It was reported last week, but it's apparently become official now and will go into effect as soon as next week. So, the NPB team sets the posting fee in advance and it can go up as high as $20 million. Then MLB teams submit bids and all teams that bid the value that the NPB team set can negotiate …
Cubs sign Wesley Wright
Last night the Cubs signed Wesley Wright to a 1-year deal just a couple days after being non-tendered. Wright will be paid $1.425 million in 2014. He’s been quite good the last two seasons and this is a good signing for the Cubs. Wright has struckout around 24% of the batters over the last two seasons and walked just under …
Cubs sign George Kotarras and other notes
The Cubs have signed backup catcher George Kottaras. George Kottaras settles with #cubs. $1.075M plus incentives. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 3, 2013 The Cubs acquired Kottaras the other day and Myles wrote about him shortly thereafter. When you combine a poor batting average with an a noodle at backstop, you can make the case that Kottaras should linger in …
Cubs re-sign Darnell McDonald, non-tender Daniel Bard
The Cubs re-signed Darnell McDonald to a minor league contract on the non-tender deadline. #Cubs re-sign OF Darnell McDonald to minor league deal. Career .285/.353/.453 vs big league LHPs. Played 25 G for Chicago in 2013. — Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) December 2, 2013 This removes McDonald from the 40-man roster and is essentially the Cubs non-tendering him and re-signing him. …
Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury
Remember to vote for the Hall of Fame here at Obstructed View. Jacoby Ellsbury's agent, Scott Boras, has said that he wants Carl Crawford money for his client. Crawford, who signed with the Red Sox after the 2010 season got $142 million over 7 years (that's the benchmark for Boras for his newest client). Is that a reasonable goal for …
Blue Jays talking to Cubs about Jeff Samardzija
Teams have inquired on Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija and the Blue Jays are putting together a package of young players to try and land him, a source tells Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com (on Twitter). For his part, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos didn't deny that he has discussed Samardzija with Chicago in an interview with Jim Bowden of SiriusXM (onTwitter). Even though Anthopoulos …
Cubs have talked extension with Jeff Samardzija
From Jed Hoyer via David Kaplan: "We've had discussions w/Samardzija because we like him + want to keep him. We'll see where things go. We like hearing he wants to be here." — David Kaplan (@thekapman) November 16, 2013 We've already heard the Cubs have talked about an extension with Jeff Samardzija, but what this doesn't make clear is whether …
Muskat: Cubs poised to name Rick Renteria next manager
From Muskat: Theo Epstein hired Dale Sveum to help establish the Cubs Way, and now he's picked Rick Renteria to take the team to the next level. On Thursday, the Cubs will introduce Renteria as their 53rd manager and fourth in the last five years, according to a Major League source. There will be no news conference at Wrigley Field …
Cubs to hire Rick Renteria, fire Rick Renteria in about two years
Per Mark Gonzalez of the Tribune on twitter, Rick Renteria will be named Cubs manager tomorrow. The Cubs are set to name Rick Renteria as their next manager, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). The press conference to introduce Renteria is expected to come tomorrow.
Red Sox continue to be assholes
I wish I could say this was surprising, but the Red Sox ownership couldn’t do anything that would surprise me. The Cubs have been denied permission to ask about Lovullo’s availability for their managerial job, at least for now, as Red Sox higher-ups are claiming their agreement to allow Theo Epstein to leave to become Cubs president prohibits him from …