Chasing Cubtober: Feeding the rumor monster

by LMedina86

With baseball’s Winter Meetings in its second day, the rumor mill has more gossip and rumors than your senior prom.  Cubs fans can be thankful that rumors that have been thrown around have the Cubs interested in players that can fill holes.

OUTFIELD:

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome is the Cubs number one priority and are currently seen as the favorites to land him.  He is the on-base percentage minded, left-handed hitting outfielder the Cubs are desperately seeking.

Hopefully they aren’t desperate to acquire an outfielder just because he is left handed.  The Cubs have an OBP-minded corner outfielder in Matt Murton.  The organization seems to still be high on Murton, but since he doesn’t hit left-handed he could be traded.

A recent radio report out of Chicago’s ESPN 1000 has the Royals interested in Murton while the Cubs have an interest in outfielder Mark Teahen.

Teahen, who has also appeared in games at first base, third base and center field, hit .285 with a .353 OBP as a right fielder.  Statistically, he has thrived when batting fifth in the order, posting a .331 batting average and .406 OBP.  He has seen the most action batting third, batting .293 with a .359 OBP.

The Cubs have also been rumored to be interested in Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton.  Hamilton was chosen by the Cubs in last year’s Rule V draft, but was traded to the Reds for cash considerations.  He is an injury-riddled five-tool player who has recovered from his drug related issues.

However, those rumors were recently debunked by Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio 1000.

 If the Cubs could somehow land two left-handed hitting outfielders, that could make the Cubs more flexible the trade market.  That could include trading top prospect Felix Pie in a major deal.

INFIELD:

                The Cubs missed out on signing Kaz Matsui, who got a three-year deal worth more than $16 million from the Houston Astros.  Matsui will replace Craig Biggio at second base. 

It looks like Astros general manager Ed Wade did the Cubs a favor.  Many Cubs fans believe that Matsui’s 2007 numbers were an aberration, especially taking into consideration his numbers outside of Coors Field.

                Even though Mark DeRosa put up a .848 OPS when playing second base in 2007, the Cubs are still looking for a left-handed hitting middle infielder to take even more of an advantage of DeRosa’s versatility.

                The Cubs could be interested in Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts.  In 2007, Roberts posted a .377 OBP while also stealing 50 bases.  He and Alfonso Soriano would make for a formidable one-two punch for the Cubs.

                The Cubs were also to be rumored to be interested in Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson, who reportedly upset D’backs brass when opting for season ending surgery during a pennant race.  “The O-Dog” is a Gold Glove caliber infielder who hit .297 with a .376 OBP in 139 games in 2007.

PITCHING:

                The surprise of the year is that the Cubs actually have a surplus of starting pitching.  They have locks at the top of the rotation with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill, but after that they have several guys going for two back-of-the-rotation spots including Jason Marquis, Sean Marshall, Kevin Hart and Ryan Dempster among others.

                The Toronto Blue Jays have said that they want to bring some Canadian-born players back home, and Dempster could be moved.  I have speculated before that Dempster’s value is probably at its peak because he could be used either as a starter or as a reliever and at $5.5 million is quite affordable.

However, Jim Hendry debunked that rumor recently as well in a recent article in the Sun-Times.

                Despite the number of potential starters, you can add the Cubs to a list of about 10 teams that are interested in acquiring Orioles’ starter Erik Bedard.  Bedard has stated that he will not re-sign with the Orioles when he is eligible free agency.

                Today at the winter meetings, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and O’s executive Andy MacPhail met for lunch.  At first it wasn’t major news, seeing that the two worked together when MacPhail was with the Cubs, but the rumor of the Cubs interest in Bedard will not die.

                If the Cubs could somehow acquire two outfielders during the meetings, the Cubs could submit a package of youngsters to the Orioles in exchange for Bedard.

                The Cubs were at one point attached to some Johan Santana rumors, but are more likely to be in the running for Twins closer Joe Nathan who will be a free agent after the 2008 season.  Nathan has converted 160 saves in his four years in Minnesota.

                Adding Nathan would give the Cubs a formidable late inning bullpen which would include Bobby Howry, Carlos Marmol and the recently re-signed Kerry Wood.

                Even Mark Prior has found himself in trade rumors.  Teams rumored to be interested in Prior include the Padres, Mariners, Rangers and Reds.  The Padres are the most likely to land Prior, a California native.  Reds manager Dusty Baker is either still intrigued by what Prior could bring to the table, or could be looking to finish the job he began in Chicago.

                If Prior were to be traded, I wouldn’t mind seeing Prior in the American League where he couldn’t hurt the Cubs if he played them.

THINGS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED:

                The Cubs did make a move today.  In a trade with the Atlanta Braves, the Cubs sent left-handed reliever Will Ohman and utility-man Omar Infante to the Braves for 22-year-old righty Jose Ascanio.  In essence, the Cubs traded Ohman, Infante and Jacque Jones (who the Cubs traded to the Tigers for Infante) for Ascanio.

                This move saves the Cubs about $5 million, removes two clubhouse cancers and most importantly leaves the Cubs with 38 players on their 40-man roster.  Are there two moves off in the distance?  Only time will tell.