Archive for the ‘Cubs’ Category

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Cubs, Wood agree to 1-year deal

Monday, November 26th, 2007

Kerry Wood, who made the switch to the bullpen last season after a swift recovery from shoulder problems, agreed Monday to a $4.2 million, one-year deal to return to the Chicago Cubs. Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses based largely on games finished. He had a $1.75 million salary this year.

The right-hander went 1-1 last season with a 3.33 ERA in 22 relief appearances. He didn’t join the team until Aug. 5 when he made his first appearance since June 2006.

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Cubs ship Monroe to Minnesota

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

Outfielder Craig Monroe was acquired by the Minnesota Twins from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday for a player to be named later. The 30-year-old hit .219 with 12 homers and 59 RBIs this year from the Tigers and the Cubs, who obtained him Aug. 23 after Detroit designated him for assignment.

Minnesota has been seeking outfield help, a need that may grow if free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter signs with another team.

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Tigers ship Infante to Cubs for Jones

Monday, November 12th, 2007

The Detroit Tigers addressed another need, acquiring outfielder Jacque Jones Monday from the Chicago Cubs for utility player Omar Infante.

In acquiring Jones, the Tigers are seeking a one-year stopgap in left field until Cameron Maybin is ready for the majors.

Infante, a right-handed hitter, likely will play second base, shortstop and center field for the Cubs. His addition will not preclude the Cubs from pursuing second baseman Kaz Matsui as a free agent, but the team’s greater priority is finding a left-handed hitting outfielder.

The Rockies remain hopeful of re-signing Matsui, a switch-hitter, before Tuesday, the first day that teams can negotiate with other clubs’ free agents. If the Cubs signed Matsui, they still would plan to play Mark DeRosa five days a week.

DeRosa could alternate with Matsui, spell third baseman Aramis Ramirez and also play right against certain left-handed pitchers. He could also start at first on occasion, giving Derrek Lee an occasional day off.

Jones, 32, batted .285 last season with a .335 on-base percentage, but had only five home runs in 453 at-bats. The Cubs want better production out of right field, but Jones’ left-handed bat could fit in nicely with the Tigers, whose offense is more high-powered.

The Tigers filled their No. 1 need two weeks ago, trading for All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria from Atlanta for two prospects.

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Fed up Cubs trade Barrett to Padres

Wednesday, June 20th, 2007

The Cubs, frustrated by Michael Barrett’s erratic, inattentive play, have traded the catcher to the Padres for catcher Rob Bowen and Class A outfielder Kyler Burke.

Bowen and Henry Blanco figure to be the Cubs’ new catching tandem, giving the team the stronger defensive presence that manager Lou Piniella prefers at the position.

Barrett, 30, is batting .256 with nine homers and 29 RBIs. Bowen, 26, is batting .268 with two homers and 11 RBIs.

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Cubs, Cliff Floyd reach agreement

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

Free agent outfielder and first baseman Cliff Floyd agreed Wednesday to a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs after spending four seasons with the New York Mets. The deal includes a mutual option for 2008.

The 34-year-old Floyd had surgery on his left foot in October, after hitting .244 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs. The Mets replaced him in left field with Moises Alou, a free agent who agreed to a contract in October.

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Marquis likely to join Cubs

Saturday, December 9th, 2006

Pitcher Jason Marquis is likely to become the latest acquisition in the Chicago Cubs’ offseason spending spree. Marquis and the Cubs are negotiating a three-year contract, a person with knowledge of the talks said Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had yet been made. Terms have not yet been agreed to – the deal is likely to be in the $20 million range.

Marquis was 14-16 last season with a 6.02 ERA for St. Louis and was left off the roster for the final two rounds of the postseason. He was 0-4 with a 7.25 ERA in five September starts.

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Lilly, Cubs agree to four-year, $40 million contract

Wednesday, December 6th, 2006

Free agent pitcher Ted Lilly, who earlier in the day ruled out returning to Toronto, agreed Wednesday night to a $40 million, four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.

Toronto continues to pursue free agent Gil Meche as a possible No. 3 starter behind Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett.

Lilly, 30, has a career 59-58 record in eight major-league seasons with Montreal, the Yankees, Oakland and Toronto. He went 15-13 with a 4.31 ERA for the Blue Jays last season.

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Ted Lily Narrows it down to Cubs or Yankees

Wednesday, December 6th, 2006

Lilly crossed the Blue Jays off his list Wednesday and has narrowed his possible destinations to the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees.

Lilly, 30, has a career 59-58 record in eight major-league seasons with Montreal, the Yankees, Oakland and Toronto. He went 15-13 with a 4.31 ERA for the Blue Jays last season.

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Cubs agree to $136M deal with Soriano

Sunday, November 19th, 2006

The Astros, Phillies and Angels also had been pursuing Soriano.

The Cubs have pursued free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews and pondered the notion of signing free-agent infielder Julio Lugo to play center. Both are leadoff hitters.

Soriano’s deal would be the fifth-largest total package given to a major league player, behind Alex Rodriguez ($252 million for 10 years), Derek Jeter ($189 million for 10 years), Manny Ramirez ($160 for eight years) and Todd Helton ($141.5 million for 11 years).

Soriano, who could play center field and give the Cubs a leadoff hitter with a combination of speed and power, had 46 homers and 41 stolen bases last season with the Washington Nationals. He batted .277, had 95 RBI and had 41 doubles.

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White Sox, Cubs swap relievers

Thursday, November 16th, 2006

The Chicago White Sox traded reliever Neal Cotts to the Cubs for reliever David Aardsma and minor league pitcher Carlos Vasquez on Thursday.

Cotts, who had a career year in 2005 while helping the White Sox win the World Series, went 1-2 last season with a 5.17 ERA. He had a career-high 70 relief appearances, but gave up 12 homers after yielding one in the previous season.

Cotts went 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA and won Game 2 of the World Series in 2005.
Aardsma was 3-0 with a 4.08 ERA in 45 relief appearances over four stints for the Cubs last season.

Vasquez, a 23-year-old left-handed pitcher, was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Cubs in 2000. He was 6-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 54 relief appearances between Single-A Daytona and Double-A West Tenn in 2006.

The trade between the clubs is the first since July 29, 1998 when the White Sox acquired pitcher Jon Garland in exchange for reliever Matt Karchner.

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