Says Jon Heyman

http://twitter.com/#!/SI_JonHeyman

Pena deal is done with #cubs, who get their lefthanded hitter and plus defender

Muskat says it is 1 year, 10 Mil.

#Cubs deal with Carlos Pena believed to be one year, $10 million. Expect more news later Wednesday

 

I think Carlos Pena has a chance to have a bounce back year.  I like the addition.  I believe he will be healthy this year and put up much better numbers then next year.  10 million seems like a lot, but the Cubs probably had to pay more for a 1 year deal.

With Mike Cameron off the board, I have been thinking about who I would like the Cubs to sign.  I don't think Rick Ankiel or Marlon Byrd are bad options, but I believe there are better fits for this club.  The Cubs should sign Vladimir Guerrero to play right field and keep Kosuke Fukudome in center.  He will be turning 35 this season, and although he had a down year last year, it still was not a horrible year.  In 100 games, he hit .295 with 15 homers and 50 RBI's.  But if you look at the two years before that, in both years he hit over .300 with 27 HR's and around 100 RBI's.  (In '07 .324, 27, 125)  He would fit nicely in the 5th spot in the order.  Last year, the Cubs lacked guys who could drive in runs.  Maybe a move to the NL can get Vlad back on the right track.

Considering Hideki Matsui signed with the Angels for 1 year and 6.5 million I was thinking that Vlad would only require a 1 year 3-5 million dollar contract with incentives.

I know he did DH most of last year, but he did play over or around 100 games in RF throughout most of his career.  He is one year removed from being a RF.  Do you think he could still play right field?  I remember Vlad having a cannon for an arm.  If he can, the Cubs should take a look at him.  What are your thoughts?

From mlbtraderumors.com

3:55pm: The Chicago Tribune's Phil Rogers tweets that the Cubs are not yet involved in trade talks for Granderson, "but will become aggressive when the Tigers are ready for offers."

I know Granderson has been discussed before, but I haven't seen any mention saying that the Cubs are actually going to try hard to acquire him.  I think it would be a good move if we kept him out of the leadoff spot.  It's time for the team to finally go out and get a good lead off hitter.

from Jon Heyman and SI.com

http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_stove/posts/33061-cubs-yankees-among-several-teams-eyeing-lowe

 

I would love to have a good veteran pitcher like Lowe on this team and I think he could be an important piece to a World Series title.

 

 

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Just listening to ESPN1000 and a deal is about to go down between the Cubs/Phillies/Padres

Cubs get:

Jake Peavy

Padres get:

Kevin Hart

Jason Marquis (Cubs eat portion of contract)

Josh Vitters

Phillies prospects (I think Happ is one of them)

Phillies get:

Mark DeRosa

Basically giving up Hart, Vitters, and Derosa for Peavy.  I like it.  I think this is deserving of a new thread.  He also said the Cubs might be trading for a RF now.

Looking for active owners for a fantasy Dynasty League beginning its sixth season. The league includes a Major League roster with salaries and free agent years, as well as minor league prospects for an organization. There are 28 teams total. The league currently has four openings. If interested, the league website is as follows:
http://thesdl.com

Feel free to look around to see how the site and league are configured. The current open teams are the Indians, A's, Braves and Orioles.

If you have interested please contact the Pirates GM through the league website, or at seancsf48@aol.com using the subject line Dynasty League.  Also, you can contact Rezze591 on AIM. Thanks.

 

 

I am a member in the league and it is great.  There are no members that constantly bug you about trades and everything runs great.  A great deal of the league has to do with prospects so I thought this would be a good place to post.

I am in a dynasty league, so prospects are a huge part of the league.  I was wondering opinions on who are some prospects that weren't on any top 100 lists last year, that had big years that I could get cheap?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Looking to land a really good prospect that I can get cheap.  Last year I got Freddie Freeman, Julio Pimentel, and Garret Mock for a salary dump in Jason Marquis.  Thanks in advance.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8761340/Sources:-Cubs-consider-deals-for-Peavy,-Dempster?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=3498

 

According to Ken Rosenthal the Cubs want Peavy and Dempster.

 

Wow, the rotation would be amazing 

I figured this was worth a new post because the other one is so clustered.  Looks like the Cubs are legit.

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On ESPN 1000, i just heard that Hendry has been talking with the Padres about Jake Peavy.

 

I have not heard this with my own ears, but I have read on several different websites that the it was also reported on ESPN 1000 that the Padres want Ceda, Marshall, Pie, and Cedeno.

 

If that is the deal, Hendry would be crazy to not jump all over it.  It gives the Padres 3 MLB ready players, but I still don't see how they can consider that enough.

 

Can anyone confirm if they heard this?

 

I am going to the game tommorow and was wondering what time would be a good time to get there so I can get one of the Kosuke Fukudome bobble heads.  Wasn't sure if this deserved a fanpost but i didn't know where else to put it.  I was thinking of getting in the stadium at 5, but I'd like to get there at 5:15.  Is 5:15 to late or is even 5 to late?

 

Thanks

Yes, I know it's early, but besides Zambrano and Dempster, are starters have been really bad.  Rich Hill can't throw strikes, Marquis is Marquis, and Lilly seems like players are starting to catch up to him.  Although, I still think Lilly will be fine, just not as good as last year.  The way Hill has pitched so far and during spring training, I really am a little nervous about him.  We all know Jason Marquis is in for some rough outings.  In my opinion, it is in our best interest to leave Lieber in the pen and at the deadline I think we should forget about Roberts and go after a starting pitcher.  I know there were people saying that we should've been after a starting pitcher all along, but it is much more obvious now.  This team will hit, I am just worried that our pitching is weak and our bullpen is going to wear out at the end of the season.

What are some possible options at the break?

Joe Blanton?

A.J. Burnett?

Brad Penny?

 

Just throwing some names out there...

 

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/03/cubs-coach-punk.html

MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs were heading out to practice Tuesday morning at HoHoKam Park when Aramis Ramirez went up to strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss.

"Hey Bussy, what's your car doing on the ramp?" Ramirez asked, pointing to a wrecked '95 Nissan sitting on a ramp near the Cubs bullpen.

Buss looked over at the wreck and replied: "That's not my car."

But then Buss did a double-take.

"Dude," he said to Ramirez. "That's my car!"

Buss, who had just driven the car to work, soon discovered that it had been demolished beyond recognition by some unknown perpetrators and brought to the ramp for him to see. He was aware that the pitchers liked to pull pranks, like a couple years ago in Mesa when they stole Will Ohman's tires and left his car on cinder blocks. But this was no ordinary prank. The car windows had all been smashed in, the front, back and sides were all severely dented, and the smoking guns -- a couple baseball bats and balls -- were strategically placed in the windshield in case Buss wanted to get some fingerprints for the Mesa Police.

But it didn't take a CSI team to figure out the perpetrators. Buss figured it was the "usual suspects" all along.

"I figured (Jon) Lieber, (Kerry) Wood immediately, (Ryan) Dempster," he said. "Then I realized it was every pitcher we have."

The Cubs players went on about their business and continued the workout while Buss silently fumed and wondered how he was going to tell his wife, who was the owner of the car.

"It's a shame," Lieber said with a straight face. "What kind of person would do something like that? It really just shocks me. I'm sure she'll understand."

After the workout ended, Buss was talking about the incident to reporters in the Cubs clubhouse when Dempster told him to "quit pouting" and come with him to the weight room to "see something." From there, Buss and several pitchers walked out a back door and found a 2008 Nissan Xterra parked in the walkway.

The prank was complete. Buss was presented with a new SUV valued at around $25,000. While he sat in the driver's seat in a daze, Carlos Zambrano got in on the passenger's side and cranked the stereo, bobbing his head to the music.

"I thought they lost their mind," Buss said. "I thought, 'I'm going to have to call Dr. Phil and have a team meeting. I couldn't figure out what they were doing."

Buss was nearly moved to tears by the players' generosity.

"They're great guys," he said.

Take it with a grain of salt....

http://brewersfandemonium.yuku.com/topic/10889/t/Cubs-sign-Alex-Cintron----foreshadow--trade--Brian- Roberts.html

A guy on their board posted this:

Quote:

 I will keep you posted, but I did just talked with someone I know who was John McDonough's (Cubs former VP) assistant who is still there and he told me that both the Willits and Roberts deals are hot right now and would be surprised if one of them is not done by the end of the week.

Names he told me the Cubs are willing to trade are Cedeno, Theriot, Gallagher, Fontenot, Marquis, Dempster, or maybe even Pie. Cubs AA former first round pick Tyler Colvin could be in a package as well.

I apologize for being a Brewer fan who knows someone in Cub hierarchy, by the way. Living in Chicago makes it tough to know any Brewer contacts.
/Quote

I know anyone could've posted that, but it makes little sense as to why they would post it on a Brewers board and not a Cubs board.  I don't see any reason why this guy would be making this up.  I still don't think it's guaranteed to happen by the end of the week.

Who knows any good prospects that aren't really recognized yet, but will be good in the future?  I'd like to get some steals cheap before they are top 50 prospects.

Obviously, they shouldn't be in  the top 10 in their system either, or they should be towards the bottom.

thanks  

                                                                           

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3229937

Adam Jones, the key prospect in the deal, is in Baltimore for a physical today and the deal should be announced either late tonight or tomorrow.

In my opinion, this means that Roberts is for sure being dealt.  The Cubs look like to be the only team interested (maybe the Indians.)  I'm guessing we start hearing rumors starting tomorrow and a deal is completed mid next week.

If you could have 3 of the following (in order) which one's would you choose?

Enrique Gonzalez(D-Backs)
Chuck Tiffany(D-Rays)
Matt Green(D-Backs)
Freddie Freeman(Braves)
Blake Johnson(Royals)
Julio Pimental(Royals)
Garrett Mock(Nationals)
Bryan Byrne(D-Backs)
Brian Barden(D-Backs)
Steven Sullivan(Twins)
Ryan Harvey(Cubs)
James Cooper(NYY 2005 Draft)

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/01/fast-food-for-t.html

It's barely noon on a school holiday and already I've heard something intriguing. It came from a very highly placed source, which means it is making the rounds of baseball's decision-makers, but officials with both of the teams involved have either downplayed or denied it -- this would be that big bag of Cubs-for-Erik Bedard and Brian Roberts trade.

According to the source, Orioles owner Peter Angelos did shoot this deal down at the end of last week, but the source said that the talks were back on again. Interesting. Very interesting.

Looks like this deal is still on.  Please get this done Hendry, I would love to see both in a Cubs uniform next season.  Also, I think Marlon Byrd could be like Mark DeRosa and have back to back good years when no one was expecting it.

from Ken Rosenthal of foxsports.com

here's the link:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7659616

The Yankees are showing serious interest in Cameron, major-league sources say, figuring that they could trade center fielder Melky Cabrera even if they do not send him to the Twins for left-hander Johan Santana.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is a supporter of Cameron's; the two were teammates with the Mariners in 2000. Cameron also has recent experience playing in New York; he was with the Mets in '04 and '05.

Cabrera, 23, is part of the Yankees' offer for Santana, but could fit for several teams that are in the market for a young, affordable, switch-hitting center fielder.

Those teams include the Cubs, Reds, Braves, Royals and Pirates. The Yankees likely would seek prospects for Cabrera, replace him with Cameron in center and keep Johnny Damon in left.

Link:
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3571396

Quote:
The Rockford RiverHawks announced Friday that right-hander Tanner Watson was picked up by the National League team. Watson, 25, is coming off a dominating 2007 campaign in which he broke the RiverHawks' single-season and career wins records. In October, Watson became the only Frontier League player named to Baseball America magazine's All-Independent Leagues first team.  /Quote

Will this guy have any impact?  Has anyone every came out of the Frontier league and been an effective player?

Levine and WGN reporting 4/52!  Just heard it on the score.

Cubs got him!!!

Continue reading this post »

This report says Soriano was kidnapped as a kid and was born in 1980.  That would make him only 27 years old.

www.listin.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=39514

The article is in spanish so here is a rough translation from google translator.

SANTO DOMINGO .- An old passport infant in one hand, a trophy for best hitter in the other and a deep shame that he kidnaps the joy accompanying Mrs. Andrea Soriano since that day.

After 15 dark years for his life understands that the penalties can reach their end and recover what is the only sucker your entails and which states that although it is surrounded by millions of dollars, not interested to know that more is his and that child is fine.

Andrea believes that the party at heart "bigleague" Alfonso Soriano is the son who stole virtually his arms in the year 1992 and which was already a child with skills and abilities of baseball player, who had even traveled abroad to playing baseball infant level. Journalist Judith Leclert, in a report for "Al Rojo Vivo, Telemundo removed the ashes of several decades and at the bottom was turned on as the first day the flame of love of a mother who features a search that never ends.

"When I first saw on television broke my soul, I knew it was my son. The heart of a mother never fool, I knew that was my son, he is like when he was with me, "narró the alleged mother of baseball player, who according to his calculations and documents in hand, was born on February 27, 1980.

The disappearance Desperate, Andrea breaks many years of silence under pressure from family and says that his only son, twelve years of age to the date of disappearance, Juan Pablo de Jesus Soriano, allies himself "Randy", and who they say they Alfonso Soriano, he requested permission to fish in the river next to a person named "Larry the loco.

"They came a day after he fulfill the 12 years, on February 27, 1980, 15 years ago all this ... The Crazy Larry said to have drowned in the river, that was the version, the entire neighborhood and the police searched it and never appeared nothing, "he recounts Andrea. "Now that time has passed this person actually said that my son took him away, he stole into the river."

"I said: Do not rush mommy that I am going to be a good player and I am going to make a lot of money," he recalls.

The great suspicion to the family of Jesus Soriano there is a point that should be clarified as soon as possible: "The won many medals and trophies as a player, but with a league traveled to Panama and there won this trophy (Andre shows recognition) as best batter. "

According to the words of those who claim to be the mother of Alfonso Soriano, it was a tournament of the Central American and Caribbean Small Leagues in 1991.

"When I came back I said, Mom, I played so much and so well that there wanted to buy ...", but according to the mother of the young John Paul Jesus Soriano, never repaired in the future.

After the disappearance, the program "Nuria in the 9" is a story of the case on March 21, 1992, which appear witnesses who say they saw the child next to an Italian in an apartment hotel recognized the country, but the police never did his whereabouts.

www.rotoworld.com/content/HeadLines.aspx?sport=MLB&hl=226481

I personally wanted him.  I think he would be a good  solid impact player for the Cubs.  Still hope he signs here.

read on another website that that's what Dave Kaplan said on WGN radio.

I wouldn't mind this contract.  He would easily get this on the open market and if he is our closer this year it turns out to be an excellent contract in my opinion.

I think we need to get this down to start off the offseason.    

I'm a little surprised there is little talk about the Cubs signing a closer this offseason.  Francisco Cordero and Mariano Rivera are available.  I would love to see Mariano in a Cubs uniform next year.  Peter Abraham, one of the Yankees beat writers, reported that Mo is more determined to test the free agent market now then he has ever been.  He quoted him saying "The Yankees are 1 of 30 teams now."

Ideas, opinions, what do you think?

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txcubanbuycubs&prov=st&type=lgns

Says he will try and bid for them.

I think he would be great for the Cubs.  He's for sure my favorite candidate.  He will bring a new level of excitement to them.

He said he enjoyed the game he was at and thought it was a great comeback.      
                                                                                                                           

Poll

Would you want Cuban as the new owner?

71%

Yes

74 votes

13%

No

14 votes

15%

Undecided

16 votes

104 votes | Poll has closed