Good news Cubs Fans!  Kerry Wood has decided to return to the Chicago Cubs and will be signing a one year, 4 million dollar contract.  Wood turned down two year deals in the 5-6 million range from the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, and the Boston Red Sox.

That keeps the Cubs bullpen intact for now.  I would still like to see Ryan Dempster traded however.  Time will tell if a move gets done with Dempster.  I do not want him to be closer when we head to spring training.

John McDonough, who has been with the Chicago Cubs since 1983 will be stepping down today as President of the Chicago Cubs.  McDonough, will take over control for the Chicago Blackhawks reports are saying.

McDonough has been the Cubs’ team president since Oct. 1, 2006, after serving as the club’s senior vice president of marketing and broadcasting since May 2004.  In his 24 years with the Cubs, the team has enjoyed its 24 highest attendance totals in franchise history, including four consecutive seasons (2004-07) of drawing more than 3 million fans.

Will the Cubs have a new President in place before the team is sold?  Who really knows lol.  They need to get this damn ownership deal figured out before the season starts however.

Craig Monroe is headed back to the American League, this time to the Minnesota Twins.  I don’t even know why Jim Hendry traded for Monroe down the stretch last season to be honest.  It was another wasted trade that did not need to be done.  And now Monroe is traded for a player to be named later.

Hmm who could that be?  Time will only tell.

I have read a few reports saying that the Chicago Cubs have offered Kaz Matsui a three year deal to play second base for them.  If that is true, then are the Cubs thinking of putting Mark DeRosa at shortstop or right field permanately?

Another thing to think about is this.  If the Cubs do sign Matsui, it would possibly help them out with signing Japanese free-agent outfielder Kosuke Fukudome who is very high on Jim Hendry’s list.

The Chicago Cubs traded outfielder Jacque Jones to the Detroit Tigers on Monday for utility player Omar Infante.  Jones, who took over as Chicago’s starting center fielder in the second half of the 2007 season, batted .285 with five homers and 66 RBIs in 135 games. He signed with the Cubs as a free agent in January 2006. Infante batted .271 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 66 games with Detroit this year. He played six positions and made his most appearances at second base (20 games). He also appeared at shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions.

This really must have been Jim Hendry just dumping Jones for whatever he could get.  Why do the Cubs need another utility player?   Don’t they already have that with Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot?  Players that can play more then one position, and average hitters?   Sure they are dumping the 5 million which Jones would have been owed, but you are getting Infante.

This will only turn out to be good if they use that 5 million wisely on a free agent signing.

According to the Detroit Free Press and the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs and Tigers are close to swapping Jacque Jones for Omar Infante. A deal could be announced as soon as today.

Chicago Tribune

-Mike

2007 was a great year despite it’s sad conclusion… let’s take a look back at some of the moments… Animated GIF style!

May 1/2… The Cubs beat the Pirates in a game that had to be finished the next day. Cliff Floyd 2 run HR in the 7th allowed the game to be completed without the Cubs losing due to a rain shortened decision. His HR sailed into the Allegheny river and made a sound that started the fans and the Pirate mascot:

June 15… The Cubs win their 3rd straight by beating the Padres 4-1. In a crazy game filled with fan controversy and basket HRs, Soriano launched one onto Waveland and does a dance that will eventually lead to a brawl later in the series:

August 17… Rich Hill and Braden Looper go head to head in an old fashioned pitcher’s duel which results in a 2-1 Cubs win. Jacque Jones made a game saving catch and also provided the Cubs’ lone RBIs… CCB’s own Cliff came extremely close to catching this ball…

August 18… Daryle Ward picks a great time to hit his first HR as a Cub. A grand slam into the left center field seats gives the Cubs a 5-0 lead over the Cardinals. Ward would be huge part of the team the rest of the way. Cubs win 5-3:

August 20… The Cubs lost the the Cards but 5 home runs were hit in the game including this blast by Derrek Lee. Lee seemed to find his power by mid-August and was a threat the rest of the season:

September 19… PCL MVP and assumed 2008 Cubs starting catcher Geovany Soto hits his 1st Wrigley Field home run in a tight 3-2 Cubs win. 4 solo homers were hit in this game combined. Soto would be the only Cub to homer in the playoffs:

September 21… Aramis Ramirez drills 2 long homeruns in a classic wind blowing out game at Wrigley… his second of the game breaks a 7-7 tie as the Cubs go on to win 13-8:

Here’s to a better 2008!

-Mike

We would like to congratulate Cubs first basemen Derrek Lee today as he won his third gold glove!  To be honest, I was suprised that Lee won when he was tied for 4th in fielding defense.  Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies led the league with a .999 fielding percentage.

Let hope next year it is #4 for D. Lee!

Curt Shilling released a list of teams that he would be interested in playing for next season and the Chicago Cubs were on that list.  Shilling who will be a free agent is looking for a one year deal to play for a contender and hopefully end his career with another World Series ring.

So we have to ask ourselves as Cubs fans, do we want Curt Shilling as a Cub?  Would the front office go after Shilling and use him as a middle of the rotation starter?  I would mind them doing it, but not at a hefty contract.  Shilling would be a good 4th or 5th starter behind Carlos Zambrano, Rich Hill, and Ted Lilly.  Hell he could even be the ace for all we know with the Cubs starters.  Shilling has playoff experience, and that is what the Cubs could really use.  I’d rather throw him out there every fifth day then a Jason Marquis.

What do all you think?  Would Shilling be a good fit with the Chicago Cubs next year?  Do you think the new owners would make an offer at him?  Let your opinion be heard by leaving a comment!