Cubs Trade Rumors

For Brian out loud
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October 7
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"In the bitter end, the difference might have been Brian Roberts, after all. Maybe he wouldn't have overcome the walks in Game 1 or the errors in Game 2, but the Cubs' woeful lack of playoff hitting comes down to two big deficiencies: First, they have no left-handed hitters whom opponents respect. If you don't believe that, ask yourself how many pitches a Dodgers left-hander threw against the Cubs in seven regular-season and three postseason games. The answer: none. The second one is even bigger. And of all people, Alfonso Soriano alluded to it after Saturday night's elimination when he suggested the Cubs aren't built to hit in the postseason. That starts with Soriano and his all-or-nothing ..."
Still chasing Roberts
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October 6
Chicago Sun-Times
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"The Cubs will continue their pursuit of a speedy leadoff hitter, keeping the Baltimore Orioles' Brian Roberts at the top of their wish list. They also are expected to be players in the free-agent derby for ace left-hander CC Sabathia. Whatever they do, the team they bring to spring training will look nothing like the group that sat stunned in that visitors clubhouse Saturday night. ''When you get over the shock of what's happened, that's what will bother me the most, when you see guys go to other teams,'' DeRosa said. ''I would love to have the same team back, but it's never that way. When you're on a special team like this, it's tough. ''There is nothing this team lacked. Nothing. So for ..."
Retirement one of many options for Edmonds, 39
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October 5
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"If Jim Edmonds has proved nothing else this season -- to himself and the Cubs, if not the Cardinals and Padres who sold him short before that -- it's that he can still play at a high level. But whether he wants to do it again next year probably will depend on how he feels once he gets away from one of the stranger-ride seasons of his career, what his family has to say and who wants him back next year during a season in which he'll turn 39. ''But what I also think about right now is that this could be my last game,'' said Edmonds before taking the field as the only center fielder the Cubs have used in October. ''That's the way I approach it. I'm trying to live every moment right now and ..."
No need for Cubs to rush decision on Kosuke Fukudome
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October 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"This isn't the time for Kosuke Fukudome to make any decisions. Here's hoping the Cubs don't rush to one either. Fukudome boarded the Cubs' charter flight and flew four hours to Los Angeles on Friday, then was bussed to the team hotel and then to Dodger Stadium with his teammates. He trotted out to the first-base line to be introduced before Saturday night's first-round playoff game. He left the dugout immediately after special coach Ivan DeJesus and before Ronny Cedeno, two minutes before the guys in the Game 3 lineup. But if it were up to Fukudome, would he have preferred to change planes in Los Angeles and continue westward for Tokyo? Does the Cubs' first high-profile Japanese import ..."
Derek Lowe on the Yankees?
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October 3
New York Daily News
 
"It's safe to say the Yankees were watching Wednesday night when the Dodgers' Derek Lowe turned in another superlative postseason performance in beating the Cubs in Game 1 of the NL division series. Lowe is just the kind of pitcher the Yankees want tointo their rotation - a durable winner with a playoff pedigree. Larry Bowa, the Dodgers' third base coach who's also coached for the Yankees, called Lowe "a horse. "Playing in New York would be no problem at all for him," Bowa said. "He could pitch in a big park, a small park. He could've had 22 wins this year, easy, if we had scored any runs for him in April, May or June. "I think he likes the big stage." Lowe pitched on the biggest stage ..."
Wrigley throws a curve in Cubs sale
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September 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"Wrigley Field casts a long shadow as prospective buyers review the Cubs' confidential financial records and prepare the next round of bids for the stadium and team. At issue is not whether the Cubs will remain at the beloved, 94-year-old ballpark, but how much it will cost to preserve and enhance Wrigley. The price that the franchise and stadium fetch will depend largely on how much more revenue can be wrung out of Wrigley. "The franchise value is a guess on what future profits will be," said Phillip Miller, an associate professor of economics at Minnesota State University-Mankato, who has studied baseball economics. "If you have to gut the place in the extreme case, that would affect the ..."
Series victory could send Lou Piniella into retirement
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September 28
Seattle Times
 
"Could this be the end of the managerial line for Lou Piniella, no matter how the Cubs' season ends? There has been speculation of a contract extension for the 65-year-old Piniella, who has guided the Cubs into the postseason for the second straight year. But if you read this quote he gave to Bill Madden of the New York Daily News, who has followed Piniella since his playing days, it sounds like a guy ready to walk away: "It has been a tough year," Piniella said. "And sometimes it can really take a toll on you. I don't know how much longer I want to do this. "I'm trying the best I can," he added. "And if I don't win it, there'll be somebody else here you'll be talking about, and if I do win ..."
Cubs might cut a pitcher for playoffs
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September 23
Chicago Tribune
 
"With no need for five starting pitchers, Cubs manager Lou Piniella is strongly considering extending his bench in the playoffs. He carried a 12-man pitching staff for most of the season but indicated Monday that he's leaning toward 11 in the playoffs. That could create a tough decision when he sets the playoff roster. Kerry Wood, Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry, Neal Cotts and starter-turned-long reliever Jason Marquis seem assured of spots. That leaves two spots available among Jeff Samardzija, Chad Gaudin, Sean Marshall, Michael Wuertz and long shot Randy Wells, a recent addition from Triple-A Iowa who hasn't given up a hit in 41/3 innings. By taking 11 pitchers, Piniella can add a potential ..."
Cubs' Long-term planning
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September 21
Chicago Tribune
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"Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney said contract extensions for general manager Jim Hendry and Piniella are a strong possibility. "They're here for next year, and I'm going to keep teeing up good decisions for the organization for the long-term, whether it's re-signing (Carlos) Zambrano, getting (Rich) Harden," Kenney said. "And really, Lou and Jim are no different than the players. They're talent for the organization, and we should do smart, long-term arrangements for them. Ultimately I'll be teeing it up and a new owner will be saying yes or no. But Jimmy deserves an extension, and so does Lou.""
Contract extension for Piniella in works
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September 17
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs appear poised to offer manager Lou Piniella a contract extension at the end of the season. The team already has had preliminary talks with him, but the issue has been tabled until the offseason, Cubs chairman Crane Kenney said. General manager Jim Hendry also might be in line for an extension. 'Lou's done a great job here,'' Kenney said. ''We look around the league, and there isn't anybody else I'd rather have in the dugout right now than Lou. And I think he feels good about what's happening. ''But it's a grind. Making decisions with two weeks to go, I don't think it's a smart thing to do, and I think they would agree with me. Let's get the job done, and then we'll address it.'' ..."
Zambrano Update
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