Garza is the only known solid going in to the season and he might be dealt during Winter Meetings. I expect Shark to get good, but he only did it one year and was up and down at times, so can hardly rely on that. After that? Travis Wood? We will see who they sign FA wise because there is nothing but hot garbage pitching wise in the farm.

Offense should be slightly better with a full year of Rizzo and Castillo behind the plate, but Soriano's numbers will likely decline from this season.

Just typing that makes me realize 70 is crazy.

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Team Cutler.

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Unless I missed it, I haven't seen or heard any mention of Scott Baker. He has a 9.25 million dollar option with the Twins, which they won't pick up.

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Colby Lewis signed with the Rangers for next year. I just discovered that when I was making my list.

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I don't think Sanchez and Marcum are completely out of the question. But realistically, are we looking at 4/50 for Sanchez, and maybe a little less on Marcum? I'm not sure if I'm interested.

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I wonder who pulled the trigger on this guy and why...? I guess "old regime" employees are on the hit list.

Paul Sullivan ‏@PWSullivan
Cubs traveling secretary Jimmy Bank fired after 20 years in organization. http://trib.in/X9Xtki

I would target Dempster and Marcum. Dempster on a 2 year deal and Marcum 2-3. Nothing ready in the minors, so finding 2 pieces that can fill in the rotation along with Samardzjia, Garza and Wood has to be the highest priority. Volstad and Germano should be gone yesterday. A good situational lefty would be a nice piece to add also. they will not contend in the coming season and perhaps NOT signing guys as good as Dempster and Marcum would better enable them to finish in/near the basement again (getting a better draft pick as a result)....but there were a lot of empty seats in the 2nd half of last season and I think Theo will sign a couple capable starters, to give the team more credible rotation once again, to avoid having the fanbase giving up on the team altogether for 2013 before it even starts.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Lowering ticket prices.

The Cubs announced their ticket prices for 2013 on Tuesday, lowering prices for season ticket holders by an average of two percent following a 101-loss season.

The most drastic cuts will be in the bleachers, where the Cubs said the average ticket price will be 10 percent lower than in 2012. The number of marquee games in the bleachers goes from 13 games to six games, while there will be nine marquee games in the bowl seating area, including the two Crosstown Classic games against the White Sox.

The Cubs said season ticket holders will also pay $1-2 less per game than individual game tickets in the same location.

Last year the Cubs ranked third in the majors in average ticket price, accoridng to team Marketing Reporter. A poor start doomed the team early, and tens of thousands of seats were paid for but not used during the season, particularly in the bleachers.

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Team Cutler.

Well then there is no point in me reading this thread until Februrary then. I bid you all adieu.

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Then, let's hope they don't get married.

I'm on board for another full-year of suckage. But, the team better be better at the end of the year than they were at the beginning or I'll have questions. Evil, ominous, scary questions.

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You know me like that.

There is something you can build on.

2013 Chicago Cubs- We will be better in September than we are in April!

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2012 White Sox should have went with that technique

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Team Cutler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zDAn4sKLSo

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Well played!!

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Go Cubs!!!!

Royals Claim Chris Volstad
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [October 26 at 3:20pm CST]
The Royals claimed Chris Volstad off of waivers from the Cubs, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports (on Twitter).

Someone posted it somewhere else already but I am still in shock that anyone took that tired act.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

No shit. He was a non-tender candidate so Royals could have signed his sorry ass as a free agent.

I think he could be effective in a bullpen role. For whatever reason, no one seems to want to put him there.

He'd be a good mop up man - at Ponderosa!

Aaron Fitt ‏@aaronfitt
BA has learned that #Vandy pitching guru Derek Johnson is leaving to be #Cubs minor league pitching coordinator. Huge loss for #Dores.

The Twins declined their 2013 option for Scott Baker, Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. The option had been valued at $9.25MM, but Baker will hit free agency instead.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/10/t ... CpjBQc7.99

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I'd be stunned if this happened.

@CarrieMuskat #Cubs have been in contact with Ryan Dempster's agent about possibly returning next year

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Ok,he screwed the Cubs on a deal. He also works very hard to stay in top condition and was having a great year before the Cubs dumped him. Big step up from Chris Volstad & Justin Germano.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Born May 3, 1977. Dempster will be 36 a month into next season, and he probably wants a 3 year deal. I'd rather sign Scott Baker, Jesse Litsch, and a couple other scrapheap guys with a portion of that money.

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I thought it was just a one and done. I agree,if he's asking for 3,forget it.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

He'll get at least a two year deal somewhere.

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I would rather just take all of the money from that 3 year deal they are thinking of giving Dumpster and stacking it into a pile to watch it burn.

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A 2 year deal tops with a vesting option for a 3rd plus he waives all no trade rights.

How about this....no years for no money and we hope to god he signs somewhere else?

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