Award Week Roundup: Hoffpauir to Japan, Ryno to Lehigh Valley, Cubscast Shut Down, & More

Sandberg to Manage in Phillies' Chain
Ryne Sandberg was named the manager of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs this week. The Iron Pigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies this week. Sandberg has taken the job just weeks after turning down the same position (AAA manager) in the Cubs organization.

Hoffpauir to Play in Japan
According to a tweet from the Chicago Tribune, Micah Hoffpauir's time in the Cubs organization is history. Hoff has signed a one-year deal to play with the Nippan Ham Fighters in Japan. This leaves the Cubs 40-man roster at 35. With Xavier Nady expected to leave via free agency, the Cubs have no first basemen left on the 40-man.

Football at Wrigley
For the first time since 1938, a college football game will take place at Wrigley Field. The Northwestern Wildcats will take on the University of Illinois. The marquee has been painted purple in preparation for the Wrigleyville Classic, which will take place on Saturday on ESPN.

Cubscast Off the Air
Every week, especially during the winter months, I look forward to getting my Cubs fix from Cubscast. Lou and Shepps have done a fine job producing these "by fans for fans" shows for the last six years. MLB Advance Media has shut this podcast down because they were upset with the use of the team name and colors on the site. Click here to read a note from Lou and listen to the final Cubscast.

The Cubs Get More of Moore
Thanks to the CCO for this one- Scott Moore has signed a minor league deal to return to the Cubs organization. He was originally acquired by the Cubs in February of 2005 and then was shipped to Detriot in August of 2007.

Awards News
The BBWAA awards are being announced throughout the month. The Cubs have been blanked in both Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves. So far they have not had any better of luck with the other awards. Neftali Feliz has been named the AL Rookie of the Year while Buster Posey takes home the honor in the National League. Starlin Castro got three third place votes and finished in fifth place. San Diego's Bud Black edged ex-Cubs skipper Dusty Baker for the NL Manager of the Year award, while Ron Gardenhire takes home the AL honor. Roy Halladay received all 32 first place votes to take the NL Cy Young Award. The American League's Cy Young will be announced tomorrow. Both league MVPs will be announced next week.

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

Levine's Chat, Cubs Spring Training Schedule, and More

Bruce Levine had his weekly chat yesterday, so let's take a look at the Cub-related highlights:

• The Granderson situation is real, but the names haven't really been figured out.
• Texas and Tampa Bay are still the front runners for Milton Bradley.
• If the Cubs swap with Texas to get Bradley, it appears that they would receive Kevin Millwood. If they trade Bradley to the Rays, Pat Burrell would be coming back in the deal.
• Jim Hendry's top priority is "Bradley, Bradley, and Bradley." He should also sign John Grabow to a 2 year $7-7.5 M deal sometime before the Winter Meetings.
• Kevin Milwood would compete with Tom Gorzelanny, Sean Marshall, and Jeff Samardzija for spots in the rotation if he becomes a Cub.
• Levine hinted that Granderson may not be a part of a platoon if he comes to the Cubs. "I could live with Granderson hitting .200 against lefties and playing solid defense, letting someone else win the game that particular day or drive him in because of his speed on the bases."
• The Cubs like Sam Fuld, but they are concerned with making him the starting center fielder because of his lack of durability due to his diabetes.
• Carlos Marmol is the guy for the closer's role "for now".
• The Tigers are not interested in backup players like Fox, Hoffpauir, and Marshall in a Curtis Granderson trade. A package could include Vitters and 2-3 other prospects.
• Bradley's going to be moved, but it won't be an easy process.
• Don't expect Starlin Castro or Andrew Cashner to be included in any trades this offseason.
• Detriot is not interested in Milton Bradley.
• Levine thinks that the odds of Rich Harden returning to the Cubs are zero.
• Bruce likes the idea of the Cubs going after Ben Sheets.
• Grabow and Marmol are 1-2 at the back of the bullpen. The return of Heilman and/or Marshall to the bullpen is still up in the air.
• Esmailin Caridad and John Gaub will be given chances to make the pen in Spring Training.
• Levine has said many times that Orlando Hudson and Orlando Cabrera could be fits for the Cubs middle infield for a one year deal.
• Koyie Hill is the catching backup plan for now, but Bruce threw the name Pudge Rodrigez out there.
• They will not get both Marlon Byrd and Granderson and make Kosuke a 4th outfielder.
• Mark DeRosa is not a good fit for the Cubs.

Cubs Spring Training

The Cubs are one of the final Major League Baseball teams to announce their Spring Training Schedule, but now we have it! The Cubs will close Spring Training against the D'backs at Chase Field, they open March 4 VS Oakland, and they play the White Sox in Vegas March 12 & 13. The Cubs have 5 split squads and just 1 off day. They play 35 games. Here's the rest of the schedule:

• March 4 VS Oakland
• March 5 VS Arizona
• March 6 VS CWS
• March 7(ss) @CWS, VS LAD
• March 8 @Oak
• March 9 VS Mil
• March 10 VS SF
• March 11 @SD
• March 12 (ss) VS CWS in Las Vegas, @Mil in AZ
• March 13 (ss) VS CIN in AZ, VS CWS in Vegas
• March 14 @LAA
• March 15 @COL
• March 16 VS TEX
• March 17 Off Day
• March 18 @LAD
• March 19 @CWS
• March 20(ss) VS KC, @Oak
• March 21 VS CIN
• March 22 VS CLE
• March 23 @KC
• March 24 @TEX
• March 25 @Arizona
• March 26 VS OAK
• March 27 VS SD
• March 28 @SEA
• March 29 VS CIN
• March 30 VS SF
• March 31(ss) @MIL, VS LAA
• April 1 VS COL
• April 2/3 @Arizona (Chase Field)

Cubs Spring Training tickets go on sale Jan. 4.

Other Notes:

• Zack Greinke won the AL Cy Young.
• Mike Scioscia is the AL manager of the year, and Jim Tracy takes the award in the NL.
• The Cubs have donated $20K to the DR community.
• Tom Ricketts will have a chance to meet the other MLB owners at a private dinner tonight.
• The Ricketts family will meet with Florida officials after Thanksgiving weekend to discuss future Spring Training options for the Cubs.
• MLB.com's Q&A with Randy Wells.
• According to FOX Sports, the Cubs are one of 3 anonymous teams interested in Billy Wagner.
• The Cubs are reportedly a possible landing spot for Pedro Martinez.
• David Kaplan says the Cubs and Rangers are is serous talks about a trade that would ship Bradley to Texas.

That's it for now, I'll keep you posted as the Hot Stove season continues!

MLB Network and a Few Cubs Notes

The MLB offseason is officially getting under way. Starting today is the GM Meetings, so it should be an interesting busy week for baseball. Let's start this Monday with taking a look at the MLB Network's schedule for the next few weeks. Those of you that have the Network should be sure to tune it to those shows, and for those that don't have it or if you miss some of the shows, I will post anything Cub related.

• Today at 3 CT: AFL Rising Stars game repeat
• Tonight from 6-8 CT: Prime 9 Repeats
• Tonight at 9: All Roads Lead to Baseball-MLB Players and Personnel Share Their Road Trip Stories
• Tues. 6:00, 7:00: Studio 42 Bob Costas sits down with Cal Ripkin Jr. then Bud Selig.
• Wed. 5:00: The season debut of Hot Stove!
• Thurs. 5:00: 2009 Silver Slugger Special
• Thurs. 6:00: Hot Stove
• Thurs. 8:00: 2009 Clutch Performer
• Monday Nov. 16 5:00: Hot Stove Rookies of the Year Special
• Nov. 17 5:00: Hot Stove- NL Cy Young
• Nov. 17 7:00, 8:00: Studio 42 w/ Bob Costas- Closers, Bruce Froemming
• And much more throughout the winter

Now let's get to a few Cub rumors as we get set to start a new work week, and the GM Meetings start in Chicago:

• The Cubs "might have interest" in Chone Figgins according to MLB Trade Rumors.
  Paul Sullivan says the Cubs are ready to let Rich Harden and Reed Johnson go.
• Phil Rodgers thinks the Cubs will attempt to add bullpen depth via trades.
  Rodgers also thinks that they could be looking for starting pitching with Lilly's healthy a question mark and Harden likely leaving. He notes that Samardzija has pitched well in Mexico.
• Thanks to Chicago Cubs Online for this one- according to Baseball Prospects there are some rumors floating around about the Cubs looking to move Geovany Soto. Interesting tidbit.
• Baseball Prospectus also notes that The Cubs might listen on ace Carlos Zambrano, but would need to be overwhelmed to deal him.
• Kerry Wood, Bobby Jenks, and Matt Capps are available, as are Renyel Pinto, Dan Wheeler, and Mike Wuerz. Will one of these relievers end up in a Cub uniform?

That's it for now, it should be another interesting week.

Yankees are the Champs

Congratulations to the New York Yankees, the champions of the baseball world for 2009. A special tip of the cap to former Cub Joe Girardi, the current Yanks' skipper. I also want to congratulate former Cubs Chad Gaudin and Jerry Hairston Jr. on their accomplishment, even though neither had outstanding Cub-careers.

Now that that's over with, let's get the off season started! What does the World Series being over mean for the Cubs?

The First 15 Days~
The first 15 days after the conclusion of the World Series is the window in which players can file for free agency. The Cubs would like to get John Grabow re-signed before he even hits the free agent waters. Other Cubs who will become free agents are Reed Johnson, Kevin Gregg, Rich Harden, and Chad Fox.

Next 4 Days
The Cubs, and all other MLB clubs, have 4 days left to add their own Rule 55 minor league free-agents to their 40-man roster. One Cub who is a candidate to be added to the 40-man roster is Brad Snyder. If they don't add him, they could try to re-sign him to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, but Snyder will most likely try to sign with a team where he will have a better chance to play in the big leagues next year.

November 20
Deadline for adding minor league players who are eligible for selection in the Rule 5 draft to the 40-man roster. The Cubs could try to add guys like Welington Castillo, John Gaub, Blake Parker, and Matt Camp. Any of the 4 that are not added to the roster by the 20th will likely be lost in the December 10 Rule 5 Draft. Other candidates to the drafted include Rafael Dolis, James Adduci, Steve Clevenger, Chris Robinson, Jeremy Papelbon, and Alessandro Maestri. Last year the Cubs lost Donnie Veal.


December 12
Deadline for clubs to tender 2010 major league contracts to unsigned players on the 40-man. Neal Cotts could be non-tendered.

MLB Awards
The BBWAA Awards will be~
Nov. 16: Rookies of the Year
Nov. 17: AL Cy Young
Nov. 18: Managers of the Year
Nov. 19: NL Cy Young
Nov. 23 AL MVP
Nov. 24 NL MVP

Other important November Dates:
Nov. 9: MLB Network Offseason Shows Start
Nov. 9-11: GM Meetings in Chicago
Nov. 10: End of Waiver Period
Nov. 11: Start of New Waiver Period
Nov. 30-Dec. 4: Major League Baseball Players Association executive board meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona

It should be fun! I'll keep you posted on all the rumors & news all offseason long here at Everything Cubs.

Later in the Day:
-Updates from Organization Meetings
- Cubs in Winter Ball Updates


Stay tuned!