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With the Chicago Cubs in rebuild-mode, their offseason is just about complete, although another couple moves may be on the horizon.Looking to improve on an incredibly poor 101-loss season in 2012, the Cubs have made a few moves this offseason, inking pitchers like Edwin Jackson, Scott Baker and Scott Feldman to contracts. They also signed Japanese reliever Kyuji Fujikawa to a contract to bolster their bullpen.While they're not expected to compete just yet, Chicago is trying to improve this offseason.It's next offseason, however, that could be a big one for the Cubs. Players like Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and Wellington ...
The Chicago Cubs are in a rebuilding phase.Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have been itching to move some of the contracts that Jim Hendry racked up over his nine-year reign in Chicago.Three big contracts remain from the Hendry-era—Carlos Mármol, Alfonso Soriano and Matt Garza.Mármol, Garza and Soriano are slated to earn $9.8 million, $18 million and roughly $10 million (pending arbitration), respectively, next season.Mármol seems to be on his way out after the Cubs signing of Kyuji Fujikawa earlier this month. The 30-year-old righty hasn't been great the last two seasons, blowing a combined 13 saves in the last two seasons ...
With spring training approaching and some free agents still left unsigned, it stands to reason that names like Michael Bourn and Kyle Lohse will soon come off of the free-agent market.According to Ben Lindbergh of Baseball Prospectus (premium subscription required), the Chicago Cubs are one of three teams that could not only benefit from his services, but also afford the Scott Boras client.So what would Bourn bring to the table for this Cubs squad?For starters, Bourn would give the Cubs a solid bat at the top of the order, a legitimate base-stealing threat (the 30-year-old has reached the 40-stolen-base plateau ...
The 2013 offseason has been relatively busy for the Chicago Cubs.Despite the fact that the Cubs are still in a rebuilding phase, they went out and signed starting pitchers Scott Baker (h/t ESPN Chicago) and Edwin Jackson (h/t ESPN Chicago).Scott Baker will be looking to bounce back in Chicago after missing some of 2011 and all of 2012 with an injury.Edwin Jackson was brought in to help round out Chicago's rotation and eat up some innings for the next four years.Now, general manager Jed Hoyer would be smart to go out and sign Shaun Marcum.But why?They've already signed two starting ...
Going into the offseason, it wasn't clear what sort of approach the Chicago Cubs and team president Theo Epstein would take. In the second year of Epstein's rebuilding project on the North Side, would the Cubs continue to sell off higher-priced veteran players for younger, developing talent?Or, might the team begin to spend some money on free agents to fill some holes on the roster and possibly accelerate the process of constructing a playoff contender?We got our answer when reports leaked out from Wrigley Field of the Cubs making an offer to free agent Anibal Sanchez, viewed as the second-best starting ...
The dawn of another new year is upon us. The start of the new year is traditionally viewed as a new beginning of sorts, and many people like to look at New Year’s Day as a time to wipe the slate clean. Everything that has happened in the past is forgotten, and everyone looks towards a new and brighter future. It is also the time of year when it’s the hardest to find an available treadmill at the local gym, as just about everyone has a resolution to finally get in shape on their list. For baseball teams, the ...
The Chicago Cubs have been very active in the free-agent market this offseason. They have taken steps to improve almost every aspect of the team. Some areas that were addressed could be considered temporary fixes, until either one of the team’s prospects is ready to be called up, or a better option presents itself. Although Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have been busy trying to pull the Cubs out of the cellar of the NL Central, the odds are still heavily stacked against them for 2013. Most Cubs fans have accepted the fact that the team is rebuilding, and they ...
With free agency continuing to ramp up with most of the top names now off the market, another starting pitcher was snatched up yesterday when Edwin Jackson agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. The deal will no doubt improve the starting rotation of the Cubs as they ponder their future and whether or not Matt Garza will be a part of it. Jackson came at a fairly reasonable price compared to the other top arms that signed deals, but how does it stack up when you look at Jackson's overall track record? Let's take a ...
The Chicago Cubs added the starting pitcher that team president Theo Epstein was looking for, inking Edwin Jackson to a four-year, $52 million contract on Thursday (Dec. 20).The deal was first reported by CSN Chicago's Patrick Mooney.Previously this offseason, the Cubs tried to get Dan Haren from the Los Angeles Angels before they had to pick up his option for 2013. The teams actually had a deal in place, with the Cubs agreeing to send reliever Carlos Marmol to Anaheim in exchange.But before the trade could be completed, Epstein apparently changed his mind after getting a look at Haren's medical ...
Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer had a quiet first offseason last winter after taking over the reigns from former general manger Jim Hendry.They added Travis Wood, Ian Stewart and Anthony Rizzo to the fold via trade, signed free agents Paul Maholm and David DeJesus, claimed Luis Valbuena off waivers and replaced manager Mike Quade with current skipper Dale Sveum. They flipped Maholm and Ryan Dempster at the trade deadline, and the team finished 61-101 one year after finishing 71-91.This winter, Epstein and Hoyer have become more aggressive in ...
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