When Theo Epstein took the job as president of the Cubs baseball operations, he made it clear that he was going to rebuild the team the right way, "the Cubs way." Yet despite the desire to get younger, more cost-controllable players and build from within while not spending big money on free agency, the Cubs just could sneak into contention in the NL Central this season on the basis of two things. First off, the lack of expectations should make for less pressure on a club that had been expected to contend over the past few seasons. Two, division rivals St. Louis ...
With most of the dust settling on the free-agent market, few impact players remain for the taking.
Most of the talk surrounds Roy Oswalt and Cuban outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler.
But the Cuban that Theo Epstein should have his eye on towards rebuilding the future is 18-year-old pitcher Gerardo Concepcion. Concepcion is officially a free agent after receiving residency in Mexico.
Cespedes makes an immediate impact and Soler is too big of a risk. Concepcion is the perfect mix of potential and affordable that will vastly improve the rebuilding foundation Epstein is putting in place.
After I said Soler isn't worth chasing, one may wonder ...
The two biggest free agent signings so far this offseason have been at the expense of the NL Central. Both Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder left their clubs to sign with the Angels and Tigers, respectively.The Central produced two National League playoff teams in 2011—the Brewers and the Cardinals—with the Cardinals winning their 11th World Series championship.In 2012, this division should be an exciting three-team race between the Brewers, Cardinals and Reds.Even without Pujols and Fielder, this division is full of studs with names like Ryan Braun, Joey Votto and Andrew McCutchen, but let's take a look at some lesser-known players ...
With 140 years of rich tradition and nearly a century of games played at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs are one of the most storied franchises in the world. Despite the 104-year championship drought that the Cubbies somehow manage to continue, the "lovable losers" still have perhaps the most loyal and unique fans in all of sports. This celebrates some of the traditions that Cubs fans, whether young or old, live by. Begin Slideshow
The Chicago Cubs have been very busy this offseason. After hiring a new President of Baseball Operations (Theo Epstein), General Manager (Jed Hoyer) and Manager (Dale Sveum), the Cubs began a complete rebuilding process, ridding the organization of the mess that Jim Hendry left.Among the departed: Aramis Ramirez (signed with Brewers), Carlos Pena (signed with Rays), Carlos Zambrano (traded to Marlins), Sean Marshall (traded to Reds), Andrew Cashner (traded to Padres) and Tyler Colvin (traded to Rockies).New arrivals include: Anthony Rizzo (trade with Padres), Ian Stewart (trade with Rockies), David DeJesus (free agent from Athletics), Travis Wood (trade with Reds), ...
Yoenis Cespedes remains at large. ESPN.com's Jim Bowden reports that he will travel to the United States soon and begin meeting with teams face to face. So it would seem he is still at least two weeks away from signing.It is going to take a lot from teams to woo Cespedes. When it comes to international players, the city selection may be more important than the team. If he is uprooting his family, he will want to go to a city that suits his needs and expectations. Somewhere that is safe with good schools and all that hibbidy-jibbidy. The Cubs reportedly gave Kosuke ...
I'll never forget it. Every time I smell "new" leather, it's what I think of. I remember the feeling of slipping it on my hand. I remember my dad showing me how to break it in so that it formed a nice big pocket with which I could easily close my hand around the ball. It was my first baseball glove. A "Ron Santo" signature model. I have had numerous gloves since then but, that's the only one I remember. It is the one that defined to me what a baseball glove should feel ...
While this is one of baseball's greater rivalries, there has not been much competition the past few years. Will the Cubs close the gap on the Cardinals' dominance anytime soon? I will look at a position by position breakdown of the two teams entering the 2012 season and see what each team has to look forward to.Begin Slideshow
The Boston Red Sox's pipe dream of acquiring the Cubs top prospect (Brett Jackson) or a major player such as Matt Garza from the Cubs as compensation is so far off base I don't where to begin.
Yet a recent report has an unnamed AL GM (aren't they always "unnamed sources?) suggesting that Bud Selig will use his magical powers to inflict wrath upon the Cubs organization now that the compensation issue is in his slimy hands.
Hey Bud, isn't a century-plus of losing enough wrath for you?
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe quotes this anonymous GM as saying, "I don’t think ...
A new regime has brought new hope to the Chicago Cubs. Of course, optimism is sanity for Cubs' fans after 103 years of watching other teams celebrating a World Series title. But Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are taking drastic steps to get this franchise away from the "lovable losers" we have seen. The first order of business is shedding albatross contracts and older players, and infusing the farm system with the kind of high-upside talent that has been missing for years.The system is in slightly better shape today than it was five years ago, but there is still a lot of ...
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