General manager Jim Hendry has countered the Milwaukee Brewer’s trade for CC Sabathia with a trade of his own.  Hendry and the Oakland Athletics worked out a trade that will send Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to the Cubs for Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, Josh Donaldson, and Sean Gallagher.

I don’t mind one bit giving up Murton and Patterson in the deal, I would have rather had someone else go instead of Gallagher but you have to give up something good to get something good in return.  Murton should now get some good playing time on the A’s so the trade is very good for him.  I’m not sure what the A’s plan will be for Patterson but Gallagher could go right into their rotation.

So Cubs fans, is Hendry done wheeling and dealing?

Ok, this move is a little confusing I think.  The Chicago Cubs have sent down Jose Ascanio to Triple-A Iowa and called up Neal Cotts.  Reports are saying that Lou Piniella doesn’t fully trust Scott Eyre down in the bullpen and wanted to get another lefty in there.

Ok, so Ascanio throws the ball very well when given the chance and he still gets sent down for a player who has struggled in the past with the big league team?  I don’t quite understand the move, but half the time us Cubs fans don’t know what Hendry and company are really thinking.

What do you think of this move?

Daryle Ward has been place on the 15 day disabled list with a bulging disk in his back.  Ward is hitting just .200 (5-for-25) but has come up big as a pinch-hitter in this homestand, despite his back pain, coming up with game-tying and game-winning hits against Arizona in consecutive games.

Micah Hoffpauir has been called up to take Ward’s spot on the roster.  Hoffpauir can play the corner outfield positions as well as first base but I would expect most of his at bats to come as a pitch hitter just like Ward has done.

The redhead is back with the Chicago Cubs!  Matt Murton was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Friday and Eric Patterson was sent back down to Triple-A.  Patterson was called up after the Alfonso Soriano injury and went 0-6.

We will see if Murton gets any starts out in left field or if he will come off the bench like most people are thinking.  If he can hit the ball and get on base I think he is a better option in left field then Mark DeRosa, who is better suited at second base.

What does everyone else think?

The Chicago Cubs have signed outfielder Reed Johnson to a one year contract after he was released by the Toronto Blue Jays.  Johnson can play all three positions, bats right handed, and will more then likely platoon with Felix Pie in centerfield.

Johnson is a career .281 hitter, and has a lifetime .308 average against left-handed pitching.  Overall I think it is a good pickup for the Cubs, better then trading for Marlyon Byrd or Jay Payton etc.

The Chicago Cubs made a round of roster cuts today to get their spring training roster down to 50.  The two most notable players to be send down were Tyler Colvin and Billy Petrick. Petrick was sent to Triple A Iowa, while Colvin was sent to minor league camp.

Other players sent to the minor league camp included Esmailin Caridad, Jose Ceda, Geoff Jones, Andres Torres, Bobby Scales, Wellington Castillo, and Josh Donaldson.

With the moves, the Cubs’ spring roster now is 50, and consists of 26 pitchers, four catchers, 12 infielders and eight outfielders. 

Michael Wuertz and the Chicago Cubs avoided salary arbitration on Monday as they both agreed on a new one year contract.  Wuertz was hoping for $900,00+ and he settled for $860,000 from the Cubs for the 2008 season.

Pretty good deal for both parties involved I think.  Wuertz is a good innings eater out of the bullpen.  Hopefully he will have a little better control in 08 however, and puts away batters instead of wasting so many pitches and end up walking them.

Cubs Transactions

I first have to ask why Jim Hendry signed Shingo Takatsu today?  Is he coming to the Cubs to help out Fukudome adjust to the Major Leagues?  Could he possibly help out the Cubs bullpen?  I wouldn’t think he would actually do much help out of the bullpen for the Cubs to be honest.

Enjoy the minor leagues or heading back to Japan Shingo!  I don’t think you will last very long.  And Hendry, why the hell are you spending resources on a signing like this?  Complete a trade that we have been hearing about for the past 6 weeks!

A former Cub is coming back to Chicago to pitch for the Cubs once again.  Jon Lieber has been signed to a one year contract for a salary of 3.5 million.  With incentives, the deal could be near the 7-8 million range.

Good signing if Lieber has anything left in the tank in my opinion.  I’d rather give Lieber the ball in the starting rotation then Ryan Dempster.

What do you all think? Good signing?

The Cubs signed relief pitcher Chad Fox to a one-year minor league contract today, along with an invitation to spring training. Fox appeared in 11 games for the Cubs in 2005, and hasn’t pitched in the majors since. He has a career record of 10-11 and an ERA of 3.57.

Cubs Official Press Release

Mike