Cubs team president John McDonough stepped down as team president today and will become the president for the Chicago Blackhawks. This is a great pickup for the Blackhawks organization, because he knows how to fill up seats and he could help bring back hockey to the city of Chicago. This deal also made sense for him because he had no job security with the sale of the team on the way.
What does this mean for the Cubs? Right now, I have no idea as we may have to wait awhile to see who our next president will be.
Continue reading →
The other day I mentioned that the Cubs were interested in Luis Castillo. That has all changed now as the Mets have just signed him to a 4 year deal worth 25 million dollars. Castillo is a good player, but I think that is too many years for a second baseman who is barely above average. It looks like the Cubs will devote their attention to Kaz Matsui, who would not be a good pickup, because he hit .249 away from Coors Field last year and I just can’t see him being any better than Ryan Theriot. Let’s not make the same mistake the Mets did a few years ago when they signed Matsui out of Japan.
Continue reading →
According to some new reports the Cubs are interested in switch hitting second baseman Luis Castillo. Castillo is a much better choice than Matsui because he is good offensively as well as defensively. He is very speedy and should generate about 25 stolen bases, but provides no power. He would be a good choice for the Cubs because he provides a good OBP, which is definitely something that the Cubs will need for the upcoming year.
Continue reading →
A source has been telling me that a deal between Kaz Matsui and the Chicago Cubs is being arranged. Matsui is a second basemen who plays a great defense, but has been a bust offensively so far in the big leagues. This deal is supposedly supposed to be worth three years, but some people are saying that it might just be to reel in Fukudome. This might also be showing that we might be prepared to deal Theriot or that we just don’t know if he will be the SS that we thought he would be.
Continue reading →
Apparently the trade that would send Carl Crawford to the Cubs has been dropped. It would have helped the Cubs outfield situation, but it would have just created another hole in the starting pitching as Hill would have been traded to the Rays. I think that this is a good thing, because we can probably get Fukudome while only creating a financial hole rather than a hole in the field of play.
Continue reading →
As hard as it was for me to type that it might be true. Kaz Matsui might be pursued by the Cubs just so that it may help draw interest from Fukudome, this year’s publicized Japanese ball player. Fukudome may feel more comfortable with someone else who can speak his language, because if he is asked to come to the Cubs with no one in the clubhouse who can speak Japanese it may be extremely awkward and it would not be fun for him. So, that could be the front office’s thinking if they were to even think of the idea of signing Matsui, considering that we already have DeRosa, Cedeno, Fontenot, Infante, Theriot and Eric Patterson blooming in the minors.
Continue reading →
According to the radio reports in Chicago, The Cubs and the Tampa Bay RAYS are working on a trade that would involve Carl Crawford coming to the Cubs. I can’t say that this is a good trade for any side right now considering I do not know who the Cubs would have to give up, but Carl Crawford would definitely fill a hole in the outfield as the transition from the AL East to the NL central would help and he has been increasing his numbers every year since he joined the big leagues.
Since the Rays seem to have a great farm system, they will be looking for not only young players, but young players with experience. It would probably be some combination of Hill, Marmol, Pie, Soto, Gallagher or something crazily expensive that would drain our farm system. I would rather spend money on Fukudome in RF, than trade dominant pitching and a future catching stud for a right fielder with limited power. Unless we get both …
Continue reading →
As you all know Jacque Jones was recently traded and we got Omar Infante and we shored up a little money as well. I was reading a quote from Jim Hendry on the Jones trade that said “We tried to wrap it up as soon as we could. We both have other issues to address.” To me this is saying that Jim Hendry has something else up his sleeve. He wants to make sure that he can free up an outfield spot and make sure that he can get something decent… like Japanese star Kosuke Fukudome for instance. Fukodome is a Japanese right fielder who plays great defense in right field and can also play center, left handed with decent power, and a high OBP…
Hmmm… can anyone think of a team who needs someone that possesses those characteristics of a ball player… How about the CUBS!!
I think JH has his eye on this ballplayer who has great potential and looks to be a Hideki Matsui type player… add him into the middle of the Cubs lineup to give Aramis some protection and all of a sudden we have a great lineup!
Continue reading →
Today Craig Monroe was traded for a player to be named later. The Cubs traded him to the Twins and they were going to non-tender him next month making him a free agent, but I guess the Twins could not wait so they have decided to give us a prospect for him. Monroe might be a decent addition to the Twins lineup, if he returns to his ’06 form.
Continue reading →
When I first heard about this trade I was not thrilled at all. Jacque Jones helped this team tremendously in the second half of the season and picked up the team while Soriano was on the DL. Jones was a great club house presence who will be missed by the players, but not all of the fans will miss him. Jones played a great CF for us as he made a few spectacular plays. Omar Infante is the other end of this deal. He is a versatile player who plays all the outfield positions and second, short and third base. Infante was one of Detroit’s best prospects a few years ago, so he definitely has potential, but he will most likely be just a bench player for this team.
Continue reading →
