Tom Ricketts had said that the overall baseball expenses would remain the same this season, but that seems difficult to accomplish at this point. The payroll was around $140 million last year and if you add in the draft, international free agent signings, front office employees you’re up to over $180 million. The Cubs front office has gotten larger and …
Big Splash Before Cubs Convention Is A Myth
There’s one thing I can guarantee that you hear every single year: the Cubs will want to sign this guy or that guy to make a big splash before the Cubs Convention. I have no idea where people get this idea. Baseball teams do not care about making big splashes before fan events. Do you know why? Because the people …
Taking a closer look at the Cubs supersized rotation
The Cubs currently have 6 starting pitchers on the roster*. Those 6 include Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Paul Maholm, Travis Wood, Chris Volstad and Randy Wells. Jeff Samardzija is also going to be stretched out in spring training, but may return to the bullpen when the season begins. The Cubs also have Andy Sonnanstine and Casey Coleman. If Trey McNutt …
Matt Garza and Kerry Wood Updates, Cubs Sign Paul Maholm
David Kaplan is reporting that the Cubs and Tigers are “down the road” in trade discussions for Matt Garza. I have no idea what that means. I would expect them further down the road than they were in August. If the two teams are still talking I would expect them further down the road than they were three weeks ago. …
They’re called baseball players
Fans like to feel that they’re close with their favorite players. We refer to them by using only one name, talk about them endlessly, purchase merchandise with their name on it and we also congratulate and condemn them when we feel it necessary. If someone says something negative we stand up for them as we would for those closest to …
Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have been busy
The Cubs were having a rather quiet offseason until December 23rd when they traded Sean Marshall. In a span of one month they’ve traded Marshall, DJ LeMahieu, Tyler Colvin, Carlos Zambrano, Andrew Cashner and Kyung-Min Ha. All of them except Ha were on the team’s 40-man roster. A new front office trading current players is nothing new. On July 5, …
Cubs trade Andrew Cashner to Padres for Anthony Rizzo
From MLBTR: The Cubs have acquired first baseman Anthony Rizzo and right-hander Zach Cates from the Padres for right-hander Andrew Cashner and outfielder Kyung-Min Na, the teams announced. The move provides the Cubs with a potential long-term first baseman and clears up first base in San Diego. Here’s my quick take on the trade. I don’t think as highly of Rizzo as …
Does Zambrano trade tell us about a possible Soriano trade?
Since Carlos Zambrano was traded two days ago I think all Cubs fans have wondered what it might mean for Alfonso Soriano. The Cubs were willing to eat almost all of Zambrano’s contract in trading him. We know that Tom Ricketts has given Theo the go ahead and clean house even if it it requires the team to send truckloads …
The 4th Annual (and final) How Good Has Carlos Zambrano Been In His Career Post
In 2009 I wrote that Carlos Zambrano cannot win with the media or fans. It turned into an article about just how good Zambrano had been in his career with the Cubs. Despite that, it had been done with much hatred toward him. The following February I turned it into an annual piece. The 3rd Annual article was written here …
Projected Hall of Fame Results
Chris Jaffe has a fantastic method he uses to project the Hall of Fame Results. Check them out. It’s good news for Barry Larkin.