Well, Roberts new or not, this is news to me, I'm going to post it.  Looks like DeRosa's got second all to himself, barring some unforseen events:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7949132/Sources:-Roberts-to-Cubs-looking-unlikely

Continue reading this post »

Just saw this on ESPN so I figured Id post it:
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=3221365

The Cubs that show up?  

17. Josh Vitters
Vitters was the top prep hitter in the 2007 draft and could easily have gone first or second overall. He's an offensive third baseman with a simple, direct swing and plus-plus bat speed, making lots of contact and hitting everything hard to all fields. He already shows good raw power to pull and will drive balls out the other way as he adds experience and muscle. At third base, he's rough, but has enough athletic ability to be at least average at the position, and he has plenty of arm strength for the position. He's a star and he should move quickly for a high school product.

32. Geovany Soto
It might not have made any difference in the playoffs, but the Cubs would have clinched their division a few days sooner had they handed Soto the catcher's job after they shipped Michael Barrett (parcel post, no less) to San Diego. Instead, they gave the remains of Jason Kendall the job, costing themselves on offense and defense. Soto has plus raw power, keeping his weight back extremely well, and he has the upper-body strength to take pitches middle-out and pull them out to left-center. He can get too pull-happy, but he has shown the ability to shorten up and go the other way, and his pitch recognition is solid. He has a strong arm and average receiving skills. There was no justification for playing Kendall over Soto, and now Soto's path is clear to play every day and make a run at the NL rookie of the year award.

71. Sean Gallagher
Gallagher could step in as the fifth starter right now for most noncontending clubs, and has a good chance to end up a solid No. 4 in the majors. He works with a three-pitch mix: a 92-94 mph four-seamer that's a little too true, a tight 12-to-6 curve that gets swings and misses for him and a solid-average changeup with some fading action. His control is above average but his command is below, and despite having a quick arm there's some effort in his delivery that may hold his command back long term.

76. Josh Donaldson
Donaldson's huge pro debut may be setting unrealistic expectations, but he could end up a steal at the 48th overall pick. Primarily a third baseman in college, he's playable already behind the plate with soft hands, good footwork and a solid-average arm. He centers balls well and has above-average raw power, but he tends to lunge for the ball too often instead of staying back.

I cant remember the last time the Cubs had 4 top 100 prospects so this is nice to see.  Not a very encouraging evaluation of Gallagher, though the ranking is nice.  Vitters looks like a monster, and Aramis' contract should expire right when Vitters could be ready.  Also nice to see that we may have stolen Donaldson.

I thought this would be diary worthy because Hendry provided a few nuggets, a rundown:

-Team is hoping to add a couple more guys, they asked about Roberts and he declined to talk about him but it seemed clear that he was going after him.  Also looking to add a RH bat that can play all three OF spots.

-Gallagher "is going to be a lot better than people think" is what Hendry said, saying that he gets more calls from teams looking to trade for Gallagher than any other player on the roster.

-Still looking to put Dero in a supersub role, though they'd be perfectly happy with him at second if the season started today.

-Murton is most definitely going to be traded.  He said the team views him as a major league caliber left fielder and used the Corey Patterson line, "we've talked to Matt and we are going to do what's best for Matt and what's best for the club."

-The rotation is the three we know about for sure Z, Lilly, Hill and then five guys going for the last two spots, all the regular names, Hart, Gallagher, Marshall, Dempster, Marquis.  Also likes Ascanio a lot and he could make the pen.  Says Hart is perfect for the long man role if he doesn't make the rotation.

Well there goes one plan B.  The Mets sent Lastings Milledge to the Nats for Church and Brian Schneider.  This is according to MetsBlog:

http://www.metsblog.com/2007/11/30/buzz-mets-trade-milledge-for-church-and-schneider/

Well, this is still too short. Stating the obvious: get fukudome. Ok still too short, so who do you guys think would be the next best plan B, as Church was regarded by most to be the next best option.

On ESPN radio, I heard the Cubs have claimed Scott Pods off of waivers.  Unreal.  Thats all I have to say.  Pods is and always was overrated, his stats are bad this year, he's not stealing as much, his OPS is abismal.  This seems like a move just to make a move, Theriot is doing a great job leading off, Murton would look real good in the two-hole if I was the manager.  I see no point to this move, all it does is take away playing time from more deserving Cubs players.

Centerfield has been an odd position to say the least all year long.  First Sori, then the horrible Jacque Jones experiment seemed to be solved by Felix Pie...but that plan has since been left by the wayside.  Angel Pagan has played pretty well when he's had the chance, but the fact is that we have no regular everyday center fielder.  Is this a problem?  If we are truly a playoff contender, and I think everyone believes we are, do you think we can have a roving position like this?  I would like to hope that Pie will bounce back, get hot and reclaim the position, but what do you guys think is the best course?  Also, I know I've read we can't add payroll, but i've also heard hendry say that we CAN add payroll...possibly a change of scenary for Andruw Jones if Atlanta feels they're out of it?

What happens to the Cubs if Mark Prior and Wade Miller are both healthy this year?  Yeah they could both be injured but what if they're not?  If Wade Miller is healthy he is a clear number 3 and easily better than marquis, could be better than Lilly.  Then, what happens in 2008 when sean marshall, veal and gallagher are ready?  Do you think the cubs are just banking on not resigning prior?  that would be a horrible decision in my mind, just ask the Blue Jays after they let Chris Carpenter walk after injuries.  Does this mean we dont resign Z because we have young reinforcements coming?  I say Hendry should not even allow this to be a problem, he should trade pitching prospects to the reds for Ken Griffey, Jr.  The perfect player to keep center warm for Pie, and if he's injured, then it would be a great time to call Pie up.  That's just one option though, I would give a grand to anyone who could predict what the Cubs starting rotation would be opening day 2008.

Um, ok i guess we'll take some cash from you Krivsky:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Cincinnati Reds worked out a deal to obtain troubled outfielder Josh Hamilton, sending cash to the Chicago Cubs after they picked him from Tampa Bay in the first round of baseball's winter meeting draft Thursday.

Ha, i wonder if the amount of money we got is enough to sign slammin sammy to a bench role...(totally kidding)

Don't know what position he will play but good job Hendry, valuable player here.  BlueMike, the Hendry-o-meter has reached 1.  Here's the link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2661869

Three years for 13 million, not too bad, I mean we are paying Ryan Dempster even more.  Annnnnnd dont trade Felix Pie...im just trying to get the character limit up.

My appologies if this diary has already been done before...I have been away for quite awhile.  However, if it has not been said before I think that all of those who really were convinced that Rich Hill could not pitch at the major league level owe Mr. Hill, our best pitcher the past month, an apology.  He has only given up one earned run in each of his last four starts.  That is pretty impressive and in a season that not even Carlos Zambrano can salvage for us, I am very hopeful for next years rotation with the emergence of Rich Hill looking like a solid number 3 pitcher in our rotation.