Breaking News: Lou Piniella to Retire at Season's End

It's the end of an era as Cubs manager Lou Piniella has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2010 season. Piniella is in his fourth year at the helm for the Cubbies and his 23rd season as a big league skipper.

He started off his managing career with the Yankees ('86-'88) before moving on to Cincinnati, where he won his only World Series ring as a manager in 1990. After two more seasons with the Reds, Piniella moved on to Seattle, where he spent the next ten years. Then, Sweet Lou spent three years in Tampa and one as a broadcaster for FOX before coming to the Cubs in 2007.

His MLB career got underway when he was named the 1969 Rookie of the Year with the Royals. He had already played part of seasons with Baltimore and Cleveland, but '69 is the year he broke in for good. Piniella spent the bulk of his playing career ('74-'84) in left field for the Yankees.

Sweet Lou ranks 14th all time in managerial wins. The best year of his time with the Cubs was 2008, when he led his team to 97 wins and took home NL Manager of the Year honors.

To break down his time with the Cubs year-by-year (regular season):
2007: good
2008: great
2009: average
2010: not good (so far)

Post Season:
2007: Swept by Arizona in NLDS
2008: Swept by LA in NLDS
2009: No
2010: ???

Lou has a press conference coming up at 3:45 CT, which you can catch on MLB Network and most likely CSN Chicago.

David Kaplan tweets that Piniella is retiring and is upset that the news leaked. Lou is committed to trying to help this team win the rest of the season.

Now, it's time to talk about what effect this move will have on the 2011 Chicago Cubs! Paul Sullivan breaks down possible replacements Ryne Sandberg, Joe Girardi, Bob Brenly, Joe Torre, and Allan Trammell.

On a quick side note... the Cubs made a roster move today adding an arm from Iowa in Jeff Stevens. Mitch Atkins was sent back the other way. They play the Astros tonight at 7:05 in game two at Wrigley.

Look, we'll have more on Lou later!

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!

The Latest Cubs Rumors

• The Rockies remain interested in Jason Marquis. Tracy Ringolsby says that the Cubs are anxious to move him to ease their rotation overload.
• XM Radio says that the Cubs could receive pitcher Jason Hirsh for Marquis.
• Paul Sullivan says that the Cubs are considering inviting 2 Japanese left handed pitchers to compete for jobs in spring training; Ken Kadokura and Shigeki Noguchi.
• Bleacher seats for the Cub-Yanks exhibition games will cost only 25 cents and it will be 1.10 to sit in the grandstand. Yes you read that right. Click here for the full story from the Daily Herald.
• Bleed Cubbie blue likes the idea of Adam Dunn going, I agree with what they say.
• Tom Krasovic says that Jake Peavy will likely remain a Padre despite the many trade rumors this off season. He added that Kevin Towers will still listen to offers and said that a potential deal with the Cubs has fall through.
• The Len and Bob Bash is set, but Len and Bob won't be singing this year! Len talks about the Bash in his recent entry to his blog on the WGN website.

This week schedule for my blog:

Sunday- will be busy, might not get a chance for an update

Monday- Will return, update any new links, news, and rumors; will have a CD recommendation for Cubs Fans; and Will have Trivia answer from the question earlier today.

Tuesday/Wednesday- Get Set for the Launch of the MLB Network and the Hawks game at Wrigley.

Thursday/Friday- My thought on Winter Classic and MLB Network

So, thanks for reading, please comment and vote on our new poll!