i predict

John Lannan to the Cubs

They interviewed someone else today.....but it might not matter as people who think they are in the know see Renteria as the man.

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

The Cubs will likely continue to discuss trading starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija to the Diamondbacks, ESPN's Buster Olney tweets. It now appears unlikely that the Cubs will sign Samardzija to an extension, so with only two years remaining before he hits free agency, it makes sense that a rebuilding team might look to trade him.

After pitching in relief in 2011, Samardzija has emerged as a solid starter in the past two seasons, posting a 4.34 ERA in 2013, but with 9.0 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9. If the Cubs were to deal him, he ought to be able to return good young talent. The Cubs did consider dealing him at last year's trading deadline, but they were reportedly asking a lot. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman wrote then that if the Cubs were unable to sign Samardzija in the offseason, a winter trade would be likely.

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

Good riddance. A first half pitcher who will wilt even faster in Arizona. Still allowed almost 4.5 runs a game with a 1.3 WHiP. Thats 3rd , 4th starter stuff and Im sure he's going to want 1 or 2 cash. Buh bye Shark.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

That's fine and all but what kind of rotation we looking at next season?

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

should bring quite a return. RPB said he's better than Sale.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Bad but not going to be much better with him anyway.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

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I read a Q and A thing on the Trib website with Mark Gonzales where he totally seriously floated the idea of Ozzie as a 3B coach for the Cubs....and was like oh when he covered the White Sox he could spot a guy that was tipping pitches so he would be a good fit. In fact you know what it was so dumb let me find it....

I covered Ozzie when he was the White Sox’s manager for seven seasons. I saw a lot of what he did behind the scenes, and he wasn’t afraid to lay down the law with certain players. His tough love might not be what the Cubs are looking for, but his methods paid off when he benched Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe for brief stretches, and they responded well when they returned to the lineup.

When I talked to him at Fenway Park, he made it clear that he hadn’t been contracted by the Cubs, would be interested in coaching third base because he lives in Chicago and would do his best to support whoever the manager was if he was hired to coach third base.

There are a few of us that still recall a B game in Tucson about six years ago in which he stood next to us and detected how Ubaldo Jimenez was tipping pitches and correctly called each of the next six pitches Jimenez threw.

I know he’s a little loud for some, but his baseball acumen is higher than he’s given credit for.

That is all well and good but this has nothing to do about the Cubs. All you are doing is writing about something that is never going to happen. Why don't you actually cover some of the real goings on with the team. Fucking A these beat reports are terrible.

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Edwin Jackson
Travis Wood
Kerry Wood
Carlos Zambrano
Mike Morgan

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Cubs sent cash to the Royals for C George Kottaras. Guess Navarro will be gone.

Kottaras is a Koyie Hill clone, so Castillo will be playing 140 games barring injury.

They need Steven Scott Clevenger now more than ever...

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He's not the hero the Cubs deserve but he's the hero the Cubs need right now

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Young Theo: "What was I supposed to do Dad,let everyone on the bus die?"

Theo's Dad: "You should have told them you will be back in 5-7 years."

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

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Darnell McDonald is back!!!!!!!!! Signed to a minor league contract!!!! Fuck yes!!! This is huge for Iowa!!!! PCL Championship!!!

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

The Padres are having zero luck in negotiations with Headley. Its going to happen. I wonder what it will take to get this deal done at the winter meetings. I think Baez is too much without something else coming with him but Lake could play huge in that park of their so if you add someone else like vogelbach it might work.

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

All we need is ol' Chase to get photographed singing "Go Cubs Go" in a nightclub for this to become official!

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Chase Headley is not that good. He had one year where is OPS is 100 points higher than his career average.

Sure his homepark doesn't help that too much, but still.

If the Cubs trade any package of Baez for Headley i'm quitting baseball.

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Team Cutler.

Lake and Vogelbach for Headly? Done. I assume you see Bryant in the OF then?

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Reasonable names being offered here

Important to remember Chase is turning 30 in May.

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Team Cutler.

Chase is a good christian boy. He doesn't do nightclubs.

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

Yes..I think Bryant makes the move to the OF.

Chase is supposed to be a great leader and clubhouse guy and he usually doesn't suck like he did last year but he was banged up. I don't think this team has anything close to a leader amongst the players that commands the place. I do not want Shark as that guy....i dont want any pitcher as that actually.

He might have a hot sister too IIRC.

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

so Cubs lineup (and I'm throwing Ellsbury in there because I can, screw you)

CF Ellsbury
2B Barney
1B Rizzo
SS Castro
3B Headly
LF Bryant
RF Schierholtz
C Castillo

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

If you'd added a "woohoo" in there, this would be my new sig.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

From Mark Gonzales in his mailbag. (Tribune's Cubs Beat Writer)

I completely agree there is no reason to lose 96 games in 2014. The talent level has to improve, regardless of the wait for the likes of Bryant, Soler, Baez and Almora. But I think it would be crazy to rush these prospects to the majors, especially since the Cubs have invested so much money in them. And they need to dominate before they reach the majors so they’ve earned the promotion.

I don’t blame anyone for holding out until there are significant signs of improvement at the major league level. The talent level and roster construction was puzzling -- a major reason why I thought Dale Sveum deserved the opportunity to manage this team in 2014.

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

It's easy to look at the business model the Cubs are employing and find it to be a good, solid one. But living with the losing that necessarily goes with this plan the first few years, is easier said than done. The top talent is not that far away now and after 2014, the team may well be fun to watch again. But this offseason should NOT involve any major free agent signings. More of the Feldman, Villanueva, Baker type deals should seen again. I would love to see Gavin Floyd as one of this year's group.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I always enjoy reading your Cub thoughts but to Hell with the business model. I just read that the Cubs Skipper was a Kane County Cougar manager in 1999. The Cougar GM stated that Renteria was a "Father figure" to the youngsters. He didn't scream and was a nice guy. It's starting to look like the Cubs hired Jerry Manuel's clone,which is not a good thing. They need talent on this team going in to 2014 or Cub fans will be very vocal. (They better be) They have already tendered contracts to most of the stiffs from last years team....Great just great!

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

Relax!!! Once they get Headley he will take care of the clubhouse.

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

Cubs lineup will actually look more like

CF Donnie Murphy
2B Barney
SS Castro
1B Rizzo
RF Shierholtz
C Castillo
3B Valbuena
LF Sweeny

Should be good for 100 Losses.

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