Chasing Cubtober: Around The Rumor Mill
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by LMedina86
The Hot Stove League is heating up, and there are many storylines that Cubs fans should be paying attention to.
It looks like Curt Schilling is close to re-signing with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling is the type of pitcher that would have solidified the starting rotation. In his blog, he listed the Cubs as one of the teams he would like to play for in 2008.
That makes Carlos Silva the best available starter on the open market. His numbers aren’t terrible, but they are nothing special. He has good ground ball rates, but he’ll likely be looking for “Ted Lilly money” and likely wouldn’t be worth that type of contract.
In other pitching news, it looks like Kerry Wood will likely be returning to the Cubs bullpen next year. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune speculates that Wood could be moved to closer, which could move Ryan Dempster into the starting rotation—or out of town in a trade.
In the same article, Rogers doesn’t believe that Mark Prior will return unless the Cubs get an option for 2009. They probably don’t want to spend time rehabbing him and then letting leave as a free agent after the season. I still think Prior is worth rehabbing, because if the Cubs let him go they could be looking like the Toronto Blue Jays after they let Chris Carpenter go.
Another place the Cubs could improve in the off-season is in right field. Kosuke Fukudome, who would be the best available right fielder in the free agent market, recently was offered two contracts from his team, the Chunichi Dragons.
If Fukudome does not come to America, the best free agent option would be Jose Guillen. Guillen is the type of power-hitting run producer the Cubs need in right field. He still is a good defender, but is a known head case. It would be up to Lou Piniella to keep him under control.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe notes that the Cubs are in the market for a left-handed hitting right fielder and links J.D. Drew to that rumor. At last year’s Cubs Convention, the hot rumor was that Drew would be GM Jim Hendry’s final signing. He would eventually sign with the Red Sox.
Drew's is a strong defensive outfielder who could probably play center field too. His .390 career on-base percentage would be welcomed with open arms on the North Side.
Cliff Floyd, who spent a majority of the year as the Cubs right fielder, is unlikely to return to the Cubs. But I wouldn’t rule out the possibility.
“They treated me with so much respect going through that trying time in my life. I owe them everything, Floyd said in a Chicago Sun-Times article. Sounds like what Wood said last year to the Cubs. Floyd’s left-handed bat would be a nice addition to the bench.
A new name has surfaced in the search for an improvement at the shortstop position. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres reportedly inquired about Cubs top prospect Felix Pie and had those talks progressed, would have likely sent shortstop Khalil Green to the Cubs.
Greene is a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop with pop in his bat. He had career highs in home runs (27) and RBI's (97) in 2007. However his batting average (.254) and on-base percentage (.291) leave much to be desired. Still, he would be an upgrade over current options Ryan Theriot or Ronny Cedeno.
