A number of media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune, have reported over the weekend that the Chicago Cubs are interested in adding former Toronto Blue Jays' reliever BJ Ryan.
Ryan, who clears waivers on Monday, will become a free agent after being released by Toronto. He was supposed to make $15 million this year.
The investment the Cubs would need to make in the oft-injured reliever would be minimal, and they would have the option of sending Ryan to the minors for a time, just until he was ready to compete at a major league level.
The fact that the Cubs would have interest in ...
On Sunday night, in front a national television audience, the creative genius Chicago Cubs' fans have been begging Lou Piniella to employ finally showed up.
If you read the play-by-play for the ninth inning, there is a sequence that will undoubtedly have you scratching your head.
Sean Marshall relieves Angel Guzman. OK, nothing major there.
Aaron Heilman relieves Marshall; Marshall to left field. What? It's bad enough Heilman's pitching, but Marshall in left field?
One batter, a strike out, later, Marshall moves back to the mound and Reed Johnson enters the game to play left.
Because the Cubs don't have a left handed pitcher anywhere ...
As the Cubs finish the first half of the season (figuratively) with a Sunday double header against the Cardinals, it's time for fans to pause, take a deep breath and look forward.
Part of that pause is looking at where the team has been, though. Though the Cubs have played more than half of their games, the All Star Break is the time to evaluate the team, the division, and the season.
How have the veterans done so far? What kids have contributed? What options are there for changes? Are changes needed?
Let's take a look at the Cubs of 2009, and how ...
The Chicago Cubs looked like a steaming pile of hot garbage on Friday in an 8-3 loss to division leading St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of a crucial four-game series before the All Star Break.
Whether it's been Rich Harden's inability to gets outs past the second inning, Ryan Dempster's high jumping ability or Geovany Soto's new love handle contusion, the Cubs are giving off the vibes of a team completely out of it in the National League Central.
The funny thing is, just a week ago the Cubs won a big series against the Milwaukee Brewers and looked like ...
This is an edited and updated reprint of a piece I wrote in May regarding a move I think would make sense for the Chicago Cubs. In light of Rich Harden's starts leading up to his loss on Friday, I believe the discussion is worth re-visiting.
Two years ago, the Chicago Cubs made a bold decision. The one-time face of the franchise, the future of the starting rotation, the hope of the city of Chicago, Kerry Wood, was going to move to the bullpen.
The decision was partially made to give Wood a career. He had a longer laundry list of injuries and ...
Things were starting to look up for the Chicago Cubs. They took three out of four games from the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend and appeared to be turning the corner offensively.
As Aramis Ramirez, Reed Johnson and Angel Guzman came back from their sorted injuries, the Cubs seemed to be in decent shape, just a few games behind the division-leading Cardinals.
And then the Cubs won on Sunday. The bench was excited by the series victory as the team stormed the field. Some took the stairs to leave the dugout.
Ryan Dempster decided to hop the fence.
It got worse on Wednesday as ...
Chicago sports radio stations are reporting that the Chicago Cubs will place starting pitcher Ryan Dempster on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Friday, July 3.
Dempster reportedly has a fractured toe on his right foot.
Kevin Hart, who was just demoted on Monday, will be recalled to fill Dempster's rotation spot between now and the All-Star break next week.
UPDATE: Because the Cubs had optioned Kevin Hart to Iowa after the injury occurred, the team was not able to make the listing retroactive. Dempster's 15 days begin on Tuesday.
Dempster told a member of the media that he injured the toe hopping the ...
As we approach the All Star Break, it's time for teams to start dealing with the realities of their rosters.
Now is when the terms "buyer" and "seller" start to become real for general managers everywhere.
It's also the time of year when the young studs in the game start to stake their claim to the hallowed honor of being named Rookie of the Year.
We're now deep enough into the season that there's a body of work for many young players to use when considering candidates. Some batters, and some pitchers, have established themselves as quality major league contributors.
Just one season after ...
Monday should be an exciting day for fans of the Chicago Cubs. The lineup should, for the first time in months, be nearly complete with the return of third baseman Aramis Ramirez, outfielder Reed Johnson, and bullpen arm Angel Guzman.
But there's a cloud surrounding this silver lining.
What happens when veterans come back from their rehab assignments?
They take up spots on the 25-man rosters.
Now the Cubs have some decisions to make, and General Manager Jim Hendry has already followed his awful winter by handcuffing manager Lou Piniella before he has to start writing bus passes to Iowa.
Early this past week, the Cubs ...
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