Results tagged ‘ Marlins ’
1/5 Report: Willis back with Cubs
Dontrelle Willis apparently is back with the Cubs. According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com and MLB Network, Willis has signed a Minor League deal with the Cubs. Heyman reported the left-hander was invited to the Minor League camp, but may get some Cactus League innings, depending on how he does. The Cubs selected Willis in the eighth round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, and then included him in a trade to the Marlins in March 2002 for Antonio Alfonseca and Matt Clement.
Willis, who turns 31 on Jan. 12, also has pitched for the Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Reds, compiling a 72-69 record and 4.17 ERA over nine seasons. He was on the World Series champion Marlins team in 2003, and won National League Rookie of the Year honors that year, posting a 14-6 record and 3.30. He finished second in the Cy Young balloting in 2005 when he won 22 games. But Willis seemed to lose his touch after he was dealt to the Tigers in December 2007 along with Miguel Cabrera, and won four games out of 40 starts over the next four seasons.
In March 2012, he signed with the Orioles but voluntarily retired on July 2. He made three relief appearances in April for Triple-A Norfolk, then reportedly left in a dispute over his role as a reliever. He returned to make one start for the Minor League team on June 28, going 2 2/3 innings, before announcing his retirement.
On Friday, Willis made his return public on his Twitter account, @D_Train35. He tweeted: “Thanks For The Cubs Givin Me Another Opportunity To Keep Playin Ball … I’m Gonna Give It My All Hopefully Have Another Blessed Year.” Willis said he’s been working hard this offseason to get in shape “after a couple tough years,” and says “I’m Ready To Compete 100% In ’13 N Be A Bulldog Again.”
– Carrie Muskat
12/12 Cubs claim Rosario
The Cubs added another arm to the bullpen mix when they claimed right-handed pitcher Sandy Rosario off waivers from the Red Sox. Rosario, 27, has been active on the transaction wire. The Red Sox acquired him off waivers from the Marlins on Oct. 17, and he was designated for assignment on Nov. 20. Eight days later, he was dealt to the Athletics for right-hander Graham Godfrey. The Athletics then designated Rosario for assignment two days later. On Dec. 10, the Red Sox claimed him again off waivers.
Last season, he combined for 17 saves and a 1.99 ERA in 31 Minor League games between the Marlins’ Triple-A, Double-A and Class A teams. Rosario missed nearly two months on the disabled list because of a strained right quad. He’s had limited appearances over the last three seasons with the Marlins, totaling 7 2/3 innings, and made four appearances in June with the big league team. At Triple-A New Orleans, Rosario posted a 1.04 ERA with 16 saves in 25 games, striking out 24 over 26 innings. This winter, he’s been pitching for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican, appearing in 12 games through Dec. 8. He has 13 strikeouts and issued five walks over 11 1/3 innings.
Cubs manager Dale Sveum may remember Rosario. Sveum was with Milwaukee when the pitcher made his Major League debut on Sept. 23, 2010, for the Marlins, and the Brewers’ Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder hit his first and third pitches for home runs.
Rosario is the third new arm added to the Cubs’ bullpen, joining Japanese pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa, who signed a two-year deal last Friday, and Hector Rondon, who was selected in the Rule 5 Draft. With the addition of Rosario, the Cubs’ 40-man roster is now at 40.
– Carrie Muskat
9/27 Greenberg to get an at-bat
The Marlins have signed Adam Greenberg to a one-day Major League contract, effective Tuesday. He will appear in the Marlins game against the Mets in Miami. Marlins owner Jeffrey H. Loria made the announcement. Greenberg, 31, made his ML debut on July 9, 2005, with the Cubs against the Marlins but was hit in the back of his head by a pitch from Valerio De Los Santos in his only ML plate appearance. He is currently one of only two players ever to be hit by a pitch in his first-and-only ML plate appearance and never take the field, along with Fred Van Dusen (Philadelphia, 1955). After spending the remainder of the 2005 season on the disabled list, Greenberg, who suffered from vertigo following the incident, played in the Minors and independent baseball from 2006-2009.
Greenberg has agreed to donate his one-day salary to the Marlins Foundation, which will then make a donation to the Sports Legacy Institute, an organization that advances the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups.
He was originally drafted by the Cubs in 2001 out of the University of North Carolina. Greenberg recently played for Israel in the World Baseball Classic qualifying round in Jupiter, Sept. 19-23, and walked in his only plate appearance.
– Carrie Muskat
7/18 Cubs lineup
Jeff Samardzija takes the mound Wednesday night in the second game of the Cubs’ three-game series against the Marlins. Here’s the lineup:
DeJesus CF
Castro SS
Rizzo 1B
Soriano LF
LaHair RF
Soto C
Barney 2B
Valbuena 3B
Samardzija P
– Carrie Muskat
7/17 Cubs lineup
The Cubs open a three-game series against the Marlins on Tuesday, sending Travis Wood to the mound. Here’s the lineup:
DeJesus CF
Castro SS
Rizzo 1B
Soriano LF
LaHair RF
Soto C
Barney 2B
Valbuena 3B
T. Wood P
– Carrie Muskat
7/15 Cubs vs. Marlins
Carlos Zambrano will not start this week when the Cubs play host to the Marlins in a three-game series, starting Tuesday. Here are the pitching matchups:
Tuesday: LHP Travis Wood (4-3, 3.05) vs.RHP Anibal Sanchez (4-6, 4.12)
Wednesday: RHP Jeff Samardzija (6-8, 4.71) vs. RHP Josh Johnson (5-6, 4.28)
Thursday: LHP Paul Maholm (7-6, 4.33) vs. LHP Mark Buehrle (8-8, 3.25)
– Carrie Muskat
1/4 Big Z headed to Marlins
He threw a no-hitter in 2008, yet threw more than his share of tantrums. He was a Cy Young waiting to happen, but could aso be a distraction. Carlos Zambrano was a volatile, emotional pitcher, and now appears headed to Miami. The Cubs and Marlins have reportedly agreed to a deal which would send Zambrano to Miami in exchange for Chris Volstad. The Cubs would pick up $15-16 million of the $18 million owed Zambrano next season. Volstad is a first-year arbitration eligible player.
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal first reported the deal, and said it is done pending approval by the commissioner’s office. The two teams also need to exchange medical records. Neither Cubs nor Marlins officials would comment on the reports.
If the Cubs do move Zambrano, it would end a roller coaster ride in Chicago. Zambrano, 30, had to waive his no-trade clause for such a deal to be completed, and given the chance to join Ozzie Guillen in Miami, he did so. Big Z is coming off a 9-7 season which ended abruptly Aug. 12. He served up five home runs to the Braves that day, then was ejected for throwing inside to Chipper Jones, and left Turner Field early. Zambrano told teammates he was retiring, and later recanted. He was subsequently placed on the disqualified list and did not pitch again for the Cubs.
This offseason, Zambrano made five starts for Caribes in the Venezuelan Winter League, and last pitched Dec. 27, giving up one run over 4 1/3 innings.
On Wednesday during a fan question and answer session, Epstein talked about how Zambrano has to change to fit into what the Cubs are trying to do.
“The Carlos Zambrano of 2011 and years previous can’t fit into the culture that we have here,” Epstein said. “Change needs to happen and change will happen. Either he’ll change and buy in and fit into this culture — and I understand there are a lot of skeptics around about that, and I understand that, and frankly, I’m skeptical as well.
“He needs to prove to us that he can change and be part of this culture,” Epstein said, “or we’ll change the personnel and move forward with people who are proud to be Cubs and treat their teammates with respect, treat the fans with respect and can be part of a winning culture in the Cubs’ clubhouse.”
Zambrano would likely be the fourth or fifth starter for the Marlins, joining a rotation of Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Anibal Sanchez, and Ricky Nolasco.
Volstad, 25, was 5-13 with a 4.89 ERA in 29 starts last season with the Marlins, striking out 117 over 165 2/3 innings. In 103 games over four seasons in Florida, he was 32-39 with a 4.59 ERA. Volstad earned $445,000 last season; he will not be a free agent until after the 2014 season. He would join a Cubs rotation that includes Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Travis Wood and Randy Wells.
– Carrie Muskat
1/3 Garza & the Yankees
The Cubs are not going to deal Matt Garza unless they get significant players in return, and the asking price apparently is too high for the Yankees. ESPNNew York’s Wallace Matthews reported Tuesday the Cubs’ asking price is “out of the question” for the Yankees. The Cubs reportedly want at least two and possibly three of the Yankees’ top prospects Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances. The Red Sox, Tigers, Marlins and Blue Jays also have been linked to Garza, but the Blue Jays also have reportedly balked at the Cubs’ requests.
– Carrie Muskat
1/1 New year, more rumors
It’s a new year, which means more rumors regarding the Cubs and teams interested in acquiring Matt Garza. The Tigers are apparently the latest to show interest in the right-hander, and are willing to deal Jacob Turner, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. Turner, 20, made 17 starts at Double-A Erie last season, posting a 3.48 ERA with 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.5 walks per nine innings. The Cubs are listening to a number of teams but Olney says no deal is imminent. The Marlins, Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays also have reportedly been in touch with the Cubs about Garza, but Theo & Co would have to be overwhelmed with a package of top prospects to part with the right-hander.
The Marlins failed in their bid to acquire Gio Gonzalez from the Athletics and reportedly wanted Class A outfielder Christian Yelich in return. Among the other players teams are looking at in the Marlins’ system include third baseman Matt Dominguez, Gaby Sanchez, Chris Coghlan and Jose Ceda. Dominguez, a first-round pick in 2007, batted .258 in 87 games with Triple-A New Orleans with 12 homers and 18 doubles. Sanchez, a right-handed hitting first baseman, batted .266 with 19 homers, 25 doubles, 78 RBIs and a .779 OPS in 159 games with the Marlins last season. Coghlan, an outfielder, was a first-round pick in 2006. The Cubs know Ceda, who was in their system and traded to Florida in November 2008 for Kevin Gregg. Ceda appeared in 17 games last season with the Marlins.
– Carrie Muskat
5/21 Pitching and defense
If pitching and defense are keys to a winning season, and most baseball experts say they are, then the Cubs are headed in the wrong direction. They rank second in the Major Leagues in batting, trailing only the Cardinals. But they are 28th in the Majors in pitching with a 4.72 ERA, and 28th in fielding with 33 errors. The Astros are the only National League team worse than the Cubs in the latter two categories.
Before Friday’s game against the Red Sox, GM Jim Hendry sounded encouraged by what he’d seen in Florida in the two wins over the Marlins.
“I’m hopeful that a lot of our failures early (are over),” Hendry said before the Cubs’ 15-5 loss to the Red Sox. “When you play well against a good team like the Marlins, and in a place until last year we never had any success … What we have is a lot of really solid guys, team-oriented guys, that are trying to hard to be ‘the guy’ and get something going that maybe they’ve pressed themselves into some failures.
“Hopefully, they proved the last couple of days they could relax, play good baseball against a good team, and hopefully we’ll carry that over here and in a big homestand before the end of the month.”
This has been a long, tiring road trip that started in Cincinnati with two losses to the Reds, including a 7-4 loss Monday that prompted a team meeting by manager Mike Quade.
“We gave away a few games,” Hendry said. “Everybody has them. The two in Cincinnati were probably as hard to take as any ones all year. … I think they’re going to grind their way through it and play good baseball.
“The last couple of days [against the Marlins] should show you something because [the losses to the Reds] … were two we really should’ve had. It’s hard to get off the plane the next day on the road, and they really played good baseball for two days [in Florida].”
Unfortunately for the Cubs, that good feeling didn’t last in Fenway Park. They still have not been able to win three in a row.
– Carrie Muskat
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