Cubs Rumor Round-up: DeRosa, Harden and Johnson

Sammy heard that a lighter complexion was the best way to get cheered at Wrigley.

That's more of a 3/44 than a "find." Derrick Goold is just repeating some speculation he himself made in print two weeks ago when DeRo's surgery was announced.

"The Chicago Cubs figured to make an overture toward DeRosa as a make-good for trading him to Cleveland before the 2009 season — a move general manager Jim Hendry conceded was a mistake."

But, FWIW, here's some more speculation and the guy who made it. Former Nats GM Jim Bowden who is now a talkshow guy, yesterday -- Cubs will acquire CHONE FIGGINS and stick him at 2B.

CubsOnline site reports a summary of the Bruce Levine Talking Baseball Saturday show. Apparently a lot of Cub talk, so I'm listing some highlights from the CCO blog. http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2009/11... Here is a link to Bruce Levine Talking Baseball podcast link which can be listened to online (37 minutes) http://a.espnradio.com/stations/chicago/talki... (NOTE: skip the first half of that podcast/download, 18 minutes or so are WSux talk before Levine gets to Cub stuff) --- 1) Mike Cameron: A caller mentioned radio stations in Milwaukee reporting Mike Cameron would sign with the Cubs after the Brewers acquired Carlos Gomez for J.J. Hardy on Friday. Granted the connection is there with Lou Piniella (from Seattle) but Levine stuck to his report from earlier in the week that Cameron would be a back-up plan for the Cubs. Levine explained if Cameron does sign with the Cubs he thinks it would not be until January or February. Apparently the Cubs are looking for a younger, left-handed centerfielder that would allow them to move Kosuke Fukudome back to right field. 2) Bradley: Bruce Levine thinks Bradley will be moved in the next 30-45 days. 3) Chone Figgins: Jim Bowden mentioned during his show with Joe Castellano (XM Radio) Thursday night that he feels Chone Figgins will sign with the Cubs ... and play second base. 4) Reed Johnson: Bruce Levine is hearing Johnson is looking for a two-year, $6 million contract ... and that might be out of the Cubs' price range. (and Hendry's signing of Aaron Miles last year screwed them out of overspending on RJ). 5) Starlin Castro: Levine (who was in AZ last week watching the AFL) thinks Castro will be the Cubs' shortstop as early as the second half of 2010 ... but not much later than 2011. Castro is still too "green" according to Levine and needs a couple of more months in the minors. Levine thinks the Cubs should look at Orlando Cabrera as a one-year option at short in order to improve the Cubs' defense next season. 6) John Gaub: could be a factor in the Cubs' pen in 2010 and should be added to the 40-man roster in the next two weeks (November 20). Gaub's fastball has been clocked in the low to mid 90's in the AFL with a very good breaking ball according to Levine. 7) The Cubs are expected to announce their new marketing director by the end of next week. According to Bruce Levine, it will be a "well-known" Chicagoan (Levine doesn't know who it is yet).

Gonna try something, not sure how useful it is. The Bruce Levine Talking Baseball audio link really sucked as it was mostly discussion with JHood about WSux. So here's a link to my mobile me public folder. You can download the 2 hour program and listen to the audio file at your leisure. Password is: TheCubReporter The recording is recorded from a Radioshark device so it's a little bit noisy but with the volume down it's listenable. It's a 134 MB file in .m4a format, so it should work in iTunes (or on it's own in a mac) https://auth.me.com/authenticate?username=cub...

John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus fires up the hot stove discussion before the GM meeting starting tomorrow in Chicago: http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?art... The Cubs might listen on ace Carlos Zambrano, but would need to be overwhelmed to deal him. As always, there are a number of overpriced players that teams are trying to get rid of. In the front ranks in that group are Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley... Catching has become an increasingly difficult position for teams to fill, yet there are some interesting names floating as trade possibilities: the Pirates’ Ryan Doumit, the Rays’ Dioner Navarro, the Rangers’ Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and the Cubs’ Geovany Soto. The Cubs have decided not to try to re-sign right-hander Rich Harden and outfielder Reed Johnson, who can both become free agents.

Tim Dierkes at mlbtr gives his free agent and where they land picks...throws the Cubs a Billy Wagner bone. meh. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/2010-to...

From today's ESPN lede story: ----- 8. Which player is more difficult to trade -- Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley, because of his reputation and other baggage, or Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells, because of his contract? Responses: Wells 20, Bradley 0. ---- So we got that going for us, which is nice.

I enjoy rumors at this time of the year. But, while the Cubs have "prospects" to acquire some players of a certain level, I would consider it highly doubtful that they have the prospects in quality or quantity to obtain a player like Halliday, when compared to other organizations. If HArden is not signed to a short-term deal, the team is just so fucked with what they have right now in terms of a dominant viable staff: one number 2, an injured number 2, 1 #3, 1 # 4 starter, and fill-in-the-blank #5's. I do not have my hopes up for 2010 and we're five months away.

And eat most of his salary if necessary. --- Tougher to do now that Yum-Yum donut shop is gone. http://www.flickr.com/photos/enjoyillinois/40...

Offer arbitration to Harden. You are either getting him back on a 1 year deal or getting a comp pick. No brainer win/win