The Cubs’ modus operandi in the early stages of free agency has been pretty clear: buy low on veteran players which, inevitably, they’ll hope to flip before next year’s trade deadline. First, they inked right-hander — and 2012 Tommy John recipient — Scott Bakerto a one year, $5.5 million incentive-laden deal. Prior to the surgery, […]
After what seemed like a lifetime of speculation – and at least one failed deal – the Chicago Cubs dealt right-hander Ryan Dempster to the Texas Rangers, in exchange for prospects Christian Villanueva and Kyle Hendricks. I’ve already covered what the acquiring team – now known to be the Rangers – should expect from Dempster […]
Update: I wrote this as soon as word broke about Dempster deal, which, apparently, turned out to be nothing more than rumor and speculation or something like that. Anyway, here’s who would have benefited from the deal if it had actually happened. Early Monday afternoon the Atlanta Braves announced they had acquired right-hander Ryan Dempster, one […]
It’s a foregone conclusion that the Chicago Cubs will deal Ryan Dempster and many pundits theorizehis most recent game – a six-inning, zero run start against the Diamondbacks on July 14 – may, in fact, be his last with the team. Dempster, 35, is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his […]
The Cubs, under the watchful, forward looking eye of the new Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer regime, have precious few building blocks already in place at the big league level for the club’s hoped revival. Coming on the heels of a 71 – 91 record, the team is likely to open with an outfield consisting of three […]
Brian LaHair’s become a bit of trendy pick as a sleeper this year. After hitting .331/.405/.664 last season with Iowa of the Pacific Coast League, LaHair, a former 39th round pick, has been handed the first base job and cleanup spot for the Cubs in 2012. Fine. But with a total of 219 big league […]
On the onset, Michael Burgess’ minor league career looks like, well, average at best. Burgess, a former first round pick (49th overall) by the Nationals in 2007, was 22-years-old last season, has played exactly 21 games in Double-A, and owns a rather mundane .250/.343/.456 career line. And his 2011 numbers with the Daytona Cubs are […]
After months, upon months, upon months – or at least that’s what it felt like – the Cubs have agreed to send hard-throwing right-hander Chris Carpenter and a PTBNL to Boston, who will also send a PTBNL back to Chicago, as part of the compensation for losing former GM Theo Epstein. Finally. It’s done. And yet […]
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