Chicago Sun-Times

Cubs, Matt Garza agree to one-year, $9.5 million contract

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:09:52 -0600

Instead of an arbitration hearing scheduled Friday, righthander Matt Garza agreed to a one-year contract with the Cubs valued at some $9.5 million, a figure less than the $12. 5 million the 28-year-old had sought but a significant increase from his $5.95 million salary in 2011.

Cubs claim infielder off waivers

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:32:00 -0600

The Cubs claimed minor league infielder Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Oakland Athletics Monday and designated infielder Blake DeWitt for assignment. DeWitt, 26, appeared in 121 games last season, hitting .265 with 11 doubles. He was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in July, 2010 in the deal that sent pitcher Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to the Dodgers. Cardenas, 24, played at Class AAA Sacramento last season, hitting .314 with 28 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 51 RBI in 127 games. He ranked eighth in the Pacific Coast League in hits with 154. He has been …

Mike Quade takes issue with Dale Sveum’s evaluation of Cubs’ effort

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:03:37 -0600

When Dale Sveum was hired as Mike Quade’s replacement to manage the Cubs, he said the Cubs would be held to a higher standard. He suggested Quade’s Cubs were lackadaisical at times. “When you lose that many games, there are obviously problems,’’ Sveum said. “Losing isn’t OK. Not running a ball out isn’t OK. It’s unacceptable, and that has to be communicated.’’ Quade, who is fishing on a daily basis in Florida while waiting for a major-league job opportunity to surface, didn’t like hearing that. “It’s a beautiful day fishing in the sunshine — I appreciate you [messing] up my …

Cubs roll out plans for training center in the Dominican Republic

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:16:45 -0600

The Cubs will open within 18 months a new baseball academy in the Dominican Republic that will encompass 50 acres with facilities for baseball training, housing and an educational center. Team chairman Tom Ricketts, some of his family and Cubs staff were in La Gina, Dominican Republic, on Thursday to unveil plans that have been in the works since the family acquired the team three years ago. The facility will feature four fields (one with artificial turf), four covered batting cages, eight bullpens, a weight room, cafeteria and kitchen, two locker rooms, two meetings rooms and a large classroom that …

Yankees hire former Cubs GM Jim Hendry to assist Cashman

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:09:47 -0600

Less than two weeks ago, Jim Hendry revealed in a phone conversation that he was weighing his options on a couple of different job fronts. The New York Yankees obviously carry a lot of weight. According to reports Tuesday night, the former Cubs general manager has been hired to be the special assistant to Yankees GM Brain Cashman. That’s no real surprise, considering how Cashman was talking about Hendry during the winter meetings in Dallas in early December. ‘‘I thought Jim Hendry did a good job in Chicago with the Cubs,’’ Cashman said. ‘‘I mean, he might go about climbing …

Report: Theo Epstein compensation nearing resolution

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:11:44 -0600

A resolution could be coming to the pending compensation issue between the Cubs and Boston Red Sox. The stalemated issue over what the Red Sox should receive for allowing Theo Epstein out of the last year of his contract to become Cubs president is in the hands of commissioner Bud Selig. He said over the weekend that he has yet to resolve the issue, but a report Monday in the Boston Globe said a meeting could be scheduled shortly with representatives of the teams. An unnamed American League general manager speculated the Cubs might have to part with a “significant” …

Pena agrees to deal with Rays; Cubs to give LaHair chance at first

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:07:37 -0600

The Cubs are set to give Bryan LaHair a chance to be their next first baseman. Meanwhile, Carlos Pena moved back to his former team. Pena agreed to terms on a one-year, $7.25 million deal Friday with the Tampa Bay Rays, pending a physical. The salary is less than the $10 million Pena made in his one season with the Cubs. Pena, 33, hit .225 with 28 home runs and 80 RBI for the Cubs. That was similar to his season with the Rays in 2010, when he had 28 homers and 84 RBI but hit .196. Pena also drew …

Trever Miller, Michael Brenly among Cubs’ 21 non-roster invitees to spring training

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:16:00 -0600

Lefthander Trever Miller, who pitched at the end of last season for the Boston Red Sox, has signed a minor league contract with the Cubs with an invitation to spring training. Miller, 38, pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Red Sox last season. Miller has pitched for eight major league teams with a career 4.18 ERA. He would be paid $800,000 if he makes the major league club, according to ESPN. Miller will be among 21 non-roster invitees to spring training, which opens Feb. 18 when pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, AZ. Workouts will begin …

Ex-Cub Ryan Theriot signs with Giants

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:20:01 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants have reached agreement on a $1.25 million, one-year contract with utility infielder Ryan Theriot to give them depth at shortstop and second base. San Francisco said Friday the deal is non-guaranteed and is pending a physical next week. Theriot, 32, batted .271 with one home run and 47 RBIs in 132 games for the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals last year in his seventh major league season. …

Cubs, Red Sox want Bud Selig to set compensation for Theo Epstein

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:33:46 -0600

SUN-TIMES EXCLUSIVE: The compensation headache over Theo Epstein’s move from the Red Sox to the Cubs is officially Bud Selig’s problem, turning a minor embarrassment for the Cubs into a potential precedent-setting action for MLB.

Carlos Pena agrees to $7.25M deal with Rays—source

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:25:14 -0600

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have added a familiar bat to the middle of their lineup. A person with knowledge of the agreement tells The Associated Press that slugger Carlos Pena has agreed to a $7.25 million, one-year contract to return to the team he posted impressive power numbers for four seasons. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the club had not announced the agreement. Pena played with the Rays from 2007-10, helping them reach the playoffs twice before signing as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs for $10 million last season. He …