The Chicago Cubs have had a great winter. So, it's good to know that the Cubs can have an even better 2013 offseason if they build on this year's success and sign Zack Greinke.Why Greinke? Fellow top free agent starters Cole Hamels and Matt Cain would be great additions as well, but neither of them are likely to come to Chicago. Cain appears likely to eventually re-sign with the San Francisco Giants, perhaps even later this offseason. The Giants love Cain, need him, and have the money to sign him long-term, so that one is likely to get done.Hamels appears ...
MLB’s free agency period is ending, but the Chicago Cubs have unfinished business: they still need to sign Jorge Soler. Recent reports suggest the franchise may be on the verge of doing just that within the next few days. Soler, a 19-year-old Cuban outfielder with elite power and skills, is now the key to the Cubs offseason. Signing him would put the team firmly on track to contend in 2014 and beyond. The team has made several farsighted moves this winter. First, they added 27-year-old third baseman Ian Stewart, who is the right age for a breakout in new surroundings. ...
It's been a good offseason for the Chicago Cubs, but they need to complete it by signing Jorge Soler.Earlier this offseason, I wrote that the Cubs should target both Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler. Cespedes ultimately signed with the Oakland Athletics because they agreed to sign a four-year deal, and let him become a free agent when he becomes 30 years old. The Cubs had little use for a four-year deal because they will not contend for two to three years, so it makes sense that they let Cespedes go to Oakland. But now they need to sign Jorge Soler, ...
The Chicago Cubs will trade Alfonso Soriano soon because the team's new front-office team wants to move forward with new players.Soriano was signed to a monumental eight-year deal prior to the 2007 season to be the Cubs' next power-hitting, speedy center fielder. The prospect of that happening was always slim because Soriano's defense was so poor and he was almost immediately moved to left field. More recently, injuries have taken away Soriano's speed. His power remains intact, as evidenced by his 26 home runs and 88 RBI, but his batting average (.244) and on-base percentage (.289) completely disappeared in 2011. ...
The Chicago Cubs have had an underrated offseason, so how long will it take them to return to contention? The franchise is now on the right track but it will take two to three years for the Cubs to allow their best prospects to mature while adding enough talent to contend for the World Series.To contend for the World Series, a team needs a well-balanced lineup with elite power in the middle, a true leadoff hitter and a mix of left- and right-handed bats. The Cubs moved in the right direction this offseason. They added intriguing left-handed third baseman Ian ...
Bigger isn’t always better. That was the story of the Cubs' 2012 offseason, as they made a series of stealthy trades and upside signings as new bosses Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer reshaped the organization. They haven't attracted too much media attention, but the Cubs’ offseason was quietly one of the most effective in Major League Baseball. Let’s look at the signings. The Cubs began the offseason by inking outfielder David DeJesus to a two year deal for slightly under $10 million. DeJesus will not win any MVP awards, but he is a deceptively effective ballplayer: his on-base percentage is ...
The Chicago Cubs made the newest addition of an active 2012 offseason by signing Cuban pitching star Gerardo Concepcion. It's just another excellent move by new GM Theo Epstein, as he reshapes the Chicago Cubs into future World Series contenders. Earlier this winter, he traded for emerging third baseman Ian Stewart, top first base prospect Anthony Rizzo and developing lefty starter Travis Wood, while jettisoning problematic former ace Carlos Zambrano.He should not be done yet. The Chicago Cubs should make it a trio and sign 2012's other two Cuban stars: Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler.Yoenis Cespedes is the second international ...
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