Cubbie Quick Hits While the City Waits for the Kick-off

The Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers will meet today in a NFC Championship matchup for the ages. The Fanfest of another Chicago baseball team is taking place this weekend. The defending Stanley Cup Champions are red-hot in January, while the city's NBA team is in first place.

But soon the Cubbies will take center stage once again. Pitchers and catchers report three weeks from tomorrow! The first game of Spring Training is exactly five weeks from today. Let's catch up on the latest news and notes on the North Side Ballclub:

• The ESPN family of networks has set its Spring Training schedule. The Cubs games on March 24 (against Texas) and March 26 (against the Sox) will both be on ESPN2.
• The big news of the week was the minor league outfielder and Villanova wide receiver Matt Szczur has committed to playing baseball. He will skip the NFL Draft and instead sign a deal that has a signing bonus of $1.4 million.
• Justin Havens of ESPN.com wonders if the Cubs should have traded Tom Gorzelanny. His 2010 stats were pretty close to Matt Garza's.
• According to Bruce Miles, Andrea Soriano passed away this week. Andrea is the mother of Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano. I would like sent my condolences to the family.
• The Cubs signed outfielder Lou Montanez to a minor league deal with an invite to big league Spring Training. Montanez was originally drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 2000 draft and never panned out. He hit .223 in 26 games for Baltimore last season.
• The Chicago White Sox have invited former Cub Jeff Gray to Spring Training. He spent one year with the Cubs (2010) after coming over in the Fox/Miles trade with the A's. Gray's season was derailed by a groin injury.
• Check out the new poll on our right sidebar!

Here is the list of non-roster invitees so far for Spring Training-

• Angel Guzman, RHP
• Scott Rice, LHP
• Scott Moore, INF
• Bobby Scales, UTL
• Jim Adduci, OF
• Reed Johnson, OF
• Bryan LaHair, 1B/OF
• Lou Montanez, OF

A lot of names will be added to this list over the next three weeks.

I know, many of my readers will hate me for this. However...

"I don't care who wins as long as it's THE PACK!"

Breaking News: Trammell and Sinatro Out, Other Coaches Return

Alan Trammell, who has spent the last three years as the bench coach for the Chicago Cubs, will join Kirk Gibson's staff with the Arizona Diamond Backs. Gibson was Trammell's bench coach in Detroit and now the roles will be switched with the D'backs.

The Cubs will have a spot to fill on Mike Quade's coaching staff with Tram's departure. Alan was expected to be a candidate to replace Lou Piniella at the helm but he did not receive much consideration from the organization.

The first two candidate that come to mind to fill the void are Ryne Sandberg and Pat Listach. Both ideas have been shot down by the Chicago media today. ESPN reports that Sandberg has been offered his job back at Triple-A Iowa, but he will not be invited to be on the big league staff.

Bruce Levine writes that Listach is expected to return to Washington. He will be retained by the Nats and most likely will not join another staff unless it is a managerial offer. Listach managed the Iowa Cubs for several years before becoming the third base coach in DC.

Paul Sullivan tweets that the rest of the Cubs coaching staff (besides Lou's buddy Matt Sinatro) will return. It was already announced that Lester Strode, Rudy Jaramillo, and Larry Rothschild would return. If Sullivan's tweet is correct, it appears that Ivan DeJesus and Bobby Dernier will be retained as well. DeJesus could serve as the team's bench coach or stay at third base.

The full coaching staff is expected to be announced before the organizational meetings, which take place the first week of November in Mesa.

In other news, the Cubs outrighted right hander Jeff Gray to Triple-A, which opens up another space on the 40-man roster. Gray worked in seven games for the Cubs in 2010.

Ben Maller says that the Cubs are interested in signing Adam Dunn for 3 years, $40 million.

Mid-Week Quick Hits: Piniella, Zambrano, Rumors, & More

• Former AAA-Iowa manager and current Nationals coach Pat Listach has interest in managing the Cubs next season according to Bill Ladson.
• Tom Ricketts announced during the press conference yesterday that Jim Hendry will be the Cubs GM going into the 2011 season.
• The USA Today tossed out a few new possible replacements in Ted Simmons and Bobby Valentine.
• Number 1 draft pick Hayden Simpson is not expected to play this summer. He's battling mononucleosis.
• Carlos Zambrano retired the side in order in a rehab inning with the Mesa Cubs. Jeff Gray, who is rehabbing from a groin injury, pitched the first inning of the game against the AZL Royals.
• Zambrano will pitch at AAA-Iowa tomorrow night and rejoin the team by the end of next week according to Carrie Muskat.
• Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports that John Grabow, who is out with a knee injury, will begin throwing off the mound soon and will need a rehab assignment before being activated.
• Bruce Levine reports that Lou Piniella would like to stay in baseball as a consultant with either the Cubs or Yankees.
• Bruce's list of possible replacements includes the regulars plus Greg Maddux.
• Ryan Theriot wants to win, and he wants to do it in a Cubs uniform.
• ESPN says that the Tigers have some level of interest in Ted Lilly, who is available.
• Levine thinks that the Yankees could join the hunt for Lilly that already includes the Tigers, Twins, Mets, and Dodgers.

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

Sunday Morning Quick Hits: Grabow's Injury, Gorzo's Help, and More

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! Let's hope the Cubs can go get a win for you against the Reds at 12:10!

Now, let's take a look at all of the latest Cubs news and notes:

• Esmalin Caridad has been activated from the DL. To make room for him on the roster, Jeff Gray was sent to AAA-Iowa.
• John Grabow went back to Chicago yesterday to have an MRI on his left knee. No damage was revealed. Piniella thinks the knee injury has contributed to John's recent struggles. Grabow will get a few more days of rest.
• Starlin Castro is the first player in history to drive in six runs in his MLB debut. Castro also became the sixth player in franchise history to hit a home run in his first career at bat.
• According to Cubs.com, Carlos Silva's neck was feeling better on Saturday afternoon. He complained of soreness prior to his start on Friday.
• Lou Piniella thinks that Jim Hendry made a good move by calling Castro up on the road. It is easier adjust to the big leagues when there's not 41,000 fans at Wrigley.
• Mike Fontenot hit his first career Grand Slam on Friday night. He will still be used as the Cubs' backup short stop, because Lou doesn't want to mess with moving Theriot back and forth between second and short.
• Mike was frustrated when he heard the news that he had been benched.
• There were reports that Aramis Ramiez will not listen to hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, but Rudy told Paul Sullivan that the slugger has not resisted help in any way.
• David Kaplan and Fred Mitchell report that Tom Gorzelanny is having more success this year becuase he has become very close to Greg Maddux. The two talk regularly and text daily. After each start, they break down Gorzo's performance.

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

Numbers Breakdown: The Cubs Bullpen

Esmalin Caridad is on the road to recovery, which means one Cubs reliever will be sent to AAA. The Cubs have a lot of candidates who have been riddled by inconsistency, but let's take a look at the numbers and see who should be sent down.

2010 ERA
Carlos Marmol: 0.66
Sean Marshall: 2.40
Justin Berg: 3.27
James Russell: 3.86
Jeff Gray: 6.14
Carlos Zambrano: 6.29
John Grabow: 8.38
*Note: Caridad's ERA in 4 games before the injury was 18.90.

So there's no doubt that Grabow should be the one removed from the pen, but since he cannot be sent to AAA, Gray will most likely get sent down. James Russell has been nothing special, so he could be sent down as well if there is someone else to be called up.

Here are a list of candidates based on ERA in Iowa:
Blake Parker: 1.46
Thomas Diamond: 1.65
Jeff Samardzija: 2.08
Jay Jackson: 2.31
Mitch Atkins: 3.00

Either Diamond or Parker should be called up!

Remember, the number's don't lie!

Getting to Know the Cubs: Jeff Gray

When the Cubs placed Esmalin Caridad on the DL, they made their first minor league callup of the year. Let's meet the newest Cubs.

Full Names: Jeffrey Michael Gray

Position: Pitcher

B/T: Right

Drafted: By the A's in the 32nd round of the 2004 draft

Came to the Cubs: On December 3, 2009 in a trade with Oakland. Jake Fox and Aaron Miles were sent the other way in the deal.

MLB Debut: September 8, 2008

2010 Stats: 2 Games, 3 IP, 3 ER

Career Big League Stats: 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in 31 big league games.

Age: 28

College: Southwest Missouri State University

Monday Roundup: 3 Straight Losses, Lineup Changes, Rotation Decisions, and More

Lineup Tinkering
Tonight the Cubs tried out their new lineup that will take the field against left handed hitters. The changes didn't pay off as the Cubs hitters scored just 1 run in a 6-2 loss. Here is the Cubs new look batting order VS LHP:
1. Marlon Byrd, CF
2. Jeff Baker, 2B
3. Derrek Lee, 1B
4. Xavier Nady, RF
5. Aramis Ramirez, 3B
6. Alfonso Soriano, LF
7. Geovany Soto, C
8. Ryan Theriot, SS

Santo Out Sick
Cubs WGN Radio color man Ron Santo missed the game at Wrigley on Friday and Saturday because of a heart problem that led to a trip to the hospital. Santo was back at the ballpark on Sunday and was feeling a lot better. However, he did not make the trip to New York to play it safe. Ronny is not much of a fan of New York anyways. Keith Moreland will join Pat Hughes for all four games in this series.

Lilly Set to Return
Ted Lilly worked 7 innings and gave up just 1 run to lead Class A Peoria to a 2-1 win in his final rehab start before he makes his 2010 Cubs debut. They lefty is schedule to go at Miller Park next weekend.

Soriano Drops Hop
Alfonso Soriano is planning to get rid of his signature hop. He has finally relized that this makes is handed to catch the baseball. Let's hope this helps his defense improve!

Caridad to Extended Spring Training
Esmalin Caridad will head out to Mesa to work with the Cubs Extended Spring Training team on a rehab assignment. Esmalin is on the 15-day DL with a right forearm issue.

Big Z to the Bullpen
Gordon Wittenmyer tweeted early that Lou Piniella has left the door open for one of his top 3 starters to leave the rotation when Lilly returns. At this point, sending Wells or Dempster to the bullpen would not make sense, so Gordon speculated that Zambrano could be moved to the pen. Most likely, either Carlos Silva or Tom Gorzelanny will lost their rotation spot. Gorzo threw on Monday for the first time since being removed from Saturday's game after being nailed with a liner.

Bullpen Struggles
When Lilly is activated, the Cubs will have one pitcher too many. Jeff Samardzija has been pitching poorly and could be in jeopardy of losing his bullpen job. Jeff Gray could also be sent back to AAA Iowa. If Gorzelanny is sent to the bullpen, the Cubs may want to keep four right handers so James Russell may be shipped out.

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

Catching Up Quick Hits: Soriano, The 8th Inning, and More

Let's catch up on all the Cubs news and notes from this week!

• The Cubs lost today but won 2 of 3 against the Brewers in the first home series of the year.
• The 1-8 Astros will be in town starting tomorrow.
• Derrek Lee returned the the lineup today after missing some time with a thumb injury. He launched his 100th career home run at Wrigley Field before being thrown out of the game after a called third strike call in the 7th.
• Today was Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball. All players, coaches, and umpires sported number 42.
• Yesterday the Cubs placed right handed pitcher Esmalin Caridad on the DL with a forearm strain. Jeff Gray was called up from AAA-Iowa and looked rocky in his Cubs debut.
• Ted Lilly's rehab starts in Iowa have gone well. He could return to the rotation sometime after April 23.
• The 8th inning has continued to haunt the Cubs. Carrie Muskat reports that Lou will continue to call on Marshall and Grabow for setup duty, and he may not use a right hander.
• Carlos Marmol says he's up for pitching 2 innings, but the Chicago Tribune reports that the most he will be called upon for is four outs.
• Bruce Miles reported that the Cubs have threatened to bench Soriano, but the Chicago Tribune says that Lou denied this. Today Soriano was on the bench and Tyler Colvin was in left field, but Piniella was just "rotating his outfielders".
• Phil Rogers likes what he's seen from Andrew Cashner.

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

Breaking News: The Pitching Staff is Set, Roster Cuts

Today, the Chicago Cubs announced the 12 man pitching staff and 5 man starting rotation that they will use to start the season.

Gordon Wittenmyer tweets that lefty James Russell will take the final spot in the bullpen unless the Cubs make a trade next week.

Gordon also tells us that Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny have won the final two spots in the starting rotation. They will round out a starting five that already includes Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, and Randy Wells. Despite pitching great this spring, Sean Marshall will head to the bullpen where he will add depth. Jeff Samardzija, who lost out on the rotation because of some poor outings during Spring Training, will be used in middle to late relief to start the year. Russell, Marshall, and Samardzija are joined in the bullpen by Carlos Marmol, Esmalin Caridad, Justin Berg, and John Grabow.

The Cubs also made 7 roster cuts today. Pitchers Jeff Gray, Marcos Mateo, and John Gaub were optioned to AAA-Iowa, as was outfielder Jim Adduci. Jim made it tough on the Cubs with a three hit game yesterday to cap off a great spring, but it turns out there is no room for him on the roster. Gray was aquired from Oakland this offseason and was expected to be a big part of the bullpen. However, Jeff suffered a groin injury in an early February workout at Fitch Park which caused him to miss most of Spring Training. He could be a part of the pen at some point this year.

Darwin Barney, Bobby Scales, and Robinson Chirinos were also assigned to minor league camp. There are no major surprises among this group. Barney could help the Cubs as a utility infielder at some point this season.

Russell will have to be added to the 40-man roster since he came to camp as a Non-Roster Invite. Rule 5 Pick Mike Parisi is the "odd man out" and it appears that he will be offered back to the Cardinals.

With the seven cuts today, there are still 33 players left in camp, but that list includes two guys (Lilly and Guzman) who will start the season on the DL. That means the Cubs have five position players that will be cut. Kevin Millar, Andres Blanco, Micah Hoffpauir, and Chad Tracy are battling for a spot on the bench while Tyler Colvin and Sam Fuld are hoping to earn the fifth outfield job. The fifth cut will be catcher Chris Robinson, who will stay with the big league club until the end so that Koyie Hill and Geovany Soto are not overworked in the final week and a half behind the plate. It should be an interesting conclusion to Spring Training!

Be sure to check out yesterday's Cubs Roundup for more.

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

Friday Pregame News & Notes

Roster Cuts
The Cubs have reduced their Spring Training roster to 42. Eight more cuts were made today. Blake Parker, Jeff Stevens, and Welington Castillo were optioned to AAA. Five non-roster invites have been sent back to minor league camp: Andrew Cashner, Casey Coleman, Thomas Diamond, J.R. Mathes, and Bryan LaHair. With these cuts, the Cubs really cleared some pitchers out of camp (6). The biggest surprise among the cuts was Diamond, who I felt had a real chance of making the ballclub. Lefty James Russell is the only non roster pitcher remaining with the team. I also thought Cashner and Mathes would stick around a little longer.

Guzman to have Surgery
Cubs reliever Angel Guzman met with Dr. James Andrews on Thursday and it was decided that Angel will undergo surgery to try to repair the tear in his right shoulder. The operation will take place on Tuesday and there is no timetable for his return.

Ramirez Still Out
Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez was expected to get back into Cactus League action in yesterday's game against the Dodgers. However, Rami is still unable to throw because of his sore right tricep. He is expected to get some at bats in over at Fitch Park in a minor league game on Saturday.

Lilly Throws to Hitters
Ted Lilly threw to hitters for the first time this year yesterday. He is rehabbing from an offseason shoulder surgery. Lilly's moving along faster than expected and could be back in the rotation by mid-April. Ted could get into one Cactus League game before the rest of the team breaks camp.

Other Pitching Updates
The Cactus League rotation was thrown off slightly by Wednesday's off day. Jeff Samardzija worked 3 innings in a minor league intersquad game walking 3 in the second on Wednesday. Sean Marshall did his work yesterday with a 5 inning simulated game at HoHoKam Park while the rest of the team was in Glendale. Jeff Gray, acquired from Oakland this winter, is running out of time to try to make the Opening Day roster. He has been out with a groin injury all spring. Gray tossed three innings of batting practice yesterday, and Carrie Muskat reports that the next step will be a simulated game. We've known that Esmalin Caridad is in the mix for late inning work, but now Bruce Levine adds that Justin Berg is a leader for a setup role.

Today's Game
Randy Wells will take the mound against the White Sox today in Glendale. The game starts at 3:05 CT and will be on CSN Chicago and WGN Radio. Dave van Dyck reports that Aramis Ramirez is still missing from the lineup. Jeff Baker will start at the hot corner in place of Ramirez, and Xavier Nady is scheduled to be the DH.

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

The State of the Bullpen

I covered the bullpen some in yesterday's post, but unfortunately technical difficulties prevented me from posting that story. So today, let's talk a little bit about the Cubs' relief core.

Carlos Marmol is the closer. He is of the utmost importance to this ballclub because they already lack bullpen depth. As of now, there would be nobody to take over for Carlos if he goes down or struggles.

But instead of thinking about "What ifs..." let's face the situation the pen is in right now. With the injury to Angel Guzman, the already thin bullpen lost a significant arm. Marmol will be the Cubs closer, John Grabow will be the primary left handed setup man, and beyond that there's a gray area. Lou Piniella has showed confidence in Esmalin Caridad, who pitched well late last year when he received a callup. Lou says that Caridad has made the club as a setup man. Whoever is left out of the rotation of the group of Samardzija, Marshall, and Gorzelanny will fill the 4th spot in the bullpen. That leaves three slots open.

Jeff Gray, who came to the Cubs in the deal that shipped Fox and Miles to Oakland this winter, is out with a groin injury and will probably not be ready to start the regular season.

So these final three spots could be filled with young pitchers that are in camp, or the Cubs could look to add a veteran presence to the bullpen by going outside the organization. Bruce Levine continues to report that Jason Frasor and Luke Gregerson are options for the Cubs. Frasor worked a scoreless inning in his only spring appearance so far for the Blue Jays. Gregerson has worked 2 innings so far for the Padres and has yielded just one base runner and no runs.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports connects the Cubs to John Smoltz and Pedro Martinez. Would it be worth the injury risk to try to bring in one of these post-prime legends?

Even if the Cubs fill 1 spot with a trade or free agent signing, there will still be at least 2 bullpen openings for younger guys. Bruce Levine says that Casey Coleman, John Gaub, Jeff Stevens, and James Russell are candidates. Carrie Muskat mentions Justin Berg, Mike Parisi, and Thomas Diamond. Muskat adds that David Patton will most likely start in the minor leagues now that the Cubs have kept him on the roster long enough to keep him since the Rule V Draft in December of 2008. Carlos Silva will also vie for a spot in the bullpen if he does not make the rotation. He could start the year hidden on the DL if he does not improve upon his Cactus League debut.

Let's take a look at how some of the Cubs competing for spots in the bullpen are doing in the Cactus League:

• Andrew Cashner: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 ER
• Casey Coleman: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER
• J.R. Mathes: 2 IP, 2 ER
• Mike Parisi: 2 IP, 1 ER
• Carlos Silva: 2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER
• Jeff Stevens: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER
• John Gaub: 1.1 IP, 1 ER
• Marcos Mateo: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER
• Jeff Kennard: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER
• Mitch Atkins: 0.1 IP, 0 ER

We'll see how it plays out!

Make it 2-0: Cubs 8, Arizona 7

Game Recap
Besides Carlos Zambrano, who was the starting pitcher, the Cubs that took the field at HoHoKam Park today were essentially the "B" team. Big Z retired all six batters he faced in his two innings of work.

Starlin Castro was batting leadoff and starting at short stop. He went 2-4 with a double and a single. Early on, the game was low scoring. After Casey Coleman worked the 3rd and the 4th for the Cubs, the Cactus League battle was scoreless. Then in the bottom of the 5th, the Cubs bats came to life against former Cub Aaron Heilman. Jim Hendry sent Heilman to the D'backs in November, and so far the move looks like a good one. Aaron allowed 4 ER on 5 hits in his inning of work. A Brett Jackson triple was the highlight of the frame.

In the 6th, Arizona got the runs right back, scoring 5 against Jeff Stevens. The Cubs acquired Stevens in the Mark DeRosa trade with Cleveland. He pitched a good fifth, but after one inning of work he fell apart, and was unable to make it through the 6th. Stevens was replaced by another hurler that came over in the DeRo deal, lefty John Gaub. In 1.1 innings, Gaub allowed just two hits but one was a solo homer to make it 6-4.

The Cubs then put a rally together to tie in up, but in the top of inning number 9 the D'backs untied it with a run against Justin Berg to take the 7-6 lead. Brad Snyder came through for the Cubs, cracking a double in the bottom of the 9th to bring Scales and Fuld home to win the game 8-7.

The Cubs have started off the Cactus League with a 2-0 record and have played fairly well in both games. Marcos Mateo, an underrated pitching prospect, also looked good in his one inning on the hill. Josh Vitters was the starting third baseman. The former first round pick had 2 hits and scored twice.

Tyler Colvin has really impressed Cubs brass early on in camp. He has three things going for him:
1. Last year he played great defense when he was called up in September, and the Cubs are hoping to improve their outfield defensively.
2. He put on 20+ pounds of muscle this offseason, and Piniella took notice.
3. He's played great in the Cactus League's first two games, going 2-3 with 2 RBIs today.

Koyie Hill was the starting catcher today. He drove home a run with an RBI single. The Cubs top pick from the 2009 draft, Brett Jackson, reached base all three times. Jeff Baker got the start at second base and went 0-2.

Bullpen Health Update
Carlos Marmol has the closers' duty locked up, but beyond that everything is up for grabs in the Cubs' bullpen. Now, Angel Guzman will most likely not be ready to go on Opening Day. He still has discomfort in his shoulder, and he was going to undergo an MRI today. Jeff Gray is also still sidelined, and he may not be ready to go for the start of the season either. Hendry is working the phone lines, but if he does not bring in any help this bullpen could be in trouble. However, that would give guys like Jeff Stevens, David Patton, Mike Parisi, Mitch Atkins, Andrew Cashner, Thomas Diamond, and John Gaub a chance to make the 25 man roster. Hopefully somebody can step up and become a dependable relief option for Piniella.

Looking Ahead
Tomorrow the Cubs take on the White Sox at 2:05 CT on WGN TV and Radio. Carlos Silva, who reported to camp out of shape, will take the mound for the Cubs. Carlos is trying to prove that he's worthy of a spot in the rotation after coming over for Milton Bradley this winter.

Alfonso Soriano will get into game action tomorrow for the first time since being shut down because of a knee injury late last year. Sori is expected to start in left field, with Xavier Nady serving as the Cubs' DH. Both the Cubs and Sox have agreed to use the DH despite the fact that the game will be played at HoHoKam Park.

Bruce Miles has posted the list of all the pitchers that will go this weekend. Tomorrow afternoon Silva will be followed by Carlos Marmol, James Russell, Andrew Cashner, Jeff Kennard, and John Grabow.

On Sunday the Cubs will play a split squad, with Jeff Samardzija pitching against the White Sox on WGN-TV and Tom Gorzelanny going against the Dodgers. Both games get underway at 2:05.

Other Notes:

• Lou Piniella will not go to Vegas when the Cubs travel there for two games against the White Sox March 12-13. Instead, Piniella will stay with the half of the split squad team that will play in Arizona both of those day. Alan Trammell will manage the team that is Las Vegas.
• Mike Fontenot has a minor shoulder injury suffered while running the bases on Thursday. He will not play again until Sunday.
• Sam Fuld's homer on Thursday landed near his wife Sarah and his young son Charlie. A women picked up the ball, and the Fulds tried to bargain with her for it, offering photos and autographs. However, the lady wanted no part of that and kept the ball.

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

Spring Training Preview: The Bullpen

We discussed the rotation earlier in the week, so now it's time to jump back into it by breaking down the state of the Cubs' bullpen.

Carlos Marmol
This year, Marmol knows his role. He doesn't have to try to beat anyone out for the closer's job in camp, as it is finally all his. This could work either way. Perhaps Carlos will be able to use the time in Spring Training to relax and prepare for the season rather than when a job. But depending on one guys without much of a plan B for the 9th inning may not be such a good thing. Marmol's has been like a roller coaster since he started his Cub career in 2006. There's not question that he has great stuff, with an electric breaking ball and a good fastball, but command of his pitchers could be an issue. Marmol has been know for putting gives on base via the base on balls and hit by pitch, so Cubs fans could be doing a lot of sweating during the 9th this year. If the Cubs are going to return to their title of top dog in the Central, the key very well could be this man's performance closing games.
Prediction: Lock to make the roster as the closer


John Grabow
Earlier in the offseason, the Cubs feel like they made a big move that got little attention when they locked up Grabow. Grabow is a left handed late inning pitcher who came over from the Pirates along with Tom Gorzelanny in the deal that sent Kevin Hart and Jose Ascaino the other way last July. He pitched well in middle relief down the stretch last season, and will strive to continue success in the late innings. Grabow is a key to the bullpen because he is one of the only veteran arms to lead the way. The Cubs would still like to sign one more late inning guy to help out from the right side.
Prediction: Lock to make the roster as a reliever


Angel Guzman
Guzman has not thrown the baseball yet in camp after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee two weeks ago. He tore his meniscus during a workout in Venezuela last month. Jim Hendry says that Angel will be a couple of weeks behind the other pitchers, but will be ready to go for the start of Spring Training. The question with Guzman has never been a matter of stuff, it's a matter of staying healthy. He managed to still healthy most of 2009 with just one stint on the DL and a few minor injuries here and there. The one thing the is still unchecked on Hendy's offseason wish-list is a right handed setup man. Guzman could serve in this role for the Cubs if he is indeed ready to go before Opening Day.
Prediction: Will make the roster as a reliever


Jeff Stevens
This young right handed pitcher has already taken advantage of the experience in the organization, working with Greg Maddux at Fitch Park. Stevens pitched well last spring, and this year has his sites set on winning a spot in the Cubs bullpen. Jeff came to the Cubs in the unpopular trade among fans that shipped Mark DeRosa to Cleveland. Spent some time with the big league team during the season, but ended up with an unfairly bloated ERA in a handful of appearances.
Prediction: Will Start the year at AAA Iowa


Jeff Gray
One of three Jeffs on the pitcher staff and four on the 40-man roster, Gray is a new addition to the Cub relief core. He was traded to Chicago this winter in the deal that sent Aaron Miles and Jake Fox to Oakland. Jeff spent some time with the A's big league club last year posting a 3.76 ERA in 24 games. If he makes the roster, Gray will become the first Cub to wear number 34 since Kerry Wood sported in for ten years before his departure via free agency after the 2008 season.
Prediction: Will make the Cubs roster as a reliever


David Patton
After selecting him in the Rule 5 Draft in December of 2008, the Cubs were forced to keep Patton on the roster for all of the 2009 season. Had they sent him to the minors, he would have been returned to the Seattle organization. Apparently, the Cubs saw something they liked in this kid, as they kept him around despite a 6.83 ERA in 20 games. Before last season, David had never played high that Class A. He did spend a lot of time on the DL during the summer months of last year, before finally returning when roster expanded on September 1. Now it's time to find out of the struggle to keep Patton around was worth it. If the Cubs decide that he cannot help the bullpen, he can be sent down to the minors without the organization losing the red-headed prospect.
Prediction: Will star the year at AA Tennessee


Mike Parisi
What is it with the Cubs and these Rule 5 guys? Parisi was this year's selection, and so he must be kept on the big league roster or else he will be returned to St. Louis. Parasi is more experienced than Patton was a year ago, as he has spent a lot of time at AAA and even 12 games in the bigs in 2008. Over those 12 games Mike went 0-4 with a dreadful 8.22 ERA. He has been a starter in the past, but will likely fill a relief role if he pitches well enough in Cactus League play to make the roster. He is coming off of Tomm John surgery in August of 2008.
Prediction: Will be returned to St. Louis


Esmalin Caridad
The young Dominican right hander has electric stuff. Last season, when he got a chance to come up to the Cubs because of a string of injuries, he opened some eyes with a microscopic 1.40 ERA in 14 games. If the Cubs do not add another arm to the mix, Caridad could not only make the club, but also have a major impact. He will have to continue to prove himself in Arizona, as he is not a lock to get a spot on the team because of the crowded mix of relievers.
Prediction: Will make the roster as a reliever


John Gaub
Another arm netted in the DeRosa trade, Gaub had a solid year at AAA in 2009 earning a spot on the 40-man roster. Next on the agenda for Gaub is to try to earn a spot on the 25-man roster. The lefty has yet to make his big league debut. Gaub has talent, but the pitching staff already includes four left handers in Grabow, Marshall, Lilly, and Gorzelanny- at least two of which will be pitching out of the bullpen. Although a spot on the Opening Day roster is unlikely, when there is an injury or someone struggles, Gaub could be the first LHP to get to call up.
Prediction: Will start they year at AAA Iowa

Blake Parker
Although he has little or no chance of starting the year with the Cubs, Parker still has a good arm. He was drafted by the Cubs as a position in 2006, and then was converted to the hill after one year in the organization. He posted a 2.70 ERA last year, splitting the team between Iowa and Tennessee. Parker played for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League this winter.
Prediction: Will start the year at AAA Iowa

Marcos Mateo
Brother of former Cub Juan Mateo, Marcos went 3-6 with a 4.07 ERA in 34 game with Tennessee last year. He came to the organization in 2008, playing for the Reds Class A squad prior to that time. He has quickly worked his was from Peoria to AA over the last two years, and plans to keep moving up that latter. Mateo could find himself in the big leagues within the next year or two.
Prediction: Will start the year at AA

Mitch Atkins
Don't count this 23 year old out of the Cubs bullpen mix just. Although last year was a down year for Mitch (8-12 with a 6.58 ERA at AAA), he did go 8-1 in ten games with the I-Cubs at the end of the '08 season. Atkins will need to bounce back with a good spring. He has been used mostly as a starting pitcher, but perhaps he will be added to the bullpen at some point this season if someone goes down.
Prediction: Will start the year at AAA

Rafael Dolis
This talented young hurler is still a few seasons away from the big leagues. He is on the 40 man roster because the Cubs wanted to protect him from being selected in the Rule V Draft in December. In 2009, Dolis put up a 3.79 ERA at Class A Daytona after missing all of '08 because of Tommy John surgery. Dolis is now back to full health, and will begin to make his climb to the big leagues. He was signed by the Cubs in 2006.
Prediction: Will start the year at Class A Daytona

So here is my prediction for the Cubs full 12 man pitching staff: Dempster, Zambrano, Gorzelanny, Wells, Samardzija, Marshall, Grabow, Guzman, Marmol, Gray, Caridad, and Stevens. DL: Lilly and Silva

We'll start our look at the hitters in a few days!

The Cubbies Come Out of Hibernation

It's official, pitchers and catcher have reported to Spring Training in Mesa, Arizona! Their first workouts will take place tomorrow. Today, however, lots of news, interviews, and rumors have been spreading, so let's jump right in.

Lilly Update
Cubs.com reports that Ted Lilly is targeting a return by Opening Day. Ted went for for a long run with Ryan Dempster today and felt pretty good. He also tossed lightly on the side with coach Allan Trammell. Lou Piniella is not as optimistic as the lefty, predicting a return between April 15 and May 1. Also, Lilly would like to stay with the Cubs beyond 2010, but he doesn't want that to be a distraction.

Cubs Tax
A lot has been made of the "Cubs Tax" that the state of Arizona would like to put in place. If this goes through, all fans will have to pay a tax on their Cactus League game tickets to help keep the Cubs in Arizona. Even if the Cubs are not playing in the game, this tax would be enforced. Obviously, most other teams are opposed to the idea, and the D'backs and White Sox have been especially vocal.

Soto on Steroids?... No Chance
With the sudden weight loss this winter of Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, some speculated that this could be a result of Geo using steroids before. Soto told Paul Sullivan that these rumors are ridiculous, as he was just fat before, and now stuck to a work out program this offseason. Soto reported to camp early, working out with new hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo yesterday. He was one of 40 Cubs to report early to Fitch Park.

Less Attention, More Focus
Chicago Cubs Spring Training will get much less attention from the national media than it did each of the last 3 years, as the Tribune pointed out. A laid back camp could be a good thing for the team, as it will allow them to spend more time practicing and less time and energy answer questions. There are few new faces to be seen, so this group of guys already knows each other pretty well.

Early Injuries
There are just two pitchers that will be slowed down at the start of camp, Jeff Gray and Angel Guzman. Bruce Miles reports that Gray, who was acquired from the A's in the traded that sent Jake Fox the other way, has a mild groin strain. Guzman had arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago, but he will be ready to go by the end of the spring.

Hearing Time
At this point, going to arbitration with short stop Ryan Theriot seems inevitable. According to Cubs.com, Jim Hendry will leave tomorrow for Florida, where the hearing will take place either Friday or Saturday. Levine chimes in that the date is set for Friday. The Cubs have a good history of avoiding these hearings (this is the first since 1993), but they are trying to save some money that could be used to help the bullpen. Should be interesting.

Theriot's Role
Starlin Castro will get a lot of playing time in Spring Training games, but Lou is planning on going with Ryan as the Opening Day shortstop. Also, Theriot will be the Cubs primary leadoff man, with Kosuke hitting second.

Rotation Battle
Another Cub to report early was Jeff Samardzija, who really wants to be a starting pitcher in the big leagues. The Shark will have to battle with Tom Gorzelanny, Carlos Silva, and Sean Marshall for what most likely will be only one spot, with Lilly returning shortly after the start of the year. Marshall figures to end up as a swing man, but the Cubs do feel he deserves a chance to earn the job. Gorzo has experience in the rotation, while Samardzija struggled when given the chance last year. He has his work cut out for him.

Greg Maddux has reported
Another pitcher who reported to the Cubs today was Greg Maddux, only this time he will not be taking the hill. Thanks to TCR for this one- Lary Rothschild will most likely be around as Cubs pitcher coach as long as Jim Hendy is the team's GM. Therefore, fans that would like to see Greg in the dugout coaching may have to wait until after the Hendy era comes to a close.

The Message
Piniella's message to this year's time is, "Let's get back on top." He is hoping to add another 10-12 wins to what the Cubs did last year. Rudy will work with Lou's hitters every morning at 10:00 according to Bruce Levine.

Hill with Cardinals
Former Cubs pitcher Rich Hill signed a minor league deal with St. Louis this offseason that included an invite to Spring Training. Hill has impressed pitching coach Dave Duncan. Could this be another Duncan/LaRussa success story?

Levine's Latest

Mr. Chicago Baseball started his busy few days by joining Waddle and Silvy yesterday to talk baseball:

• Bruce is getting a lot of questions about what can be expected from Carlos Zambrano. Big Z and Dempster are keys to this team with Harden gone, Lilly down, Wells young, and a handful of question marks in the mix for the rotation as well.
• Levine thinks the Cubs are due a new ballpark.
• The Cubs add 4,000 people a game to every road game, so they make money for the other teams. Bruce doesn't like the idea of "Cubs tax" but they are very important to all of the teams in the state.
• You can't depend on Spring Training results, because you are not going up against all major league players.

Bruce stopped by the Afternoon Saloon on ESPN 1000 yesterday as well:

• Yesterday Rudy Jaramillo had 12 guys swinging for the first time. Marlon Byrd and Geovany Soto are among the "early bird" hitters.
• Levine hopes that Soto did not lose his power with his weight.
• Alfonso Soriano is the player that Lou Piniella is most concerned about going into this season.
• Sori was so out of his swing and "clueless" last year, that he really needs to recover and be a productive 5 or 6 hole hitter.
• Derrek Lee may get more rest this year. Xavier Nady plays some first, and he will be the backup to Derrek.

Busy Bruce hosted his weekly chat on ESPNChicago.com yesterday:

• Chad Tracy, Micah Hoffpauir, and Kevin Millar are have different strengths and weaknesses, but he thinks there will only be a spot on the roster for one of them.
• Somehow the Cubs must figure out their bench, because a solid bench is needed to win. Sam Fuld could play a role.
• There may be some questions Felipe Lopez's character, so teams may not want him even for a minor league deal.
• Some starting pitcher will have to step up.
• To make it to the World Series, the Cubs are going to need bullpen help and a healthy Ted Lilly.
• Jeff Gray has a shot to make the bullpen. Levine called him a "young version of Bobby Howry".
• The Cubs are very interested in Chan Ho Park. If they win Theriot's arbitration case, they may have a better chance of going after him because of the money gained.
• Castro may not be around to the middle of the season or later, maybe not even until next year.
• 15 or 16 wins from Zambrano will satisfy Z and the team. They are looking for quality innings.
• If the Cubs don't have any injuries, they have a good shot in the Central. However, this is unlikely, and that's why a strong bench is important.
• Jake Fox couldn't hit the breaking ball, and that was part of the reason for the trade.
• Tyler Colvin most likely will not break camp with the team. Because he is a left handed bat, if an injury should occur, he may get the callup.
• Sean Marshall is still looked at as more of a bullpen guy.

Rogers on Mully and Hanley

Phil Rogers joined Mully and Hanley on 670 the Score today to talk some baseball:

• Rogers has suggested that the Cubs may be the 3rd or 4th best team in their division.
• He doesn't think they really have any top level starters. Lilly's injury is a big concern, Z is a question mark, Dempster had one good year, and the back end of the rotation is not set.
• Phil doesn't think there are very many teams that the Cubs defense is that bad. It is in the middle of the pack.
• He is excited about seeing Starlin Castro play. Castro came out of the blue and is a total mystery. He will most likely not make the club on Opening Day, but he could be called up mid-season.
• Castro at short would really help the team's defense.
• Carlos Marmol would be "Mitch Williamsy" type closer, who gets himself in and out of trouble. Carlos will make the fans nervous, but he has enough stuff to pitch around his wildness.
• A bigger question mark is the bullpen in front of Marmol. Lou has not done a great job letting guys develop roles in the 'pen the last few seasons.
• The Cubs really haven't gone out and gotten proven guys to make the relief core better.

That's it for a busy first day of Spring Training! I'll keep you posted!

Tuesday Quick Hits: Theriot, Packin' the Bags, and More

• There's a snow storm in the Chicago land area, but today an equipment truck left for sunny Mesa, Arizona, where pitchers and catcher will report next week. Click the link for an interesting list of everything included on the truck.
• A group of kids helped send off the Cubs equipment.
• The Cubs first full squad work out is on February 23, and pitcher and catchers start their spring on February 18, which is just 8 days away!
• Cubs GM Jim Hendry feels good about what he was able to do this winter.
• Changes and improvements have begun at Wrigley Field. Bleacher fans will now be able to watch games on flat screen TVs according to the Tribune!
• The Cubs have not spoken to Ryan Theriot's people in a while, and it appears that both sides are ready to go to a hearing. Hendy says that this won't affect the way the club feels about their short stop. This will be the first Cub to go to arbitration since Mark Grace won his case in 1993.
• Cubs single game tickets go on sale Febuary 19!
• Carrie Muskat says that the Cubs are still looking for right handed relief help.
• The Twins have signed former Cub outfielder Jacque Jones, who did not appear in the big leagues last season, to a minor league deal.
• Jim Hendry gave Randy Bush a jacket because the Saints beat Jim's Colts. Hendry says he had a great time at the Super Bowl, even though his team lost.
• The Cubs seem to be leaning towards giving 20-year old Starlin Castro a little more time in the minors according to Bruce Miles.
• The theme in Spring Training will be taking a look at home grown talent.
• Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez are rehabbing well.
• Levine tells us that Ted Lilly will not be rushed.
• Be sure to vote on our new poll on the right sidebar!

Bruce Levine's weekly chat was today, and here are the highlights:

• The Cubs will not sign Felipe Lopez because if chemistry and cash issues.
• Levine still thinks that Castro should be given a shot to be the starting short stop.
• The Cubs are continuing to pursue trades to bolster the bullpen. Right now, they would be putting a lot of pressure on guys like Jeff Gray, Esmalin Caridad, and Angel Guzman.
• San Diego and Toronto are still teams that they would like to strike up a deal with for a reliever.
• Sam Fuld will get a good shot at making the team because he is one of the few guys they have that brings speed and defense.
• There was never any interest in Kris Benson. Bruce says that those rumors started with a favor to an agent by a media member.
• If the Cubs have good health, there's no reason to think they won't contend.
• Bruce thinks that having guys with good "character" is overrated, and Kevin Millar will only help if he can bring something on the field.
• Lilly should be somewhere between 2 and 3 weeks behind.
• Carlos Silva is a total mystery and nobody seems to know what to expect.
• If Jeff Samardzija has solidified his slider and added to his repertoire, than he'll have a chance.
• The Cubs really like Jeff Gray, who they got from the A's in the deal that sent Fox and Miles the other way.
• John Gaub, who came in the DeRosa deal, could be a dark horse that makes the team out of Spring Training.
• Levine's Opening Day lineup: Kosuke, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Byrd, Soriano, Soto, Castro, Zambrano
• Despite his success in 2009, the Cubs still feel Jeff Baker is a part time player.
• Bruce is all for the Cubs offering Lilly and Lee extensions after this season.
• A nutritionist will plan the players' meals this season.
• Although Millar most likely will not help the Cubs, he can hit left handed pitching.
• Soriano's days as a leadoff man are done.
• Theriot's hearing will be heard sometime around the weekend of Feb. 20.
• Tracy and Hoffpauir will compete for bench spots.
• Zambrano is Bruce's pick to have a bounce back year.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted as we count the days...

Talkin' Baseball & More

Updated at 9:15 with Jake Fox on Waddle and Silvy

Here's a recap of what Fox had to say on ESPN Radio in reaction to being traded:

• This is a very good move for Jake and his family.
• They are going to miss Chicago.
• Fox respects Jim Hendry a lot because he moved him to a place where he can play everyday. Hendry was thinking about Jake when he made the trade, not himself.
• The day after the season ended, Jim and Jake discussed his future.
• Hendry is always honest and open, but things have always not been smooth between he and Fox.
• He thinks it's disappointing that there's not a fit for him with the Cubs.
• Jim said that maybe someday the Cubs will have a chance to get him back to Chicago.
• The basis for Fox's disagreements with Jim was that he thought he should be higher than he was in the organization. Jake felt Jim underestimated him a little bit.
• He loves being out in the field, and he hopes that he gets a chance to play defense with the A's. The A's have told him that if he hits, he will play.
• He has gotten where he's at because of his bat.
• Milton Bradley was a great guy to him. He took Bradley under his wing and he was always under his wing.
• Jake was in the Dominican at his hotel room.

Talkin' Baseball was on ESPN 1000 today with Bruce Levine and Jonathan Hood

• Bruce Levine described Aaron Miles season as one of the worst seasons in baseball history.
• Levine likes the trade with the A's.
• Jeff Gray is going to compete in Spring Training. He's a power arm, but command is a key for him.
• The Cubs and White Sox could be looking at similar types of players at the Winter Meetings.
• Levine says the Cubs got a good young right hander and a solid minor league outfielder. He disagreed with a caller who said they got "nothing" for Fox.
• Jake Fox is nobody's starting position player in the National League.
• Jake's "a good solid backup in Major League Baseball". But he's nobody's "Derrek Lee".
• Lee could get an extension after next year from the Chicago Cubs.
• Mark DeRosa is not a fit on the Cubs team. He's not a second baseman any more range wise. He's being looked at as a first and third baseman. Mark is asking for 3 year around $25M. You can't have a utility guy making that kind of money.
• If Mike Fontenot is the everyday second basemen, it could be another long season for the Cubs according to Bruce and Jonathan.
• The Cubs are offering arbitration to all of their players including Fontenot.
• Jeff Baker is going to be the backup 3rd baseman and a part time 2nd baseman.
• Orlando Hudson is going to the Rockies according to one rumor, but he would be a good fit for the Cubs.
• Bruce says Starlin Castro has a 50% chance of making the Cubs opening day roster. He could use a few months at AA or AAA first, but he should be with the Cubs at some point during 2010.
• If the Cubs move Theriot to 2B, they could be interested in Orlando Cabrera.
• There are not too many exciting names out there as far as free agent middle infielders.
• Bruce thinks a 7 game division series will be bad for baseball.
• If the Cubs move to Florida, some of the rides will be about 2.5 hours to get to some of the other Spring sites.
• Either place (AZ or FL) is going to be a great place for the Cubs and their fans, but leaving Arizona will not go over well with folks who have winter homes in Arizona just to watch the Cubs.

Jim Hendry joined the guys to talk Cubs:

• The Cubs have done a few good things already.
• A lot of activity will go on around MLB well into January this year.
• The Cubs are prepared to try to add an outfielder somewhere along the line.
• They would also like to augment their bullpen.
• Hendry reiterated that this team only needs a few tweaks this winter.
• They need resurgence type years out of guys like "Sori, Soto, and Fontenot". Jim says that they need their own good players to come back and do better than last year.
• Carlos Zambrano needs to get back on track this year.
• Hendry doesn't think that you have to have a "prototypical lead-off man" to win.
• Anyone who gets on base a lot can lead off now a days.
• The Cubs struggled with men in scoring position with less than two outs.
• It's way too early to tell who the lead off man would be. "We could have two or three different guys here by then."
• When you're looking to trade or add someone, the Winter Meetings help to try to move things along.
• Deals never always go the way you script them up according to Hendry.
• The Cubs are going to Indy with a lot of things they want to talk to people about.

Cubs Needs

Carrie Muskat listed the Cubs needs as we get ready for the Winter Meetings:

• 1. Center Fielder
• 2. Right handed reliever
• 3. second basmean
• 4. Trade Bradley and maybe Hoffpauir
• Top Prospects: OF Tyler Colvin, SS Castro, RHP Andrew Cashner, RHP Casey Coleman, RHP Chris Carpenter, SS Darwin Barney, RHP Blake Parker, 3B Josh Vitters
• Arbitration-eligible: 2B Baker, LHP Neal Cotts, 2B Fontenot, LHP Tom Gorzelanny, RHP Angel Guzman, RHP Marmol, LHP Sean Marshall, C Koyie Hill, SS Theriot
• There will be a slight increase in payroll next season.

That's it for now, with the meetings starting Monday, I'll have lots of posts to come this weekend.

Friday Roundup: Hendry on Sports Central, Crane Meets Media, Trade Reaction, and More

Post Trade Talk

• Yesterday the Cubs sent Jake Fox and Aaron Miles to Oakland for Jeff Gray and 2 prospects.
• Gray has been added to the Cubs 40 man roster, which now stands at 37.
• Jim Hendry "feels good about the two or three things the Cubs have done since the season ended.
• The Cubs head into the Winter Meetings still looking to tweak the bullpen according to Cubs.com.
• The Cubs like Jeff Gray's arm strength. Hendry compared him to Angel Guzman. Gray will compete for a spot in the bullpen in Mesa.
• Milton Bradley's contract is the next order of business. Van Dyck says that it will most likely be addressed at next week's winter meetings in Indianapolis.
• "Aaron will be better served going elsewhere after a very, very tough year for him," Jim said. Also, Fox will fit better on an AL team, where he can DH.
• Oakland took on $1.7 of the $2.7 million owed to Miles.
• Starlin Castro was not a factor in the trade.

HOF Ballot

Bruce Miles has received his Hall of Fame ballot, he will seriously consider voting for the following:

• Robby Alomar
• Barry Larkin
• Bert Blyleven
• Andre Dawson
• Jack Morris
• Mark McGwire
• Tim Raines
• Lee Smith
• Alan Trammell

Carrie Muksat's ballot is in as well. She has already checked Andre Dawson.

Levine talks to Hendry

• Hendry is still looking to trade Bradley.
• The Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets are the top teams interested in Bradley.
• 3-4 teams could be involved in the deal for Milton.
• Luis Castillo and Pat Burrell are still being tossed around.
• The Cubs are looking for a left handed hitting center fielder and right handed platoon outfielder like Reed Johnson.
• The Cubs will seek guys like Marlon Byrd, Rick Ankiel, Mike Cameron, and Coco Crisp.
• J.J. Putz and Ben Sheets our options for the Cubbies.

Rehab Updates

Cubs athletic trainer Mark O'Neal told Carrie Muskat that Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramiez, and Geovany Soto are sticking to their rehab routines and are making progress. Ted Lilly will be re-examined after Jan. 1, then start a rehab program is all goes well.

Off the Field Updates

Crane Kenney addressed some Cubs topics at Wrigley Field today.

• Don't expect a dramatic increase in ticket prices in 2010.
• The Cubs will have 700 new season tickets next year. There are about 120,000 people on the waiting list right now.
• The Cubs should have an announcement in January about whether they will keep their Spring Training in Arizona or move to Florida. Naples has become "a very viable option".
• There is currently some work being done to upgrade Wrigley.
• The Cubs are going to get the "triangle building" project going.
• An ice rink in the parking lot west of Wrigley is being built. It will open this winter.
• All Good news!!

Hendry with Kap

Cubs GM Jim Hendry joined David Kaplan on Sports Central to preview the Winter Meetings and talk Cubs baseball!:

• Hendry doesn't think it matters where the Winter Meetings are held.
• There are always scout or affiliate dinners at night.
• Having it in Vegas last year didn't really make sense, because Jim like to stay at the hotel the whole week.
• The Cubs are going to have 25-30 employees at the Meetings.
• There is a big meeting room next to the hotel room that Jim is staying in, and each guy from the organization will get an assignment as to what team to meet with.
• It's an action packed 4-5 days.
• Jim likes the meetings. "It's a fun time and a chance to get a lot done."
• Tom Ricketts has a lot of faith in him.
• The Cubs don't need a lot of different players to be much better next season.
• They are looking to make 2-3 good moves in the next couple months.
• Hendry would like to get a couple things done before the end of next week.
• Jim thinks trades are better for the game of baseball than free agent signings. He hopes that trades pick up in the next few weeks.
• Tom has been very friendly. The family have a lot on their plate right now on the business side.
• The top thing on the Cubs wish list is to be a little more creative instead of going out and buying a free agent. This winter is going to be more of an add here, subtract there type of thing.
• There is still a chance Reed Johnson returns. Jim loves Reed, and had nothing but good things to say about him.
• The Cubs would like to add some more depth to the bullpen. A veteran presence will help a young 'pen. Re-signing Grabow was a key move.
• "Who wouldn't want him," Jim said of Roy Halladay.

Miles Chat

Yesterday I chatted with Bruce Miles right here on this blog! In case you missed it, here's a recap of what he had to say:

• Bruce started his offseason with a vacation to Europe. Now he's getting ready for Indy.
• He expects the Milton Bradley trade to be done next week if the money issues can be worked out. There is no scenario where Bradley will be back with the Cubs right now.
• Texas or Tampa Bay seem like the best bets right now.
• The Cubs would love to move Kosuke to right field.
• Sam Fuld will compete in Spring Training, but probably not for the starter's job.
• In these days, there really is no offseason for any sport. You have to block out your vacation time and comp time and take it, according to Miles.
• Marlon Byrd and Mike Cameron are options the Cubs will explore.
• The Cubs will wait for the non-tender deadline to see if they can pick up a bargain or two.
• As far as the Rule 5 Draft, the Cubs protected everybody that they felt they needed to so they won't feel stung if they lose a player. It's hard to tell what players are at-risk of being lost by the Cubs.
• Miles likes Alan Trammel a lot as a possibility to take over as Cub manager in 2010 if Piniella retires.
• Bruce likes having a family own the team. It will be a welcome change.

Piniella at Redsfest

Lou Piniella was at the kick-off of the annual Redsfest this evening. What was he doing at a division rivals fan fest? Piniella was the manager of the 1990 World Champion Cincinnati Reds. This is the 20th anniversary of the team, and many of the members of that club have gathered at Duke Enegery Center this weekend.

"20 years, that's a long time isn't it. It almost seems like yesterday. It's seeing the player that got it done. Unfortunately, not all of them are here, but those that are, they bring back some pleasant memories. What a great group of young men. They were dedicated, talented, and got the job done." Lou told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.

"I'll tell you what, I enjoyed my 3 years in Cincinnati. Nice people, great fans. I didn't realize how big baseball is in Cincinnati until I got here," he added. Lou received a personal invite from owner/CEO Bob Castellini. The first night of the Redsfest was full of fun, similar to the Cubs Convention. Players signed autographs, there was wiffleball, kids could play video games, there was a rock climbing wall, and much more.

Oh and Dusty was there too...

"There's a lot of excitement," said manager Dusty Baker. "This is the most buzz I've seen in the city for a long time. From being in California in the winter, I've been watching the Bengals, UC football and basketball -- the town is buzzing and winning. I've been there before in Los Angeles and the Bay Area when we all won -- college and pro sports. I feel it happening. It's been coming. We're getting better."

Other Tidbits

• The Tigers appear unlikely to sent Granderson to the Cubs, according to one source (mlive.com)
• Be sure to check out the Dawon for the Hall Twitter Blitz. I'll have more on this next week.
• Henry Blanco has signed with the Mets.
• The Braves have signed Takashi Saito, whom we heard earlier this week that the Cubs were interested in.
• Baseball America ranks the Cubs farm system 18th.

It's been a busy week on the Cubs front...

much more to come this weekend as we get ready for the winter meetings, which start Monday in Indy.

Breaking News: Fox & Miles Traded

Jake Fox and Aaron Miles have been traded to the Oakland A's! Many Cubs fans were big fans of Fox, but he will be a better fit as a DH. The Cubs are happy to be rid of Miles. Now they can use Miles's roster spot for Andres Blanco, a new infielder, Mike Fontenot, or even Starlin Castro.

In return, the Cubs get pitcher Jeff Gray along with prospects Ronny Morla and Matt Spencer. In addition to Fox and Miles, the Cubs send $1 million to Oakland.

Jeff Gray

• Full Name: Jeffrey Michael Gray
• Age: 28
• Position: Pitcher
• B/T: Right/Right
• Teams: Oakland (2008-2009)
• MLB Debut: Sept. 8, 2008
• Drafted: by Oakland in 32nd round of the 2004 June amateur draft
• 0-1 with 4.35 ERA in 29 career MLB Games
• 21-20 with 3.38 ERA in 211 career minor league games

Ronny Morla

• Pitcher
• 21 years old
• B/T: Right/Right
• 3 years in minor league ball
• Low Class A Prospect
• 1-7 with a 4.86 ERA in 17 Games

Matt Spencer

• Outfielder
• Drafted by the Phillies in the 3rd round of the 2007 amateur draft
• Hit .294 with 9 homers and 62 RBIs in 93 games at AAA in 2009
• Hit .274 with 10 HR and 29 RBI in 30 games at AA in 2009
• Will be 22 years old in Jan.

Nice to see some Cubs news out there today! I do like this deal, even though I was a big fan of Jake Fox. More notes for tonight:

• Baseball's Winter Meetings are Monday through Thursday next week. Expect maybe another move by the Cubs!
• Today I had a Question and Answer with Bruce Miles from the Daily Herald to talk Cubs. Click here to check it out!
• Yesterday I updated a lot of rumors. (link)
• The Cubs would love to have Curtis Graderson in center field in 2010, says Phil Rodgers.
• Edwin Jackson is another Tiger on the Cubs radar.
• Muskat reports that Rudy Jaramillo is preparing for Chicago by taking a look at some video tapes.
• Chicago's Tribunes Poll: Who will the Cubs miss most? A) Harden B) Gregg C) Johnson
• Speaking of polls don't forget to vote on ours on the right sidebar.
• According to Zach Links of MLB Trade Rumors, the Cubs and Cardinals are in the lead to sign free agent pitcher Vicente Padilla.

With a trade and a chat today, I'll probably save this week's Winter Ball Report for a a slower day this weekend.