All Entries Tagged With: "Jim Hendry"
Cubs rumors from GM meetings
After spending the last two winters trying in vain to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts and pitcher Jake Peavy, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry hopes he can unload Milton Bradley in quick fashion. But as the GM meetings began on Monday, there was no certainty that was possible. Texas may have the most interest, but sources insisted the Rangers would only agree to a deal if the Cubs ate most of the remaining $21 million on Bradley’s contract. That’s a route Hendry seems unwilling to take for now.
Toronto reportedly wants no part of Bradley, despite a rumor on foxsports.com of a three-way deal in which the Cubs acquired Mets second baseman Luis Castillo for Bradley. New York would then send Bradley to Toronto for Lyle Overbay. Rich Harden is holding out hope of remaining a Cub. His agent, Arn Tellem, is in Chicago and plans to meet with Hendry soon. Atlanta also may be shopping starter Kenshin Kawakami, who has two years and $13 million left on his deal. Though Ted Lilly will open the season on the disabled list, Hendry said: “We don’t feel we’re going to pick up anybody in a trade better than Ted. …We’re always looking to get better on the mound, but Ted’s situation doesn’t factor in at all.”
Popularity: 14% [?]
Cubs picked wrong guy?
Three years and three weeks ago, Joe Girardi interviewed for his dream job. He didn’t get it. That job, of course, was manager of Chicago Cubs.
Girardi is managing a $200 million ballclub in the World Series and, as I’m writing this, is one win shy of the team’s first title since 2000, when Girardi left the team for, coincidentally, a second go-round with the Cubs. The Cubs, as usual in early November, are a month into waiting ’til next year.
When the Cubs job opened after the 2006 season, I was firmly in the Girardi camp. In his lone season with Florida, he proved to be a quick study, managing a young, talented and low-spending team to contention in the NL East. But Girardi is no one’s patsy. He didn’t get along with owner Jeffrey Loria and was fired shortly before winning the NL Manager of the Year award.
The Cubs had a chance to hire a manager for the present and the future, but they went a different way, hiring the more seasoned Lou Piniella to skipper a team that was being hastily, and expensively, built for a World Series run. If you’ve been paying attention, you know how that worked out. Did general manager Jim Hendry & Co. make a mistake?
Popularity: 13% [?]
Ticket prices up? Vernon Wells, Pat Burrell on table?
The news is almost all good for Chicago Cubs fans with the team now in possession of new owner and chairman of the board Tom Ricketts.
Ricketts will start the process of revealing his long-term and short-term plans on Friday with a news conference at Wrigley Field, where he’ll begin his one-on-one interviews with the press followed by a full day of TV and radio one-on-ones. A slight raise in ticket prices can not be avoided as built-in costs and spending projections continue to mount. Over the past two seasons under Sam Zell and tribune Co., ticket prices increased over 30 percent across the board. That amount included a 23 percent raise after the 2008 season.
According to major league sources, the Cubs’ payroll will be locked in at close to $140 million, the same that was spent in 2009.
In order for the team’s baseball operations department to have flexibility with this payroll, the Cubs will have to be creative and make trades that ware in the framework of the $140 million figure.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Cubs to hire Jaramillo
The Cubs will announce Wednesday that former Texas Rangers hitting instructor Rudy Jaramillo has signed a three-year, $2.42 million contract to become Chicago’s next hitting coach, player sources told ESPNChicago.com on Tuesday.
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Cubs looking at available Jaramillo?
If the Cubs are really interested in Rudy Jaramillo, the Rangers hitting coach is now available.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Sandberg changing minds
Barry Rozner says the Cubs are now taking Ryne Sandberg’s bid for Cubs manager seriously.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Piniella says Hendry must replace Bradley
Lou Piniella told “The Waddle and Silvy Show” Tuesday he’s looking forward to adding a “big bat” to the lineup next season, as outfielder Milton Bradley has played his last game for the Cubs.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Teams lining up for Bradley
Bruce Levine’s latest has the Rays as very interested in Milton Bradley.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Hendry to call Boston about Z?
Nick Cafardo’s latest has Jim Hendry calling Theo Epstein about Carlos Zambrano.
Popularity: 14% [?]
DeRosa open to return to Cubs
Mark DeRosa loved his time in Chicago, and he was hurt by the trade to Cleveland.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Teams called about Bradley?
Bruce Levine reports Jim Hendry received some interest regarding Milton Bradley at the Aug 31 deadline for post season rosters.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Piniella: Cubs need more depth
Lou Piniella talks with Bill Madden of the NY Daily News, and one of the problems he sees this year is a lack of depth.
Popularity: 3% [?]