Wow. That is one way to rebuild the farm, but it also says "we are in no way competing in 2012, or even 2013". Then again, that is probably already true, but for a team with a horrible starting pitching staff, that sure does seem like a strange way to rebuild.

Saves money and maybe gets value out of a somewhat expensive vet. Sounds like what we need to do too.

Cubs listening to offers for Garza via MLBtraderumors.

 

With the contracts being kicked around for free agents, and their status as a bottomdweller, they would be silly not to.

Rosenthal reporting that Cubs are pursuing Pujols and Prince. Ugh, I don't want to root against either

TroyRenck Troy Renck, Rockies

#Rockies exploring trades for Ian Stewart... Cubs are one team w interest. Not sure to what degree but have interest

 

dan_bernstein Dan Bernstein

News that #Cubs may pursue Fielder/Pujols is sobering evidence that the new CBA badly damaged Epstein's plan.

 

dan_bernstein Dan Bernstein

News that #Cubs may pursue Fielder/Pujols is sobering evidence that the new CBA badly damaged Epstein's plan.

Or it just means the Cubs are "in" on basically everyone on the market, which has been true since well before the CBA changes.

 

Or it just means the Cubs are "in" on basically everyone on the market, which has been true since well before the CBA changes.

 

My thought is, driving up the price on the Cards on both players. Kind of what Cashman did to him with Crawford last year. With trying to move Garza and then go and sign either of these guys makes zero sense, and I don’t see Theo as that dumb. if Hendry was the GM.. then yes, I could see them doing this.

Or it just means the Cubs are "in" on basically everyone on the market, which has been true since well before the CBA changes.

With the condition of their roster, it makes no sense to go after a $25 million a year player who will be past their prime in 3-4 years.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/...xpress-interest

 

Source: Cubs call Albert Pujols reps

 

By Jerry Crasnick

ESPN.com

Archive

 

The Chicago Cubs have reached out to the agent for Albert Pujols to express their interest in the three-time Most Valuable Player, a baseball source told ESPN.com Tuesday.

 

Although discussions between team officials and agent Dan Lozano are in the early stages, the Cubs appear poised to join the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins in an active pursuit of Pujols, a nine-time All-Star who hit the free-agent market in October.

 

The Cubs' overtures to Pujols come amid speculation that they also have interest in former Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder. The speculation was ratcheted up a notch last week when the team hired former Brewers coach Dale Sveum as its new manager.

 

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have been busy with the managerial hire and other front offices moves but are expected to begin addressing the free-agent and trade markets in earnest in advance of the MLB winter meetings next week in Dallas.

 

Pujols and Fielder are the two biggest names in a relatively thin free-agent market, and Lozano and Fielder's agent, Scott Boras, will be front and center at the Dallas meetings. Boras has prepared an extensive, eight-section binder on Fielder that proclaims him as "Historically Great Through Age 27," and distributed it to interested teams.

 

The Texas Rangers have also been mentioned as a potential landing site for Pujols or Fielder, although club president Nolan Ryan said recently that the team is more likely to stick with Mitch Moreland at first base and upgrade in other areas. "Making a seven-or-eight year deal for Fielder or Pujols is not something our organization is prepared to do. I very much expect Mitch Moreland to be our first baseman next year," Ryan told reporters three weeks ago.

 

The Washington Nationals are reportedly a suitor for Fielder, and GM Mike Rizzo and Boras have a long history of productive negotiations. But Rizzo has made it clear that he wants to upgrade the team's starting rotation and center field spot, and he might find it a challenge to squeeze Fielder into the team's budget in 2012 and beyond.

 

Pujols, who turns 32 in January, rebounded from a slow start and a midseason wrist injury to hit .299 with 37 homers and 99 RBIs this season. He also tied a record shared by Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson with three home runs in Game 3 of the World Series.

 

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa retired after the season. One baseball source said that while Pujols was "surprised" by the team's decision to replace La Russa with Mike Matheny, who has never managed at any level, Pujols likes and respects Matheny personally. The Matheny hiring is not expected to play a major role in Pujols' decision to re-sign with the Cardinals or leave St. Louis.

 

St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak met with Lozano during the recent GM meetings in Milwaukee and told reporters, "Our goal is to try to find a way to keep Albert Pujols, and that's what we'll focus on as we move forward."

 

Epstein and Hoyer have a busy agenda as they try to reshape a Cubs team that finished fourth in the National League Central division with a 71-91 record last season. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez is a free agent and won't return to Chicago, and management is saddled with the big contracts of pitcher Carlos Zambrano and outfielder Alfonso Soriano. If the Cubs don't sign Pujols or Fielder, they have the option of doing a one-year deal with incumbent first baseman Carlos Pena, who hit .225 with 28 home runs in 153 games last season. Pena is also a Boras client.

 

There's also an ancillary benefit for Epstein and Hoyer in pursuing Pujols: Even if the Cubs don't sign him, they could help drive up the price for St. Louis. The Cardinals offered Pujols a nine-year deal in the spring, but sources said the proposal fell slightly short of $200 million total.

 

Miami has also offered Pujols a nine-year deal, baseball sources have confirmed. Although reports of the Marlins' proposed contract vary, the team expressed its interest by bringing in Pujols for a ballpark tour earlier this month. Free agent shortstop Jose Reyes and pitchers Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson have also toured the Marlins' new stadium and received contract offers from the club.

 

Senior writer Jerry Crasnick covers MLB for ESPN.com.

Of course, if the offers Albert has on the table are close to the $210 mil or so the Cards offered him, that might be low enough for the Cubs to just risk it anyway.

Or it just means the Cubs are "in" on basically everyone on the market, which has been true since well before the CBA changes.

 

Yep that is a PR move as they will most likely lose Ramirez and Pena in the next couple of weeks.

 

You do not take offers on Garza and then sign one of those players.

ChiTribRogers Phil Rogers

Breaking: Greg Maddux has notified the #Cubs he is leaving, most likely to join older brother Mike Maddux w/role for the #Rangers.

 

PWSullivan Paul Sullivan

Astros bullpen coach Jamie Quirk tells mlb.com he'll be Sveum's bench coach with Cubs. trib.in/su0mnb

 

PWSullivan Paul Sullivan

Astros bullpen coach Jamie Quirk tells mlb.com he'll be Sveum's bench coach with Cubs. trib.in/su0mnb

 

Is it still considered "major" league experience if it comes with the Astros?

Rosenthal:

#Cubs reach agreement with David DeJesus. Will be their everyday right fielder. #MLB

 

Wow. Theo is a genius.

$10 million over 2 for Dejesus is a lot of money.

And DeJesus makes his home in Wheaton, in the off-season... Why the hell would you live in chicagoland in the winter... This guy is a moron!

 

Steve, If Sizemore can get up to 9million for one year, that kind of set the standard.. Don't agree with it, but hard not to see why he got it. And he got him for 2 years what the Indians might pay Sizemore for one.

Edited November 30, 201114 yr by VictoryMC98

Baseball contracts are stupid.

Baseball contracts are stupid.

 

And DeJesus makes his home in Wheaton, in the off-season... Why the hell would you live in chicagoland in the winter... This guy is a moron!

 

Steve, If Sizemore can get up to 9million for one year, that kind of set the standard.. Don't agree with it, but hard not to see why he got it. And he got him for 2 years what the Indians might pay Sizemore for one.

 

Sizemore isn't going to make $9 million next year.

Hello Mrs. DeJesus

I don't think that's a bad deal. He is likely to bounce right back and be an .800+ OPS guy again for two years. Not great out of your right fielder, not 'genius', but its a solid signing.

I guess you could say the Cubs have found their savior.

 

My prediction is that he'll be better than Fukudome, for much less money.