Ryan Dempster said on ESPN 1000's The Waddle & Silvy Show that he never turned down a trade to Atlanta (link via ESPNChicago.com). "All I asked for was more time on one particular trade," the right-hander said.

"The Franchise" on Showtime

#Cubs agree w/1st-rder Albert Almora on $3.9 mil (pick value=$3.25 mil). Florida HS OF w/lots of tools & polish. #mlbdraft

From: Jeff Garlin To: Kate Bennert What struggle sister? The only thing I'm struggling with is how bad the cubs are. You clearly don't like me because what you wrote was clearly forced to make look bad. By the way I'm a huge deadspin fan so I know when something is as forced as your story. I'm glad you attached the video. I think it's funny. Love, Jeff

The Chicago Cubs have high hopes for High-A outfielder Matt "Scrabble" Szczur, one of the best pure athletes in baseball. He made a lot of noise by hitting .314/.366/.431 with 17 steals in 66 games in the Midwest League last year, but his hitting tailed off after being promoted to High-A, with a .260/.283/.410 mark. Returning to Daytona this year, he's still not showing a lot of pop with an overall line of .250/.353/.348, although his plate discipline has improved a great deal (17/22 BB/K in 132 AB, compared to 5/20 BB/K in 173 last year). He's stolen 16 bases in 21 attempts and has the kind of defensive ability you'd expect with those wheels, but he's got to do more with the stick. Szczur has now played 76 games in High-A with a .256/.315/.384 mark, and that won't cut it at higher levels.

Maybe trading Josh Beckett for another expiring contract like maybe Soriano

The wind is blowing in. A choppy ocean of air Seagull schooners They float and bob making docking runs to the bleachers below. Glee and misery echo in the ampitheatre Battle is joined The greek tragedy proceeds apace A Chorus in the stands Casting aspersions As the cast fights the script As the game is written. At the end the Chorus has no say The play completed One win, one loss The two sides of the cast exuent, stage left and right through the dugouts. Baseball is back. Go Cubs. #30in30 #Poetry

[no fool'g] "Cubs may eat some money to move outfielder Byrd, ho is scheduled to earn $6.5MM this season. They may have suitors in the Braves, Phillies, and others. A National League scout indicated that Byrd’s name is being mentioned more and more as the end of spring training approaches.

This year, we will have data on every pitch of every Cubs minor league game. - Rehman speaking at the SABR Analytics Conference.

MLB 12 - The Show ... Have you seen the latest commercial? It portrays the Cubs winning the World Series - a really nice commercial for Cubs fans ...