All Entries Tagged With: "Mark DeRosa"
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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DeRosa open to return to Cubs
Mark DeRosa loved his time in Chicago, and he was hurt by the trade to Cleveland.
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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.
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Hendry frustrated
Jim Hendry takes the blame for some of the Cubs season gone wrong..sort of. Hendry believes that Milton Bradley is just suffering from a 1st season slump that other Cubs have experienced like Moises Alou. Was Bradley the right choice with his problematic past, mixed with the Cubs impatient and sometimes prickly fan base?
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Cubs missing Edmonds?
Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs miss Jim Edmonds this year, even more so than Mark DeRosa. Edmonds was a bargain compared to the left handed production Milton Bradley has provided thus far for the 10 mil. the Cubs have paid for.
Not only does Edmonds represent the golden touch general manager Jim Hendry had with almost every move he made last year, but he also represents the missing left-handed-hitting production the Cubs thirst for this season.
It’s a thirst so great that during a recent pregame conversation with media that centered mostly on $30 million switch hitter Milton Bradley — the jewel of a Cubs offseason dedicated to lefty hitting — manager Lou Piniella paused, smiled and said, ”We’re still looking for that left-hand bat.”
Edmonds, who turned 39 last month, never was in the Cubs’ plans after filling a big platoon need in center field and in the middle of the Cubs’ order after signing last May (producing 19 homers and a .937 OPS for the 97-win division champs).
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Levine: Cubs looking for pitching, Teahen
Bruce Levine reports the Cubs are not only looking for a lefty releiver, they may have an interest in a starting pitcher such as Jon Garland or Tom Gorzelanny. Levine also mentions the Cubs interest in Mark Teahen, who can play second base and many other positions. Teahen could replace what the Cubs lost in Mark DeRosa.
The non-waiver trade deadline is looming Friday afternoon as Cubs front-office executives are looking at any number of patchwork deals to keep the team competitive. A left-handed reliever is a must. Pittsburgh’s John Grabow remains the best of four or five available lefties. That list includes Baltimore’s George Sherrill, Washington’s Joe Beimel and Cincinnati’s Arthur Rhodes.
A versatile player like Kansas City’s Mark Teahen would be a nice addition to manager Lou Piniella’s offensive and defensive mix. Teahen was sought by the Cubs last winter, but Kansas City decided not to move him because of his value to their team. With the Royals out of the AL Central race, they may take a deal with a team like the Cubs for a top prospect.
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Cards pushing Cubs into deal?
Bruce Levine says the Cardinals aggressiveness has Jim Hendry in a corner. Hendry already was looking for a left handed reliever, and Lou Piniella wants another left handed bat. Now Hendry must decide whether to look at acquiring a starting pitcher, if Ted Lilly misses any significant time.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ acquisition of slugger Matt Holliday certainly puts some pressure on the Chicago Cubs and the rest of the teams in the National League Central. St. Louis has reconfigured its offense and defense by its latest move, as well as adding shortstop Julio Lugo and third baseman Mark DeRosa in the last several weeks.
The laundry list of Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is starting to expand after lefty Ted Lilly’s shoulder came up lame today. The pressure from the Cardinals’ moves is pushing Hendry toward adding a starting pitcher to the list of needs that includes a left-handed bullpen pitcher and left-handed bat.
Lefties Joe Beimel of Washington, George Sherrill of Baltimore and Pittsburgh’s John Grabow are relievers the Cubs are watching for a possible trade this week. The trading deadline is 3 p.m. CT on July 31.
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Cubs not sure about Sanchez?
Bruce Miles responded to a question about a Yahoo Sports rumor having the Cubs interested in Freddy Sanchez. Sanchez could give the Cubs the production they have missed from second base since trading Mark DeRosa. Mike Fontenot has struggled and newcomer Jeff Baker has already taken away his playing time lately.
Miles’ Cubs sources tell him the Cubs have concerns about Sanchez abilty to stay on the field.
I’ve talked to the Cubs multiple times about this. They don’t like the vesting option and they’re not sure Sanchez can stay on the field. They had a great relationship with former Pirates GM Dave Littlefield (now a scout for the Cubs). I’m not sure they’re finding the Bucs as easy to deal with these days.
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Report: Cubs add Rockies’ Baker
Yahoo sports reports the Cubs have traded for Jeff Baker. Baker, (who can play multiple positions) could be used in a role simular to the way the Cubs used Mark DeRosa.
The Chicago Cubs have acquired Jeff Baker(notes) from the Colorado Rockies, according to a source close to the club.
It is unclear who the Rockies will receive in return for Baker or the Cubs’ plans for him.
Baker, an infielder, went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27 and was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 24. He began a minor league rehab assignment June 19.
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Cubs didn’t want to meet price for DeRosa?
Some information on the Cubs and Indians rumored talks regarding Mark DeRosa; Marc Silverman of ESPN am1000 says sources still insist a rift existed between DeRosa and Lou Piniella. Bruce Miles and Dave Kaplan weigh in on De Rosa, and the Cubs interest in re-aquiring him.
Cubs insiders said they initially inquired about DeRosa in early May, when third baseman Aramis Ramirez went down with a dislocated left shoulder. At that time, the Indians were not ready to unload DeRosa.
Baseball people say the Indians last week began letting teams know DeRosa was on the market. The Cubs, however, did not seem willing to give up the major-league ready reliever Cleveland wanted, in addition to prospects.
The Cubs traded the popular DeRosa to the Indians on New Year’s Eve for three minor-league pitchers, who have good numbers so far.
The Cubs were offered Mark DeRosa back from the Indians but they did not want to part with Sean Marshall and a minor league prospect to re-acquire a guy whose contract is up at the end of the season.
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Cubs interested in DeRosa
Gordon Wittenmyer reports the Cubs are indeed interested in Mark DeRosa. The questions are can the Cubs take on payroll? Would DeRosa return to play second base? Finally, would the Cubs have to send more back to Cleveland than what they received.
No, the Cubs aren’t looking to replace Milton Bradley — not yet. But sources confirmed Friday that the team had conversations with the Cleveland Indians about Mark DeRosa earlier this month when the Indians were shopping the versatile ex-Cub.
Baseball insiders expect DeRosa to be traded by the July 31 non-waiver deadline, and the Cubs could find themselves in position to reacquire him depending on the asking price and ownership’s willingness to take on about $2 million in salary.
How well Ramirez performs when he returns from the disabled list, possibly before the All-Star break, could be the decisive factor in how hard the Cubs go after DeRosa, who was the team’s only legitimate backup third baseman until he was traded.
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Cubs sale holding back moves
Barry Rozner’s sources tell him the Cubs would love to make some changes, (maybe even bring back Mark DeRosa?) if the sale ever becomes complete. Rozner says the front office is getting frustrated with the tying of their hands.
It’s no news flash that the Cubs need help, and we have it on good authority that they’d take back Mark DeRosa in a heartbeat.
That’s assuming Cleveland makes him available in the next few weeks.
What you can’t assume is that the Cubs will have any flexibility or power to make it happen.
The problem right now is a form of paralysis at the top of the organization, where the Cubs have been operating without an owner for many months, and there is great frustration within the front office over the lack of authority given to those in charge at Wrigley Field.
The fact is that the shake-up would have extended beyond the hitting coach and to the 40-man roster already if hands weren’t tied.
So while Sam Zell slows the sale of the club, and attempts to extract every dollar he can out of Tom Ricketts, the Cubs don’t know from day to day what they’re allowed to do and what they can even discuss.
It’s unconscionable that Zell has allowed this to occur, and you can only imagine the outcry if this were New York and the Yankees.
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