The Cubs look to be strong contenders for the NL Central title for at least a few years to come. They ended this year with 97 wins, and the roster isn't "old" in most key places. Many key veterans are signed to multiyear deals, but center field once again could become a question mark.
BIGGEST NEEDS: Middle relief became the weak link on a generally strong pitching staff, particularly in the second half. The Cubs have spent big bucks on their bullpen in recent years, acquiring such pitchers at RHP Bob Howry and LHP Scott Eyre. But their best production has come from homegrown products such as RHP Carlos Marmol and, for much of the second half, RHP Jeff Samardzija. If the Cubs don't trust CF Felix Pie for 2009, they'll have to look for help there to go along with Reed Johnson. Manager Lou Piniella has lamented the lack of a left-handed bat for much of the year.
FREE AGENTS: RHP Kerry Wood, RHP Ryan Dempster, RHP Bob Howry, CF Jim Edmonds, 1B/OF Daryle Ward, RHP Chad Fox, RHP Jon Lieber, C Henry Blanco.
The Cubs want to re-sign Dempster, but they want to see how many years Wood wants. The Cubs probably won't go much past a year and an option for Wood, whose health is always a risk. Howry is as good as gone. The Cubs probably will let Edmonds walk even though he helped them after the Padres released him. Ward showed his age, and his pinch-hitting touch wasn't what it was. They'll likely bid him goodbye. Lieber and Fox are at the end of their careers.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RHP Michael Wuertz, LHP Neal Cotts, CF Reed Johnson, SS Ronny Cedeno, RHP Chad Gaudin.
The Cubs haven't gone to a hearing since a long-forgotten regime got to that point with Mark Grace in the early '90s. GM Jim Hendry would like all five players back, but the Cubs likely will have trouble re-signing all five without incident. The Cubs weren't happy with Gaudin, who hurt his back at the end of August and pitched poorly upon his return in mid-September.
IN LIMBO: C Henry Blanco, LHP Rich Hill, LHP Sean Marshall.
The Cubs didn't pick up their option on Blanco, a valuable mentor to Rookie of the Year candidate Geovany Soto. Instead, they may choose to negotiate a lesser deal. Hill was a part of the rotation on Opening Day until developing command problems and then coming down with a back ailment. The Cubs could look to trade Hill and/or Marshall. Marshall, because of his versatility, could fetch something in return.
MEDICAL WATCH:
The Cubs will keep a close eye on the cranky right shoulders of RHPs Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden, both of whom missed time down the stretch.
C Geovany Soto came down with a sore left hand and wrist, and that hampered his hitting. A winter of rest should help.
LF Alfonso Soriano will have to work hard in the winter so that his legs don't give out, as they've done in his two seasons with the Cubs.
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Well I've been spending a lot of time looking into the Cubs minor league systems and honestly I am liking what I see. Here are a few players of interest I'd like to give an update on.
This is from a Sox fan, and I posted this as a note on facebook and on the Sox thread too. I guess you can just bypass the Sox stuff and go right to the Cubs. This is just my opinions, not trying to be a jacka*s or anything. Plus, I would like for cubs fans to answer a few of those questions, espically the
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1st half of the season is quickly coming to a close. The Cubs are basically back to 100% strength thanks to the return of beloved third basement Aramis Ramirez along with the gritty Reed Johnson and
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A couple of things jump-out at me, one good and one not so good. Von Joshua thinks Soriano will snap-out of it however I think he is much more
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Some whisperings of Randy Wells' ROY potential starting to stir. All Cubs fans know that his win total should be higher, but it is what it is. I have rapidly become a fan of Wells, and was recently talking about the pitching staff with some family and we decided to rank th
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I read the Scott Miller take that the Cubs are the clear class of the Central Division and respectfully disagree. I thought going into this season that St. Louis was going to be very difficult to beat if they get any pitching. Even with the loss of Chris Carpenter t
I know the Cubs likely do not have the resources to get him financially, but if you were the Jays would Vitters, Wells and another prospect (Stevens/Cashner/Archer/Castillo) at least put the Cubs on the radar?
I know there are some on here that do not think that SP is a need for the Cubs, but we are talking about a perennial Cy
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I'm reading that Paul Sullivan went up to Carlos Zambrano with something like "according to a recent poll, 57.2% of Cubs fans want you traded..." To which, Carlos responded something along the lines of "fine trade me to Boston."
Seven Tennessee Smokies (AA) made the Southern League All-Star team: Casey Coleman (Southern League Pitcher of the Week for the period of June 29-July 5), along with center fielder James Adduci , shortstop Darwin Bar
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It seems that when the rookies are in,its an exciting game. Here are the guys I look forward to seeing in line up: Wells, Samarzija Fox, Hoffpauir,Fuld,and Jeff Baker who is not really an I-Cub but could end up there,and has yet to be proven.. I hope those in charge of line up will play who is performing and ig
The Ciubs fired there hitting coach now it time to fire there pitching coach. Some stats to prove my point. Cubs pitchers have hit 27 batters, lead by Carlos Marmol who has hit 6 batters. Pitcher's have allowed 288 bases on balls lead by
