Rafael Furcal, according to Ken Rosenthal, will sign with the Braves today. Why does this deserve a FanPost? I’m not sure that it does, but it could have tangential influence on the Cubs’ offseason. The Cubs were not going after him, but they do have a standing order out there for a leadoff hitter, and a lefty/switch hitter.  Many of us have also been wishcasting that the team would go after a “proper” shortstop, given the fact that one of Lou’s three second baseman plays there now. Guess that fantasy won’t materialize.

This could also help accelerate movement in the free agent market, given another big name will have signed. It looks like the Braves probably matched the A’s four-year, $40 million offer (although the last year may be an option year based on incentives).

Is it strange that the Winter Meetings are just about done and none of the various FA OFs that have been discussed (Abreu, Bradley, Dunn, Ibanez) have been signed yet? 

And none of the potential trade targets (Hermida, Teahen, DeJesus, etc) have been dealt?

Maybe I wouldn't find it strange if it weren't for the fact the following teams have been reported as being interested in one or more of these players in the last few days:

Cubs, Mets, Phillies, Mariners, Angels, Braves, Nationals, Rays, Dodgers, Royals, Reds

I would have thought that one of them would have made a move by now, but they all seem to be waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Or, maybe the FAs are holding firm, playing teams against each other?  Any bets that at least one of the Big 4 OF FAs gets signed today?

EDIT: Ibanez reportedly signed with the Phillies Friday morning for 3 years $30M (link)

Cubs.com has the scoop on playoff tickets for the first two rounds. In order to be fair, they are having a drawing with everyone's name and address registered online. Presumably, proof of address will be needed to collect the tickets, eliminating spoofers and scalpers.

This is not good news for me. I was pretty good at working the Virtual Waiting Room last year and scored four (useless) tickets to the (non-existent) NLCS at Wrigley Field.  Oh, that's the other thing. Fans will be limited to TWO tickets each in the drawing. 

see cubs.com for more details

Do you expect the team to stand pat? Do you want them to make a certain move?

The Cubs have really been pretty quiet on the trade front all month, but I can’t believe that Hendry isn’t in full Trader Jim mode.

via farm2.static.flickr.com

This is the year, everyone keeps saying.  Zell wants to sell when the team is at its most successful, so there isn’t going to be a payroll roadblock. And although Piniella won’t be drawn on specifics, other than to hint that they’re not looking for bullpen help, he said last night that "if you can improve the team, why not?"

The Tribune this morning talks more about who could be dealt away from the Cubs than who their target might be.

The Sun-Times thinks they could or should be targeting Raul Ibanez, speculating that Jedmonds is out of gas.

The Herald says all they need is a lefty bat off the bench. Funny –all the talk last week was about the Cubs needing a right handed bat off the bench….

In my opinion, I think they should focus on getting the best hitter available, and find a place for him in the line-up or off the bench. The pitching remains deep, with a variety of spare parts available for trade.

Lou says  with the three Mondays off in a row, he "may" juggle the rotation to give the team’s best starters more starts, and he names Z, Dempster and Lilly as ones he’d like to get 7 starts each by the All-Star break.  Z may go this Thursday instead of Gallagher, to get the thing started. I actually see Z and Lilly getting seven and Dempster getting six, with the #4 also getting six and the #5 getting five starts. Unless I’m missing a chance to juggle somewhere?

It also looks like Z might be pitching the last game before the break, which could impact any chance he might have to appear in the ASG. Again, please suggest any adds/drops/changes to this rota:

10-June     Lilly

11-June     Dempster

12-June     Zambrano

13-June     #4

14-June     #5

15-June     Lilly

16-June     OFF DAY

17-June     Zambrano

18-June     Dempster

19-June     #4

20-June     Lilly

21-June     #5

22-June     Zambrano

23-June     OFF DAY

24-June     Dempster

25-June     Lilly

26-June     #4

27-June     #5

28-June     Zambrano

29-June     Dempster

30-June     Lilly

1-July     #4

2-July     #5

3-July     Zambrano

4-July     Dempster

5-July     Lilly

6-July     #4

7-July     OFF DAY

8-July     Zambrano

9-July     Dempster

10-July     Lilly

11-July     #4

12-July     #5

13-July     Zambrano