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Free agents, the Cubs' sale, and Milton Bradley are among the topics in this week's Inbox. Send your questions to cubsinbox@gmail.com, and please include your full name and hometown.
If you were to take a guess, what players do you see not returning to the Cubs in 2010, and do you see the acquisition of Kevin Gregg as a big mistake or just him having a bad year? I assume Carlos Marmol has cemented himself as next year's closer, so is Gregg traded or put in the bullpen? -- Jeremy B., Denver
Gregg most likely will file for free agency after the World Series ends; that's when the madness begins. Gregg still wants to be a closer. However, it's clear that's Marmol's job now. Gregg is not expected back. He won't be traded; he's not under contract. I don't think the signing was a "big mistake." He was 4-1 with 11 saves, no blown saves, and a 2.21 ERA at Wrigley Field. The problem was the road, where Gregg was 1-5 with a 7.59 ERA and seven blown saves. And those blown saves were in big ballparks, too.
As for who else won't return, technically, there are five other free agents: Reed Johnson, Rich Harden, John Grabow, Chad Fox and So Taguchi. We can dismiss Fox and Taguchi. They won't be back. Grabow is experienced, a lefty, good against left-handed hitters, and durable. Hendry already has had talks with his agent about a new deal. Johnson is a great teammate, and if he hadn't broken a bone in his foot, might have helped the offense when it stalled in August. He's great in the clubhouse, too. The problem with keeping Johnson could be money -- he was paid $3 million and that's a lot for a fourth outfielder. Plus, he wants more at-bats. As for Harden, read on.
I know Rich Harden is a free agent but are the Cubs not even considering him for their starting rotation next year? They have a solid rotation but it seems odd that Harden put up very good numbers and is not even considered to be a Cub next year. And, if the plans are that he no longer remains a Cub, why would he sit at the end of the year to "save his arm?" -- Andy C., Baltimore, MD
Piniella doesn't mention Harden's name when he talks about the 2010 rotation because the right-hander is not under contract. Harden did give the Cubs a lot more than they expected and that's a credit to him, athletic trainer Mark O'Neal, and pitching coach Larry Rothschild. But, do you give a multiyear deal to a pitcher who made 16 appearances total in 2006 and '07? He'll most likely ask for $10 million a year. Or, do you look at the Cubs pitchers under contract -- Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells, Tom Gorzelanny -- and say that's enough? Those are the kind of debates that go on between the front office staff.
What's the tentative schedule for the approval of the Cubs purchase this winter? This has to be one of the longest club ownership sagas in years. -- Michael M., Chicago
Now that Major League Baseball owners have approved the Ricketts family, all that's left is for the bankruptcy court to give its approval, and that most likely will happen by the end of the month. The Cubs' budget is not expected to change much from the $135 million figure this year. The team's organizational meetings will be in early November, and, as Lou Piniella says, the Cubs only need a few touches here and there.
Do we agree that the offense was the biggest problem this year? -- Kenny D., Atlanta
Actually, the lack of offense by some players who were counted on, such as Bradley, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, and Mike Fontenot.
Read the entire article:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... Id=rss_chc |
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