Breaking News: Cubs Acquire Matt Garza from Tampa Bay

Update 6:00 CT: The Cubs will also get a PTBNL in the deal.

According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago, the Cubs and Rays have gotten together for an eight player trade! The Cubs received starting pitcher Matt Garza, who is expected to lead the rotation. They will send Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos and Sam Fuld to Tampa Bay. The Cubs will also add two minor leaguers.

Bruce Miles reports that switching hitting outfielder Fernando Perez is in the deal. If this is true, Perez will be added to the 40-man roster.

This deal is not official yet and it is still pending physicals.

I will update this post with more information this afternoon!

Rumor Mill Quick Hits: Free Agency Begins!

Free agency is officially open! Teams can now start negotiation with all free agents for 2011 contracts. Let's catch up with all of the Cubs rumors that have been flying around so far this winter!

• The Sun Times reports that the Cubs will not be going after "big names" on the free agent market. The Cubs top offseason priorities are a bullpen arm and a first baseman.
• The Cubs are "keeping their eye" on bringing Kerry Wood back to the Windy City.
• Several sources have connected the Cubs to left handed hitting first baseman Nick Johnson.
• It is starting to look like the Cubs will not be able to afford Adam Dunn.
• According to the Tribune, Kosuke may need to me traded in order for the team to have room on the budget to sign a prominent free agent.
• The Tribune also connect Jon Garland to the Cubs and said that their season biggest need is starting pitching.
• Todd Ricketts was on the CBS TV show Undercover Boss tonight.
• Bruce Miles is holding out hope that Carlos Zambrano can be effective.
• The Cubs may be looking at Victor Martinez and Aubrey Huff.
• Josh Vitters went 0-for-2 in the AFL Rising Stars Game last night with 2 Ks. Chris Carpenter looked sharp on the hill and topped out at 99-mph.
• Xavier Nady is not expected to return to the Cubs next season. He is the only free agent on the club.
• Chris Archer will be added to the 40-man roster soon.

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

Coaching Staff Roundup: Rothschild Takes Option, Tram Expected to Move On, & More

Rothschild Exercises Option
Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild has picked up his option for the 2011 season. Bruce Levine reports that Larry informed team officials of his decision Monday, which was his last day to do so. This does not mean that Rothschild will definitely return to the club next season, because he could be fired if a new manager comes in and bring in "his guy". Paul Sullivan tweets that if Mike Quade becomes the skipper, Rothschild will return.

Jaramillo Expected to Stay
Rudy Jaramillo is the only Cubs coach in addition to Rothschild who is under contract for the 2011 season. Despite the Cubs offensive struggles in 2010 he is still well respected around baseball. This means that Rudy will most likely be back regardless of who the new manager is.

The Final Four
The Chicago Tribune reports that it appears that Mike Quade, Ryne Sandberg, Eric Wedge, and Bob Melvin are the final four for the Cubs managerial position. Carrie Muskat also lists these four as finalists. Tom Ricketts reportedly would like a guy with a Cubs background, which would indicate that Q and Ryno could have an edge, but Tom has met with Wedge. Levine expects the new skipper to be announced soon.

Bench Coach
Bruce Levine mentioned during his chat earlier in the week that the Cubs do not see Alan Trammell as a big league manager. He added that Alan will most likely be "moving on". If Ryne Sandberg is named the manager, Tram could be replaced by ex-Cub Larry Bowa.

Rest of the Staff
The Tribune points out that the rest of the Cubs coaching staff could easily stay intact if Mike Quade is named the manager. This would create less of a transition period. Bringing in a skipper that has already been around for three years and keeping the rest of the coaches could help the Cubs gel faster in 2011.

Random Quick Hits

• Cubs pitcher Angel Guzman started playing catch this week in Mesa according to a report from Carrie Muskat. Guzman missed the entire 2010 season.
• The Mesa Solar Sox posted an 8-3 win yesterday but no Cubs prospects saw action. They will have the home opener tonight with Jake Muyco, David Cales, Chris Carpenter, and Kyle Smit all scheduled to pitch. Josh Vitters, rehabbing his broken hand, may see the field tonight.
• Chris Archer fanned ten over six shutout inning yesterday in Team USA's 4-1 win over Cubs in the Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament.

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

Weekend Quick Hits: No Position Change for Colvin, Six Men in the Rotation, The Smokies Must Win ,& More

The Chicago Cubs are red hot for the first time this year! They've one five in a row and have looked sharp ever since Mike Quade took over the team. They swept the Cardinals this week and won the first game in Florida last night behind a great outing from Ryan Dempster.

By the final week of the regular season, more frequent posting is expected to resume!

For now, let's catch up:

• Tom Gorzelanny will return to the rotation on Friday as the Cubs host the Cardinals.
• Moving Tyler Colvin to first base has been put on hold for now according to Cubs.com.
• Mike Quade mentioned yesterday that the younger players will see action in the final game of the series on Sunday. Sam Fuld, Brad Snyder, Jeff Samardzija, and Welington Castillo are all expected to be in the starting lineup tomorrow.
• Today is the 51st birthday of Ryne Sandberg!
• The Cubs Double-A affiliate in Tennessee will play Jacksonville tonight in game four of the Southern League Championship series. It is a must-win game for the Smokies, who trail the best-of-five series two games to one.
• Brandon Guyer was named the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year and Chris Archer the Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
• The Cubs are going with the six-man rotation for now.
• The schedule for 2011 was released this week. Click here to check it out. The Cubs open up at home against the Pirates.

We plan to have several posts during the week this coming week, including a Former Cub Update. A soon as the regular season ends, the best time of the year for blogging starts. Come to Everything Cubs everyday this winter as we help you though your offseason with features, news, and plenty of rumors.

Catching Up Quick Hits: Rotation Switch, Sori Resting, Injury Updates and More

• Casey Coleman will make his first big league start in on Wednesday. He will take Thomas Diamond spot in the rotation. Diamond will switch roles with Coleman and head to the bullpen.
• Alfonso Soriano was out of the lineup for two games this weekend, but he just go two days off because of the heat. He returned on Monday night.
• Darwin Barney got his first career hit on Monday, a double in his first at bat at Wrigley.
• Barney was starting at shortstop in place of Starlin Castro, who got a much needed day of race after playing three games in the heat in St. Louis.
• Ron Santo returned to the broadcast booth Monday night. He missed the last road trip to rest up, but says he plans on going on the next road trip. The Cubs visit Washington D.C. and Cincinnati next week.
• Derrek Lee is out with a bulging disc in his back. He left Sunday's finale against the Cardinals after he had already launched two home runs on the day. D-Lee was heating up with four bombs in the three game set. He is expected to return on Thursday.
• Geovany Soto is expected to take batting practice tomorrow. He could return from the DL as soon as next Sunday.
• Carlos Silva is expected to begin a minor league rehab program soon.
• Oneri Fleita joined WGN Radio's David Kaplan on Monday. He said that Chris Archer, Brett Jackson, and Josh Vitters will all be in the Arizona Fall League in Mesa this October. Vitters, who is rehabbing from a broken hand, will see time at first base and third base.
• Bruce Levine reports that Padres bench coach Ted Simmons is interested in the Cubs managerial opening. The search for a new manager could go all the way up to the team's organizational meetings in November.

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

Minor League Radio Recaps

I recently discovered a great Cubs website called 312sports.com. Every Thursday their show features the Cubs' minor league system, so be sure to check it out tomorrow morning.

Last week "B-Squared" were joined by pitcher Chris Archer:

• Archer has started three games this year in Daytona. He is adjusting to the Florida State League after pitching in Peoria last year.
• There are better hitters in the FSL, but his team is batter as well.
• All in all, his third start was probably his best.
• Archer has very good stuff, but he has been working on his command.
• It's been a slow but steady process to where he is now.
• His offspeed stuff has good command but he needs to control his fastball.
• Chris understands that "sometimes in pro ball you're just going to have to do what you're told." He thinks it's a good thing that the Cubs are protecting young arms.
• At this point it's all about development.
• The organization wants younger guys to throw less pitches. Once you've been in the organization for a few years, you can build your pitch count up.
• Archer came over from Cleveland in the DeRosa trade. He says that the Indians organization preaches how to attack guys.
• The Cubs worry less about the mental side of the game and more about mechanics. Chris likes looking at the physical aspect.
• The Florida State League hitters don't swing at as many bad pitches as Midwest League hitters.
• Archer is enjoying the weather and beaches in Florida.
• The Daytona Cubs get along on and off the field. They enjoy spending time together.

The guys quizzed Archer with a trivia challenge. I cannot believe he missed some of these:

1. When was the last time the Cubs won the World Series?

Archer: 1929

Correct Answer: 1908

2. Who is Mr. Cub?

Archer: Ryne Sandberg

Correct Answer: Ernie Banks

3. Who is the owner of the Chicago Cubs?

Archer: Jim Ricketts

Correct Answer: Tom Ricketts

After that Chris settled in and got a few, but it still is honestly disappointing that there is someone playing in the Cubs system that got both of these first two questions wrong!

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