Matt Garza (elbow) on Friday threw his first bullpen session of the offseason.
Garza, who is coming back from a stress reaction in his pitching elbow, was cleared to resume throwing in late December but just now was given the go-ahead to throw from the bump. The right-hander might be a little behind other pitchers at the start of spring training but is expected to be ready to go for Opening Day. He’s an in-season trade candidate.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Cubs, Matt Garza, news
Carlos Marmol has been accused of abusing a 24-year-old woman in his native Dominican Republic.
Marmol is denying the claim and his lawyer has filed a counter complaint against the woman accusing here of blackmail and extortion. Cubs president Theo Epstein has not commented on the story. Marmol is expected to open the 2013 season as Chicago’s ninth-inning man.
Source: chicagotribune.com
Tagged as: Carlos Marmol, Cubs, news
Ryan Rowland-Smith is scheduled to throw for major league teams on Wednesday in Peoria, Arizona.
Rowland-Smith is hoping to get invited to a major league camp. The 30-year-old left-hander hasn’t pitched in the bigs since 2010, when he posted an ugly 6.75 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in 109 1/3 innings with the Mariners.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Cubs, news, Ryan Rowland-Smith
Cubs signed RHP Carlos Villanueva to a two-year, $10 million contract.
The deal was announced in mid-December, but it took awhile to finalize the details. Villanueva brings another high-strikeout arm to the improved Cubs rotation, and makes for a very intriguing target in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.
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Cubs designated RHP Lendy Castillo for assignment.
The Cubs finally made the signing of Carlos Villanueva official on Saturday, and Castillo was the casualty on the 40-man roster. The 23-year-old posted a 7.88 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 13/12 K/BB ratio over 16 innings with the Cubs in 2012, but has a live arm and shouldn’t have difficulty finding another team willing to give him a chance.
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Ian Stewart (wrist) confirmed he’s fully healthy for the first time in more than two years.
“It’s been a few years,” Stewart said. “The last time I was fully healthy was 2010. But even then, I missed the last month with an oblique injury. The last few years has been a lingering wrist issue and I really believe I’ve got it taken care of.” Stewart, who batted just .201/.292/.335 in 55 games this past season prior to undergoing wrist surgery, will go into spring training as the favorite for the Cubs’ third base job. He’ll face competition from Josh Vitters and Luis Valbuena.
Source: csnchicago.com
Tagged as: Cubs, Ian Stewart, news
Alfonso Soriano said he’s hoping to finish out the last two years of his contract with the Cubs.
“I want to finish my career here and try to win before I retire,” he said. “I hope to stay here, and when they win, I want to be part of that team.” Soriano, of course, has been subject to trade speculation all offseason. The Cubs are reportedly willing to eat about $26 million of the $36 million remaining on his contract if they can move him for a prospect.
Source: mlb.com
Tagged as: Alfonso Soriano, Cubs, news
Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports that Alfonso Soriano has declined an invitation to participate for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
Soriano politely declined, stating his desire to remain with his team. The veteran outfielder needs more time in spring training to prepare for the regular season, and didn’t want that to be disrupted.
Source: mlblogs.com
Tagged as: Alfonso Soriano, Cubs, news
According to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, Starlin Castro declined his invitation to play for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Castro said he’d love to play in the event someday, but said no due to the fact that Jose Reyes was already on the roster. He also added, “I won?t play for the Dominican because it’s more important for me to be ready for the [Cubs]. I want to help the [Cubs].” It’s very encouraging to see the budding superstar so focused heading into spring training.
Source: mlblogs.com
Tagged as: Cubs, news, Starlin Castro
Cubs and RHP Jeff Samardzija avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.64 million contract.
Carrie Muskat of MLB.com passed along the contract terms. Samardzija was arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter after posting a 3.81 ERA and 180/56 K/BB ratio over 174 2/3 innings last season. Following his breakthrough season in the rotation, he has had some preliminary talks with the Cubs about an extension.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Cubs, Jeff Samardzija, news