When a Japanese team decides he’s willing to let a player negotiate with US teams, there’s a process that I’m sure you’re all familiar with. It’s called the posting system. Currently, the highest bid wins the right to negotiate exclusively with the player. I mentioned yesterday that changes could be coming, but changes could be coming within days. The MLB …
Gordo claims Jeff Samardzija extension is unlikely
Gordon Whittenmeyer has an article up that claims the Cubs and Jeff Samardzija are quite far apart on a possible contract extension. He says that getting one done this offseason, or ever with the Cubs, seems unlikely at this point. He also claims the Cubs would trade him by the deadline or even this offseason without an extension. That would …
Masahiro Tanaka Stats and Scouting Report, Why the Cubs are Interested
Masahiro Tanaka is among the leaders in who the OV crowd predicts the Cubs will sign and not too surprisingly, we've already learned they are interested. According to Phil Rogers, Tanaka will be the Cubs top priority this offseason. There's good reason for that, but I wanted to compare him to some other Japanese pitchers, as well as taking a …
Mike Olt wants to win the 3rd base job
Mike Olt was acquired in July, along with CJ Edwards, Justin Grimm and a player to be named later (Neil Ramirez), for Matt Garza. Olt was having a horrible season and there were vision concerns at the time of the trade. I seem to recall it being better or even all fixed at the time of the trade, but then …
10 years ago today
John Allen Muhammad, one of the two DC Snipers, plead not guilty. He was later found guilty and sentenced to death. He was killed by the government in November 2009.
Cubs sign Ryan Sweeney to 2-year deal
The Cubs signed Ryan Sweeney to a 2-year deal for $3.5 million according to Bob Nightengale. The Chicago #Cubs sign Ryan Sweeney to a two year, $3.5 million deal — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 8, 2013 He also has the breakdown. Sweeney will get $1.5 million in 2014 and 2015 w a $2.5 million option or $500,000 buyout — Bob …
Shocking News That is Shocking: Banks & Williams to Appear at Cubs Convention
I know all of you have been laying awake at night and wondering if you might get a chance to see either Billy Williams or Ernie Banks at the Cubs Convention in January. Sure, they have both been there every other year, and the Cubs never miss an opportunity to trot the 1969 Cubs out to talk about what might …
Cubs to make a run at Brian McCann?
Tim Dierkes from MLBTR tweets: Have talked to multiple agents who think Cubs will spend good money on FA catcher this winter. They are underestimating Welington Castillo! — timdierkes (@timdierkes) October 2, 2013 Seeing how agents are always the most reliable source for this kind of thing, this has to mean Brian McCann, right? The only other catching free agents …
Dale Sveum fired
Per Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs fired Dale Sveum today. Honestly, I would have been okay with this whichever way it went. I was never super enamored with Sveum, but I don't think he's awful either. The best guess is that Sveum was fired due to some combination of: Starlin Castro regressed big time this year Anthony Rizzo did not improve …
Something about Brad Ausmus replacing Dale Sveum
I don't really care whether or not Brad Ausmus replaces Dale Sveum, but someone here might so here's what Julie has to say. I didn't read it all and don't care because it's just rearranging deck chairs. If it happens, it's not a big deal. Zero wins added. O deck chairs added.