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| According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, the Cubs are going to promote Carlos Marmol to the closer role in 2009. |
Our View: Even though the Cubs traded for Kevin Gregg, they will turn to Marmol. In 2008 he was very successful in the setup role. In 82 games last year he had 114 strikeouts in 87.1 innings and also compiled an ERA of 2.68. |
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| 38-year-old outfielder Jim Edmonds could be an option for the Phillies if Pat Burrell departs, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. |
Our View: Edmonds can still hit for power as he blasted 20 homers over 111 games last season, 19 coming with the Cubs on 250 at-bats. He would likely be willing to sign a one-year deal, which would fare well for the Phillies. Edmonds would likely play center, Shane Victorino could go back to right field to utilize his great throwing arm, and Jayson Werth could roam in left. Edmonds is aging, but did win eight Gold Gloves over his career.
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| MLB says that Tribune has set a deadline of December 1st to bid on the Chicago Cubs, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: The Cubs' offseason moves probably won't be impacted by the sale of the team. |
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| On Wednesday, the Cubs purchased the contract of Mitch Atkins and added him to their 40-man roster, according to the Cubs official web site. |
Our View: Atkins was named the 2008 Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 17-7 with a 4.00 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 28 starts between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. |
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| The NY Post reports that the Cubs will try to trade Jason Marquis. |
Our View: The club re-signed Ryan Dempster, and would like to trade Marquis, who is owed $9.875 million in 2009. That would free up more money to land free agents, such as shortstop Rafael Furcal. |
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| As expected, Ryan Dempster has re-signed with the Cubs, according to the Sports Network. The deal is reportedly for four years and is worth $52 million. |
Our View: This was a priority for the Cubs, as he nailed down 17 wins in 2008, with a strong 2.96 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. The team remains in the running to land Jake Peavy after retaining Dempster. |
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| The Cubs are close to re-signing Ryan Dempster, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. It would be a four-year deal in the $50 million-range. |
Our View: The source believes the Cubs may still target Jake Peavy or Randy Johnson if they retain Dempster. Rafael Furcal may be in their plans as well. |
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| The Jays may not pursue Ryan Dempster if they are unable to retain AJ Burnett, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. GM J.P. Ricciardi said, "No, I don't think there's anything out there that we can get involved in at this point that makes any sense for us." |
Our View: The Jays were also believed to be interested in Derek Lowe and Brad Penny. The Cubs raised their offer to four-years for $50 million to retain Dempster, which is just a few million less than the Jays were reportedly going to offer Burnett. |
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| The Texas Rangers are interested in acquiring the services of closer Kerry Wood, but they would have to deal Hank Blalock in order to make that happen financially, according to Peter Gammons of ESPN.com. |
Our View: Wood is from Texas, and he is said to have idolized Rangers team president Nolan Ryan growing up, so there is a possible fit there, if the team is willing to deal the oft-injured Blalock. |
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| The Detroit Tigers will not make an attempt to sign closer Kerry Wood, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Despite their need for a ninth-inning man, the team does not want to give a closer a long-term deal, which Wood is seeking. |
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| The Chicago Tribune reports the Cubs are interested in bringing in a prototypical leadoff man such as Brian Roberts or Rafael Furcal so that Alfonso Soriano can move down in the batting order. |
Our View: Ryan Theriot is not mentioned as a possibility to move up in the batting order, which is unfortunate considering his speed and high on-base percentage. Soriano would likely lose some plate appearances and steal chances if he moved down in the order, but he has missed time with injuries over the last two seasons anyway. |
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| The Giants are reportedly interested in free agent reliever Bob Howry, according to the SF Chronicle. |
Our View: Howry was a former draft pick of the Giants, and the club is believed to be looking for bullpen help in free agency. Howry held a 5.35 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 70.2 innings of relief with the Cubs in 2008, but was able to nail down seven wins. |
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| Kerry Wood wanted to stay with the Cubs, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: The Cubs wanted to go cheaper at closer and after trading for Marlins closer Kevin Gregg, Wood's fate was sealed. He should get plenty of offers after having a solid season for the Cubs last year, saving 34 games in 40 opportunities. |
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| There is belief the Rangers will make a "strong run" at free agent hurler Kerry Wood, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: Wood would benefit from leaving launching pad Wrigley Field for hitter friendly Rangers Ballpark, and would be a strong addition to their pen if he can stay healthy. Huston Street is also on the Rangers' list of targets among relievers. |
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| Carlos Zambrano won his second Silver Slugger award on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Zambrano posted career highs in both average at .337, and RBI at 14. Zambrano also hit four home runs in 2008. With Zambrano in the nine hole, opposing pitchers couldn't afford to take a batter off. |
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| The Chicago Cubs will not re-sign free agent pitcher Kerry Wood, according to the Chicago Tribune. "We're just in a situation, as Kerry fully understands, that that length of deal, for the kind of salary he'd command right now, is not our first priority," said Chicago GM Jim Hendry. |
Our View: Wood should be a fairly hot commodity on the free agent market for teams that could use a closer. The biggest worry for him coming into the season was his control, but he walked just 2.44 batters per nine innings while striking out 11.40. |
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| The Florida Marlins have traded right-handed reliever Kevin Gregg to the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Jose Ceda, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Gregg could have an opportunity to close, as the Cubs will not re-sign Kerry Wood, but it would make sense that Carlos Marmol would get the first opportunity if Wood is not back. |
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| The Chicago Cubs are moving Kosuke Fukudome from right field to center field, and he will be a platoon player with Reed Johnson to start next season, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: Fukudome was a bust last year, and will be an expensive part-time player, as he signed a $44 million deal last winter. |
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| Cubs' skipper Lou Piniella has been named the NL Manager of the Year, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Piniella was the first Cubs' manager to lead the Cubs to back-to-back playoff appearances. Piniella received 15 first-place votes and 103 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America to beat out Charlie Manuel, who led the Phiilies to a World Series title. |
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| Geovany Soto has been named the NL Rookie of the Year for 2008, according to the Associated Press. Soto hit .285 over 141 games, with 23 homers and 86 RBI. |
Our View: The Cubs' catcher won the award in a landslide, as he collected 31 of 32 first-place votes by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The last member of the Cubs to earn the honor was hurler Kerry Wood back in 1998. The last catcher to win the award was Mike Piazza (Dodgers) in 1993. |
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| Geovany Soto is the leading candidate to take home the NL Rookie of the Year award that will be announced on Monday, according to MLB.com. Others with a shot to win the award would include Joey Votto, Jair Jurrjens and Hiroki Kuroda. |
Our View: In a relatively thin class, Soto's ability with the lumber (.285-23-86) combined with his ability to spearhead one of the best staffs' in the NL behind the plate give him the clear advantage over Votto, a first base man from a terrible club in Cincinnati. |
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| The Cubs upped their offer to Ryan Dempster to four years and $50 million, according to the Chicago Tribune. |
Our View: The Cubs are still hoping to get Dempster signed before Thursday, which is when he would be able to talk to other teams. It was previously reported that the Cubs couldn't afford Dempster and a trade for Jake Peavy, but officials of the Cubs say that they can afford both. |
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| Kosuke Fukudome may not emerge from the off-season as a starter as the Cubs have let it be known that they are looking for a power upgrade at the outfield position, according to the Chicago Tribune. |
Our View: Fukudome hit .296 through the end of June which made his lack of power bearable, but when he hit .207 from July on, the team realized it might have a problem. Unfortunately, Fukudome is owed $38 million the next three years, an awfully high price tag for a bench player, and probably a prohibitive total in terms of being able to move him in a trade. |
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| GM Jim Hendry commented that Jeff Samardzija could land in the Cubs' rotation next season if they fail to acquire Jake Peavy in a trade or can't re-sign Ryan Dempster, according to the Chicago Tribune. Hendry said, "It depends on what happens over the winter. I know he wants to start down the road. And nobody doesn't feel he'd be real good at starting. Next spring we're going to put him in whatever role helps the club the most. There's no way we can determine that on Nov. 5."
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Our View: Samardzija held his own as a rookie in 2007, as he maintained a 2.28 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 27.2 innings of relief. His fantasy value would see a significant boost if he ends up in the Cubs' rotation in 2009. |
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| The Braves are reportedly showing interest in pitcher Ryan Dempster, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. |
Our View: Dempster had a break out year in 2008 and looks to cash in this off-season. |
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| Free agent pitcher Ryan Dempster will not re-sign with the Cubs during their exclusive-rights negotiating period, as he will test the market instead, according to FoxSports.com. |
Our View: Dempster had a great year in 2008, with 17 wins and a 2.96 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Wherever he winds up next year, reproducing those type of numbers is going to be a challenge. |
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| Daryle Ward has entered the free agent market, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Ward is a solid left-handed pinch-hitter, but the Cubs may just be content with Micah Hoffpauir serving in his place. The 33-year-old Ward is a career .263 hitter with six clubs over 11 seasons.
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| Rich Hill gave up seven runs in 1.1 innings in his VWL appearance on Friday. |
Our View: He's allowed nine earned runs and walked seven in 10.2 innings and the majors seem like a long ways away for the former Cub. |
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| Jim Edmonds recently discussed retirement, but the latest report has him hoping to play next season. "He's definitely coming back," agent Paul Cohen said. "The way he finished up, why wouldn't he?" |
Our View: After being released by the Padres early in the season, Edmonds hit .256 for the Cubs, with a .369 on-base percentage, a .568 slugging percentage and 19 homers in 250 at-bats. |
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| MLB.com reports that outfielder Tyler Colvin isn't expected to miss much of the 2009 season despite undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery earlier this month. Colvin began the Arizona Fall League season with Mesa, but was hitting .176 through 17 at-bats while battling through what was believed to be a bone spur on his left elbow. |
Our View: Colvin is one of the Cubs' top prospects and is already back in Arizona rehabbing the elbow. He hit .256 with 14 homers and 80 RBIs at Double-A Tennessee of the Southern League this season. |
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