Cubs News Round-Up: Ben Sheets, Spring Training, Top 10 Prospect List, Zambrano Interview

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:38pm

- The Hardball :

  1. Starlin Castro
  2. Josh Vitters
  3. Brett Jackson
  4. Jay Jackson
  5. Hak-Ju Lee
  6. Kyler Burke
  7. Andrew Cashner
  8. Chris Archer
  9. Chris Carpenter
  10. Ryan Flaherty

Archer's not a name you see on a lot of Top 10 or even Top 20 lists so far.

- Ben Sheets , the Cubs and about nine other clubs will be there. While the odds of Sheets making it through a full season are about on par with the odds that you're going to go , it sure would make for some exciting buzz heading into the season if the Cubs could land him. There's been a few comparisons to Rich Harden and why would they let Harden go and then pursue Sheets. And yes the injury concerns are similar, but the one thing Sheets has going for him over Harden is his ability to go deep into games when he is pitching. He has 18 complete games in his career including 5 in 2008. Maybe he shouldn't have completed those games, but and for the most part he was in the 100-110 range. You have to admit - Zambrano, Sheets, Dempster, Lilly and Wells would be a real nice looking 5-man rotation and suddenly make 2010 a lot more interesting.

- One of our readers "jacos" heard an interview with The highlights...

-Said he's in "best shape ever"

- Wants to help team win

-Said he had "6 pack abs" lifted up his shirt, Waddle said atleast a "4
pack" and could not believe Z was 265, but he looked so fit

-Talked about Lou visits to mound and what he says, (Z doing Lou's
voice)-"Ya gotta throw strikes. Cmon. A lot of people are watching"

-Most feared hitter Pujlos then Carlos Lee

-Goals for next year "stay in shape" and help the team win

-Did not play softball last year

-Didn't want to address Sosa and McGwire but said he had baseball friend who took "asteroids"(no joke)

The friend did not make MLB but had warning track power and when he took "asteroids"(second time) he could "smash the ball"

*Before we get chastized for making fun of Z's accent or whatever, it's come to my attention that it's "esteroide" in Spanish which is what he was probably saying, but asteroid is way funnier.

-  and we may have uncovered the smoking gun that would indicate when he said the Ricketts have already made up their mind that they want their spring training operations out of Florida.

“Kenney said if he got the consensus of the lodging organiztion
within the county that it would suppoprt the project by virtue of bed
tax funds it would be the last piece he was looking for to approach the
owners that they submit their notice of termination with Mesa and start
negotiations with Collier,” Medweddeff said.

You never want to read too much into a newspaper quote and maybe this Medweddeff person is just trying to make everyone feel good about why they're pursuing this whole thing, but that sure does sound like the Cubs are really just looking for reasons to move to Florida.

UPDATE: that Cubs will move to Florida barring Arizona coming up with "unforeseen money".

- One little note I wanted to pass along from a Rick Sutcliffe interview on XM radio this morning. He was talking about how he's glad Nolan Ryan is trying to get pitchers to go deeper into games with Texas and then said he's hearing that the Cubs plan to make a similar push with the addition of Greg Maddux. It wasn't a big point he was making, but that is what he said.

Tags: 
Cubs rumors
Cubs Prospects
Cubs Spring Training
Prospect Lists

Comments

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:48pm  
http://www.news-press.com/article/20100114/SP... Cubs dispute report that a decision will be made by Friday, still planning on end of month.

Submitted by The Real Neal  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:51pm  
Hopefully someone points out to them that Cubs spring training is in Arizona, before this goes too far.

Submitted by O.Julius  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:51pm  
I wonder if Carlos was pronouncing it "esteroids," as many native Spanish speakers do with words that begin with "s." Like Esteban (Steven). I hope not, because "asteroids" is frickin hilarious.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:53pm  
probably the case, but asteroids would be funnier...

Submitted by jacos  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:57pm  
Yes, I believe he was saying "esteroids". Real Neal pointed that out in last post also. I apologize for my ignorance of the Spanish language.

Submitted by O.Julius  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 10:32pm  
I apologize for my ignorance of the last post. We're square.

Submitted by carlosrubi  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 12:57am  
fuck you, racist asshole. love you :)

Submitted by jacos  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 8:39am  
Hey Carlos!!! Good to see ya, man!!!! ~ip~

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:52pm  
former #1 prospect of the Giants, use to throw mid 90's heat, not sure now with the way his K totals went down last year and how hittable he was. nonetheless, could be an interesting name to put a claim in... http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/play...

Submitted by Seamhead  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:01pm  
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Valdez had TJ surgery in 2006...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:07pm  
maybe that's it, although usually you come back no worse for wear and even throwing harder on occasion

Submitted by The Real Neal  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:02pm  
At least as good as Thomas Diamond.

Submitted by navigator  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:50pm  
He was more interesting when he was Manuel Mateo.

Submitted by garsky  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 11:45am  
I'd kick in $20 if it means we get to have a guy named "Merkin" on our team. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkin

Submitted by The Real Neal  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:03pm  
This list seems more like "10 cubs minor leaguers I've heard of" rather than a top 10.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:10pm  
awesome. http://twitter.com/vftb/status/7757605467
M. Grace on 'roids: "I was a single guy then. I want to be able to perform.That stuff will tear you up as far as your manhood is concerned."

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:20pm  
i'm glad he's still on TV. he has a lot of nice/funny/etc. things left to say to the world.

Submitted by Stevens  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:42pm  
No mention of slumpbusters? A shame.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:56pm  
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/...

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 2:26pm  
"I would love to hear, 'You know what I took steroids because I wanted to hit the ball farther, I wanted to throw the ball harder or I wanted to run faster,'" he said. "Ben Johnson, Marion Jones, why did they take steroids? To run faster, not to heal from injuries. They did it to run faster, OK? And I would love to start hearing, 'You know what, I did steroids because I wanted to improve my performance on the baseball field. I wanted to be bigger so I could hit the ball farther, I wanted to be able to run faster or I wanted to be able to throw the ball harder.' Then I'll start respecting some of these guys who come out and give the reasons for their steroid use. But, you know, "I had an injuruy...' Every ballplayer, every football player, every basketball player has some kind of a little nagging injury during the season. That's a baloney cop-out." awesome.

Submitted by Stevens  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 3:32pm  
I would like to hear: "My fragile ego requires me to take shots at baseball players who were better than me, and I've never forgiven Sammy for becoming more popular than I was. Also I like sex. Really. Because I'm a man." - M. Grace

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 3:50pm  
i don't think mark grace owns anything resembling a fragile ego. you can rag on the guy pretty hard and he usually laughs or plays into it. his ARZ booth work is painful to listen to, but sometimes you get some gems out of a night of his mic work.

Submitted by Stevens  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:28pm  
i don't think mark grace owns anything resembling a fragile ego. Maybe not. But his recurring need for attention strikes me as insecure.

Submitted by jacos  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:11pm  
AWESOME!!! Mark Grace always looking for a camera or microphone.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:13pm  
forgot to mention something I heard on Xm radio this morning...

Submitted by jacos  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:24pm  
"he's glad Nolan Ryan is trying to get pitchers to go deeper into games with Texas" And nothing says going deep into games like Rich Harden.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:33pm  
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-the-Cubs-i...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:37pm  
supposedly arthroscopic, not microfracture http://twitter.com/hotfootblog/status/7758699244

Submitted by navigator  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:59pm  
And the Mets agreed to pay for it.
Carlos Beltran's agent Scott Boras told Andrew Marchand of ESPN Radio in New York that the Mets provided workman's compensation paperwork to pay for the procedure on his client's right knee. "The Mets gave consent to pay for the surgery," Boras said, noting that the office for Dr. Richard Steadman, the surgeon who performed Carlos Beltran's knee surgery, received the paperwork from team trainer Ray Ramirez. Boras also said he spoke with both Jeff Wilpon and Omar Minaya about the surgery on Tuesday while Beltran also spoke with Minaya. The Mets are expected to address the matter with the media at 2 p.m. ET. Jan. 14 - 1:54 pm et Source: ESPN1050.com
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:46pm  
http://www.teamontop.com/product/Chicago%20Cu... this seems more pathetic to own then cool, no?

Submitted by jacos  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 2:00pm  
Put it right next to my 19th century map of the British Empire.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 1:55pm  
Without doing much research, here is a list of pitching reclamation projects by Hendry: Wade Miller Ryan Dempster Chad Fox Kerry Wood Shawn Estes Angel Guzman Glendon Rusch Jerome Williams Scott Williamson Neal Cotts Not included: The "Human Towel Drill", and Joe Borowski. There are 10 I can think of. Five were/are useful. How does this compare to the other GM's around baseball?

Submitted by Paul Noce  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:40pm  
How was Kerry Wood a reclamation project for Hendry? Wood was already with the team when Hendry became GM. I'll say the same for Guzman, already in the system. A reclamation project is someone you pick up who has had injury and/or performance problems. Guys who are already there playing better or staying healthy don't qualify. Of the other 8, only Dempster has made any real contribution, and he's still an overpaid, over-hyped, mediocre at best pitcher.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:51pm  
considering no one seems to like Dempster I don't get the over-hyped otherwise, he's 28-15, 3.30 ERA and 406 IP's over the last two seasons...ERA is 7th best in the NL over 2 seasons.

Submitted by big_lowitzki  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 5:00pm  
We need more mediocre pitchers like Dempster.

Submitted by carlosrubi  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:05am  
Then McPhail offered him a contract and Grace left to take a bigger payday from Arizona.
A ring on his finger begs to differ.

Submitted by The Real Neal  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:00pm  
Wood was a FA after the '06 season and signed an incentive laden contract to rehab with the Cubs.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 2:00pm  
http://twitter.com/KenDavidoff/status/7759180587 as are Cards, Rockies, Phillies and Padres

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 2:20pm  
BNightengale #mlb The Cubs likely will leave Mesa, Az. for Naples, Fla., for spring training barring the state of AZ coming up with unforseen money. http://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/775971... Crap.

Submitted by navigator  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 2:48pm  
Hey, right now it's cheaper to fly from LAX to Miami in March ($208 roundtrip on Delta) than LA to Phoenix ($386). Of course that leaves you with a 125 mile drive to Naples.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 2:53pm  
found $138 ticket on US Airways and United from LAX to Phoenix from 03/08 to 03/14 I think you'd fly into Fort Meyers and that would require at least one stop from LAX, flights were in the $220 range LAX to Miami that I found was $282 with a stopover or $300+

Submitted by big_lowitzki  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 2:44pm  
Interesting comments on each person in the Hardball Times list, especially Vitters. They describe Vitters as "a good defender." Really? I am not sure that there is anyone other than Vitters mom that would agree that Vitters is "a good defender."

Submitted by navigator  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 2:59pm  
KICK-OFF. Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano announces the launch of the BIG Z FOUNDATION, which helps underserved children and families. Mr. Zambrano and other Cubs are expected to attend the event at Fogo de Chão, where the evening includes a three-course meal. Jan. 17, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Tickets are $125, proceeds benefit this Big Z Foundation. 661 N. LaSalle St., (312) 932-9330, www.carloszambrano38.com.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 3:01pm  
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=350951 named Illinois sportscaster of the year for the 5th time...

Submitted by big_lowitzki  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 3:22pm  
As I mentioned on another blog, this is Hughes' award for having to work with Ron Santo every day.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 3:32pm  
why would you be on another blog?

Submitted by The E-Man  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:00pm  
He is ashamed and moonlights.

Submitted by big_lowitzki  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:12pm  
Rob... you just are not meeting all of my needs. Others have been able to meet my needs.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:16pm  
ouch, do I need to send over Johann's mom?

Submitted by big_lowitzki  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:25pm  
Umm... she doesn't need to be sent over...

Submitted by carlosrubi  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:04am  
how about bent over?

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:05pm  
2/14 with 3rd yr option for $9M

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:08pm  
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_s... pic of Sosa with normal sized head

Submitted by Paul Noce  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 4:37pm  
I'll never forget the propaganda trip Grace was on when his final Cubs contract expired, and he called out McPhail in the press and claimed he didn't care about the money, he just wanted to be a Cub. Then McPhail offered him a contract and Grace left to take a bigger payday from Arizona. Class-less prick. I never did like the guy. As a ballplayer he was good, not great. He had the misfortune of being surrounded mostly by pure crap talent his entire time with the Cubs, but as a person, Grace is just another stuck-up, hypocritical, lying scumbag who loves to hear himself talk. Grace, Sutcliffe, and Joe Morgan should be locked in a booth together in some alternate reality.

Submitted by WISCGRAD  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 5:44pm  
Do you have anything you can link to on this? This is not the way I remember it at all or how I am reading about it on a dozen or more sites. I never heard of him being offered a contract by McPhail, and he signed like two days after he hit the open market after the Cubs didn't offer him anything.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 6:12pm  
i read a few things that Cubs weren't going to guarantee him a full-time gig (thinking Choi could be ready) and that Grace wanted a 3-yr deal, etc...never heard anything about any offers being made. the legend was always that after basically taking year-to-year deals over the years, he got pissed when the Cubs didn't want him anymore and didn't even talk to him after the offseason

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 6:43pm  
mark grace wanted a multi-year deal...and he only wanted 2/3. he never got offered...or signed...more than a 1 year deal his entire career. who else who put up numbers like his would just take a string of 1-year deals? he may not be a fan of some of his ex-bosses and everyone knows he wasn't a sosa fan, but the guy definitely wanted to be a cub.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 7:00pm  
he never got offered...or signed...more than a 1 year deal his entire career.
yeah, wonder where that myth got perpetuated http://articles.latimes.com/1995-12-20/sports... 2 yr-deal with 3rd yr option after '95 season. did take 1-yr deals after that though...

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 7:04pm  
gotcha. thnx. and yeah, that one has been kicking around a long time.

Submitted by Stevens  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 9:52am  
As a ballplayer he was good, not great. Well, he was no HOFer, but he was still a damn good ballplayer. As for character...yeah, I could do with hearing less from him. To say the least. Funny, I was such a big fan of Grace and Steve Stone back in the day. Now I cringe when I hear those guys yammer on about all they know.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 5:02pm  
crud... Josh Johnson signs 4/39M extension with Marlins, was hoping Cubs would trade for him during the season or next offseason. http://twitter.com/jcrasnick/status/7764751100

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 5:15pm  
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/...
"For me, he was good in the clubhouse," Zambrano said. "He was a little moody ... sometimes a little strange, but he was good. "Sometimes the only bad problem for me was he talked to the media and said things he didn't have to say, sometimes like me. I wish him good luck in Seattle and hopefully he can do good."

Submitted by Ryno  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 9:32pm  
So... He was good in the clubhouse except he was moody, strange, and said things to the media he shouldn't have said.

Submitted by The Real Neal  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:03pm  
Yeah, Zambrano and Wells are just liars.

Submitted by Ryno  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:29pm  
Hey, I'm just repeating exactly what Zambrano said.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 5:31pm  
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AjMn... 3 people got Valverde correct including a 15 by Michael Connors putting him in a tie with "Bryan"

Submitted by The Real Neal  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:06pm  
Boy, do I suck.

Submitted by Charlie  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 7:29pm  
Rumors now that the D-Backs may release Eric Byrnes. If he's healthy enough to play (and this is all speculation on my part now), he, Reed Johnson, and Dye might be three righthanded, lefty-mashing outfielders the Cubs could consider to platoon in RF and spell Soriano (or Byrd in Johnson or maybe even Byrnes's case).

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 6:20pm  
i was looking for info on Grace and came across this partial article, dated Nov 1st, 1992. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4137881.html
Insider has learned Dawson is ready to sign a five-year contract that would allow him to play for another two seasons, then join the coaching staff, front office or broadcasting team. The total package could be worth between $10 million and $12 million. "That's part of the structure, but I don't want to get into specifics," general manager Larry Himes said of the long-term deal. It is believed the deal has been agreed to in principle and could be signed as soon as Nov. 10. That's the day after expansion rosters are due in to league offices and the first date non-protected players can
of course, he ended up with the Red Sox in '93 so that's interesting...

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 6:44pm  
damn you teflon himes... oh...wait...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 11:36pm  
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2... Selig believes new committee will institute changes, some quickly

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 12:07am  
all kinds of interesting "suits" stuff going on this offseason. inviting GMs to the owner's meetings this year was deemed a universal success, supposedly.

Submitted by navigator  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:56am  
A 24 year old guy from Elko, Nevada posing as TYLER COLVIN convinced a Dodge dealer in Utah he would come back the next day and pay for a $50,000 truck and drove off with it. Arrested.. http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_14194654

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 2:20am  
hahaha...awesome.

Submitted by John Beasley  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 6:22am  
Dear Navigator, Thanks for posting that. Regards, Sam Fuld

Submitted by Charlie  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 8:17am  
There's a car dealer in Elko, Nevada who says, "That's okay, you can pay for it tomorrow" to little-known somewhat disappointing first-round baseball draft picks? I'll see you guys later. Me and Bobby Brownlie have a plane to catch.

Submitted by jacos  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 8:39am  
Dealer- " You are THEE Tyler Colvin?"

Submitted by WISCGRAD  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 9:36am  
Seamhead already mentioned one way to donate to relief efforts in Haiti in the last post, but I thought I would reiterate the need for help and offer another way. If you want to make a difference quickly and easily, you can simply text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross for Haiti. It gets added right to your phone bill and 100% of the funds go to the relief effort. Just hold yourself to one less beer and hot dog at Wrigley next summer and you can give food, water, and medical supplies to earthquake victims! Impressively, US citizens have already raised over $5 million through this method.

Submitted by Ryno  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 11:31am  
You can also use Discover cashback money. It takes 3 or 4 clicks and it's money you'll never miss. Discover also matches these donations dollar for dollar.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 12:13pm  
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/...
"(He's) someone I would welcome with open arms, not because I've known him for a long time, but he brings a 'Scott Eyre feel' to the clubhouse -- a light, funny, keep-everyone-on-their-toes type of feeling."
from the most vocal player on the team that Milton was a distraction...

Submitted by Sweet Lou  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 12:57pm  
You're not really comparing Ben Sheets to Milton Bradley, are you? Other than the fact that they both have a fairly lengthy injury history, what do they have in common?

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:14pm  
I'm not, but sure seems like Theriot was making a point of it

Submitted by Sweet Lou  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:18pm  
Ah, I see where you're going with it. I didn't read his comments that way, but I can see how you could.

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:52pm  
"Scott Eyre feel' to the clubhouse" i thought the 09 feel to the clubhouse was broke enough.

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 1:53pm  
jack clark has opinions about stuff... "All those guys are cheaters," Clark said. "A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez): Fake, phony. Rafael Palmeiro: Fake, a phony. (Roger) Clemens, (Barry) Bonds. (Sammy) Sosa. Fakes. Phonies. They don't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. They should all be in the Hall of Shame. They can afford to build it. They've all got so much money. And they could all go there and talk about the next way to rub something on your skin. The whole thing is creepy. "I don't know how they sleep at night, looking at all their fame, let alone the money they took by faking everybody out and lying to everybody."

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 2:13pm  
not too bad over his career versus lefties...probably prefer Reed though if it came down to those 2.

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 2:23pm  
guy was so popular he had his own TV interview show on FSN from 07-09. hell, he probably still is popular with the fans. if the guy moves on to a NL team he'll probably get one hell of an ovation when he returns to ARZ.

Submitted by Sweet Lou  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 3:54pm  
If he's released, Byrnes would be cheaper than signing Johnson for $2-3 million, wouldn't he?

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 4:14pm  
most likely, especially since byrnes already has a large paycheck coming no matter what. he doesn't have to hustle for much besides a team that could let him see the most ABs or trying to end up somewhere he wants to play at the expense of ABs.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 5:21pm  
yeah, probably...slipped my mind. apparently he signed a 3/30M deal near end of 2007. (Holy shit!) owed $11M in 2010.

Submitted by Ryno  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 8:06pm  
Unthrilled about the idea of Byrnes.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 9:39pm  
Submitted by Sweet Lou on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 3:54pm. If he's released, Byrnes would be cheaper than signing Johnson for $2-3 million, wouldn't he? ==================================== LOU: A lot cheaper. If Eric Byrnes gets released, the Cubs (or any club) can sign him for the MLB minimum ($400K), and his former club (the D'backs) is on the hook for the balance, just as happened when the Padres released Jim Edmonds a couple of years ago and the Cubs signed him for the MLB minimum, or when the Padres signed Chad Gaudin for the MLB minimum after the Cubs released him last March. The only way it costs more than the MLB minimum to sign a released player is if the player can command more as a free-agent than what he got as termination pay. This happened with Reed Johnson when he was released by the Blue Jays at the end of Spring Training 2008. Toronto only had to pay him 25% of his $3.275M 2008 salary as termination pay because the contract wasn't guaranteed and he was released prior to Opening Day. Then the Cubs signed him for $1.3M, so that Johnson made $2.1M (total) instead of $3.275M for that season, getting $800K (termination pay) from TOR and $1.3M (2008 salary) from the Cubs. The Cubs should offer the D'backs Carlos Silva in exchange for Eric Byrnes, and then the clubs could split the portion of Silva's 2011 & 2012 salary obligation that is not being paid by Seattle ($8M in 2011 and the $2M buy-out in 2012) 50/50. The Cubs would end up spending the same total money to get Byrnes for 2010 as they were going to have to pay Silva 2010-12 ($11M for Byrnes in 2010, $4M of Silva's salary in 2011, and $1M of Silva's buy-out in 2012), and the D'backs would be able to spread the $11M hit over three seasons ($6M in 2010, $4M in 2011, and $1M in 2012), instead of having to eat Byrnes $11M 2010 salary all at once, which they would have to do if he is released.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 10:22pm  
that Silva thing makes too much sense for it to happen... sigh.

Submitted by mjmiller73  on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 3:54am  
Wow, this Silva-Brynes talk does sound good. Just getting Silva off the 2011-12 roster would be part of the benefit. That said, if the Diamondbacks are looking at cutting Brynes despite being on the hook for his salary, they must also value roster spots like there's only 25 of them. Even if we need to pay more than 1/2 of the split Phil mentions, it might be worth it. If it can't be worked out, maybe we can arrange for Silva to do some gardening for the Urbinas.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 2:58pm  
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove09/ins... don't have Insider, but supposedly the most feared hitter by good pitchers...

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 3:24pm  
all 3'6" of him...he should be embarrassed he lists at 6'2"...

Submitted by jacos  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 5:35pm  
He was on WSCR today said he has "dropped 35-40 lbs". Diet ganch?

Submitted by Cubster  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 6:27pm  
Right-size smoothies?

Submitted by Ryno  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 8:08pm  
Baked munchies instead of deep-fried munchies?

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 9:01pm  
winner.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 1:48am  
Photo of Soto http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/...

Submitted by Sweet Lou  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 6:50pm  
Padres trade Kevin Kouzmanoff to A's for Scott Hairston (former Padre) and Aaron Cunningham. http://twitter.com/susanslusser/statuses/7807...

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 7:02pm  
wow...padres made out pretty good there.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 10:21pm  
all 8 Cubs filed today, although certainly some if not all will agree to deals before their hearing.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 10:23pm  
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/... for not paying rent...stay classy Milton.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 10:24pm  
all Cubs convention talk, but anything on how Sheets looked?

Submitted by Sweet Lou  on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 12:34am  
I don't think Sheets throws until Tuesday. Is that what you meant?

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 1:45am  
oh, thought it was today...thanks.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 12:05am  
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 1:46am  
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/... says Hendry tried to get him for '08

Submitted by Andrew  on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 5:36am  
I won't lie -- I'm a little excited to see Geo and Z in such good shape. And yes, I mean sexually.

Submitted by Andrew  on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 7:40am  
Randy Wells has some good quotes from the Convention. I like this kid: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?... "I used to say when I got to the Blue Jays that if my career ended now, I made it," Wells said. "Now, that's not good enough for me. Why not make an All-Star team? Why not MVP? Why not win the Cy Young? That's the kind of stuff that keeps you moving forward. "I know if I have a bad spring, I could be out of a rotation spot," he said. "You've go to keep it real. People who lose focus of that are the ones who struggle. I'm not taking anything for granted." He did take some time off this winter to travel, see friends. Wells joked that he took the "Rocky" approach this offseason and just threw the ball as hard as he could into a net to get ready for 2010. "Everybody talks about the sophomore slump that people go through," Wells said. "I don't believe in it. I was a guy who spent seven, eight years in the Minor Leagues and I got the opportunity and I caught a shooting star and I grabbed hold of it and I'm not letting go. "I'm [ticked] I didn't win 15, 16, 17 games last year," he said. "Instead of 12, I'm going to try to win 15, 16, 17, 18 games this year. It's just the way I am. I don't ever get complacent. I want to be better. I want to pitch 10 years. I'm not going to go in there and say, 'Hey, I had a heckuva rookie year and I'm going to sit here and look pretty on the bench.'"

Submitted by Cubster  on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 7:58am  
Sounds like a Greg Maddux quote to me. --- "I'm [ticked] I didn't win 15, 16, 17 games last year," he said. "Instead of 12, I'm going to try to win 15, 16, 17, 18 games this year. It's just the way I am. I don't ever get complacent. I want to be better. I want to pitch 10 years. I'm not going to go in there and say, 'Hey, I had a heckuva rookie year and I'm going to sit here and look pretty on the bench.'"