The Cubs have a good deal of work to do in order to succeed in 2012. Luckily, there is a deep free agent pool this offseason, especially on offense. If the Cubs choose wisely, they could be a contending force. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will weigh their options carefully—their choices this offseason will affect the Cubs well into the future. Here are the top 10 most important free agents the Cubs could pursue.Begin Slideshow
It has been two weeks since Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer fired manager Mike Quade, but both men have yet to decide on who will be the next manager of the Chicago Cubs.This is partly due to the Boston Red Sox, who are interviewing a few of the same guys that the Cubs are looking at. With the winter meetings around the corner, both teams are likely looking to make a decision soon so that they could get onto the next task in their offseasons.The Cubs have interviewed and taken into consideration many great candidates, and it will be hard ...
Aramis Ramirez has played his last game as a Chicago Cub. His agent, Paul Kinzer, stated "that ship has sailed." It's the right time for both sides to go their separate ways: Ramirez is searching for his last big deal at the age of 33, while the front office has an eye on the future.With a 2011 line of .306/.361/.510, Ramirez' numbers were higher than his career average. Expecting to find a player that will immediately step in and produce like Aramis Ramirez by way of free agency is unrealistic. The players available don't fit with the future of the ...
With the Chicago Cubs still in search of filling their hole at first base, perhaps their guy could be James Loney of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following the massive $160 million, eight-year extension Los Angeles just gave Matt Kemp, it is hard to imagine that the Dodgers are going to be able to put up enough money to be able to afford Loney down the line as well.Loney is arbitration eligible this season, and he may be asking for some big money considering what the Dodgers just gave Kemp. While Loney doesn't deserve nearly as much as Kemp, it may ...
Jonathan Papelbon was the first free agent shoe to drop last Friday. He's far from the biggest though. There really are only two "big shoes" in the free agent market this offseason. Sure, Jose Reyes will be a nice signing as will C.J. Wilson, but for surefire magnitude there are only two names to know. Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols. As baseball seems to be entering an era of improved pitching great hitters will become more valuable and these are two of baseball's very best. They're available—for a hefty price. Both men are first basemen and both are coming off great seasons. For Pujols, ...
Shiraz Rehman was brought in with little fanfare this week, having been hired as the Assistant to the General Manager for the Chicago Cubs. His previous post was with the Arizona Diamondbacks as Director of Player Personnel. This hire is just as good as bringing in Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, and Jason McLeod.Epstein is developing a brain trust other front offices won't be able to touch. With a financial background, Rehman brings an interesting voice of reason to the Cubs fellow executives, especially when his role with the Diamondbacks was focused solely on roster management, something the Cubs haven't been ...
Lost in the mix of free agency and the giant contracts each winter is the importance of trades in Major League Baseball. With the winter meetings approaching, general managers will be mingling and looking for the next great acquisition from another team.Chicago will be no different. The new regime of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer has a lot of work to do and many expect the Cubs to dish out deals left and right to lure the best free agents. Sorry, it won't happen.The most important issue the Cubs need to address this winter is the starting pitching.Ryan Dempster recently ...
When the Chicago Cubs make their final decision for who will take over their managerial position, they will be picking the person who they believe will be able to work with their current roster and whatever shape or form it takes for years to come.One candidate, Mike Maddux, has the history that could reform the embattled career of starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano and allow the Cubs to save themselves from looking to replace him. President Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer are going to have to make a lot of moves over the years in order to get this ...
The Chicago Cubs are finally on track to win their first World Series in over 100 years, thanks in no small part to the former Florida Marlins franchise changing their name to the Miami Marlins.In 1989, modern-day Nostradamuses Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale predicted that the Cubs would win the 2015 World Series.Are they crazy? Can it really be?Read on to see what must happen for Zemeckis and Gale's predictions to come true and deliver Chicago its first world championship since 1908.Begin Slideshow
The Chicago Cubs have begun the rebuilding process. Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, and Jason McLeod reflect the new direction that the Ricketts family wants to take this franchise. While a front-office cleansing is a good place to start, in order to win quickly, free agency must be addressed.Pitching or hitting? Big bats or sabermetric-friendly players? The front office has a lot of choices to make, and here are the 10 most vital targets for Chicago to pursue, not only for the future, but the present.Begin Slideshow
« Previous Page — Next Page »
