Ramirez played the last eight-plus seasons with the Cubs. He hit .306 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs and won the Silver Slugger award as the top offensive third baseman in 2011.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if Prince Fielder chooses to come to Northside? It would be a Ramirez for Fielder trade. Except for the many millions more Fielder would cost the club.

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Cubs Blog

Aramis Ramirez Signs With the Brewers

I like that both players will be on a team that is in contention no doubt. I’m not mad that either player is gone, but something just feels weird about the move. Lilly I can see being moved even though I would have loved to possibly get a “sandwhich” pick out of him in next year draft. Theriot, well he can go wherever and take his average arm and terrible range with him. I will say that Theriot gave it his all when he had the Cub uniform on but on most teams he is not a everyday starting infielder. Utility man at best.

The main guy coming over to the Cubs should be the everyday starter at second base. Blake DeWitt’s OPS this year is almost 100 points higher than Theriot’s and he is also two years younger than Ryan. He won’t hit for power but also shouldn’t get picked off every week like Theriot seemed to do.

The next two months you are going to see a lot of younger players on the major league roster. General manager Jim Hendry has been quoted as saying “Cubs will have a “wave” of players come up soon from Iowa and then again in September.” That means plenty of veteran players will be put on the waver wire and more than likely a few will get picked up.

Pack your bags Xavier Nady because you are about to get shipped out. Maybe they are already packed and ready to go. Especially the way the team played in Denver just now as they were just swept by the Rockies. I hope you packed longer than for this current road trip!

Let’s all take the last few months and see how these younger players do. It won’t be your normal Cubs team but give the kids a chance because they could be on the big league roster next year without question. The season sure hasn’t went the way we all thought it would but then again, “There is always next year”

Cubs Blog

Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot traded to the Dodgers

Chad Tracy was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Starlin on the big league roster.

Castro has been lighting it up at the double-a level where has hit .376 with one home run and 20 RBI. Look for Ryan Theriot to move over to the 2nd base positon while Mike Fontenot and Jeff Baker will keep the bench warm.

Many of us Cubs fans expected Castro to get the call this year but this is a lot earlier than most of us though. I just hope he isn’t being rushed by the management just like they did with Felix Pie and Corey Patterson. Those couldn’t miss prospects didn’t turn out good for the Cubs. Let’s all hope Castro doesn’t fall into that mold.

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Cubs Blog

Cubs make the call to Starlin Castro

Trading Bradley for Silva is not a win for the Cubs. Your team is worse off then it was in my opinion. You open up another position in the outfield and lose some of that pop especially from the left hand side of the plate. I agree that Bradley should have been traded, but not for Silva.

“We knew we had to move the player,” Hendry said Friday of Bradley. “In hindsight, obviously, it was an acquisition that I’m responsible for that obviously didn’t work out.”

Gee you really think so Jim? Maybe you should have worked a little harder at the Winter Meetings and got a decent deal done then. Silva has won five games in two seasons in Seattle. Wow what a winner we got coming to the Northside!

The best thing from this trade is probably the $9 million dollars that the Mariners are sending along with Silva. This will allow the Cubs to go after a centerfielder and move Kosuke Fukudome back to right field. I’d like to see the Cubs go after Jacoby Ellsbury who doesn’t have a position with the Red Sox now. Will it happen? I doubt it…

Cubs Blog

Milton Bradley traded for Carlos Silva

Jaramillo is well known for his five step hitting approach and will look to bring that to the Cubs starting in spring training. Jaramillo has already worked with Cubs players Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley when they both spent time in Arlington with the Rangers.

“Rudy Jaramillo is widely regarded as the premiere hitting instructor in the game,” Cubs GM Jim Hendry said. “The addition of Rudy to our franchise is a strong statement from our new owners, the Ricketts family, and we thank them for allowing us to move quickly to fill this important role with the best in the business.”

This is a great hire for the Cubs in my opinion. Jaramillo is well known through baseball as being one of the best hitting instructers and he will have his hands full with the happy swinging Cubs. I think he will get the job done and we will see players like Soriano and Bradley have a higher batting percentage as well as on base percentage in the 2010 season.

Cubs Blog

Cubs hire their man in Rudy Jaramillo

The offense was led by back-to-back home runs from Jake Fox and Milton Bradley. Kosuke Fukudome reached base all five times and had four rbi as did shortstop Ryan Theriot. All around it was a great day for the offense as they beat up on Astros pitching.

Kevin Hart got the win for the Cubs but then found out that he had been traded to to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hart, Jose Ascanio and minor leaguer Josh Harrison were sent to Pittsburgh in exchange for left handers John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny.

Jim Hendry was after a left hander to add to the bullpen as the only lefty out of the pen has been Sean Marshall. Grabow is 3-0 with a 3.42 ERA for last-place Pittsburgh, with 41 strikeouts and 28 walks in 47 1/3 innings. He has two blown saves and 16 holds.

Gorzelanny will report to Triple-A Iowa where he will go into the rotation.

Not a bad deal for the Cubs. They gave up decent players for decent players. It will be interesting to see if Hendry can swing a deal for a left handed hitting right fielder before the trade deadline. Who would you like added to the roster if Hendry can work something out?

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

Cubs hammer Astros and make a trade

I thought Perry did an alright job with the team. The 08 team was great at the plate but this year they just haven’t got hot and stayed hot for a 10 game stretch. There is no question in mind that Perry will be on another major league roster next year. I hope him the best in the future.

To replace Perry, Von Joshua was called up from Triple A Iowa to take over at hitting coach. Joshua, a former big league outfielder who was in his fourth year as the Triple-A Iowa hitting coach, will be in uniform Tuesday for the opener of the Cubs’ Interleague series against the White Sox.

So let’s see if the players will react to Joshua and start hitting the ball better. Hopefully Milton Bradley and Alfonso Soriano can start to make better contact and drive the ball like they should be doing. Who knows though the way things have been going as of late. We will see come Tuesday night when the crosstown White Sox come to Wrigley Field.

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

Gerarld Perry fired as Cubs offense sputters

Fox has had a good start down at Iowa where he has a .423 batting average; 17 homers; 50 RBI; .503 OBP; .886 slugging percentage; 1.389 OPS.

I like Fox on the roster as he would provide some pop from the plate. Unlike Miles and Bobby Scales. It would surprise me one bit if we seen Fox in the starting lineup this afternoon when the Cubs and Pirates finish up their three game series.

Speaking of the series against the Pirates. I didn’t blog about the rain shortened game last night because it was my birthday and I stopped watching the game once the tarp came out onto the field. I will have a post this afternoon after the game however and hopefully it will be talking about the second straight win for the Cubs!

**Updated 10:27 CT**

Well that sure didn’t take to long after I put this post up. The Cubs officially announced that Jake Fox, Andres Blanco and Jason Waddell were all called up from Triple A Iowa. To make room on the roster for them, Aaron Miles was sent to the disabled list, Neal Cotts and Bobby Scales were both sent down to Triple A.

Sounds to me like we are replacing one utility infielder with another one in Blanco. Waddell will take Cott’s spot in the pen. I wonder if Scales was sent down due to his illness or due to his play?

Cubs Blog

Jake Fox to be called up Wednesday

Freel is due $3.3 million this year but the Orioles are expected to pay a good portion of it. Freel hasn’t done much this season as he has been on the disabled list after being hit in the head on a pickoff attempt April 20th. He has only two hits in 15 at bats. I still like Freel and his play that he brings to a team. He plays balls to the wall and I think can really be a valuable member of the team. He can also play infield and outfield positions so he fits in nicely. He will probably be a better fit at third base when Aramis needs a day off than Mike Fontenot.

So now the team will be need to make another roster move Saturday and I would probably expect to see Randy Wells sent back down to Triple A Iowa after he makes his start tonight in Milwaukee. Freel is expected to join the team on Saturday. The Cubs might select to send Bobby Scales back down and keep Wells up as well. We will have to see how things play out after the game tonight.

Your thoughts on the move?

Cubs Blog

Cubs acquire Ryan Freel from the Orioles

Things do get interesting when you start talking about the Gathright situation however. He does have enough service time in the Major Leagues that he could refuse the minor league assignment and become a free agent. However, if he chooses to do that, he will lose out on $800,000 guranteed money from the Cubs.

Wouldn’t it be great if Joey chooses to become a free agent and save the cubs quite a bit of money? I mean he isn’t helping the team at all. His defense isn’t great and he is rarely on base to try to utlize his speed and swipe a base.

We will have to see how things unfold this afternoon and before the game.

Cubs Blog

Randy Wells Up, Joey Gathright Down ?

Gotta feel for Big Z as he took the loss even though he gave up three earned runs over seven hits. Zambrano looked pretty good but an error my Micah Hoffpauir in the seventh inning really hurt and opened the flood gates for the Reds. Don’t expect to see Hoffpauir out there in right field to much more after listening to his press conference after the game. You will see Kosuke Fukudome in right field and Reed Johnson in center field when Milton Bradley is on the bench. Sounds like Micah just planted his butt on the bench with that crucial error.

Oh yeah, the bullpen didn’t get any better either. Neal F’ing Cotts gave up another run in his one run of action. Cub killer Joey Votto took Cotts deep in the eighth inning to give the Reds a four run lead at the time. Votto was a monster at the plate once again against the Cubs as he had four hits, three extra base hits, and two rbi.

So now the Cubs will head down to St. Louis and take on the division leaders who have a 11-5 record and are fresh off a sweep of the New York Mets. Let’s hope the bats heat up down in St. Louis or this will be a very long series.

Before the game the team announced that they released Luis Vizcaino and recalled Jeff Samardzija from Triple-A. Samardzija didn’t have a good outing in the ninth when he made his return as he allowed two runs to score. The Cubs are on the hook for $3.6 million in the Vizcaino contract.

Cubs Blog

More offensive struggles as Cubs lose again

Jeff Samardzija was also sent down to Triple-A as he had options left. The Shark was the odd man out pretty much because he had options left while Patton and Guzman did not. Samardzija will be stretched out and work in a starting pitching positon for Iowa.

I agree with these moves that Hendry made. Gaudin was absolutely terrible this spring training and really didn’t deserve a spot on the roster. He was never the same player after hurting is back when “falling” into a trashcan late last season. Guzman wasn’t that bad but did start throwing the ball better as spring training went on. Samardzija was optioned to Iowa basically because he had options left and can get more work in there in a starting pitchers role. Patton could be a big player for the Cubs out of the pen if he continues to throw the ball well. The Cubs will have to keep him on the active roster or return him back to the Colorado Rockies if they want him back. Which after seeing him throw this Spring, I’m sure they would take him back in a heartbeat. If that’s the case, it’s too bad we couldn’t also sent back Luis Vizcaino who has pitched like crap.

It will be interesting Monday night when the Cubs open up the 2009 season down in Houston. I’m excited to have the season start but I’m worried about the backend of the rotation and the bullpen. I just need to see the 3-5 starters get some early season wins and see Kevin Gregg save games on back to back days. Once we see those things, I think we will be alright!

Cubs Blog

David Patton and Angel Guzman get the final two spots

I know a lot of people thougth Pawelek was a stupid signing when it happened. Sure he was a fireball thrower, but he played in the state of Utah and didn’t exactly face the best competition out of high school. Also, it was very weird seeing him sign the same day even though he was a Scott Boras client. Talk about taking seven figures from the Cubs and giving nothing back as far as production! Oh yeah, we can’t forget about the falling in the middle of the night over your Playstation and breaking your arm! Or having passport problems and getting shut down the rest of the year even though you were healthy. Sounds like there was more to Pawalek then most of us know.

Pawelek appeared in only 54 games over four seasons with the Cubs, mostly at short-season Low Class-A Boise. He was 6-12 with a 3.80 ERA and 147 strikeouts and 79 walks in 149 1/3 innings in those four seasons.

Pawelek was told “We have exhausted all efforts with you, and things did not go as we planned.’ Basically … ‘you’re not playing well and we don’t want you around anymore in Pawelek’s words.’”

Harvey is actually one player I was excited to see progress through the Cubs minor league system. However that never really happened as he only made it to Double-A Tennessee. Harvey compiled a career batting average of .247 in 471 games with a career .298 OBP. He was the Cubs first round pick in the 2003 draft and the sixth overall pick. Ryan had a very hard time hitting the ball in the minor leagues, and the Cubs had thoughts of coverting him to a pitcher as he also pitched in highschool but he didn’t want any part of that I have heard.

As for Johnson, he was the teams first pick in the 2004 draft even though he was drafted in the second round out of Notre Dame. Johnson struggled at Class-A Daytona Double-A Tennessee last season as he compiled a 5.32 ERA to go along with a 3-8 record.

The Cubs also released Paul Bako and Mike Stanton as they have trimmed their Major League roster down to 28 players. Expect to see a trade or release involving Chad Gaudin or Angel Guzman who both have struggled this spring and both are out of options. We could also possible see Jeff Samardzija be sent down Triple-A Iowa.

Cubs Blog

Cubs release three top draft picks

Marmol didn’t sound to happy about it when he was asked about the decision. Here is what he had to say when he was asked if playing in the World Baseball Classic made a difference in the decision:

“I don’t think it would’ve made a difference,” Marmol said. “They knew what they were going to do before I got here. That’s why I say there’s not competition.”

Asked to clarify, Marmol switched his tone.

“I don’t know,” Marmol said. “I guess we’re going to get ready for the season, no matter what. You’ll see the same smile. I’ll be the same guy. I’ll throw my 80 innings, do my job. I can’t make their decision. I can’t control it.”

Sure Gregg has been named the starter, but things can sure turn around quickly. If Gregg does not perform in the first 10-14 games, I would expect the team to make a change and give Marmol a chance. Marmol will also get some opportunitis when Gregg needs a rest and hopefully that is very often because that would mean that the team is winning multiple games in a row.

In other moves, the team has announced that catcher Mark Johnson, infielders Andres Blanco and Esteban German and outfielders Brad Snyder and So Taguchi had been re-assigned to Minor League camp. Relief pitchers Kevin Hart and Randy Wells were both optioned down to Triple-A Iowa as well. Is Hart’s time done with big league team? He has had many chancs and still can’t keep a spot on the big league roster.

Cubs Blog

Kevin Gregg named the closer over Carlos Marmol

Wuertz was 13-7 with one save and a 3.57 ERA in 265 relief appearances in all or part of five seasons with the Cubs. He was 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA in 45 relief appearances last season for Chicago and also pitched at Triple-A Iowa.

Robnett is a former first round pick of the A’s back in 2004. He only played in 82 games last season as he has a tumor removed from his stomach. He is a career .256 hitter in the minor leagues. Robnett was ranked as the A’s 15th best prospect but has yet to live up to the billing.

Sellers as alternated between second base and shortstup for the A’s minor league affliates. Sellers would probably be similar to Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot but will more then likely be a career minor leaguer after reading reports on him.

The deal will save the Cubs about $2 million on the payroll and also opens up another spot on the 40-man roster. I’d expect Angel Guzman to get Wuertz’s spot in the bullpen.

Cubs Blog

Cubs trade Michael Wuertz to the Athletics