Cubs and RHP James Russell avoided arbitration by agreeing to a contract.
Terms haven’t been disclosed. Russell was arbitration eligible for the first time this winter after posting a 3.25 ERA and 55/23 K/BB ratio over 69 1/3 innings last year. He figures to pitch in middle relief in 2013.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Cubs, James Russell, news
Cubs and RHP Matt Garza avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $10.25 million contract.
Garza, a Super Two qualifier, was eligible for salary arbitration for the final time. He’s scheduled to become a free agent in November and seems likely to be traded by the Cubs at some point during the 2013 season.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Cubs, Matt Garza, news
Cubs president Theo Epstein said he expects Scott Baker (elbow) to be ready for Opening Day.
Baker will be exactly 12 months removed from Tommy John surgery for the start of the season, so there’s a chance he won’t miss any time if he can avoid setbacks. More likely, the 31-year-old right-hander will begin the season on the disabled list to continue to build up his workload. Baker, who signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Cubs in November, is expected to be up to 75 pitches by the end of spring training.
Source: chicagotribune.com
Tagged as: Cubs, news, Scott Baker
Cubs president Theo Epstein said Wednesday that Scott Baker (elbow) should be up to 75 pitches by the end of spring training.
Baker, who signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Cubs in November, is currently nine months removed from Tommy John surgery. The Cubs aren’t going to push him too soon, so he’ll likely begin the season on the disabled list to continue to build up his workload. A return in the early part of the season still appears likely if all goes well, so he makes for a fine DL-stash in fantasy leagues.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Cubs, news, Scott Baker
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that the Cubs “will need a player of note in return” if they’re going to trade Alfonso Soriano and assume a majority of his contract.
Cafardo says that Cubs president Theo Epstein “has come to realize what a tremendous teammate Soriano is and how willing he is to help younger players,” which has enhanced the outfielder’s value in Epstein’s eyes. The report adds that Soriano will only accept a trade to an East Coast club.
Source: bostonglobe.com
Tagged as: Alfonso Soriano, Cubs, news
Cubs signed OF Darnell McDonald to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
McDonald posted a .205/.297/.352 batting line in 103 plate appearances last season between the Red Sox and Yankees. He’ll function as outfield depth for the Cubs.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Cubs, Darnell McDonald, news
Cubs signed OF Brent Lillbridge to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Lillibridge hit just .195/.250/.274 in 209 plate appearances last season between the White Sox, Red Sox and Indians. He’ll act as organizational depth for Chicago.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Brent Lillibridge, Cubs, news
Cubs and INF Luis Valbuena avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $930,000 contract.
Valbuena, who hit .219/.310/.340 in 303 plate appearances last season for the Cubs, was arbitration-eligible for the first time. He has three more arbitration years.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Cubs, Luis Valbuena, news
FOX Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi reports that Nate Robertson is looking for a chance in a major league camp as a lefty specialist.
Robertson hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2010 and put up an 8.07 ERA over 23 games at Triple-A in 2012. He did hold left-handed batters to a .220/.245/.400 line, though, so perhaps someone will give him a shot on a minor league deal.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Cubs, Nate Robertson, news
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Cubs will consider trade offers for Matt Garza if the righty shows in spring training that his elbow is healthy.
With the signings of Edwin Jackson, Carlos Villanueva, Scott Baker and Scott Feldman, the Cubs suddenly have some rotation depth, which could allow them to deal Garza for help elsewhere. The team has mentioned signing Garza to an extension in the past, but they might decide that getting prospects for him during spring training or at the trade deadline would be the better course of action. The veteran righty is coming back from a stress reaction in his right elbow, but he’s been cleared to resume throwing and the Cubs anticipate him being ready for Opening Day.
Source: bostonglobe.com
Tagged as: Cubs, Matt Garza, news