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It might be hard to believe—although it shouldn’t be—but the Cubs’ 2013 Opening Day starting rotation will be worse than in previous years. Last season saw the Cubs begin the season with Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija, Paul Maholm, and Chris Volstad. That is a fairly formidable first four. But the 2013 Opening Day starting rotation will feature only one holdover from that of 2012. The Chicago Cubs seem hell-bent on trading away Matt Garza. Why else would they give updates in 30-second intervals about his offseason progression? The only reason he is still with the club now is ...
After going 61-101 in 2012, the Chicago Cubs should be better in 2013. They've made too many solid additions this winter to be a 100-loss wreck again.All the same, the 2013 season does have the look of another bridge year. The Cubs are short on long-term solutions in the field and on the mound, and that means Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and the rest of the team's front office will once again be hard at work trying to round out the roster next winter.When everything is settled, the 2014 Cubs are going to look a lot different from the 2013 ...
According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs—the team who originally drafted him in the eighth round in 2000. The 2003 National League Rookie of the Year had originally retired from baseball in July.Willis, who turns 31 next week, last pitched professionally for the Baltimore Orioles' Triple-A affiliate in 2012. He gave up eight runs in only 6.1 innings pitched and subsequently retired.Ever since leaving the Florida Marlins—who he last pitched for in 2007—Willis has suffered from constant injuries and has struggled to regain form. The two-time All-Star, ...
One of the most surprising developments of the MLB offseason was the Chicago Cubs' pursuit of free-agent pitcher Anibal Sanchez.The Cubs' interest didn't result in signing Sanchez and adding him to the top of their starting rotation. But offering a five-year, $77 million contract did make a statement of purpose to the other 29 MLB teams and any players deciding where to take their talents. While the Cubs may be rebuilding under Theo Epstein, the team intends to be competitive and become a playoff contender again. Ownership and the front office will pay top dollar for the best available players who ...
The Chicago Cubs have had a very interesting winter. They were one of the busiest teams with free-agent signings, but, oddly enough, only one of the position players they signed was ranked in the top 100 position player free-agent list according to CBSSports.com. That player was Nate Schierholtz (ranked No. 23).The Cubs did make a couple of big splashes this winter. They were in the running for Anibal Sanchez then ended up signing Edwin Jackson instead. They also signed Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa. That was pretty much the extent of the Cubs making a big splash this winter.Even still, those moves may ...
The 2012 season was not a complete loss for the Chicago Cubs organization and its fans. There were a few points that were able to break through the fog of the 101-loss season to highlight—or in some cases lowlight—the season: the emergence of Jeff Samardzija as a legitimate long-term starter; the outstanding defensive play of second baseman Darwin Barney; the correlation of a strong bullpen and success; and the lack of depth in the upper levels of the Cubs farm system. Yet, many of the Cubs’ major deficiencies can be remedied in the offseason; perhaps not to an extent to allow ...
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