2009 said he's looking forward to celebrating the team's hiring of the former Texas Rangers hitting coach. ''That's going to be good news,'' said Alfonso Soriano, who averaged 32 home runs and 98 RBI with Jaramillo and the Rangers in 2004 and '05. ''We had very good communication because he speaks Spanish. He's very good and smart. He works very hard, too.'' Jaramillo, widely considered the top hitting coach in baseball, left the Rangers after this season when the team refused to consider an extension beyond one season with its ownership in flux. He reportedly is negotiating with the Cubs on a multiyear deal that could make him the ..."
Top hitting coach available to Chicago Cubs
Comment
October 15
Chicago Tribune
 
"If the Cubs really are interested in Rudy Jaramillo, the Rangers hitting coach is now available. The Dallas Morning News reported that Jaramillo has rejected a one-year offer to return as Rangers hitting coach. Jaramillo is expected to be a candidate for the Cubs vacancy created when Von Joshua was demoted to Triple-A Iowa. Jaramillo has been the Rangers' hitting coach for 15 years, but they finished 11th in the American League in average (.260), seventh in runs (784) and 12th in on-base percentage (.320) in 2009. Cubs minor-league hitting instructor Dave Keller is the only in-house candidate confirmed by general manager Jim Hendry, who said the club will look at outside candidates as ..."
Report: Cubs pushing Rays for Bradley-Burrell deal
Comment
October 9
Tampa Tribune
 
"The Chicago Cubs are pushing the Tampa Bay Rays to take bad-boy outfielder Milton Bradley off their hands for Pat Burrell, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The talk of a deal isn't new, but it appears the Cubs want to move quickly, possibly as one of the first official acts of new owner Tom Ricketts, whose purchase could be approved by a bankruptcy judge within weeks. The Cubs are so desperate to unload Bradley that they might pick up some of Bradley's salary for the Rays, the newspaper reported. The Rays are a primary target because they were among the teams attempting to acquire Bradley before last season. The Cubs, however, ended up signing Bradley to a three-year, $30 million free ..."
MLB owners approve sale of Chicago Cubs to Ricketts family
Comment
October 7
Chicago Tribune
 
"Major League Baseball owners welcomed the Ricketts family to an exclusive fraternity Tuesday, unanimously approving its proposal via conference call to become the owner of the Cubs. "The Ricketts family is honored to have received the approval of Major League Baseball owners today," said Dennis Culloton, the family's spokesman. "This is a major step forward, but the transaction is not yet complete." The change in ownership of one of baseball's most star-crossed franchises has been complicated by the bankruptcy proceedings of the Cubs' current owners, Tribune Co., parent of the Chicago Tribune. The Ricketts family still must clear one more hurdle in bankruptcy court before it can assume ..."
Ryne Sandberg won't be candidate for Cubs hitting coach job
Comment
October 6
Chicago Tribune
 
"Ryne Sandberg won't be a candidate to replace Von Joshua as Cubs hitting coach, sources said, and likely will return as manager of Double-A Tennessee. Before Joshua was fired as hitting coach Sunday and offered the same position at Triple-A Iowa, general manager Jim Hendry said Sandberg's assignment was up to farm director Oneri Fleita. Sandberg has made no secret of his desire to succeed Lou Piniella as manager in 2011. "Ryne had a Hall of Fame career here as a player," Piniella said. "I'm not the one who is going to be hiring the next manager here, but certainly he'll be in the mix." That's assuming Piniella doesn't change his mind and stay on -- if he's given that option. "I don't want ..."
Piniella: Sandberg would be 'in mix'
Comment
October 5
MLB.com
 
"Ryne Sandberg is expected to ride buses for at least another year before he has a chance to fulfill his ambition of succeeding Lou Piniella as manager of the Cubs. Piniella, whose contract expires after the 2010 season, said managing in the Minor Leagues serves as helpful, but incomplete, preparation. "One thing is, managing in the Minor Leagues gives you an insight into the game," Piniella said. "You don't really have six or seven coaches like you have up here. You've got to dwell in a lot of different areas, and at the same time, you get a chance to find out if you really like this or don't like it. But I'll tell you this: Handling young players at the Minor League level and handling ..."
Cubs fire hitting coach Von Joshua
Comment
October 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"Von Joshua was fired as Cubs hitting coach after Sunday's game and was offered his old job as hitting coach at Triple-A Iowa. "I told him it wasn't anything that I was upset with him," general manager Jim Hendry said. "He didn't do anything wrong. But when you come up from the system in the middle of the year, if things don't make significant differences in improvement, then in my opinion we need to do something." Joshua, who replaced Gerald Perry on June 14, was gone from the clubhouse after the game and unavailable for comment. The Cubs could fill the opening with Double-A manager Ryne Sandberg or minor league hitting coordinator Dave Keller, though Hendry declined to name names. The ..."
Ryno could be next, best choice
Comment
October 2
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Lou Piniella is returning next season as the Cubs' manager. That's because he wants to return and the feeling is mutual. Despite all the speculation about Piniella's status and the turmoil during the last year, he remains the best man for the job in 2010. After that, Piniella has already insisted he will move on. It's likely only a trip to the World Series could change his mind. Plenty can happen between now and 2010. But with diehard Cubs fan Tom Ricketts running the club, the timing would be right for the Cubs to go in-house for their next manager. No more outsiders who are left shaking their heads over the unique demands placed on the Cubs or all that day baseball or the cramped ..."
Piniella: Cubs will try to replace Bradley
Comment
September 29
ESPN.com
 
"Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Tuesday he's looking forward to adding a "big bat" to the lineup next season, which could mean that disgruntled outfielder Milton Bradley has played his last game for the Cubs. "Our general manager Jim Hendry had to do a tough task of sending him home [on Sept. 20], and I'm sure it wasn't very pleasant for him," Piniella said on the "Waddle & Silvy" show on ESPN 1000. "The big thing with Milton this year was the fact he drove in 40 runs. "We needed a big bat to put in the middle part of our lineup, and we thought Milton would be the one. And it just didn't work out, for whatever reason. So we move forward from there and now we try to find somebody ..."
Pitcher Rich Harden would like to be back, but feeling isn't mutual
Comment
September 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"When he shut himself down for the rest of the season, Rich Harden said he hoped to re-sign with the Cubs. "We'll see what happens," he said. "Hopefully we'll sit down with Jim (Hendry) and talk about that. It's a good city, good fans, good team ... I feel like what we did this year obviously was a little disappointing. It would be good to come back next year and make a run for it." But the Cubs have no plans of bringing Harden back, as manager Lou Piniella hinted Sunday before a 5-1 loss to San Francisco in the final road game of the season. "You look at our starting pitching here for next year," Piniella said. "You've got (Carlos) Zambrano, you've got (Ryan) Dempster, you've got (Randy) ..."
Padres or Giants could be destination for Bradley
Comment
September 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"The market for troublemaking outfielders on the suspended list with expensive contracts may be better than originally anticipated. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is definitely a motivated seller, trying to find a counterpart who thinks he can revive Milton Bradley's career after a crash-and-burn season. After pawning Todd Hundley off on the Dodgers in 2002 for Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek, Hendry is hoping to catch lightning in a bottle again. While conventional wisdom says Bradley has burned too many bridges to make anyone want him, the Padres, Giants and Royals are three teams Hendry may have on speed-dial this offseason. So far, Padres GM Kevin Towers is the only one on record to ..."
Harden says season over
Comment
September 25
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Rich Harden might have pitched his final game for the Cubs after deciding Thursday that he won't make a final start this season. Harden, a free agent-to-be, was skipped in his last turn through the rotation because of fatigue after some heavy pitch counts in short starts this month. But he said his right shoulder, which he has had trouble with in the past, feels ''the best it has felt in a long time.'' ''I've gone through the season with no problem with that,'' Harden said. ''It'd be a lot different if we were in [contention] and needed me to pitch; I'd be out there in a second. I'm still healthy and feeling good.'' Whether Harden returns next season after going 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 26 ..."
Harden shut down for season
Comment
September 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs were down to their final strike Thursday night when Jeff Baker's two-out, two-run home run off Brian Wilson launched them to a 3-2 victory over the Giants. Baker's heroics prevented the Giants from gaining a game on the Rockies in the wild card race. Wilson replaced Brad Penny in the ninth and walked Derrek Lee leading off. Lee stole second with two outs before Baker sent a 2-2 pitch into the left-field bleachers. Carlos Marmol survived a shaky ninth to earn his 15th save, stranding two baserunners by striking out Aaron Rowand and Fred Lewis. Aaron Heilman got the win in relief of Ryan Dempster, who threw seven strong innings before leaving with a 2-1 deficit. Before the game, the ..."
Harden may have made last start of '09
Comment
September 24
MLB.com
 
"Rich Harden, limited to throwing off flat ground and not off the mound since his last start, may be shut down for the remainder of the season, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Wednesday. Harden (9-9, 4.09 ERA) has not started since Sept. 16, when he went three innings in a loss to Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have 11 games remaining. "I'm not sure about Harden, I'm really not," Piniella said. "I'm not certain on whether Rich is going to get another start or not. It won't be this weekend in San Francisco.""
Season's over for ailing Cubs reliever Guzman
Comment
September 23
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs are rearranging their pitching plans the rest of the way with an eye toward preservation and preparation for next season. Right-hander Angel Guzman, one of the bright spots in the Cubs' bullpen after winning a job in the final days of spring training, has been shut down for the final two weeks of the season because of a muscle strain near his armpit. Rich Harden has been scratched from a second straight start. Whether he returns for a final start might depend on today's bullpen session. Manager Lou Piniella said rookie Randy Wells (11-9), who rebounded from two bad starts to beat Milwaukee on Tuesday night, will start just once more this season, with seven days of rest before that ..."
Zambrano won't waive no-trade clause
Comment
September 17
Chicago Tribune
 
"An hour before Wednesday night's game at Wrigley Field, Carlos Zambrano sat at a table near a TV in the Cubs' clubhouse, watching a discussion on whether he should be traded. The sound was off, and the clubhouse stereo was on, so Zambrano couldn't hear a word of it. "What does the fan poll say?" Zambrano asked. A day after falling apart on the mound and leaving a postgame news conference in a huff, Zambrano was able to sit back and laugh about his situation. He knows he has the hammer with a full no-trade clause in his contract, and sources indicated Wednesday he has no intention on waiving it this off-season. Asked if he hopes to see Zambrano return next year, manager Lou Piniella ..."
Question is: Should 'Z' stay or should he go?
Comment
September 16
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Carlos Zambrano, the enigmatic Cubs ace, was in fine form Tuesday. Pitching a day after the one-year anniversary of his no-hitter against the Houston Astros, Zambrano baffled the Brewers for four innings, striking out eight and leading 4-0. In the fifth, he completely fell apart, yielding five runs before escaping with a no-decision in the Cubs' 13-7 victory. It was just the latest chapter in a disastrous season for Big Z. He missed a crucial stretch of August games due to a bad back that may have been caused by excessive batting practice, and admitted he has been "lazy" about doing preventative abdominal exercises. He twice has been on the DL and was suspended six games for "inappropriate ..."
Reed Johnson wants to come back -- this season and next year
Comment
September 16
Chicago Tribune
 
"Reed Johnson may not be ready until the final week of the season, and manager Lou Piniella suggested the outfielder may be done for the year. Johnson has been on the disabled list since July 30 with a broken left foot. "We thought that Reed would be out for a month or so," Piniella said. "It's been going on seven weeks, and probably the season is almost over for him." But Johnson is taking batting practice and insists he will return, even if it's just for a cameo. "Whether it's one game or 10 games, I want to get back in there and play," Johnson said. "If I know I can play physically and not re-injure myself, and I can play through whatever residual pain I have in my foot, I don't know if ..."
Cubs plan on shopping Zambrano
Comment
September 15
Chicago Tribune
 (scroll down)
"Now that Hendry is assured of returning in 2010, he'll have to decide which players to bring back. Dempster, who signed a four-year, $52 million deal last winter, is assured of returning. Zambrano, who signed a five-year, $91.5 million deal in August 2007, is not. Despite the fact that Zambrano has a full no-trade clause, the Cubs plan on shopping him this off-season, sources said, believing he'll waive the clause to go to the right team, as Jake Peavy eventually did when the Padres consummated a deal this summer with the White Sox. Zambrano said recently he's weary of the media scrutiny after being criticized for playing softball on a scheduled day off during his rehab stint. "Maybe if I ..."
Cubs begin talks with Grabow
Comment
September 15
ESPN.com
 
"According to major league sources, the Cubs have begun talks with left-handed pitcher John Grabow on a two-year contract extension. Grabow can become a free agent in November, but the Cubs hold exclusive negotiating rights with him until free agency begins 10 days after the last game of the World Series. Grabow would be the team's primary left-handed set-up man next season and would have some chances to close games when right-hander Carlos Marmol has too many opportunities in a row."
Piniella: Closer's role is Marmol's to lose in 2010
Comment
September 15
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"No auditions. No second guesses down the stretch. Carlos Marmol is the Cubs' closer for 2010, at least as the team heads to camp next spring. ''He's done enough and shown enough, and we have confidence in him enough that going into spring training next year it's his job,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''And we'll leave it just at that.'' If there was any doubt about that, it came in Marmol's major-league-high 8.1 walks per nine innings and his 12 hit batters -- two off the league lead. Nobody pitching exclusively in relief has ever led his league in hit batsmen. But opponents hit just .165 against him, and despite Saturday's ninth-inning meltdown in a tie game, he has converted all nine save ..."
Soriano likely done for the season
Comment
September 11
ESPN.com
 
"Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano said he wants to get an operation on his left knee "sooner than later," which likely means he's done for the season. "I'm very disappointed, but I have to do what I have to do," Soriano told ESPN 1000's Bryan Dolgin on Friday. "I'm battling. Now I think I want to get an operation sooner than later ... to get ready for next year. I have to play with one leg now." Soriano has played in just two games since Aug. 29."
Samardzija swears he's not itching for the NFL
Comment
September 9
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"As tough as this season has been at times, and even amid the excitement of the NFL season starting this week, Cubs rookie pitcher Jeff Samardzija says he has no regrets about choosing baseball over football and isn't tempted to switch. ''No, not even close,'' said Samardzija, who joined the team Tuesday as the Cubs' final September callup. ''I'm not like that. I feel like I made a decision, I made the right decision, and on top of that I'm not going back on my word.'' The former Notre Dame All-America wide receiver, who was 6-6 with a 4.35 ERA at Class AAA Iowa this year and 2-2, 5.04 with the Cubs, promised publicly when he signed his $10 million Cubs deal to give back the money if he ..."
Angels' Chone Figgins may be on Cubs' radar
Comment
September 7
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs spent the winter of 2007-08 unsuccessfully trying to acquire leadoff man Brian Roberts from the Orioles. Now they may spend the 2009-10 off-season trying to sign free-agent leadoff man Chone Figgins from the Angels. Asked if Kosuke Fukudome would be his leadoff man in 2010, Lou Piniella replied: "It's a possibility. I would think that we'd probably try to add more speed, but we'll see. That's just a conjecture, nothing more, nothing less. But if not, certainly Fukudome would be a candidate." Figgins, a switch-hitter who can play second, third or any outfield spot, is hitting .303 with a .399 on-base percentage and 39 stolen bases in 55 attempts. Fukudome is hitting .300 in 100 ..."
Cubs' Alfonso Soriano to have surgery
Comment
September 6
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alfonso Soriano said he will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee later this month after manager Lou Piniella shut him down Friday. "Lou said it's not good to play on one leg," said Soriano, who had cortisone shot in the knee Sunday. "I was 80 percent, but now I'm down to 50 or 60 percent. I play with my knee on my mind, and I'm scared to get hurt. If we're out [of it], it's better to do the surgery before we go to the Dominican [for the off-season]." The cleanup surgery would sideline Soriano for two weeks, so depending on when he undergoes the procedure, he could miss the rest of the season. "I had a talk with him before the game and the crux of it is his knee is not strong," ..."
Source: Harden, Heilman staying put
Comment
August 31
ESPN.com
 
"The waiver period for trades before the Sept. 1 roster deadline will come and go without the Chicago Cubs having made a deal, according to Major League Baseball sources. Rich Harden, claimed by the Minnesota Twins, and Aaron Heilman, claimed by the San Francisco Giants, will continue to pitch for the Cubs."
Surging Cubs might not be ready to dump Harden
Comment
August 31
Foxsports.com
 
"Maybe, if you are Twins general manager Bill Smith, you're calling the Cubs this morning, saying, "I've got to have Rich Harden." But maybe, if you are Cubs GM Jim Hendry, you're responding, "Not so fast." The arithmetic of a pennant race changes daily. As the deadline to complete a Harden deal looms early Monday afternoon, the Cubs are less motivated to act than they were Thursday when the Twins were awarded the claim on the right-hander, major-league sources say. The Cubs began Friday 7 1/2 games back in the National League wild-card race. After winning two of three from the Mets, they are 5 1/2 back, albeit in fifth place. The Rockies and Giants are tied for the wild-card lead. The ..."
Twins haven't asked for Harden's medical records; trade unlikely
Comment
August 31
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"As of late Sunday night, the Twins had yet to request Cubs pitcher Rich Harden's medical records, a person close to Harden told the Star Tribune, adding that a deal by today's noon deadline appeared unlikely. Harden, 27, has been on the disabled list seven times since 2005, so it would be uncharacteristic for the Twins to trade for him without first examining those medical records. Then again, in eight starts since July 16, Harden is 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA, so it's possible the Twins could roll the dice, giving the Cubs the prospects it would take to land Harden for the season's final five weeks. Harden is a pending Type A free agent, so a team could offer him arbitration after the season and ..."
Twins serious about trading for Harden
Comment
August 30
MLB.com
 
"The Cubs are open to trading right-hander Rich Harden and the Twins are serious about acquiring the starter, FoxSports.com reported. The Cubs put Harden on waivers earlier this week and the Twins were awarded the claim, meaning both teams have until Monday to work out a deal. The 27-year-old has been pitching well of late, as he has a 1.80 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 50 innings over his past eight starts. On the season, Harden is 8-7 with a 3.99 ERA with 143 strikeouts in 124 innings. Harden would bolster the Twins' rotation and would be received well in the clubhouse, according to the report."
Doubts regarding Harden emerge
Comment
August 30
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins officials Saturday would not confirm or deny that they are the team that placed a claim on Cubs pitcher Rich Harden, as ESPN Chicago has reported. But two people close to Harden said they doubted Harden is heading to the Twins. To their knowledge, the Cubs had yet to open a window for the Twins to negotiate a long-term deal with Harden, who is a pending free agent. It's possible the Twins would trade for Harden without a long-term extension. He will be a Type A free agent, which would assure them two compensation picks in the 2010 draft if he signed elsewhere. Though Harden has a history of arm trouble, the Twins believe he would be a good fit. His family actually has roots in ..."
Cubs' Harden, Heilman claimed
Comment
August 27
Foxsports.com
 
"If the Cubs want to point toward the future, this is their chance. Right-handed starter Rich Harden and right-handed reliever Aaron Heilman have been claimed on waivers, according to major-league sources. A National League team was awarded the claim on Heilman, one source said. The claiming team on Harden is not known, but presumably he did not get through the NL, either. Players must pass through their own league first before being exposed on waivers to teams in the other league. The Cubs will have until Monday afternoon to work out trades, allow Harden and Heilman to depart on claims or pull them back them from waivers. Of the two pitchers, Harden is far more intriguing. He is 3-1 with a ..."
Piniella plans to return to Cubs in 2010
Comment
August 23
MLB.com
 
"Lou Piniella plans on managing the Cubs in 2010 but said Saturday the final decision will be up to the team's new owners, the Ricketts family. "I'm an employee of this organization, and I don't make those decisions," Piniella said. "Those decisions are made by ownership. I am signed through next year and I do plan on fulfilling my contract. But that's not to say I'll be back because I don't make those decisions." Piniella acknowledged this has been a difficult season. The Cubs were tied for first on Aug. 6 but entered play on Saturday seven games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. He's not the only manager who has had a tough year. "We had expectations here," ..."
Hold that Cub
Comment
August 13
ESPN.com
 (scroll down)
"Despite rumblings that the Cubs are looking for another bat and, potentially, for another rotation arm, teams that have spoken with them report they've got all their shopping on hold until they get a better feel for the health of Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Aramis Ramirez. If all three are back by next week, the still-ownerless Cubs are probably shopped out."
Ramirez could be headed for DL
Comment
August 11
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs aren't ruling out a disabled list move for cleanup hitter Aramis Ramirez, who has an appointment with team doctors in Chicago today to determine the severity of the problems he's having with the left shoulder he dislocated earlier this season. Ramirez, who missed a second straight game Monday because of pain in the shoulder, didn't sound optimistic he would be any closer to game shape for tonight's series opener against Philadelphia. ''I thought I was going to be ready today,'' he said. ''I took treatment the whole day [Sunday], but it's not good enough to play. That's why I'm going to talk to the doctors tomorrow.'' He expected to learn late Monday whether today's exam would ..."
Battered & bruised
Comment
August 11
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Forget getting healthy. Forget staying healthy. After the past few days in Colorado, it's all about getting by and staying afloat for a Cubs team that left Coors Field black, blue and seeing a lot of red in front of them after a second straight 11-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Monday night. ''We talked about getting healthy, and it just doesn't seem like it's possible,'' manager Lou Piniella said even before watching Monday night's starting pitcher, Tom Gorzelanny, forced from the game when he got hit on the right foot by Dexter Fowler's one-hop shot back to the mound. X-rays were negative, and Gorzelanny is expected to make his next scheduled start without trouble. Trouble? The Cubs ..."
White Sox and Cubs look for help before deadline
Comment
July 31
ESPN.com
 
"The Chicago Cubs are looking to add a top-flight defensive outfielder as the trading deadline approaches at 3 p.m. CT on Friday. Players who the Cubs have looked at include Oakland's Rajah Davis. The Cubs are not interested in whether the player is an outstanding offensive player. Their main concern is getting someone who can play top-notch defense in center late in games. If the Cubs are not able to pull off a deal, left-handed hitting Sam Fuld will split playing time in center with Kosuke Fukudome. The Cubs have talked to Kansas City on numerous occasions about the availability of infielder/outfielder Mark Teahen. Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore has not shown an interest in ..."
Chicago Cubs trade Kevin Hart for John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny
Comment
July 31
Chicago Tribune
 
"After winning his third consecutive start and pitching the Cubs into first place in the National League Central, Kevin Hart found himself left out. That would be out of the organization, traded to the last-place Pirates on Thursday in a five-player swap that brings left-handed reliever John Grabow and left-handed starter Tom Gorzelanny to the Cubs. Hart, who has filled in for the injured Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly, has a 3.18 earned-run average in those starts, including the 12-3 win over Houston on Thursday. "But John Grabow is pretty darn good and it got to the point where we weren't going to get John Grabow without Hart in the deal," general manager Jim Hendry said. The Cubs also gave ..."
Pirates talking Grabow, Gorzelanny with Cubs
Comment
July 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates are discussing a trade that would send pitchers John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny to the Chicago Cubs, according to a team source. No deal is in place, and other teams are interested in Grabow, so this might not happen at all."
Cubs talking to Pirates about Grabow
Comment
July 30
Foxsports.com
 
"The Cubs continue to talk with the Pirates about a trade for left-hander John Grabow, whom they prefer to the Nationals' Joe Beimel as a lefty complement to Sean Marshall in their bullpen. As for replacing outfielder Reed Johnson, who will be out for about a month with his broken bone in his left foot, the Cubs plan to try internal solutions, starting with the promotion of Sam Fuld from Class AAA. Fuld is a left-handed hitter while Johnson bats right-handed, but the Cubs will face mostly right-handers over the next two weeks."
Cubs in search of lefty bat who can play right
Comment
July 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs don't want switch hitter Milton Bradley to give up batting left-handed as an answer to his seasonlong problems from that side of the plate. But sources said one possibility being discussed is limiting him to a platoon role -- if the Cubs can acquire a left-handed hitter who can play right field. Specifically, the Cubs have looked into the Royals' Mark Teahen and the Marlins' Jeremy Hermida, who were weak blips on the Cubs' radar early last winter before they zeroed in on Bradley in early November. With barely a day left before the non-waiver trade deadline Friday, the Cubs weren't optimistic either one could be acquired, according to a team source. They're thought to have about $2 ..."
Chicago Cubs GM says Milton Bradley rumors 'unfair to player'
Comment
July 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"There was no known movement on the trade front Tuesday, though Cubs general manager Jim Hendry addressed a rumor that spread over the Internet last weekend about Detroit's alleged interest in Milton Bradley. Hendry shot down the rumor Saturday before Tigers manager Jim Leyland told the Detroit Free Press: "We have absolutely no interest in Milton Bradley. Now does that mean I don't think Milton Bradley is a good player? Don't get into, 'Oh, Jim Leyland doesn't like Milton Bradley.' That's not what I said." Hendry said Tuesday he usually laughs such rumors off, but added: "I think it's unfair to the player, and in this case obviously there wasn't anything to it, and we're finally getting a ..."
Cubs Forum Top 5
  1. 2009 Minor League thread 2.0
    Last post:ST.maarten'stop
  2. What's up with Sammy Sosa?
    Last post:{Ron!n}
  3. Cubs Free Agent and Trade Ideas Thread 2.0
    Last post:BCB mwat15
  4. Rays close to Iwamura deal, but not with Cubs
    Last post:toovey107
  5. Time to wake up, Mr. Hendry.
    Last post:Milnertime