UPDATE: (5/14, 8:03 pm EST) - The deal is done and is just pending a physical now. Edmonds should start on Thursday for the Cubs. Chicago will pay him just $284K, with San Diego and St. Louis are on the hook for a combined $7.7M. Fleeced.
UPDATE: (5/13 10:54pm EST) - According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times,the […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres | No Comments »
John Paul Morosi of The Detroit Free Press reports that the Tigers have cut outfielder Jacque Jones. And for good reason. Jones hit just .165 in 24 games as the team’s left-fielder. He’ll be replaced on the roster by Matt Joyce, who hit .299 with five home runs and 21 RBIs at Triple-A Toledo.
In a curious move, however, Gary […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers | 1 Comment »
Cubs’ starting pitcher Rich Hill has been optioned to AAA Iowa, and veteran Jon Lieber will take his place in the rotation for the time being. Hill has been unable to locate the plate, walking 18 batters in 19 2/3 innings thus far in 2008. Lou Piniella has been frustrated with the youngster, so this […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs | 2 Comments »
According to Gordon Wittenmyer at the Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ officials are saying privately that they called Twins general manager Bill Smith when Johan Santana was put on the block last winter. Apparently, the Cubbies were told that Santana would not waive his no-trade clause for them, or any other team that didn’t train in Florida […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets | 4 Comments »
UPDATE: (4/22) 9:10am (EST) - Alfonso Soriano hit off of a tee on Monday, and felt fine. He’s been placed on the 15 day-DL due to the calf strain, and he has begun jogging lightly. If there are no setbacks, Soriano should be ready to go when he is eligible to come off the DL on […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers | No Comments »
The Chicago Cubs have called-up outfielder Matt Murton from AAA, according to mlb.com. Murton is a career .296 hitter, and had been a regular with the team the past two seasons. The Cubs’ brass has soured somewhat on the outfielder, but now have a renewed need for him due to the recent injury to Alfonso […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs | 1 Comment »
The 2008 payrolls were released earlier this month by Major League Baseball, and there were a few surprises. What isn’t much of a surprise is that the New York Yankees were once again #1 on that list, topping $209 million (yet another payroll record).
Of interest though is that both the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets have leap-froged the […]
Filed under: Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals | No Comments »
According to Nick Cafardo at The Boston Globe, teams are still expressing interest in Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp. And the two teams showing the most consistent interest just happen to both reside in Chicago. According to a major-league source familiar with both teams, the Cubs and White Sox have been most active in their searches […]
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As per Spencer Fordin at MLB.com, the Batimore Orioles made another addition to their horrendous middle infield, signing Alex Cintron to a minor-league deal. Cintron was assigned to AAA, and might actually be the organization’s best bet at shortstop for 2008. He will apparently serve as insurance if Brandon Fahey or Luis Hernandez can’t hold […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs | 1 Comment »
Rotoworld.com has some updates on early injuries suffered to key players today. From the Chicago Cubs, starting pitcher and ace Carlos Zambrano had to leave today’s outing early as he experienced some forearm discomfort. The Cubs are calling it “forarm cramps”, and he is listed as day-to-day. This is great news for the Cubs, as the […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians | 3 Comments »
Some news and notes brought to you today by Jon Heyman over at Sports Illustrated:
The Indians are the latest team to inquire about right-hander Freddy Garcia, who will be out until at least June. Several teams had shown prior interest, including the Red Sox.
A member of the Orioles ballclub said this about Brian Roberts, “He can’t […]
Filed under: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Texas Rangers | 3 Comments »
According to Paul Sullivan at the Chicago Tribune, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told reporters that the expected trade of second baseman Brian Roberts to the Chicago Cubs is now off the table. Said MacPhail on the subject, “We worked at it this long and we don’t have deal. There’s other sides characterizing it as […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs | No Comments »
UPDATE: (Mar 25, 2:33pm EST) MLB.com is confirming that the Cubs and Johnson have agreed to a one-year pact.
Mar 25, 1:52pm (EST): ESPN Radio’s Bruce Levine is reporting that the Chicago Cubs have signed outfielder Reed Johnson, who cleared waivers earlier today. No financial terms have been disclosed, and we haven’t seen it print yet, […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays | 2 Comments »
UPDATE: (3/25) 9:17am (EST) - According to the NY Newsday , Mets’ GM Omar Minaya plans to meet with Johnson’s agent in the next day or so. The Mets appear to have interest here, as Reed has always hit lefties well.
Mar 24 - Recently released outfielder Reed Johnson is drawing interest from several clubs, […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays | No Comments »
According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Chicago Cubs will no longer trade for Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts before Opening Day. This trade has seemed imminent for at least 2 months now, but nothing ever got finalized. In fact, we had reported here at Fleece Factor several days ago that the Orioles had […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs | No Comments »
According to Paul Sullivan at The Chicago Tribune, former closer Ryan Dempster and Jason Marquis have won the final two spots in the Cubs’ starting pitching rotation. Jon Lieber will move to the bullpen, and will likely serve as the team’s long reliever.
Dempster and Marquis will join Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill to […]
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UPDATE: (3/24) 2:15pm (EST) - As per Paul Sullivan at The Chicago Tribune, Lou Pinella has officially named Kerry Wood as the Cubs’ closer, as expected.
UPDATE: (3/23) 12:43am (EST) - According to mlb.com, Kerry Wood will pitch one inning on Sunday. This will be the final test for Wood as far as being named the […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs | 5 Comments »
Because March Madness shouldn’t just be for college hoops fans…
MLB Fleece Factor introduces the Sweet Sixteen of Offseason MLB Fleeces!
We’ve set up the brackets, and we’re leaving it up to you to determine the winner of this honor…let’s call it the 2008 Offseason Golden Fleece Award!
Here’s a complete set of brackets for you:
Click Here For Your “2008 Sweet […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, _Polls | 14 Comments »
ESPN.com’s Buster Olney checks in today with some more of his usual great rumors from around baseball:
The Chicago Cubs have a scout possibly watching the Nationals Felipe Lopez. Lopez seems to have lost the team’s second base competition, and could be trade bait. The Cubs, frustrated in their quest for the Orioles’ Brian Roberts, may turn to Lopez […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals | No Comments »
As per Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers are showing interest in Cubs relief pitcher Michael Wuertz. With both Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney out for possible extended periods, the Tigers bullpen is in dire need of a power arm. The right-hander Wuertz, 29, went 2-3 last season in 73 appearances, […]
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An interesting little prank out of Cubs’ camp, as per ESPN. Chicago Cubs’ strength coach Tim Buss wasn’t feeling so well after players had told him to go take a look at his car (a 1995 Nissan Sentra) in the parking lot. The car was wrecked, and barely recognizable. Buss figured it was either Kerry […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, _Off-Field Fleeces | No Comments »
Jayson Stark, of ESPN.com “fame,” brings us all some more juicy rumors as Opening Day rapidly approaches:
The Chicago Cubs are getting really frustrated with the whole Brian Roberts saga, as are we! After seemingly 3 months of negoitations, and with the regular season less than 2 weeks away, the Orioles supposedly have still not even told […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays | 1 Comment »
ESPN.com’s Buster Olney dishes out some dirt from the major-league landscape today:
Barry Lamar Bonds says that he is not going to retire. I could definitely see a team sign him after the season has begun, when it would be *slightly* less of a distraction. I think the Mariners remain a great fit, and the Angels seem […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays | 3 Comments »
According to T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com, the Chicago Cubs are still talking to the Texas Rangers about a possible trade for outfielder Marlon Byrd. The Cubs continue to be searching for a right-handed compliment in center to prospect Felix Pie, and are still dangling Matt Murton as trade bait. But the Rangers are looking for young pitching […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers | 2 Comments »
In a story that seems to have no end… there appears to now be true light at the end of the tunnel. According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs have now added pitching prospect Jose Ceda to their package for Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. That would put the number of players being […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs | No Comments »
The Fleece Factor crew continues to work hard to complete in depth previews of all thirty major league teams as the 2008 season quickly approaches. These MLB team outlooks should be finished soon, at which point we will put ourselves on the line and make our own individual predictions. So stay tuned for those!
We have now completed […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, _Team Outlooks (2008) | No Comments »
Last season (2007) ended very abruptly as the Cubbies were swept out of the playoffs by the N.L. West Champion D’backs. What promised to be an exciting run into October for the squad after winning the N.L. Central crown, turned into a nightmare of a series in which the Cubs scored just 6 runs over three […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, _Polls, _Team Outlooks (2008) | 8 Comments »
According to rotoworld.com, Cubs’ young outfielder Felix Pie is scheduled to have an outpatient procedure in order to correct a testicular torsion. He is only expected to miss between 3-5 days. In other words, he’s been fleeced. All we can say is: Ouch!
In case you were wondering (which you probably weren’t, but I’m going to tell you […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, _Off-Field Fleeces | 4 Comments »
SI.com’s Jon Heyman gives us the scoop on some juicy rumors from around the league:
It seems the San Francisco Giants clubhouse is much more calm without Barry Bonds around any longer. No real surprise there, since Bonds had a media-circus following his every move. But OF Dave Roberts was outspkoen on the topic, saying, “It’s […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers | No Comments »
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal dishes out the latest goods:
The Milwaukee Brewers seem serious about hitting catcher Jason Kendall 9th, after the pitcher. They feel it could help the club score 25-30 more runs this season.
The Dodgers interest in trading for third basemen Joe Crede or Brandon Inge is “all about the budget and whether (owner […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals | No Comments »
Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs are in the market for a veteran centerfielder to compete with youngsters Felix Pie and Sam Fuld, and that centerfielder could be Boston’s Coco Crisp.
Despite prior interest in the Rangers’ Marlon Byrd, Wittenmeyer writes, “The focus now appears to be on Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp, […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs | No Comments »
UPDATE: (3/8) 6:47pm (EST) - Soriano returned to action on Saturday and he went 2-4 with an RBI vs/ the Arizona Diamondbacks. It appears as though his finger is feeling better.
UPDATE: (3/3) 4:13pm (EST) - According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, Soriano’s finger was still really swollen, and his return will take longer […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs | 2 Comments »
Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun is reporting that there still have not been any recent talks between the Orioles and Cubs regarding a trade for O’s second baseman Brian Roberts, making a deal before Opening Day unlikely.
Zrebiec writes that, “according to two baseball sources, the Cubs have offered infielder Ronny Cedeno, pitching prospects Sean Gallagher and […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs | 3 Comments »
In his blog today, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney sheds some of his knowledge on us. Let’s break it down:
He states that with the rash of injuries the Mets have suffered, most notably to Moises Alou and Carlos Delgado, that the team should seriously consider signing Barry Lamar Bonds. Olney does note that with his perjury case, the Mets […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays | 3 Comments »
As per Gordon Wittenmyer at the Chicago Sun-Times, “multiple high-ranking team officials shot down Internet and radio reports this week that trade talks with the Baltimore Orioles regarding second baseman Brian Roberts have resumed in recent days.”
According to Wittenmyer, a team source went so far as to say that the two clubs haven’t even spoken […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs | No Comments »
