CUBZ99

Based upon the MacPhail precedent, I could see Selig giving the Sox Dolis or Carpenter.

He probably won't stay at shortstop, and will most likely shift over to third base. I think his ceiling is similar to Jose Hernandez. He's a big dude (6'3"), and looks like he will be starting out at AA. I just didn't know how well the AFL translated to AAA or AA. Interestingly some scouts believe that he would be much better pitcher than a position player.

Hopefully the revenue that the Cubs receive from this section will actually go into the team. I remember when the Toyota sign was put up and the Cubs claimed it was going to help increase payroll(Wasn't it something like $8MM?). I don't remember the payroll ever actually increasing.

I think we probably don't really have any right now, depending on how good we define "TOR" to be. McNutt I think is a longshot, although longshot is better than no shot and he's the best candidate in the full minors. I’m concerned that none of his individual pitches are special enough and that his control isn’t either, even when healthy. Pre-injury he was pretty fast, but he wasn't like Cashner/Z/Prior/Cruz/Wood/Guzman/Farnsworth in terms of velocity. His control was better than Archer, but it's not like Mike Mussina or one of these guys who's an ace at 91-94 velocity by virtue of command. I think he's got a chance to be very solid, and perhaps a if everything goes well a #2 type guy, but not really an elite #1 unless something changes radically for the better. For the low minors guys, I think Simpson and Maples. I know the board generally disliked Simpson's pick, and obviously he was awful last year. And even at draft time before the series of bad news-worse news since, his stuff wasn't touted as elite #1, more like good-but-not-great #3-#2 type. So as with McNutt, I'm probably hoping against the odds that he ends up being a good #2 rather than an overpowering dazzling #1. But I've still got him pretty high on my ranking list (relative to other lists I've seen). I was told that he was throwing 95 easily in Mesa recently, so I'm hopeful that he's going to have his arm back. No surprise that he wasn't good while pitching with a fractured elbow last year. Little can be evaluated when a guy is pitching hurt with 10-15 mph missing, so if in fact he's back 100%, I don't think last year's stuff really tells anything about his future. (I'm hoping that McNutt's struggles in spring, summer, and fall can likewise be dismissed based on a serious but completely recoverable injury. But his velocity was poor in spring training pre-blister; I don't think a blister last from April through AFL; and I'm not sure bruised ribs in May should have still been crippling him in October AFL. So I'm kinda worried that either he's just not very good even when healthy, or else that he's got arm problems that go beyond a blister and some bruised ribs, both of which seem like they should be injuries of limited duration). Is Simpson currently in Mesa working out prior to ST? If he is hitting 95mph already that is very encouraging. Simpson has had a really unfortunate start with the organization and all of his maladies have set him back quite a bit. He will be 23 this year and he hasn't pitched higher than A ball. Also, didn't realize that he had a fractured elbow.

The Cards are a much better team now. Good signing.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120110&content_id=26300048&vkey=news_det&c_id=det Tigers just announced spring training invites with Castellanos and Smyly getting invites.

It was weird to talk about Cubs or nobody else in the first place, but not weird to actually hold out for the most money possible now. He owes it to his agent (does he have one still?) to at least try to create some leverage. He is definitely doing a good job at trying to create leverage, by getting the fans worried that he won't re-sign just prior to the convention. Can't blame the guy for looking out for himself and his family.

Isn't Russell cheap for a few more years though?

I would like this signing quite a bit if the Cubs were looking to fill out the back of the rotation. But as it looks now, all of the starters will be back of the rotation quality. Waiting to see what the terms are.

Kaplan's article that I will link in a sec says the Cubs are interested in Turner, Castellanos and don't be surprised if they liked Crosby. Love that part. http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/cubs-talk/post/Tigers-Cubs-talking-Garza-trade?blockID=627864&feedID=661

The Cubs must feel pretty comfortable about his shoulder issues being resolved. Overall, Maholm is not that impressive, but he has been fairly consistent throughout his career. With Wood and Maholm possibly signed by Friday, there has to be an impending move(s) to clear some space on the 40 man.

I like this trade. Cashner has the potential to be a very good pitcher, but you have to give up good players to get good players. Interesting that this is the 2nd - 1st Round Draft pick of the Hendry era to be traded within Theo's first 3 months. In regard to Rizzo, his AAA numbers look fantastic, however his numbers with the Pads leave quite a bit to be desired. His K rate skyrocketed in the majors. Is there something I'm missing in regard to the "let him stay in AAA" argument? Hasn't his clock already started after spending 49 games in the majors last year?

I don't particularly like the move, but I don't think Theo did this to be cowardly, or blame the Cubs' past suckiness on anyone. Based on his comments he sought advice from nearly everyone close to the situation and made an informed decision. Even though I don't care for the move, I like the willingness to call it what it is. I meant the players, who supposedly kept telling him Zambrano can't come back. Guys like Wood, Dempster..., who's left on this team now? Oops, looks like I misread it. I agree to some extent, but if they asked for the player's opinion and the player gives them an opinion, isn't it up to Theo to sift through what is reasonable and what is just sour grapes? Why ask the player's opinion? Why not? I would hope that any GM would try to utilize all of the information available, before eating $18MM in salary.

I don't particularly like the move, but I don't think Theo did this to be cowardly, or blame the Cubs' past suckiness on anyone. Based on his comments he sought advice from nearly everyone close to the situation and made an informed decision. Even though I don't care for the move, I like the willingness to call it what it is. I meant the players, who supposedly kept telling him Zambrano can't come back. Guys like Wood, Dempster..., who's left on this team now? Oops, looks like I misread it. I agree to some extent, but if they asked for the player's opinion and the player gives them an opinion, isn't it up to Theo to sift through what is reasonable and what is just sour grapes?

I don't particularly like the move, but I don't think Theo did this to be cowardly, or blame the Cubs' past suckiness on anyone. Based on his comments he sought advice from nearly everyone close to the situation and made an informed decision. Even though I don't care for the move, I like the willingness to call it what it is.

I think you may be on to something in regard to their intentions with Volstad. There is no way that they view him as a long term solution, so maybe they think that if they catch lightning in bottle and he tears it up for half a season, he will be a valuable trading chip at the deadline. Less baggage and much cheaper.

I think this is the wrong mindset. This is how it looks when a team has a bunch of bloated, underperforming contracts and needs to unload and rebuild from the ground up. Yes, 2012 is going to suck. But it shouldn't be viewed as a single, crappy year. It should be viewed as the beginning of something that will grow into success. If they were making more positive moves that were geared toward the future I would agree. But, Volstad is not a long term move. If he does turn out to be an above average pitcher he will get very expensive quickly. I guess what I would like to see more than anything is a move that actually makes the Cubs better in the future.

Wasn't Volstad a potential non-tender candidate? I don't think the move is terrible, but watching the Cubs in 2012 is going to be depressing, unless Theo actually does something to improve the team. Based on last year's numbers this appears to be a lateral move. I guess I would have been more willing to bet that Z could bounce back, but that may be more based on the fact that he was one of my favorite players on the Cubs.

That's a spicy meat-ah-ball. You seem to take it personal. Would expect nothing less.

yea he's annoying/obnoxious, but at least he isn't loathsome like funk is. Ok, I get why people would find King obnoxious, but why is funk "Loathsome"? Funk rarely has an idea of what's going on, constantly has the score wrong, his facts wrong or the players wrong, and frequently just makes things up to be heard. He makes Stacey King look like a smart analyst and on top of things. Yeah, Stacey can be a ridiculous homer because he's there for that kind of [expletive]. Funk is supposed to be the professional, but he's awful. He's a homer, he's bad at doing play by play and he has a really creepy voice. I love the Bulls announcers. They actually give a @#$% about whether the Bulls win or not and pretty much call it how it is. They have an audience and cater to it. If you want to listen to the Hawks homers watch the Atlanta station.

Great comeback. I love watching DRose play.

Unless Cubs.com is wrong, the Johnson signing leaves the roster full at 40 players.

I'm hoping that this means Martz will be back again next year. It would be nice to see what the Bears could accomplish offensively with a #1WR and a decent/healthy line.

I'm sure all of the Orioles' fans will be rejoicing.

Has Garza indicated to the Cubs that he will not sign a 4/5 year deal similar to Danks? I'm still conflicted about the rationale for trading Garza, especially in light of the new CBA. Everybody is complaining about the CBA making the playing field level for the draft, but doesn't that just increase the advantage of the teams that have large payrolls? It is not like the Cubs are strapped with a bunch of bad contracts or will be held hostage by them after this year. The problem I see with trading him is that he is still young enough where he could be an integral part of the rebuilding process. As evidenced by this offseason, elite starters can be very difficult to obtain.