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.

The Chicago Cubs have made another trade as they have acquired Steve Trachsel from the Baltimore Orioles for Rocky Cherry and Scott Moore.  Lol, I know what most of you are thinking right now.  Am I really reading this right? LOL, well I’m sorry to say it but yes you are.

Jim Hendry wants more starting pitching to help down the stretch as the Cubs have 30 games left in pretty much 30 days.  He doesn’t want the pitching staff to come up shorthanded and throught this deal was good.  Hendry also mentioned that he sees Trachsel starting, not coming out of the bullpen, but he will leave that decision up to Lou Piniella and Larry Rothschild.

What do you feel about this trade Cubs Fans?

-Cliff

The Cubs sent outfielder Buck Coats to the Reds for a player to be named, and also announced the Tigers have claimed lefty Clay Rapada off waivers, which completes an earlier trade.The transaction involving Rapada satisfies the Aug. 23 trade in which Chicago obtained outfielder Craig Monroe and cash considerations in exchange for a player to be named.

Coats, 25, was originally drafted by the Cubs in the 18th round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft. He hit .303 this year with Triple-A Iowa, with 21 doubles, 11 home runs and 59 RBIs.

Rapada, 26, was 7-2 with 17 saves and a 3.58 ERA in 55 relief appearances for Iowa.

Craig Monroe has been traded to the Chicago Cubs this morning as Jim Hendry tries to find someone that can hit some left handed pitching.  Monroe was released by the Tigers a few days ago as he struggled most of this year after putting up good numbers for them the past few years.

We can only expect Monroe to see action when a left hander is throwing against the Cubs.  There is no way you let him bat against right handers as he absolutely blows against righties. 

The Cubs will be sending a player to be named later to the Tigers.  Damn, that guy gets traded a lot lol.

The Cubs optioned shortstop Ronny Cedeno to Triple-A Iowa and designated catcher Koyie Hill for assignment after the game against the Cardinals on Monday.  It is being rumored that Cliff Floyd and Henry Blanco will replace them on the active roster.

Floyd is back with the team after being with his family during his fathers health problems and death.  Floyd says that it is great being back with the team, and a much needed relief at this time.

Blanco joins the team after having some back and neck problems which has kept him out most of the season.  He was 2-10 during a minor league rehab which isn’t that great but we know he is on the team for his defense more then his offense.

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Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs agreed on a new contract extension as Big Z signed a 5-year 91.5 million contract to keep him in a Cub uniform and off the free agent market at the end of the season.

I like that this got done before the end of the season, I don’t know if the Cubs could have signed Zambrano if he had choosen free agency.  They can’t get into another bidding war after shelling out all that money to Alfonso Soriano.

Good job Hendry and company!

The Chicago Cubs today selected left-handed pitcher Carmen Pignatiello and recalled infielder/outfielder Jake Fox from Triple-A Iowa. In corresponding moves, right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher and infielder Eric Patterson were optioned to Iowa. To make room for Pignatiello on the 40-man roster, catcher Henry Blanco has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

I think we can pretty much assume with “Hank White��? going to the 60-day DL his year is finished.  With Fox coming up, the Cubs are hoping to add a little bit more pop to the lineup.  How many chances will he get though?  That is what I want to know.

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Felix Pie was called up to the Chicago Cubs for the third time this season after the Cubs placed outfielder Angel Pagan on the disable list.  I have to wonder if this is just a move to get Pie on the roster to spark up some excitment.  Is Pagan really hurt?  Either way Pie is better then Pagan.

Look for Pie to get most of the starts in centerfield, Matt Murton and Eric Patterson playing left field, and Jacque Jones / Cliff Floyd in right field until Alfonso Soriano comes back.

The Chicago Cubs made some roster moves today as Alfonso Soriano was sent to the 15 day disabled list because of the right quad injury he sustained in last nights game as he was running towards third base.  Soriano will likely be gone longer then 15 days based on his injury, only time will tell however.

Eric Patterson will be taking Soriano’s spot on the roster right now.  Patterson is the younger brother of Corey Patterson who also played for the Cubs.  Patterson was batting .299 at Triple-A Iowa with 14 homers, 23 doubles, 62 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He has primarily hit leadoff all season, batting .300 in the No. 1 spot in the order with a .365 on-base percentage.  He mostly plays second base, but has been played in the outfield the last 10 games in the minor leagues.

I don’t know why this move was made rather then calling up Felix Pie.  Pie has some more experience in the big leagues then Patterson.  I would rather have Pie on the roster down the playoff hunt then I would Patterson just because Patterson isn’t a true OF, and hasn’t played one game in the big leagues yet.  The only thing I can’t think of why they made this move is because they feel Patterson is more of a lead off hitter then Pie.

The Cubs also put Wade Miller on waivers today and DFA’d Brian Dopirak.

Cubs shortstop Ronny Cedeno has been re-called from Triple A Iowa and will be in uniform for tonights game in St. Louis.  Cedeno, who hit .097 in 14 games after starting the season with the Cubs, was leading the Pacific Coast League with a .360 average and has 10 home runs with 32 RBIs in 65 games at Iowa.

I would expect to see Ryan Theriot play most of the time, but Cedeno can play as his backup or even move Theriot to 2nd base and play Cedeno at short to get another right handed bat in the lineup when needed.

Hopefully Cedeno’s time at Triple A and getting his swing back will help him out in the Big Leagues.  If he doesn’t hit, you can’t put him in there when you have Theriot and Mike Fontentot who have been pretty good.

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