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 ...
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 ...
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