Could you learn to love this face?

I wonder if Prince Fielder is ready to strangle Scott Boras, yet? After all, it has to be sobering to still be unsigned after the huge paydays Albert Pujols and Yu Darvish got. Alas, it’s looking less and less likely that Fielder gets the giant, 6-year deal he was looking for. It’s even being rumored that Fielder will have to 1) go crawling back to the Brewers or b) sign a one-year deal with someone and take another shot at free agency next year.

Which brings us to the Cubs:

Prince Fielder, 1B, free agent – The fact that one of the best hitters in the game is unsigned as we head into late January is the story of the winter. Who will give Fielder seven years? One AL East GM thinks it comes down to the Rangers and Nationals, with the Brewers and Cubs taking a shot if he settles for a one-year deal and elects to become a free agent again.

I would generally poo-poo such a report, but this one comes from Nick Cafardo, who arguably has been the best Cubs beat reporter over the course of the last 6 months. Ha. See what I did there?

» Continue reading “It’s January . . . And We’re Still Talking About Fielder.”

Could you learn to love this face?

You guys have the great misfortune to read this site on my first day without Diet Coke lo these many years. This means that I hate everyone and everything right now, including people who still think Prince Fielder is going to be a Cub.

After months of speculation, it appears that the Washington Nationals have emerged as the favorites for Fielder, who is seeking something like a 7-year, $125 million deal with a no-trade AND opt-out clause.  If you are still one of the people who thinks Jed and Theo are going to agree to that kind of deal, I have a lot of things I’d like to sell you. We should talk. There WERE rumors that Fielder preferred Chicago because it was reasonably close to his home in Florida (really? Chicago is close to Florida? As opposed to what? Siam?) and because of his close relationship with new Cubs manage Dale Sveum.  But with the Cubs clearly in full-on rebuilding mode, the chances of Fielder in Cubbie blue have dwindled to the size of Ryan Braun’s dating life. (Ha–see what I did there?)

So what about Matt Garza? Every day more suitors emerge:

Matt Garza trade discussions have heated up over the past few days, but there’s not yet any favorite to obtain the Cubs right-hander, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, who adds that the Yankees, Blue Jays, Tigers, Red Sox and Marlins are all in the mix.

With the Cubs thought to be seeking young pitchers to replenish their farm system, the Yankees, Blue Jays and Tigers may ultimately hold an edge in pursuing Garza, Heyman speculates, as those clubs have pitching prospects and may be willing to spare them.

I just have to take a minute to express how much I HATE the chick with the guitar in the Hyundai commercials. Seriously. She makes me want to punch things in the face.

» Continue reading “Prince Isn’t Coming To Chicago. Get Over It”

Cubs fans wanted a “Christmas move” from Theo, and they got it. Happy Manny Corpas, everyone!

Corpas underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2010 and missed the entire 2011 season while recovering, though the Rangers signed him to a minor league pact last April.  Texas also offered Corpas a Major League contract this winter, according to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman (via Twitter).

Corpas, 29, enjoyed a superb 2007 season and emerged as the Rockies’ closer during the team’s run to the National League pennant.  Corpas’ success led Colorado to sign him to a four-year, $8.025MM extension, but Corpas failed to maintain his good form, posting a 4.82 ERA, a 10.4 H/9 and a 6.2 K/9 over the next three seasons.  The Rockies released him after the 2010 campaign, eating the $3.75MM remaining on Corpas’ contract.

Raise your hand if you love holiday reclamation projects!

There’s good news for those of you who thought that the Cubs weren’t getting enough back in the Sean Marshall trade. Reds’ Nation is also abuzz, but they think they gave up too much for Marshall:

» Continue reading “Theo’s Xmas Gift To You: Manny Corpas!!”

Last week, Julie politely asked America’s baseball writers to stop talking. All of the see-sawing on Prince Fielder has been enough to give us whiplash. They refused to listen.

The Chicago Cubs will continue to be involved in the Prince Fielder free-agent bidding, according to two major league sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said on Friday that the Cubs’ interest in Fielder was mostly “media-talk” and that neither he nor Cubs officials have talked to Fielder. An MLB source confirmed Sveum’s statement, but also said that Fielder is sitting back while his agent, Scott Boras, talks to ownership and top baseball officials when it comes to negotiating a deal for the Brewers All-Star first baseman.

I think we should have a baseball writer battle royal, and whoever wins gets to spout their Cubs/Fielder theory until he signs somewhere. Julie also mentioned another rumor floating around this weekend, that the Cubs have interest in Anthony Rizzo.

On Saturday, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio tweeted that the Padres have some interest in acquiring Matt Garza from the Cubs in a package that would include Rizzo. The problem with a Padres-Cubs deal involving Garza is that the right-hander is under team control for two more years, and if the Cubs were to move him, they’d expect a lot in return — similar to what the Reds gave up to get Latos. Epstein has said Garza is the type of pitcher to build around.

But Theo and Jed must be licking their chops at the thought of what Matt Garza might bring in a trade, given the haul that San Diego got for Matt Latos. Stay tuned for more conflicting reports!

» Continue reading “Cubs Monday Headlines: Cubs Still In Or Out On Fielder”

If it wasn’t bad enough having to wake up early on a Friday, we’re back to this:

The Cubs are in. The Cubs are out. The Cubs are favored to get Prince. The Cubs don’t have enough cash for Prince. The Cubs are making a big push for Prince. The Cubs aren’t that interested in Prince.

Whatever. Shut up already. At this point, I don’t believe any of the beat writers, in Chicago or otherwise, are actually getting any information. I think they’re all getting tips from Phil Rogers’ infamous dog.

In honor of a really slow off-season so far. Let’s make some guesses as to what “signs” Jerry is talking about.

Go.

We still don’t know what Carlos Zambrano is supposed to be doing this winter to earn his way back to Chicago. Zambrano does know, and he’s apparently covering half of South America while trying to cross-train his way back to the good graces of the Cubs.

Talking to reporters at the derby, Zambrano outlined his re-commitment to the Cubs following a disastrous 2011 season. “I’m preparing like when I was a rookie, climbing mountains, running on the beach, and exercising hard so that I can arrive at Spring Training in optimal shape,” he said, as relayed by Joiner Martinez at Líder en Deportes. “I want to stay in Chicago for the two seasons I still have with the team. I’m not a coward who would take the back door out of the majors.”

This sounds like a prime chance for a Big Z as Rocky montage when they make his biopic. Someone write that idea down. Zambrano also tied Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies in a home run derby.

» Continue reading “Cubs Wednesday Headlines: Zambrano Back In Form”

Farewell, Old Friend.

While the Chicago Cubs struggle against inertia this winter, the ex-Chicago Cubs were busy as beavers yesterday.

First up: Aramis Ramirez signed a 3-year deal with the Brewers worth somewhere between $34-37 million. Don’t worry, though, he’ll still hit plenty of homers at Wrigley! After this, I think it’s only fair that the Cubs get Prince Fielder as compensation. Best of luck, Rami. Take care of the perpetually sore butt muscle and lay off the cheese and sausage.

As many of you probably saw last night, the Cubs tendered offers to Matt Garza, Jeff Baker, Geovany Soto, , Randy Wells, Ian Stewart, and Blake DeWitt. This means all six players are headed to arbitration, though most will probably be signed well before a hearing date. Noticeably absent from the list? Koyie Hill, who was given a one-way bus pass to . . . wherever Koyie Hill came from.  Smell ya later, Toe Thumbs!

Am I the only one surprised that Baker and DeWitt were tendered offers?

Perennial Cub Killer Casey McGehee was traded from the Brewers to the Pirates last night for reliever Jose Veras. While Cubs fans are understandably jubilant over McGehee’s departure from the hated Brewers, don’t celebrate just yet. Veras is supposedly a decent pitcher who will undoubtedly shut the Cubs out in the late innings this season.

» Continue reading “Ex-Cub-A-Palooza”

There is such little happening in baseball at the moment that even Crazy Uncle Phil didn’t hear any whispers yesterday. You might wonder how I’ve managed to find anything to post given that fact, but it’s only because I’m amazing. Our first story today comes from Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

With Albert Pujols now signed with the Angels, Prince Fielder becomes the biggest hitting prize left in the field. The Cubs and Mariners are definitely bidding for the slugger. There are conflicting reports on if the Nationals, Brewers, Rangers and Marlins are involved. But a person that is talking to the Fielder camp said he believes all of those teams are pursuing Fielder.

In canvassing executives, the Cubs were generally viewed as the most likely landing place, mainly for two reasons: 1) A belief that new team president Theo Epstein wants to make a statement sign in his first year and 2) Epstein recognizes the dearth of power in the game and sees Fielder as one of the few bona fide sluggers who will be available over the next few years.

It’s time to party like it’s 1999, people.  Yahoo’s Tim Brown is the bearer of glad tidings.

Albert Pujols, the heart and hammer of the St. Louis Cardinals for more than a decade, will leave St. Louis and sign with the Los Angeles Angels, a person with knowledge of the deal told Yahoo! Sports.

Latecomers to the Pujols derby, the Angels will pay Pujols $250 million to $260 million over 10 years, a devastating turn for the Cardinals and a departure from past organizational philosophies for Arte Moreno’s Angels.

After a month-long search for wealth and happiness, most notably in Miami, Pujols will not return to the only organization he’s known.

If you’ve got the Hallelujah Chorus running through your head, you’re not the only one.

» Continue reading “Cubs Thursday Headlines: Sayonara Pujols!”