Muskat Ramblings

11/20 Roster additions

2009-11-20T23:13:36Z

The Cubs added outfielder James Adduci, catcher Welington Castillo and pitchers John Gaub, Blake Parker, and Rafael Dolis to the 40-man roster on Friday. Teams had to set their 40-man rosters by midnight Friday in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft, which is held Dec. 10 at the Winter Meetings. The Cubs roster is now at 38.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/20 Cubs & Blue Jays talk

2009-11-20T21:31:45Z

The Cubs are one of the teams the Toronto Blue Jays have contacted regarding pitcher Roy Halladay. However, before Cubs fans start salivating at the prospect of the former Cy Young winner in the rotation with Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, and Ryan Dempster, there's a catch. He's owed $15.75 million in 2010, and the Blue Jays want some of the Cubs' top prospects. No. 1, the team can't take on Halladay's salary. The Blue Jays apparently have a wish list and Milton Bradley is not on it. A player like highly regarded shortstop Starlin Castro most likely is, and the Cubs don't want to part with him, especially since they might only have Halladay for one year. The right-hander was 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA this season, and is a free agent after 2010. One thing the Blue Jays did make clear to the Cubs is they want to move Halladay this offseason.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/20 Bradley rumors

2009-11-20T18:16:26Z

Four to six teams have expressed interest in acquiring Milton Bradley, with the interest in varying degrees, depending on how much of the $21 million still owed the outfielder that the Cubs are willing to pick up.

However, top officials at both the Rangers and Cubs on Friday denied a Chicago Tribune report, which outlined a three-team swap that included the Mets. The proposed deal had Bradley going to the Rangers, who would ship Kevin Millwood to the Mets. The Cubs would get second baseman Luis Castillo from New York.

Yes, the Cubs would like to improve their second base situation. Millwood is owed $12 million in the last year of his deal, and the Mets need pitching. According to the Tribune, the Cubs would have to pay part of the $21 million remaining on Bradley's contract.

But a top Cubs official said there was no truth to the rumor. A high-ranking Rangers official told MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan such a deal is "not happening."

There is legitimate interest in Bradley, even after his dropoff in '09, his first year in Chicago. Teams have told GM Jim Hendry to keep them in the loop, and are waiting to see whether the Cubs will eat some of Bradley's contract.

There have been reports that the Cubs would take Tampa Bay outfielder Pat Burrell in a deal for Bradley, but Burrell is owed $9 million in 2010 and the Rays reportedly want Chicago to pick up part of Bradley's money as well.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/20 Grabow deal done

2009-11-20T18:07:03Z

Free agent reliever John Grabow finalized his deal, signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Cubs on Friday. Grabow, whom the Cubs acquired July 30 from Pirates, gives the team a veteran arm in the pen to set up closer Carlos Marmol.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/19 Minor additions

2009-11-19T23:52:47Z

Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com's guru on Minor League players, offers this info on the two prospects whom the Cubs acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Aaron Heilman:

Scott Maine, LHP: Taken in sixth round of the 2007 Draft of the University of Miami, Maine projects as a lefty reliever or specialist. He pitched at two levels in 2009, finishing with a 2.90 ERA and 61 K's in 62 IP. For his career, he's got a 3.29 ERA with a 134 K's in 120 1/3 IP.

In some ways, the 24-year-old hasn't lived up to the potential he once flashed in high school. He had Tommy John surgery early in his amateur career and never turned into the lefty ace some thought he'd be. That being said, he could have a future role. His fastball can run up to 93-94 mph and he comes from a pretty tough angle for left-handed hitters. He's got a lower arm slot that creates some deception. His secondary stuff is is a work in progress, but the arm strength from the left side has some value.

Ryne White, 1B: White just completed his first full season of pro ball after being selected by Arizona in the fourth round of the 2008 Draft. An accomplished and advanced college hitter out of Purdue, White spent the season with Visalia in the Class Advanced California League, finishing the year at .266/.371/.356. He's always shown an ability to control the strike zone and draw some walks, but he hasn't hit for much power thus far in his pro career (career .389 SLG). There are those who feel the 23-year-old will hit for power going forward, at least as a left-handed platoon type. He's kind of stocky, at 5-11, 205 lbs. At the very least, the Cubs are getting a decent organizational guy who has the chance to be a Matt Stairs type of hitter.

(My note: GM Jim Hendry said the same thing re: White, calling him a "Matt Stairs kind of guy." As for Maine, Hendry said the D-Backs made a good decision to put him in the pen.)

-- Carrie Muskat

11/19 AFL wrap up

2009-11-19T22:55:32Z

The Mesa Solar Sox finished their season Thursday with an 8-1 loss to the Peoria Saguaros. Cubs top prospect Starlin Castro went 0-for-3, only the sixth game out of 26 in which he was held hitless, and he ended with a .376 average. The 19-year-old shortstop made two errors.

Third baseman Josh Vitters, the Cubs' No. 1 Draft pick in 2007, went 1-for-4 Thursday and closed the Arizona Fall League with a .353 average. Michael Brenly also played, and went 0-for-4. He finished at .240.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/19 Cubs deal Heilman

2009-11-19T21:43:48Z

The Cubs dealt right-handed reliever Aaron Heilman to the Diamondbacks Thursday for two Minor League prospects. Heilman, 31, was 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 70 games in his only season in Chicago. He was one of a large number of arbitration eligible players, which include Carlos Marmol, Mike Fontenot, Jeff Baker, Sean Marshall, Ryan Theriot, Koyie Hill, and Angel Guzman.

In exchange for Heilman, the Cubs acquired left-handed pitcher Scott Maine and first baseman Ryan White. White is a Chicago native and 2005 graduate of St. Rita of Cascia High School.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/19 Grabow close to deal

2009-11-19T16:03:59Z

Thursday is the last day the Cubs have exclusive negotiating rights with John Grabow before he hits the free agent market, and the left-hander appears to be close to a new deal. The Cubs want Grabow to have a veteran lefty set-up pitcher in the pen. Grabow filed for free agency on the 12th day of the 15-day period. He is one of the top lefty relievers available in the free agent market.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/18 AFL update

2009-11-19T16:01:25Z

Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 with a double in the Mesa Solar Sox's 7-5 loss to Scottsdale on Wednesday. Cubs prospects John Gaub and Blaker Parker both pitched one inning in relief. The Solar Sox end the Arizona Fall League season on Thursday against the Peoria Saguaros.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/18 Mexican League update

2009-11-19T03:05:46Z

Cubs prospect Thomas Diamond gave up his first run in three games during an outing Tuesday for Mexicali. Diamond served up two hits -- including a solo homer -- and walked three over six innings in his third Mexican League start. He struck out six. In 14 innings so far, the right-hander has served up eight hits and struck out 15. The Cubs claimed Diamond off waivers from the Texas Rangers.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/18 Mr. Ricketts meets the owners

2009-11-18T19:36:20Z

New Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts will have a chance to meet the other Major League Baseball owners at a dinner Wednesday night. Ricketts, whose family took over the team in October, was not taking part in any of the owners committee meetings at the Chicago O'Hare Hilton. Team president Crane Kenney was at the hotel Wednesday for committee meetings on finance and revenue sharing.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig will address the owners on Thursday.

Kenney did say the Ricketts family will meet with Florida officials after Thanksgiving week as they continue to explore Spring Training options for the Cubs. The Ricketts family looked at several sites in Collier County, and were believed to have narrowed the list to three possible options. The Cubs have the option of buying out their contract in Mesa, Ariz., and moving after 2011.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/17 AFL update - Tuesday's game

2009-11-17T22:48:28Z

Andrew Cashner didn't exactly finish the way he would've liked. In his last Arizona Fall League start on Tuesday, the Cubs' 2008 No. 1 Draft pick gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk over three innings. The Mesa Solar Sox lost, 9-2, to Surprise. Cashner finished with a 4.58 ERA.

Shortstop Starlin Castro went 2-for-4 and scored a run -- he's batting .387 -- and Michael Brenly hit a double and drove in a run for Mesa. Cubs prospect James Russell struck out two in one inning, and now has a 1.26 ERA.

The Mesa Solar Sox will play Wednesday at Scottsdale and end the AFL season Thursday at HoHoKam Park against the Peoria Saguaros.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/17 AFL update

2009-11-17T15:00:52Z

Starlin Castro went 1-for-4 in the Mesa Solar Sox's 11-1 loss to Phoenix on Monday in Arizona Fall League action. Castro started at second base in the game. On Tuesday, Mesa plays host to Surprise at HoHoKam Park.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/16 AFL & winter ball update

2009-11-16T16:47:22Z

This is the final week of games for the Arizona Fall League. Josh Vitters apparently is recovered from the strained muscle, and hit a two-run homer Saturday in Mesa's 4-2 win over Peoria. He's batting .359 in the AFL. Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 with a double and was hitting .388. John Gaub and Blake Parker both pitched one inning of relief, and both picked up holds on Saturday.

On Monday, Mesa plays host to Phoenix at HoHoKam Stadium.

Cubs' prospect Andrew Cashner is 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA in five starts in the AFL. In his last outing Nov. 11, he was roughed up, giving up four runs on seven hits over three innings. In his previous outing, the right-hander threw four shutout innings, serving up five hits. He has fanned 16 over 16 2/3 innings this fall. Catcher Michael Brenly was hitting .294 with one homer in six games.

In Venezuela, infielder Andres Blanco was batting .316 with one homer, 11 doubles, two triples and 22 RBIs for Magallanes. Blanco has primarily played second base and was hitting second in the lineup there. Cubs prospect Robinson Chirinos was batting .357 with six homers, five doubles and 19 RBIs for Magallanes.

J.R. Mathes has returned home after making six starts for Caracas. He went 1-2 with a 5.08 ERA, striking out 12 over 28 1/3 innings. In his last outing Nov. 6, Mathes gave up two runs, 11 hits and did not walk a batter over five innings.

In the Dominican Republic, outfielder Nelson Perez was batting .362 in 17 games with two homers, three doubles, two triples and five RBIs for Toros del Este.

In Mexico, shortstop Matt Camp was batting .336 for Mexicali with 10 doubles, one homer and 21 RBIs. He's been leading off for the Mexican League team, and has a .401 on-base percentage. Brian Schlitter has seven saves and a 4.24 ERA in 16 games there, striking out 12 over 17 innings. The right-hander pitched on Sunday, and gaveup one run, two walks and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings.

-- Carrie Muskat

11/14 AFL roundup

2009-11-14T16:20:50Z

The Mesa Solar Sox lost 9-7 Friday to Phoenix in Arizona Fall League play. Catcher Michael Brenly was hitless in four at-bats, but is batting .294. On Thursday, Starlin Castro had two hits, a double and one RBI in Mesa's 11-5 loss to Phoenix. Josh Vitters was back at third, and also had two RBIs. The Solar Sox play at Peoria Saturday night.

-- Carrie Muskat