Former Cub Updates: May 1, 2010

For the first time in 2010, let's take a look at how our ex-Cubbies are fairing! For this post, we will focus only on players that were members of the Cubs in 2009.

• Kevin Gregg, Blue Jays: 0.82 ERA, 6 SV, 11 IP
• Reed Johnson, Dodgers: .282 AVG, 3 RBIs, 19 games
• Rich Harden, Rangers: 1-1, 4.56 ERA, 23.2 IP
• Milton Bradley, Seattle: .211 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBIs, 18 Games
• Jake Fox, Oakland: .182 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBIs, 16 Games
• Aaron Heilman, Arizona: 0-1, 5.59 ERA, 9.2 IP
• Kevin Hart, Pirates: Has torn labrum, could have season ending surgery.
• Aaron Miles, Cardinals: The Cubs traded Miles to Oakland, then they shipped him to Cincinnati. Then, he was released on April 14 after being DFA out of Spring Training. This week, he signed a minor league deal to return to St. Louis.
• Neal Cotts, Pirates: Has not pitched yet this season after signing with Pittsburgh on January 4. He is not listed on the Pirates 40-man roster.
• Luis Vizcaino: Free agent
• Chad Fox: Free Agent
• So Taguchi: Playing for Orix BlueWaves in Japan
• Ryan Freel: Signed with Somerset Patriots, an independent club
• Andres Blanco, Texas: .214 AVG, 1 RBI, 14 Games
• Jason Waddell: Pitching in the Tigers' system

That covers them all!

Cotts Non-Tendered, Cubs on MLB Network, and Former Cubs returns

Update 10pm CT: There will be a Cubs special program tomorrow at 4:30 on CSN Chicago called "Island Dreaming With the Cubs". The special will be on the Cubs in the Dominican Republic including Carlos Marmol and Aramis Ramirez.

As expected, the Cubs have offered contacts to Carlos Marmol, Ryan Theriot, Jeff Baker, Angel Guzman, Sean Marshall, Koyie Hill, Tom Gorzelanny, and Mike Fontenot. The only player that they did not make an offer to is lefty Neal Cotts. Paul Sullivan points out that with John Grabow signed with the Cubs, it makes more sense for Cotts to go elsewhere. Cotts could still return to the Cubs, but he is a free agent.

The Marlins have non-tender pitcher Alfredo Amezaga, and the Cubs could be interested in adding him.

The A's non tendered Jack Cust, and his bat could be a fit for the Cubs.

On MLB Network's Hot Stove yesterday, the Cubs were listed as a "seller" this winter. Tom Verducci says "it's all about Milton Bradley". Mitch Williams said that "they've got to get that guy moved!"

Also on Hot Stove, the Cubs season was recapped in their "30 Clubs, 30 Recaps". Derrrek Lee says that the Cubs have a good team, and he expects the Cubs to make some good moves this winter.

The Cubs Shopping List from MLB Network:
1. Move Milton
2. Center Fielder
3. Bullpen Arm

Herold Reynolds says the Cubs have a long way to go still. He also describe them as "in trouble" pointing out that they are in a worse situation than they were last year at this time. Reynolds doesn't think the Cubs would have been good in 2009 even if they were healthy. Tom says that missing a center fielder is a pretty big thing for a team that hopes to contend. Verducci called the Cubs too right handed. Mitch said that when the main thing on your shopping list is a return (trading Bradley) there's something wrong. Williams says that the Cubs have two terrific set up guys in Marmol and Gregg, but neither one of them is a closer. Tom disagrees letting Mitch know that the Cubs are committed to Marmol. Mitch was critical of Carlos' mechanics and inconsistency, but The Wild Thing did admit that he was throwing stones from a glass house.

By the way, the Cubs will see some former Cubs in Spring Training and during the regular season-

• March 4 VS Oakland in Mesa, first game of Spring Training, Jake Fox and Aaron Miles
• March 5 VS Arizona in Mesa, Aaron Heilman
• March 8 @Oakland in Phoenix
• March 16 VS Texas in Mesa (Rich Harden)
• March 20 @Oakland in Phoenix
• March 24 @Texas in Surprise
• March 25 @Arizona in Tuscan
• March 26 VS Oakland in Mesa
• April 2 @Arizona Spring Training @Chase Field
• April 3 @ Arizona Spring Training @Chase Field

Regular season:

• VS Arizona (Aaron Heilman): April 29-May 2, @Arizona June 5-7
• VS Oakland, Interleague play (Jake Fox and Aaron Miles) June 15-17
• @Texas, Interleague play, (Rich Harden) May 21-23

We'll look forward to seeing the guys that we dumped so far this offseason when they play the Cubs next year!

That's it for now, I'll keep you posted on Everything Cubs as always.

Weekend Updates: The Halladay Season, Grabow on ESPN 1000, and More

• Carrie Muskat reports that the Cubs are one team that have been contacted by the Blue Jays about ace Roy Halladay. (Here we go again... it is the "Halladay" Season)
• Carlos Marmol is hoping that Pedro Martinez will join the Cubs, but the team shot his idea down. Paul Sullivan says the Cubs have "no plans" to pursue Pedro.
• 4-6 teams have expressed interest in acquiring Bradley.
• Both the Rangers and Cubs have denied a Chicago Tribune report that a 3-time trade that would send Bradley to the Rangers, Millwood to the Mets, and Castillo to the Cubs.
• Bruce Levine likes the John Grabow signing.
• Pat Burrell doesn't fit with the Chicago Cubs according to Levine.
• Jon Heyman listed the Cubs as possible suitors for Matt Holliday and Jason Bay on MLB Network.
• The Cubs think that Esmalin Caridad, Justin Berg, and Angel Guzman, gave them enough bullpen depth to trade Heilman.
• Hendry told Paul Sullivan that he may try to add more to the pen this winter.
• Other arbitration-eligible players may also be traded in the next couple months. This list includes Mike Fontenot, Carlos Marmol, Jeff Baker, Sean Marshall, Ryan Theriot, Koyie Hill, Angel Guzman, Tom Gorzelanny, and Neal Cotts. Out of this list, Marshall, Cotts, Gorzelanny, and Fontenot have the best chance of being moved in my opinion.
• Bruce Levine and Sean Marshall's agent are both unsure of what happens to Marshall next year. Maybe a trade would be the best thing for Sean at this point according to Bruce.

John Grabow joined Bruce Levine and Jonathan Hood today on ESPN Radio's Talkin' Baseball:

• Coming back to Chicago was the right place for John to go.
• The whole team, coaching staff, and training staff were great to him.
• "It's so much more fun pitching in a full house," he said of pitching at Wrigley instead of in Pittsburgh.
• Grabow think chemistry is huge. If your team gets along, that's probably going to put some good results on the field.
• He would like to cut his walks and wildness down next season.
• It's a tough situation for some of the smaller market teams like the Pirates.
• Repeating his delivery is the key for Marmol.
• Relievers have to stay consistent with their pregame work.

That's it for now...

Bullpen Moves: Heilman traded, Grabow re-signs

According to Jon Heyman, the Cubs have traded Aaron Heilman to the Arizona Diamondbacks! The first real move of the offseason for the Chicago Cubs. Heilman was traded from the Mets to the Mariners last offseason, then the M's shipped him to Chicago, and now the Cubs have sent him to AZ.

The Cubs were expected to non-tender Heilman, so they were happy to get a few prospects for him. They received pitcher Scott Maine and first baseman Ryan White in return for him.

Some Notes on Scott Maine:

• Left handed pitcher
• 24 years old
• Drafted by the D'backs in the 6th round of the 2007 amateur entry draft
• Pitched in 36 games at AA Mobile in 2009. He had an ERA of 2.66 and a 3-3 record as a relief pitcher.
• Made 12 appearances at AAA Reno going 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA.
• Scout.com page

Notes on Ryne White:

• Spells his name like Ryne Sandberg!
• First baseman
• Born and went to High School in Chicago
• Went to college at Purdue University in Indiana
• Bats: Left, Throws: Left
• Selected by the D'backs in the 4th round of the 2008 draft
• Played the entire 2009 season at High Class A Visalia.
• In 116 games he hit .266 with a OBP of .371, 6 HR, 52 RBIs, and 3 SB.
• Hit .275 over his 2 minor league seasons so far.

The Bullpen re-gained a key member today as well, lefty John Grabow.

The Cubs signed Grabow to a 2 year deal worth about $7.5 M according to Bruce Levine. The deal is not yet official, but it will be "no later than Friday".

Stay tuned, it's Thursday so later we'll have our Cub Minor League Coverage post later! And this is just the start of what should be an interesting winter for our Cubbies...

Getting to Know the Cubs: Aaron Heilman

This week, we continue one of our offseason mini-series: Getting to Know the Cubs. As you know, we kick off every Wednesday morning with a "Getting to Know the Cubs" post. Today we continue the series with Cubs pitcher Aaron Heilman.

Born: Nov. 12, 1978, in Logansports, Ind.


Big-League debut: June 26, 2003


Position: Pitcher


Bats/Throws: R/R


Height/Weight: 6-5/277


Childhood: Heilman grew up in the Chicago land area in a small town call Logansport, IN.


College: Notre Dame


Nickname: Big Bird


Family: Aaron likes to spend lots of time with his wife Kerri.


Interesting Fact: Heilman went to school to be an architect.

Cubs traded Cedeno and Olson for Aaron Heilman

Big News Today! The Cubs have traded Ronny Cedeno and Garrett Olson to Seattle for Aaron Heilman. With the trade the Cubs cleared a spot off their 40-man roster, so they could sign Paul Bako in the next few days. I'm not sure what to think about this deal. I'm shocked that they traded away Garrett Olson because we've heard that the Padres want him, and were assuming that they would trade him in a Jake Peavy deal. I like this move over all, because it adds depth to the pen, but if it means the Cubs aren't pursuing Peavy, I'm not too happy. But we'll have to wait and see.

Aaron Heilman:

• played 2003-08 with Mets.
• Traded to Seattle in December in a 3-team deal for J.J. Putz.
• Right Handed.
• 2008 Stats; 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA in 76 IP.
• career stats; 22-33, 25 starts, 280 relief appearances, 4.24 ERA.
• more stats on baseball reference, bio on wiki

This trade will be one of the many Cubs topics on tonight's chat right here on this blog at 7:00 CT. I'll be answering all Cubs questions, and I'll also have a few live polls and videos all Cub related.

I'll keep you posted.

Cubs Rumors

• The Cubs could be interested in adding Aaron Heilman to their bullpen. The Mariners are looking for middle infield help and Ronny Cedeno could be traded in a deal for Heilman according to Bruce Levine.
• Levine also reported during Talking Baseball today that the Cubs could pursue Randy Wolf.
• The San Diego Union Tribune says that if Jake Peavy is traded he could skip the World Baseball Classic so he could train with his new club.
• The Cubs are hoping to get 25 starts from Rich Harden in 2009.
• Bruce said that Sean Marshall will be used as a "Super 6 Starter".
• Milton Bradley is not worried about receiving taunts from the Wrigley crowd like Jacque Jones and LaTroy Hawkins got.
• The Cubs may sign Henry Blanco to be the backup catcher once the ownership situation is resolved. The Cubs have talked about Henry been a coach in the organization once he retires.
• Barry Rozner of the Daily Herald believes that Tom Rickets might increase the Cubs budget, which would allow Jim Hendry to acquire Peavy if he becomes the owner.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted.