Lots of news today, let's do a full roundup!
Surgery for Lilly
According to Bruce Miles & other Cubs sources, the team has announced that Ted Lilly underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder yesterday in L.A. The procedure was performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum. Yocum found no major damage to Ted's shoulder. The procedure consisted of a wash out and cleanup of the shoulder. It took about an hour. Ted will start a rehab program and will be evaluated after January 1 to see when he can begin a throwing program. The Cubs are hopeful that he can be in the rotation within the month of April. The Cubs may need an extra arm for insurance early in the season.
Spring Training Talk
The "folks from Mesa" are having a news conference today to talk about their efforts to keep Cubs' Spring Training. According to Cubs.com and ESPNChicago.com the Ricketts family was to tour Mesa today by helicopter to look at potential sites along the Loop 202 freeway for Cubs Spring Training. Last night, Arizona officials spoke to the Ricketts family at a dinner at the Red Mountain Ranch Country Club. Levine says that "Arizona groups have to start worrying now about the possible loss of the Cubs, their most popular draw, after the 2011 spring schedule." The Cubs would like a complex like the one that the Dodgers and White Sox share in Glendale. Ricketts may visit East Mesa and an Indian reservation casino next. Also, the Cubs will insist that the ballpark must have similar dimensions and many of the same physical characteristics of Wrigley Field.
AFL Talk
Cubs prospect Starlin Castro injured his right hand sliding into third base yesterday, but he is OK, and is expected to play tomorrow. The entire Cubs organization will be in attendance at Hohokam Park to watch Castro and other Cub farm hands play tomorrow. I'll have a full Winter Leagues report posted sometime tomorrow.
Iwamura to the Pirates
The Cubs were rumored to be interested in acquiring infielder Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays. Akinori has been traded, but not to Chicago. The Rays sent him to Pittsburgh for Jesse Chavez yesterday.
Levine's Chat Recap
- The Cubs love Reed Johnsons' heart and the way he plays the game, but his back problems continue to haunt him. His broken foot is 100%, but the Cubs are having trouble deciding.
- The most likely trade scenario for Milton Bradley is to the Rays for Pat Burrell.
- Starlin Castro is the short stop of the future.
- Castro might be ready at some point during the 2010 season.
- The Cubs could choose to sign Orlando Cabrera to a one-year deal and move Theriot to short stop for next season, or they could sign Orlando Hudson and leave Ryan at short for one more year before bringing Castro up.
- Levine expects the Cubs to make some kind of offer to Derrek Lee before the 2010 season. He expects both Lilly and Lee to end up back in the Cub uniform in 2011.
- Most likely the Cubs will keep Jake Fox as a right handed bat off the bench.
- If Hendry trades for Burrell, he will look to turn around and trade him ASAP.
- Bruce doesn't think Ryne Sandberg will be managing the Cubs in 2011. "Possibly the Iowa Cubs."
- "Don't believe anything you're reading" about a Vernon Wells for Bradley trade.
- The Cubs are committed to making Jeff Samardzija a starting pitcher.
- Micah Hoffpauir's role is probably limited to a part-time pinch hitter again next year.
- The relationship between Tom Ricketts and Jim Hendry is still in the early stages.
- Chone Figgins will get 3 or 4 years at more than $10 M a year, and that doesn't seem feasible for the Cubs at this point.
- There is no chance of Kosuke Fukudome being moved this offseason.
- Derrek Lee has a full no-trade and has no interest in leaving the Cubs.
- Kosuke appears to be the opening day center fielder again, but Bruce says he's an above average RF and a way below average CF.
- Orlando Hudson would solve the problem of lead-off man and the middle infield need.
- Mike Cameron could get interest from the Cubs if everything else doesn't work out.
- Rick Ankiel to the Cubs has been discussed... first we've heard that!
- Josh Vitters has a strong enough arm to play third base.
- Upton to the Cubs for Bradley is "a nice dream."
The Cubs are going to need some middle infield help. Here's a list of all the free agent middle infielders:
- Ronnie Belliard
- Jamey Carroll
- Alex Cora
- Craig Counsell
- Mark DeRosa
- Jerry Hairston Jr.
- Orlando Hudson
- Adam Kennedy
- Felipe Lopez
- Mark Loretta
- Pablo Ozuna
- Placido Polanco
- Luis Rodrigez
- Juan Uribe
- Orlando Cabrera
- Juan Castro
- Bobby Crosby
- Adam Everett
- Chris Gomez
- Alex Gonzalez
- Khalil Greene
- John McDonald
- Luis Rodrigez
- Marco Scutaro
- Miguel Tejado
- Omar Vizquel
- Jack Wilson
See any names that interest you?
As the Yankees and Phillies get set for Game 6 of the World Series, we'll stay focused on the Chicago Cubs! I will update this post if I hear anything else tonight, so keep checking back!
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