Not sure if anyone has seen this yet, but this NY Post article (of sorts) suggests that the Spurs are going to re-sign RJ to a restructured deal, allowing the team to get under the luxury tax threshold.

Link

This part was pretty funny, however.

“Damn, five more years of Jefferson’s junk!” groans Spurs activist Gregg Siegel. “Plus, they don’t get to trade his expiring contract for some real pieces! What a colossal disappointment! I understand why they did it, especially coming from the same people who dumped Luis Scola to save $5M, but no way does this help their team get better. Maybe they could pull a reverse Carlos Boozer and not re-sign him.”

NTY Story

Found this one in the NY Times, via SI.com, comparing the Spurs current situation to that of the Pistons, whos deconstruction began last offseason.  A few good quotes from the story:

The Pistons started the process last fall, despite making six Eastern Conference finals in a row and winning the championship in 2004. Is it now theSpurs’ turn to press the plunger?

The Spurs, trailing the Mavericks, 3-1, after Saturday’s 99-90 loss, could be bounced in the opening round for the first time since 2000. It is perhaps unwise to underestimate Tim Duncan and his mates. They did overcome a two-game deficit against the Hornets last year.

But the Spurs no longer appear capable of such minor miracles, not without the injured Manu Ginobili, and not with the mediocre cast that now surrounds Duncan and Tony Parker, the Spurs’ remaining stars.

Afterward, Parker made an admission that championship teams never make: “They have a lot more weapons than us.”

If Ginobili were healthy, the Spurs might have a fighting chance against Dallas. But could they beat the feisty young Nuggets, much less the talent-rich Lakers? How much longer can the Duncan-Parker-Ginobili trio contend in a Western Conference that is becoming more competitive each season, with rising teams in Portland, Utah and Houston?

The Spurs have become too old in spots (Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto), and their young additions (Roger Mason, George Hill) have fallen flat. They have no great assets to trade, outside of their three All-Stars.

Our group is going to be, more than likely, a group that we don’t pull the plunger on,” Spurs General Manager R. C. Buford said. “We’ll continue to build around those three and hope to add better pieces.”

San Antonio will not have cap space until 2010 (when Ginobili’s contract expires), but there will be plenty of talented free agents who may accept the mid-level exception this summer. Expect the Spurs to make a run at Rasheed Wallace, the longtime starting power forward for the Pistons.

Thats pretty much the bulk of the article.  The last quote from Buford is the key to the teams intentions; which is to continue to surround those three with complimentary players. The problem being, as they age, the new guys need to be more than complimentary.

If Buford intends to continue to build around those three, then one can assume Ginobili will be brought back, making that '10 cap room that much less.  Having said that, Id keep Manu; he's going to be a key contributor no matter what role he assumes.

Im just at a loss as to how theyre going to address the 2009 offseason; If Sheed comes, one can assume Gooden wont be resigned, but neither move really addresses the real area of need; scoring from the wing positions.  

If they can somehow tweek this offseason and remain at the same level, afterall we were a three seed, and then make a run at one of the big fish in '10, then I think they can make a few more runs at the title

Story

Not earth shattering news, but:

"He looks wonderful, in really good shape," Piniella said. "I told him we're holding a spot for him. I'm going to put him out in center field, and I'm going to try him in the No. 2 hole in the lineup.

"It was nice seeing him. He said he has been working hard. He's excited about this World Baseball Classic, and afterward he's looking forward to joining us."

Apparently he stopped by work en route to Scottsdale with Team Japan, not sure if he picked last weeks pay stubs, but this seems like a good fit. He's more than capable of covering CF in Wrigley, and his strong arm is always a bonus.

 His patience and baserunning ability should suit him well for the 2 hole, and provide a left handed hitter after the right handed Soriano.  Makes one wonder why this wasnt done more last season.

We're gonna need Kosuke to succeed this year, so lets hope year number 2 is an easier transition for him

Link

That link has an insert in it in which you can look at all the nations rosters.  Only one current Cub made the cut for The States, one Theodore Roosevelt Lilly, a testament to his recent success.

USA

The US is looking pretty good with McCann behind the dish, Wright, Jeter, Pedroia, Youklis around the infield and Braun, Sizemore and Granderson/Hawpe in the OF.

Peavy, Oswalt, Lilly and Guthrie make the rotation with a very solid bullpen behind them including: Broxton, Howell, Nathan, Lindstrom, Fuentes and Ziegler amongst others.

D.R.

Is pretty nasty: Arod, Reyes, H.Ramirez, Cano, Ortiz, Tejada all in the infield. The OF is actually rather unimpressive

So the final count of Cubs on final rosters:

US: Lilly

VEN: Zambrano*

JPN: Fukudome

Tapei:Hung-Wen Chen 

ITA: Maestri

PR: Soto

CAN: Vince Perkins

I think the US actually has a pretty good chance this time around-the lineup is as strong/balanced as any other, and the bullpen arms should support Peavy and Oswalt.

*Apparently, Zambrano has elected not to play

Story

Sure many of you have seen this buy now, but

Lou's early 2009 lineup is as follows:

Soriano 

Miles

Lee

Bradley

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soto

Theriot

Pitcher

"That seems like a real nice lineup to me," Piniella said. "Left, right, left, right -- we have some balance, we have some speed. You can add [Micah] Hoffpauir as one of those left-handed bats."

So, Soriano stays at the top of the order?

"That hasn't changed," Piniella said. "There are going to be times when he's not in the lineup, so basically we have to figure out who is going to be that guy, and how you do it is play around with it in Spring Training."

Fukudome ahead of Soto, Lee remains in the three hole and Miles over Fontenot, the second century begins.

To no one surprise, Robinson is among 16 finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame

Story

The Hall of Fame's election announcement will be made April 6 at the NCAA Final Four in Detroit, with enshrinement in September at the Hall in Springfield, Mass. All 16 finalists are eligible:

Michael Jordan

John Stockton
David Robinson

Don Nelson
Jerry Sloan

C. Vivian Stringer
Dennis Johnson

Chris Mullin
Bernard King

Cynthia Cooper
Al Attles

Bob Hurley Sr.
Vladimir Kondrashin

Pereira "Ubiratan" Maciel
Richie Guerin

Johnny "Red" Kerr

Michael Jordan, John Stockton and David Robinson could be one of the greatest Hall of Fame classes ever in any sport, and coincidentally, the three were teammates in the 92 Olympics

Not really Cubs related, but a big story nonetheless

Story

In 2003, when he won the American League home run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids, four sources have independently told Sports Illustrated.

Rodriguez's name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball's '03 survey testing, SI's sources say. As part of a joint agreement with the MLB Players Association, the testing was conducted to determine if it was necessary to impose mandatory random drug testing across the major leagues in 2004.

When approached by an SI reporter on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez declined to discuss his 2003 test results. "You'll have to talk to the union," said Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman since his trade to New York in February 2004. When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, "I'm not saying anything."

Though MLB's drug policy has expressly prohibited the use of steroids without a valid prescription since 1991, there were no penalties for a positive test in 2003. The results of that year's survey testing of 1,198 players were meant to be anonymous under the agreement between the commissioner's office and the players association. Rodriguez's testing information was found, however, after federal agents, armed with search warrants, seized the '03 test results from Comprehensive Drug Testing, Inc., of Long Beach, Calif., one of two labs used by MLB in connection with that year's survey testing. The seizure took place in April 2004 as part of the government's investigation into 10 major league players linked to the BALCO scandal -- though Rodriguez himself has never been connected to BALCO.

So iwith Bonds and Rodriguez now impicated in steroid use, Hank Aaron's accomplishments become more impressive year by year.

Top 100

Pretty interesting article here, listing the top 100 Baseball Names You Need to Know in 2009: Some Interesting Cubs related players in there

At no. 2

2. Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays: Toronto's need for a slugger — it finished 10th in the American League in home runs last year — and this 21-year-old's power seem to form a perfect confluence. The left-handed batter can also hit for average and to all fields. The 14th overall pick in 2006, Snider has torn through the minors, but a sore elbow in spring training last year slowed him from having an even more impressive season. He is the front-runner to start in left field.

That Colvin pick keeps looking worse and worse

9. Matt Wieters, C, Orioles: It's rare for a catcher to ascend to the major leagues after one professional season, but Wieters, 22, is just that — rare. His full-season pro debut was so powerful that it probably muted any concerns he doesn't have the requisite games caught in the minors to be big-league ready. He's almost certain to play in Baltimore this season, and the trade of Ramon Hernandez (Gregg Zaun was signed as a stopgap) paves the way for him to take over the full-time job sooner rather than later.

The Cubs couldve taken him, but went with Vitters at no 3 overall, while Wieters went no 5. This one stings less, of course, since the rise of Soto; but he was far from a sure thing when the Cubs where drafting in 2007.

30. Luis Montanez, OF, Orioles: It took a long time for Montanez, 27, to go from the third pick in the 2000 draft — by the Chicago Cubs, as a shortstop — to an outfield prospect for Baltimore. It wasn't until last season, when he won the Class AA Eastern League triple crown, that Montanez finally put it all together. He went on to bat .295 in 38 games with the Orioles, earning a chance to compete for an outfield spot. Montanez is still far from a finished product. His routes in the outfield and selectivity at the plate need work.

52. Felix Pie, OF, Orioles: Pie, who turns 24 this month, was in the Cubs' outfield picture the last two seasons but couldn't overcome the club's acquisitions of veterans Reed Johnson and Jim Edmonds to earn regular playing time. He'll get the chance to become a starter with the Orioles, who traded Garrett Olson and Henry Williamson to acquire him in January. In 130 games for the Cubs, Pie batted .223 with three homers and 11 steals. He has been prone to strikeouts (72 in 260 major league at-bats). A left-handed hitter, he has shown good speed and has been successful on 11 of 12 steal attempts in the majors.

Samardzija checks in at no 59 and has his own story, Here

Eric Patterson is also mentioned at no 89

Its a good list and worth a look