Jonathan Daniel
With the Cubs' fortunes on the field now fully under the control of Theo Epstein, a couple writers argue it is time to just let it go when it comes to Jim Hendry. And while the years of underdevelopment on the farm is still an issue, Alfonso Soriano is the only "bad contract" left on board.
As for Javy, prospect Javier Baez is all the buzz after rocketing up prospect lists and earning a non-roster invite to spring training. So how soon can he really arrive? Or should we be pumping the brakes a bit? Read on.
From Comcast SportsNet
- In case you missed it in the two fanshots that were posted, the Cubs' chief marketing chief resigned, but will still be working with Cubs owners.
- Buzz is building in the western suburbs for what should be an awfully exciting first season for the Kane County Cougars as a Cubs affiliate.
- Comments on Keith Law's farm system rating for the Cubs.
- Ex-Cub VP Oneri Fleita has joined a division rival -- the Cincinnati Reds.
From Cubs Den
- Could the Cubs look to shore up the organizational weakness at the catcher spot early in the next draft?
- Is it time to (finally?) close the book on the Jim Hendry era?
- The weekly anarchist's brunch asks if we need to slow the hype machine on Javier Baez.
- From the "topics that just won't go away" file, signing Michael Bourn doesn't make sense, even in the short-term.
- A unique view of the Cubs' starting pitching prospects was the driving force behind a high ranking for ESPN insider Keith Law.
From Cubs.com
- A look at top prospect Jorge Soler.
- Carrie's inbox has the usual mix of topics, including how the team might fare in the draft. There's a video link to the top prospect look at Albert Almora. The only other interesting thing (to me) in the inbox was a questioner thinking Tony Campana was a lock for the 25-man roster.
- His apprenticeship is finally over, so Welington Castillo is ready to take the reins behind the plate.
- Third baseman Ian Stewart appreciates the Cubs' support.
From ESPNChicago.com
- In case you missed it, ESPN Insider (access) Keith Law ranked the Cubs' farm system 5th, a stark jump in the rankings. The bad news: the St. Louis Cardinals rank first.
- Jesse Rogers is going to preview the team position by position leading up to spring training. He gets started with with, well, the starters.
- Former Cub Marlon Byrd has landed with the New York Mets on a minor league deal.
- Phil Rogers whispers, in little more than recycled material, that Alfonso Soriano could become a hot commodity with the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay Rays being possible landing spots. This should all but guarantee that Soriano remains a Cub.
From the Chicago Sun-Times
- This ought to get you talking. Many of us are pretty hard on Jim Hendry for the current state of the organization. But we might have nothing on him. Turns out, Jim is his own worst critic.
From the Daily Herald
- I was surprised, sort of, that I didn't see more articles on this. But Bruce Miles wrote about his trip to Geneva on Friday for the "meet the Cubs" event to kick-off the development relationship with the Kane County Cougars. Bruce also has some thoughts on the Cub NRIs.
Today's food for thought
- We have a mansion built from beer bottles. And in astronomy news, a quasar could be forming in our own back yard (relatively, using the scale of the universe).
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