12/4 Third base options
The Cubs have talked to Ian Stewart as well as his agent Larry Reynolds to make sure the third baseman knows that they’d like to have him return to the team. Stewart was non-tendered last Friday, and now is a free agent. He missed most of last season after needing surgery on his left wrist. Because the market for third basemen is so weak, Stewart is now a hot item. The Yankees are in the mix following the news that Alex Rodriguez will need hip surgery. Think players aren’t aware of the market? Free agent Casey McGehee was in the lobby of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel on Tuesday to talk to teams.
“[The Yankees] have a need,” Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said Tuesday. “The question is how long they have a need for.”
Because Rodriguez was expected back at some point in the season, the Yankees may not want to commit long-term to a player. That will determine how aggressive they are. The Yankees reportedly have interest in free agent Jeff Keppinger, and CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman says the infielder is looking for around $12 million over three years. Keppinger is recovering from a significant injury of his own, a broken fibula.
Stewart is aware of the Cubs’ interest in him.
“We’ve been really clear with him,” Hoyer said. “He knows how we feel about him. He knows we want to bring him back.”
– Carrie Muskat
mlblogsmuskat1
Stewart is now a HOT item??? Wow, this must be THE WORST pool of third basemen free agents EVER??
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Please Cubs–let him and his bandit agent fool another team this year!
It really is a bad pool of 3rd baseman. Then again how many teams actually have quality 3rd Baseman? Even the good ones are on a decline without much quality replacing them. AROD and ARAM come to mind.
I think thats a huge reason the Cubs took a chance on Stewart last year. If Stewart plays his cards right, he could get a very good pay day by the Cubs non tendering him.
World Series teams had a 1B at 3rd and a OF at 3rd. Hopefully someone like Jr Lake may be ready? I have my doubts, but there is always hope.
I have seen Junior play at short and third over the years. He held his own in the Arizona Fall Ball and seemed real comfortable at third. Speed, arm, and some power as he fills out a slim physique. Look for him to get many innings in Spring Training and he just needs to step on up–may be ready. The Cubs need to catch a break with another prospect as they are really prospect poor.
People, just wait it out until Baez comes to play…..meanwhile, give Vitters another shot in June.
Baez dislikes third–got real emotional about being forced to play there in az fall league. Then nearly broke his hand and missed games clowning around. Otherwise bat-speed like few youngsters and power stroke–a great prospect.
where is your source on this??? Because in his interview with cubs.com he said he will play anywhere on the field as long as it gets him to the bigs as fast as possible
I attended every Solar Sox game at HoHo and around Phoenix to watch our prospects this fall. The first game that he was taken off short and placed at third he refused to budge and had about three errors and kept staring at the shortstop. The scouts and fans were treated to quite a spectacle. I think Carrie was at that game. Apparently Jed and crew who were there had a sit down with him and he did act more appriately that week. He hurt his hand in a high five and missed games with Logan Watkins replacing him. Even so one of the best prospects I have seen in years.
why are the cubs so insistent on ian stewart,i would rather have a rookie there than this loser,he is not that great of a fielder and cannot hit,get rid of the bum and find someone with potential ,this team will not contend this year so get young upcoming players and forget about that worthless bum stewart.
Hopefully the thirdbase market is so thin that another team will overpay for stewart and the Cubs will come to their senses and chalk up the Colvin/DJ for Stewart trade as a Hendry-like little boo boo, not a Hendry like catastrophe like….well, there are so many to choose from.
Oh well….let’s keep dreaming…according to MLB Trade Rumors the Cubs are apparently signing Stewart for 2 mil, one year…sigh…
Apparently a non-guranteed contract with possible cut in spring training. Wrist surgery is so precarious with lingering pain-pain that feels like be shot in the ear by a shotgun.
Man Theo might be getting so set in his ways that he has to make the Ian S signing work kinda like paying David J $5Mil a season…..
As we all know those were his first 2 very important signings to the Cubs franchise as the new GM….
U know when THEO departs in some WEIRD way from the CUBS what outfit will he wear???
A) Panda
B) Gorilla
C) Tiger
D) Himself
Will it be on Halloween again in a Gorilla suit? Uh maybe BUT not likely…
So A Panda?? No not Theoesque enough…
Hmmm now we R left with a Tiger Costume or Himself!!!!!!!
Just Saying…….