Following the Cubs minor leagues in 2012 is probably going to be more fun than following the big league team. Hopefully it will be more rewarding than what we're likely to see from the 2012 Cubs. Each year several sources release their top prospect lists. We talk a lot about them here and I thought I'd take a stab at …
Projecting the 2012 Cubs: 2nd Basemen
I don't really know why, but whenever I think about Darwin Barney I want to pronounce his name with a Boston accent. I guess it makes it more fun to think about Dahwin Bahney rather than what Barney is actually capable of producing. He returns for his 2nd full season though he's probably not the one who should be starting. …
Daily Facepalm – 2.17.12
This week in Best Shape of His Life Geovany Soto dropped 25 pounds this offseason. If you recall, he also lost a lot of weight before his breakout 07/08 seasons. If you combine this with the fact that Soto has been vastly more productive in even numbered years then he's due for something like 97 home runs this year. In …
Who do the Cubs trade for Theo Epstein?
The Cubs hired Theo Epstein 4 months ago and it was about that time that we were told the two sides were on the 5-yard line regarding compensation. I can only assume that Ken O'Keefe is running the offense. Every week we're told that Bud Selig will resolve the compensation issue soon. Each week goes by without a resolution. Recently …
The future Cubs
In a couple years the Cubs infield will include future stars like Hee Seop Choi, Bobby Hill and Brendan Harris. Sammy Sosa will be joined by Corey Patterson and David Kelton. Before long Nic Jackson will take over in CF while Patterson replaces Sosa. Future Hall of Famer Kerry Wood will be at the top of a rotation that includes …
Daily Facepalm 2.15.12
Jorge Soler a Cub, then Jorge Soler not a Cub Reports that the Cubs had signed Jorge Soler yesterday proved to be premature. Could he be signed today? It could go either way. The Yankees have been added to the mix of interested teams, but given how this offseason has played out I'm betting on Mystery Team Cubs transactions MB21 …
Daily Facepalm 2.14.2012
Cubs May or May Not Have Added a Cuban We're still on Jorge Soler watch, which I suspect will result in a brand new member of the "Putting Cub in Cuban" club. All the stories supposedly shooting down the van Dyck article suggesting the Cubs have a tentative deal in place basically restate what the original article already said: they …
Cubs sign Jorge Soler?
Apparently the Cubs have or are close to signing Jorge Soler to a 4-year deal for $27.5 million. There's no inclusion in the contract that he become a free agent after 4 years. Instead, he'll have to accrue 6 years of MLB service time before that happens. The Cubs will have 4 options. More on this tomorrow.
Daily Facepalm 2.13.12
Cuban outfielder update The Cubs are apparently no longer in on Cespedes, according to Joe Frisaro. He and KG have heard from sources that the Cubs are making a "big, big push" for 19-year old Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler. According to Frisaro the Cubs are willing to spend $27.5m, though it is unknown over how many years. Here's BA's report …