DELUSIONAL CUBS FAN

During the Offseason, Any Idiot Can Be the Cubs General Manager

Chicago Cubs Trade Rumors 2010 Edition

Ah, it’s that time of year again: the offseason, where every arm chair general manager in the world gets to have his day. It’s just like fantasy baseball… no trade is too crazy, no free agent too expensive and there will be no real world consequences to anything you do.

If you head to the comment sections of any major baseball site like Cubs.com, ESPN, Bleacher Report or a million nameless fan blogs, you will find the most insane trade rumors, three-team trade scenarios, bizarre ramblings and tirades, and impossible demands like “Trade Soriano, Zambrano, Soto, Bradley, Theriot and Fukudome, Vitters RIGHT NOW HENDRY, and you can get back Jeter, Brian Roberts, Mark DeRosa, Kerry Wood, Albert Pujols, Roy Halladay and Carl Crawford. DO IT JIMMY, Make it Happen! And then fire Pinella and yourself while your at it!!!“

You won’t get any of that here of course. This is a quality publication which holds itself to the generally accepted low moral standards of the blogosphere, and we won’t go any lower. We don’t let our This Is The Year bias get in the way of our editorial standards.

Fair, Balanced and Delusional

Chicago Cubs Offseason 2009-2010

Can we expect a busy hot stove season on the north side? It’s too early to tell how this year will play out. There is a brand new Cubs ownership and noone knows for sure yet if they will begin making their mark on the team gradually or try and make a big splash. The Cubs payroll is not expected to grow significantly. I’m not expecting big changes right away but who knows. A big free agent signing seems unlikely. Firing anyone in management seems unlikely. Trading Milton Bradley seems like a goal, but will anyone really take him? We shall see….

Now, On to the Rumors…..

Chicago Cubs Trade Rumors

Milton Bradley Trade Rumors

That’s right, Milton Bradley gets his own category this offseason, and the rumors are already flying! There’s a lot of talk of a “bad contract for a bad contract” trade taking place whereby the Cubs and another team will trade unwanted, highly paid players. Presumably they might try to flip that player after aquiring.  I think we can be confident that one way or another, Bradley will be traded.

• Milton Bradley is being sought after by many teams
• Milton Bradley is generating little serious trade interest from other teams
• Milton Bradley will be traded to the New York Mets for 2B Luis Castillo (Maybe, but probably not)
• Milton Bradley will be traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Pat Burrell (This one keeps coming up. It doesn’t make sense to me because the Cubs don’t need another corner outfielder.)
• Milton Bradley will be traded to the Detroit Tigers for CF Curtis Granderson (Some Tribune guy imagined this trade out of thin air. The Tigers have nothing to gain from it)
• Milton Bradley will be traded to the Blue Jays for OF Vernon Wells (Cubs denied this)
• Milton Bradley will be traded to the San Fransisco Giants for either Aaron Rowan or Barry Zito (A fantasy bad contract for bad contract scenario)
• Milton Bradley will be traded to Seattle for pitcher Carlos Silva (Seattle management denied this)
• Milton Bradley will be traded to Detroit for Dontrelle Willis
• Milton Bradley will be traded to Kansas City for OF Jose Guillen.
• The Cubs will deal Milton Bradley to a new secret mystery team - Who cares who it is as long as he’s gone?!
• Milton Bradley will remain a member of the Cubs - We all hope this rumor is false!

UPDATE! - MILTON BRADLEY TRADED TO THE SEATTLE MARINERS FOR CARLOS SILVA! GOODBYE!!!

Cubs Trade Rumors

• The Cubs will trade for Blue Jays starting pitcher Roy Halladay - Wow! This one almost seemed inevitable after last years Jake Peavy rumors. Now Halladay is on the market, he’s an undisputed ace pitcher and Toronto confirmed they contacted the Cubs to guage their interest. So this rumor has some truth to it.  The Blue Jays will probably be looking to get at least four players for him, at least one of which would have to be a top-tier prospect. Are the Cubs willing to give up Vitters and/or Castro for him especially if he’s a free agent after the year is over? He’s a very expensive one year rental so I don’t think the Cubs would do it without reassurance that he would resign. He would look great in the rotation though, no doubt. I don’t think this trade is highly probable… but there is a small possibility so we’ll see. UPDATE: Traded to Philadelphia Phillies
• The Cubs will trade for Detroit Tigers CF Curtis Granderson - The Cubs are rumored to be on a list of teams along with the Yankees and Angels which are interested in Granderson. Several players have been mentioned, from top minor league prospects Starlin Castro and Josh Vitters to role players like Jake Fox and Mike Fontenot. Beside Milton Bradley rumors, Granderson looks to be the favorite “most rumored trade” of the year. (UPDATE - Curtis Granderson was traded to the New York Yankees. Glad that rumor gets squashed early so we can move on!) UPDATE: Traded to NY Yankess
• The Cubs will trade for San Diego relief pitcher Heath Bell. - This one keeps coming up.  The Cubs don’t need Bell but he would be a great addition to the bullpen.  I don’t think it’s likely the Cubs would give up a top prospect for a reliever at this point though.
  
• The Cubs will trade for Brian Roberts - Last years “rumor of the year” just won’t go away but it’s still not going to happen. Give it up people.
• The Cubs will trade for Kerry Wood (Another fan fantasy that won’t happen)
• The Cubs are looking to trade Jake Fox and Mike Fontenot - Jake Fox gone Is Fontenot next?
• The Cubs will trade for Rays outfielder Pat Burrel - I don’t think they really need another left fielder.

Cubs Free Agent Rumors

• The Cubs will reacquire Mark DeRosa, Kerry Wood, Jake Fox and Jake Peavy in a six team trade - No, no, no, that was an April Fools Day Joke guys, sorry!
• The Cubs will sign outfielder and former White Sox star Jermaine Dye - Actually, I really like Jermaine Dye, except when he plays the Cubs.  The Cubs have contacted Dye and his agent.  Jermaine Dye is looking for a starting job but could still be a possibility.  He would back up bother corner outfield spots and first base,  give the Cubs a power bat off the bench, and probably still get a decent amount of playing time. UPDATE: The Cubs supposedly made an offer to Dye which was declined so they signed Xavier Nady instead.
• The Cubs will sign outfielder Xavier Nady - The former Pirate and Yankee missed 2009 after rotator cuff surgery and is looking for a job.  It’s possible although his agent is Scott Boras.  I think Dye might be the Cubs first choice as a backup. UPDATE: TRUE! Cubs Sign Xavier Nady
• The Cubs will sign RHP John Lackey - Unlikely. He’s not short of interested teams, so will be looking for a bigger contract than the Cubs are likely to give. UPDATE: Signed to Boston Red Sox
• The Cubs will sign OF Chone Figgins - He’s another highly sought after free agent who would likely fit in well as the Cubs centerfielder. The demand will drive up the price, and at this point it’s not expected the Cubs will be looking to pick up any expensive players unless they can trade another first. Update: Signed to Seattle Mariners
• The Cubs will sign C Ivan Rodriguez (I just made that up) UPDATE: Signed to Texas Rangers
• The Cubs will sign IF/OF Mark DeRosa (You know you want it… but no) Update: Signed to San Francisco Giants - Try not to cry to hard.
• The Cubs will sign CF Mike Cameron (”Inside sources” say they’re considering it) UPDATE: Signed with Boston Red Sox
• The Cubs will sign CF Marlon Byrd UPDATE: Chicago Cubs Sign Marlon Byrd
• The Cubs will sign CF Rick Ankiel - probably not but still possible UPDATE: Signed with KC Royals
• The Cubs will sign OF Scott Podsednik - It’s possible but rumor has is he’s looking for a multi-year deal which is why the White Sox didn’t resign him and the Cubs might not either. Update: Signed with Kansas City Royals
• The Cubs will sign Miguel Tejada - I thought I made this one up but then I saw it in the Tribune. He could be available on 1 or 2 year deal to play shortstop and allow the Cubs to move Theriot to second base and make room for the future arrival of star prospect Starlin Castro. UPDATE: Signed with Orioles
• The Cubs will lock up Ted Lilly with a contract extension (Not until he pitches post-surgery)
• The Cubs will re-sign RP John Grabow UPDATE: Resigned with Cubs)
• The Cubs will re-sign SP Rich Harden - Not sure. He wants money and the Cubs don’t seem to want to spend it on him, to the point they may not even offer arbitration. UPDATE: Rich Harden was not offered arbitration and he signed with the Texas Rangers
• The Cubs will sign RHP Jon Garland (Unlikely; he’s probably looking for more money than he’s likely to get from the Cubs) UPDATE: Signed with Padres
• The Cubs will sign 2B Orlando Hudson - Not a bad idea, if you can get him for not too much.
• The Cubs will sign 2B Felipe Lopez - It looks like we’ll be seeing Cubs 2B rumors this year because noone is locked in at that position and their are several decent free agents available.

Actual Offseason Moves by the Chicago Cubs - If it’s not on this list, it’s just a RUMOR!

11/19/2009 - The Chicago Cubs traded Aaron Heilman to the Arizona Diamondbacks for AAA Relief Pitcher Scott Maine and single-A first baseman Ryne White.

11/20/2009 - Cubs resign free agent relief pitcher John Grabow to a two year $7.5 million dollar contract.

12/4/2009 - The Chicago Cubs traded Jake Fox and Aaron Miles to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitchers Jeff Gray and Ronny Morla and outfielder Matt Spencer.

12/10/2009 - Cubs selected right-handed pitcher Michael Parisi from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft.

12/11/2009 - Cubs acquired AAA right-handed pitcher Arismendy Mota from Washington for cash considerations. Mota was selected by the Nationals with the first pick of the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft from the White Sox organization.

12/18/2009 - Cubs trade Milton Bradley to the Seattle Mariners for Carlos Silva and $9 Million dollars.

12/31/2009 - Chicago Cubs Sign Marlon Byrd to three year $15 Million contract.

1/19/2010 - Chicago Cubs resigned Mike Fontenot to a 1 year, $1 million contract.

1/19/2010 - Chicago Cubs resigned Jeff Baker to a 1 year contract for $975,000.

1/19/2010 - Chicago Cubs resigned Koyie Hill to a 1 year contract for $700,000.

1/19/2010 - Chicago Cubs resigned Tom Gorzelanny to a 1 year contract for $800,000.

1/19/2010 - Chicago Cubs resigned Angel Guzman to a 1 year contract for $825,000.

1/20/2010 - Chicago Cubs won arbitration case with Ryan Theriot, who was awarded $2,600,00 1 year contract.

1/26/2010 - Chicago Cubs signed Xavier Nady to a 1 year $3.2 million plus incentives

1/27/2010 - Chicago Cubs resigned Sean Marshall to a 1 year $950,000 Contract.

1/27/2010 - Chicago Cubs signed IF/OF Chad Tracy to a minor league contract.

2/4/2010 - Chicago Cubs resigned Carlos Marmol to a 1 year $2,125,000 contract.

3/27/2010 - Chicago Cubs traded Andres Blanco to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named or cash.