Monday AM Quick Hits

Let's start this Monday with some rumors:

• The Cubs are not leaning towards any one outfield candidate according to FOX Sports. Jim Hendry may trade to work out a trade with the Yankees for Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera.
• Mike Puma of the New York Post tells us that the Yankees have inquired on Carlos Zambrano, but the Cubs' asking price was too high.
• Steven Henson thinks that the Mariners will regret the Bradley trade when it's all said and done.
• Jon Heyman tweets that the Cubs center field options are Byrd, Ankiel, Cabrera, and Podsednik.
• A center fielder and a set-up man are two of the Cubs main needs according to Gordon Wittenmyer. The Cubs could land Matt Capps and Marlon Byrd to fill both those needs.
• The Seattle Times has quoted a handful of Bradley's ex-teammates and coaches who said he's a great guy to work with. Same thing we heard when he came to Chicago.
• Ken Davidoff lists the Cubs, along with the Braves, Rays, and Mets, as possible destinations for Johnny Damon.
• Gordon Wittenmyer said on XM Radio that Marlon Byrd is very likely to sign with the Cubs. Byrd and Capps could be in a Cub uniform in the next couple of days!

Last Friday the guys talked about the Milton Bradley trade on MLB Network's Hot Stove:

• Herold Reynolds thinks this is an interesting move for the Mariners. The talent is there, and Herold, who is a former M, says that if Milton can't get along with the people in Seattle, he's not going to get along with anybody.
• "This is it for Milton Bradley," Reynolds said.
• Mitch Williams said that sooner or later Bradley will have to understand that it's his problem, not everybody else in baseball that has the problem.
• Bradley's batting average is much better in the American League.
• Tom Verducci says that the reason for his better play in the AL is that he has played for two big market teams in the NL and he doesn't fit there. Also, Bradley needs the DH spot to get more playing time because he can't play in the outfield every day.
• Jack Zduriencik, the Mariners General Manager, thinks that Seattle is a great place to be. Seattle was looking for a middle of the lineup fielder. Jack says, "This guy once to win."
• He talked to some of the guys in the M's organization and everyone said that this guy can play, this guy can hit. Just let him do his thing.
• Ken Griffey has a great personality, he's a leader, and he has great leadership skills. Griffey will lead the whole ball club in the right direction.

That's it for now, there's more to come!

Talkin' Baseball

Bruce Levine and Jonathan Hood talked baseball on ESPN 1000 on this snowy Saturday morning:

• Levine says that the deck was stacked against Milton Bradley from the beginning.
• Hood didn't like Gordon Wittenmyer's article about black players struggling at Wrigley Field right before Milton's first game at Wrigley Field.
• Hate mail is "part of the gig", and most pro athletes get it.
• The bottom like for Bradley was play on the field.
• Hendry has said that the Cubs are going to move on the from this. He stepped up and took the blame for himself. It was his choice to sign Milton.
• Getting $9 million back was the key to the deal, and that money will help him improve the 2010 Chicago Cubs.
• Carlos Silva was a work horse for the Twins, but then things fell apart when he went 4-15 for the M's.
• Even if the Cubs get nothing out of Silva, Levine still likes the deal because the Cubs get some money in the deal to help them go after a player that they do want.
• Levine mentioned to Seattle radio hosts that the Cubs have an aggressive media in Chicago.
• Having lots of media here was too much for Bradley.
• Todd Hunley was the first Cub to be booed out of town.
• The White Sox crowd "is no different" now then the Cubs crowd.
• We have a tougher media who ask tougher questions. The beat reporters are more involved in not just reporting the news, but also giving their opinion.
• Bruce sees a guy who couldn't handle Chicago and failed.
• Jonathan thinks that Seattle could be Milton's last chance, but Bruce doesn't think so because when someone thinks you still have talent a team will still give you a chance.
• Bradley failed in Chicago, and that will always be remembered. He still has a chance to do good in Seattle.
• Jim Hendry talked with the Yankees about a possible trade for Melky Carbera to fill the outfield vacancy.
• Bruce thinks Melky would be a good addition in center field for the Chicago Cubs.

Matt Capps joined the guys to talk baseball:

• Capps loves Chicago. Every time he's been there he's always enjoyed it.
• The people and the atmosphere at Wrigley help make it a great city and a great sports town.
• He has had a lot of success as a set-up man and as a closer.
• At this point Matt wants to win, and he wants to go to a team with an opportunity to win. Whether it's pitching in the 7th, 8th, or 9th; he'd rather be with a winning team.
• If the opportunity and the fit is right, he'd say that the chances of coming to the Cubs are pretty good. There's still a lot of work to be done with Capps' agent and the Cubs; but Matt seems to like Chicago.
• There's just as good a chance as him being a Cub as him going anywhere else.
• He has had some talks with the Cubs.
• The injury he suffered at Wrigley Field did set him back a little bit, and by the end of the year he was over it.
• Pittsburgh is a phenomenal sports towns. When the Steelers and Penguins are playing, there's a great atmosphere. They've had night like that at PNC Park, but the Pirates hasn't had a whole lot of excitement the last few years.
• When the tides to turn and the Pirates get back to winning, that will be a great town to play in.
• Capps admitted that his wife loved the city of Chicago. Matt's wife is very good friends with the wife's of Tom Gorzelanny and John Grabow.

The the guys talked more Cubs:

• Bruce said that it might be between the Cubs and Washington right now for the services of Capps.
• $5.5 million will come to the Cubs this year, and $3.5 will come next year.
• Levine called the Cubs' bench "not very good" right now. Jeff Baker is a great backup, but right now Mike Fontenot is the starting second baseman.
• Hendry has a lot of work to do still, but it's December 19 and there's plenty of time next until the season starts.
• The people in Seattle are calling their GM a miracle worker. The M's fans are ecstatic that Silva is gone, and they are also happy with adding Bradley.
• Cub fans will tell them that there were 7 or 8 guys on the Cubs who had more RBIs than Milton Bradley, who was batting in the middle of the order all year long. Milton finished with just 40 RBIs.
• Seattle loves the idea that Bradley could be a productive player for them.
• Tyler Colvin is not projected as a staring center fielder for the 2010 Chicago Cubs.
• Signing a free agent center fielder is easier for the Cubs because they want to hold on to their good young players at this point.
• Jim Hendry is trying to win next year, and keep his good young players in the organization.
• One of the keys to this winter for the Cubs is how much the rest of the division does.
• Levine says that if the Cubs make a few good moves and have good health they could be right there with the Cardinals in 2010.
• The guys talked about how when someone is working hard in the offseason, it's really doesn't tell fans anything.

That's it for now, much more to come this weekend!

Updates from Indy: Lots of Talk, Little Action

The Milton Bradley trade rumors have been flying around the 24 hours, but as of right now Bradley is still a member of the Chicago Cubs. Here's the latest on Milton and more:

• Last night Jim Hendry, Crane Kenney, and Randy Bush help an "imprompto" meeting in the lobby doors of the Marriott, according to Bruce Miles. Milton Bradley was probably a topic of discussion.
• The White Sox are not interested in Bradley, but Kenny Williams did have some nice things to say about him.
• Cubs GM Jim Hendry does not use twitter.
• An Angels official told Carrie Muskat that Milton is not headed to Anaheim.
• Buster Olney tells us that the Cubs are willing to try to trade Bradley for Mike Lowell, but that deal is unlikely.
• The Mariners are not going to acquire Bradley according to Paul Sullivan.
• Levine reports that J.J. Putz will throw for his rehab in Scottsdale, Arizona today for a number of teams inlcuding the Cubs.
• Crane Kenney has "21 million reasons" why he is not going to release the right fielder.
• A Cubs source shot down interested in Melky Cabrera according to Gordon Wittenmyer.
• The Cubs hope to fill their outfield need via free agentcy.
• The Cubs lost out on Curtis Graderson, who is now a Yankee.
• The Mariners shot down the Bradley for Carlos Silva rumors.
• The Cubs could be in the market for modest level starting pitching according to Wittenmyer. This conflict previous reports.
• Tim Brown tweets that the Cubs are one team interested in Joel Pineiro.
• Mike Cameron is at the top or close to the top of the Cubs' outfield wish list.
• The markets for Cameron and Marlon Byrd include the same teams, Jon Paul Morosi says. The list includes the Cubs, Angels, Braves, Yankees, Mariners, Mets, and Giants.
• Rich Harden is drawing interest from a number of teams. He is willing to sign a one year deal.
• Bruce Levine chatted with fans yesterday, and he will again tonight at 6CT.
• Tim Kurkjian said that a lot of teams are going to be interested in Mike Gonzalez, who is "the perfect complement to a closer on a contending team".
• Baseball Prospectus tells us that the Cubs are interested in Heath Bell and they are working on a package that would include Geovany Soto.
• CSN Chicago says don't be surprised if Mike Fontenot is traded.

Hopefully we get some big news soon...

Updates from Day 1 in Indy

• Lou Piniella said today that he's going to do the best job he can, then at the end of the year we'll see what happens as far as his return in 2011.
• Bruce Miles points out that the nobody that the Cubs acquired last offseason will return in 2010, beside the prospects from the DeRosa trade.
• Tampa Bay still appears to be the destination of choice for Milton Bradley.
• According to Cubs.com, the Cubs have gotten good reports on players this offseason including Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, Ted Lilly, and Carlos Zambrano.
• Lou Piniella says he "has the utmost respect" for Mike Cameron, who the Cubs are chasing.
• Jeff Baker will play some outfield this spring. He will also serve as a backup 3rd baseman.
• The Cubs are not looking for another front of the rotation pitcher.
• The Cubs are set with Carlos Marmol as the closer, but Lou thinks adding another veteran reliever will "help stabilize things".
• Starlin Castro is expected to start the 2010 season in the minors.
• Alfonso Soriano will bat 6th in the Cubs' lineup.
• Bruce Levine tells us that the Cubs are considering bringing Reed Johnson back.
• The Cubs are not close to signing a free agent outfielder.
• Trading Milton Bradley is still the top priority.
• The three teams talking to the Cubs about Bradley are the Mets, Rangers, and Rays according to Muskat.
• Cubs catcher Koyie Hill host a successful Make-A-Wish foundation event on Saturday. They raised more than $180,000. Ryan Dempster, Mike Fontenot, Randy Wells, and Rick Sutcliffe all participated in the event
• Tim Brown says that the market for Free Agent Kevin Gregg includes the Rays, Nationals, Tigers, and Rockies.
• Marc Topkin reports the Cubs are confident that they'll get Bradley traded, but if it's going to be to the Rays for Burrell it will take some "serious negotiating".
• The Rays are growing less hopeful of sending Burrell to the Cubs according to Joel Sherman's tweet.
• Sherman adds that the Cubs "may like Melky Cabrera", and the Yankees may want Mike Cameron.
• Joel is hearing that the Mets are not interested in Milton Bradley.
• We've heard that the Cubs could trade Bradley to the Rays for Burrell, then sent Pat to the Mets for Castillo, but David Lennon says that New York shows no interested in Burrell either.
• Jerry Crasnik expects the Cubs to offer Mike Fontenot a contract soon.
• Gordon Wittenmyer says that the Cubs have not met with Kansas City about Milton Bradley. Some sources say the Cubs have had talks about him with clubs outside of Texas and Tampa. Bruce Levine had reported a Bradley for Gil Meche swap being talked about.
• The option of keeping their short fused outfielder is not being discussed.
• Any Bradley trade will depend on the Cubs picking up a good part of his salary.

That's it for now, I'll keep updating throughout the night.