Heading into the 2011 season, catcher is one of the last things that the Chicago Cubs will need to worry about, as long as Geovany Soto is lining up behind the dish. Soto bounced back from a very poor sophomore season in 2010. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2008, Soto hit just .218 in 2009, with only 11 homers. The 2010 season saw Soto bounce back from that sophomore slump, posting a .280 average and parking 17 big flies. Much of his success in 2010 can be traced back to his work off the field last winter. Soto ...
The Chicago Cubs made their biggest splash of the offseason when they landed Matt Garza from the Tampa Bay Rays, in exchange for a package that included high-upside prospects like pitcher Chris Archer and shortstop Hak-Ju Lee.
While the move saw general manager Jim Hendry acquire the starter he craved and was accepted as a quality move by Cubs nation, it created a logjam in the Chicago rotation that has left the question of who will actually start for this Chicago team come April.
As of right now, there are three pitchers firmly cemented in the rotation. Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and ...
Quite similar to the way Jerry Angelo handled the offseason of the Chicago Bears, Jim Hendry has made every move at his disposal this offseason in the hopes of saving his job, albeit with considerably less money.
Heading into the winter of 2010-11, most fans and experts knew that the Cubs did not have much money to invest. They'd have to sign players on a budget and would have to do much of their improvement through trade.
Hendry's first splash of the offseason was signing first baseman Carlos Pena. While many questioned the move due to Pena's .196 batting average, Pena brings ...
The Chicago Cubs are looking to acquire at least one veteran starter, even though their rotation appears to be set. While they appear to have a rotation set, the Cubs would like to add depth to the rotation, given the questions that surround a staff led by Carlos Zambrano.It would appear that Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Silva and possibly Randy Wells are locks. Tom Gorzelanny has earned a spot in the rotation after spending a great deal of time there down the stretch and will be given every opportunity to be there come April.However, beyond those five, unproven pitchers like ...
If there's any spot that will see a big difference in the Cubs' lineup on Opening Day, it's that infield's right side. While Starlin Castro and Aramis Ramirez are as locked-in as it gets on the left, Blake DeWitt is still a question at second, along with the void at first that was left by the departure of Derrek Lee. There have been a number of potential candidates named as to who could fill these voids, primarily at first base. However, with the payroll expected to be a little tighter than last season, the Cubs are expected to look ...
Cubs nation was buzzing a bit last week—not because of a potential Adam Dunn signing or because they managed to trade Kosuke Fukudome for a bucket of balls, but because Jim Hendry hinted at the Cubs potentially taking a look at former closer, and fan favorite, Kerry Wood.
Wood was let go following the 2008 season, when he was replaced as the setup man following the trade for Kevin Gregg.
It was considered a mistake at the time, with Hendry giving away a pair of key role players, and class acts, in Wood and Mark DeRosa before replacing them in the clubhouse ...
