Kuzul

One of the most surprising developments of the MLB offseason was the Chicago Cubs' pursuit of free-agent pitcher Anibal Sanchez.The Cubs' interest didn't result in signing Sanchez and adding him to the top of their starting rotation. But offering a five-year, $77 million contract did make a statement of purpose to the other 29 MLB teams and any players deciding where to take their talents. While the Cubs may be rebuilding under Theo Epstein, the team intends to be competitive and become a playoff contender again. Ownership and the front office will pay top dollar for the best available players who can help the Cubs accomplish that objective. Yet this doesn't mean that the Cubs will just start pushing piles of cash at any player that casts an interested glance their way. Epstein has shown during this offseason that he will carefully choose which free agents will receive large contract offers.Sanchez appears ...

Ken Rosenthal tweeted earlier that the Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with Kyuji Fujikawa.It was previously thought that the Angels were the front-runners for acquiring the Japanese closer.Fujikawa should fill in nicely as the Cubs' closer for the 2013 season. In six seasons spent across the Pacific, Fujikawa has accumulated a total of 202 saves and pitched to the tune of a minuscule 1.36 ERA. How that translates in the big leagues is yet to be seen, but it is very promising.Theo Epstein has stated that if there were sound investments available, the Cubs would be not be afraid to spend money this offseason. To that end, he seems to be keeping his word. He has already made moves to improve the starting rotation, and now he has taken strides to improve the bullpen.So, does the signing of Fujikawa mark the end of Carlos Marmol in a Cubs uniform?Marmol has served as ...

The trade deadline was minutes away from becoming a blown opportunity for the Chicago Cubs, team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer.The Cubs had two huge trade chips in starting pitchers Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza, top arms that would yield a wave of minor league prospects—especially pitching prospects—that the team needed to rebuild its organization. To not trade one or either of them would have been a huge disappointment. Epstein stared that disappointment right in the face as the minutes ticked down to the 3:00 p.m. CT trade deadline.Dempster had already killed what would have been a good deal with the Atlanta Braves last week. Invoking his "10-and-5" rights (10 years in the majors, five with the same team) to veto the trade that cost the Cubs top pitching prospect Randall Delgado, an arm that could have been one of the best in their future rotation. The Cubs tried ...

Going into Tuesday night's play, the Boston Red Sox hold last place in the AL East, eight games behind the New York Yankees. With a record of 33-33, the Red Sox don't appear to be out of the playoff picture, though they do have four teams to climb over for the division lead.The AL Wild Card picture looks a bit more encouraging, with the Red Sox only four games behind and two bids available this season. But in terms of the scrum, Boston has a bigger crowd to fight through with five teams above them in the standings. Plus, two teams—Detroit and Oakland—are at their heels.The Red Sox have allowed the third-most runs in the AL this season, so getting some starting pitching help would be the place to begin for an upgrade. And in a development that has plenty of baseball writers rubbing their hands together and smiling, the ...

The most diminutive player on the field for the Chicago Cubs is showing them where the future of the organization needs to be headed. When Theo Epstein took the job, he already had a plan in place. The only guesswork was how do you win playing at Wrigley Field? Tony Campana has provided him with the answer. It's always tough to score at Wrigley in April and May—even when the team has a roster full of sluggers. This season highlights it more than ever with the Cubs having a shortage of power in the lineup. Speed is the answer to the question a century of Cubs GM's have never asked. That is the secret to winning at Wrigley. Considering the Cubs have never won the World Series while playing there, it was probably easier for Columbus to discover America than it has been for the Cubs to solve that riddle. I would ...

Theo Epstein’s introduction as President of the Chicago Cubs was impressive.  You won’t see a sports executive as glib and articulate as the 38 year-old Epstein. When it comes to “winning the press conference,” few have won as convincingly as he did.  Some six months later, what stands out most from that October morning is Epstein’s proclamation that “every opportunity to win is sacred.” At this point – having recently completed the franchise's longest losing streak in over a decade– 2012 appears to be the exception to Epstein’s first promise to long-suffering Cub fans. Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer inherited bad players with awful contracts, there’s no debating that.  They also inherited a group of players with the ability to contribute in 2012 and carry on the critical momentum from that late-October press conference. In addressing the recent 12 game slide, Hoyer said “we have guys with good track records that aren’t hitting.”  ...

The Chicago Cubs have only the abysmal Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres to thank for keeping themselves out of the basement of baseball following Tuesday's 5-3 win over San Diego. Sitting at 17-32 after an encouraging early May start has Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer sticking to their guns without making any quick-trigger decisions.But thanks to the worse-than-expected start, the only thing hotter than summer weather in Chicago could be the seat under Epstein's $15 million bottom.Two months into the season, one has to wonder, did Epstein really know what he was getting himself into?Epstein is dealing with the animal that is the Chicago fanbase. It's been too many years to count since the last World Series for Chicago. Just one World Series in between barely holds the fans over on the South Side.Chicago Bears fans still have copies of the Superbowl Shuffle stuffed into VCRs in the basement. ...

In January of this year, the New York Times ran a story that said the Yankees are saving now for a potential free-agency splash next winter. The story highlighted hurlers Matt Cain of the Giants and Cole Hamel of the Phillies as potential targets for the pinstripes. But could the Yankees be loading up the ole piggy bank for the heir apparent to Derek Jeter? Could it be that the Bronx Bombers are eyeballing Starlin Castro, the sweet-swinging shortstop for an annually afflicted Chicago Cubs franchise? At first this question seems preposterous, especially in light of how well Jeter has been playing thus far this season. But looking big picture, a few things have occurred in the past month that points to the potential for Castro to eventually become a Yankee. First, Castro is eligible for arbitration after the 2012 season. While the Cubs have signed Castro ...

It seems as though Theo Epstein has finally found a suitor for struggling veteran outfielder, Marlon Byrd. Reported by ESPN Chicago, Byrd is apparently shipping up to Boston. The trade is reported as "imminent" and may be officially announced at any time now. This deal would mark the first major in-season trade for Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer's administration in Chicago as well as Ben Cherington's first in Boston.Byrd, a 35-year-old center fielder, has struggled this season, much as he did at the end of his 2011 campaign, after a hit-by-pitch sidelined him with a face injury midseason.He only has three hits in 43 at bats thus far, all of them singles. Ben Cherington will hope a new environment will help Byrd turn around.With Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford on the disabled list, as well as Jason Repko injuring himself on Friday, Boston is in dire need of outfield depth. As ...

Cubs fans, I'd like to take a poll. How many of you expected Alfonso Soriano to be hitting over .300 after the first week of the season?I'd be shocked if more than 10 percent of you said yes.Nonetheless, Soriano has been the most impressive Cub this season, outside of young superstar Starlin Castro.  He has been an offensive catalyst for the team while batting .302 with six RBIs and a stolen base.Soriano historically starts strong and then fades as injuries catch up to him and limit his production. But he looks healthier than usual (even at the start of the season) and is benefiting from new manager Dave Sveum's penchant for running the base paths.Now, the Cubs need to ride Soriano's hot streak while looking for the right opportunity to trade him to a contender.He will not keep up this kind of production all season but could keep playing at ...