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Garza and Cubs avoid arbitration with 1-year deal

By Dave van Dyck, Chicago Tribune reporter — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Only 2 on club above $10 million as starter settles for $9.5 million

When Matt Garza and the Cubs avoided Friday's arbitration hearing with a morning settlement of $9.5 million, it left the newly frugal Cubs with only two players making more than $10 million.

Garza, Cubs settle at $9.5 million

By Dave van Dyck, Tribune reporter — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:19:00 GMT

The Cubs and pitcher Matt Garza avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $9.5 million contract just before they were to go through the arbitration process Friday morning.

Cubs sign Cuban left-hander Concepcion

By Dave van Dyck, Tribune reporter — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:54:00 GMT

The Cubs have signed left-handed pitcher Gerardo Concepcion to a reported $7 million multi-year, major league contract.

Power rankings: No. 14 Dodgers

Phil Rogers — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:22:00 GMT

Dodgers sale will bring big money, if only because of TV rights

No. 14 Dodgers: 17th in a series counting down to spring training. Next: Giants.

Power rankings: No. 15 Blue Jays

Phil Rogers — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:59:00 GMT

Blue Jays are just 1 blockbuster trade away (think Votto)

No. 15 Blue Jays: 16th in a series counting down to spring training. Next: Dodgers.

ALCS ring stolen from home of Cubs' Garza

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:34:00 GMT

The Fresno Bee reports: A 2008 American League Championship Series ring was among the items stolen from the home of Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza during a burglary in Fresno County in California.

Cubs brass learning about new facility in Dominican Republic

By Phil Rogers , Chicago Tribune reporter — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:42:00 GMT

Ricketts bringing key staff members to view club's project

The Cubs' new academy in the Dominican Republic is 12 to 18 months away from completion, but that won't stop Chairman Tom Ricketts, his siblings and the team's key staff members from traveling to Santo Domingo this week.

Hendry to join Yankees as assistant

By Dave van Dyck, Tribune reporter — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:51:00 GMT

Former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry will be announced as a new special assistant to Yankees' GM Brian Cashman, a source confirmed Tuesday.

Rogers' power rankings: No. 17 Brewers

Phil Rogers — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:45:00 GMT

Unwise spending by owner Attanasio could prove costly

No. 17 Brewers: 14th in a series counting down to spring training. Next: Nationals.

Cubs sign veteran lefty Trever Miller

By Dave van Dyck, Tribune reporter — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:50:00 GMT

The Chicago Cubs added veteran left-handed reliever Trever Miller to their eclectic pitching mix Monday, signing him to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Dawson likes Marlins' new Chicago flavor

By Fred Mitchell, Tribune reporter — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:55:00 GMT

The Miami Marlins will have a new ballpark and several new faces familiar to Chicago baseball fans.

Power rankings: No. 18 Royals

Phil Rogers — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:42:00 GMT

Royals counting on big things from developing rotation

No. 18 Royals: 13th in a series counting down to spring training. Next: Brewers.

Jackson believes his time is coming — soon

By Dave van Dyck, Chicago Tribune reporter — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:32:00 GMT

Cubs prospect thinks he's big-league-ready, and numbers just might bear him out

Funny thing about Brett Jackson: He has been both a Cubs' savior and a Cubs' survivor — and he has only played in parts of three minor league seasons.

MLB whispers: Crowded field at 1st in AL

By Phil Rogers, Tribune reporter — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:26:00 GMT

There are at least 6 with legitimate All-Star hopes there for 2112

Eric Hosmer's goal is to play in the All-Star Game, which will be at his home ballpark in Kansas City. That goal has gotten a whole lot more difficult with Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols joining a cast of AL first basemen that already included Adrian Gonzalez, Paul Konerko and Mark Teixeira. …

Rogers: Fielder deal not without its risks

Phil Rogers — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:25:00 GMT

Tigers have cornered market on large corner infielders of dubious defensive skills

The Prince Fielder signing made a strong statement for the Tigers, who already were on the fringe of the elite crowd in the American League, and thus the major leagues' elite. They were going to be prohibitive favorites to win the AL Central, even without the injured Victor Martinez, and with Fielder they become the best preseason bet in baseball.

Power rankings: No. 19 Rockies

Phil Rogers — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:02:00 GMT

Rockies trying to build pitching strength through numbers

No. 19 Colorado Rockies: 12th in a series counting down to spring training: Next: Royals

Selig expects two one-game playoffs for this fall

By Dave van Dyck, Tribune reporter — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:50:00 GMT

Baseball appears ready for an extra round of wild-card playoffs by this fall, according to commissioner Bud Selig.

Selig: No timeframe for solving Cubs-Red Sox compensation

By Dave van Dyck, Tribune reporter — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:39:00 GMT

The Cubs and Red Sox have submitted written proposals – thought to include names of players – to commissioner Bid Selif in hopes of settling their dispute over compensation for Theo Epstein switching allegiance.

Three women arrested for trespassing at Wrigley Field

By Rosemary Sobol — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:37:00 GMT

Three women were charged with trespassing after they sneaked into Wrigley Field early this morning and refused to leave, police said.

Cubs take Corpas off big league roster

By Dave van Dyck, Tribune reporter — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:02:00 GMT

The Cubs removed reliever Manny Corpas, who is still recovering from elbow surgery, from the 40-man roster but will still invite him to spring training with a chance to make the team.

Ex-Cub, Sox minor leaguer Ward suspended 50 games for amphetamine

Tribune News Services — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:31:00 GMT

NEW YORK -- Daryle Ward, an 11-season veteran who hasn't played in the major leagues since 2008, has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned amphetamine under the minor league testing program.

New Cubs pitching coach old-school

By Dave van Dyck, Chicago Tribune reporter — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:53:00 GMT

Nothing too fancy, Bosio just wants pitchers to get guys out

If you believe that printouts from Carmine II or Big (Cubbie) Blue, or whatever Theo Epstein calls his new computer system, is going to dictate what happens on the field completely, then you haven't met Chris Bosio.

Cespedes establishes D.R. residency, set to hit market

The Sports Xchange — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:52:00 GMT

Yoenis Cespedes' agent said the Cuban outfielder has established legal residency in the Dominican Republic, allowing him to becoming a free agent.

Rogers: With Prince, Tigers join baseball royalty

Phil Rogers — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:42:00 GMT

Sox seem consigned to lower echelon with Central foe among AL elite

Forget retooling. The Tigers struck a blow Tuesday that suggests they might do what no team has done since the Albert Belle/Manny Ramirez/Jim Thome-era Indians. They are in position to dominate the Central and scare everyone else in the American League in the process.

Wrigley rooftop venue sold in bankruptcy auction

By Ameet Sachdev — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:56:00 GMT

The owner of a Wrigley Field rooftop business acquired a neighboring property with a rooftop venue at a bankruptcy auction for $4.8 million.