Chicago Sports Then and Now

On Thursday, the Cubs and closer Carlos Marmol agreed to terms on a one-year, $2.125 million deal for the 2010 season, a payraise of over $1.5 million from 2009.  The agreed upon figure was the exact midpoint between Marmol’s asking price of $2.5 million and the Cubs’ original offer of $1.75 million.

Marmol is happy about his new deal

Marmol was named the club’s closer in August of last year, going 11-for-11 in save opportunities and leading the team with 27 holds for the season.  He will likely not have to compete for the job this season, as former closer Kevin Gregg was not offered a new deal and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Marmol becomes the seventh arbitration-eligible Cub to re-sign before reaching a hearing, with infielders Jeff Baker and Mike Fontenot, catcher Koyie Hill, right-handed pitcher Angel Guzman and left-handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny agreeing earlier in January, and left-handed pitcher Sean Marshall agreeing to a $950,000 deal last week.

With those players signed, the only outstanding arbitration-eligble player for the Cubs is shortstop Ryan Theriot.   Theriot is asking for $3.4 million in 2010, while the Cubs have countered with $2.6 million.  Either way, “Riot” will be getting a significant raise from his 2009 salary of $500,000.  If it gets to that point, the hearing will take place sometime before February 21.   Read the rest of this entry →

It's tough to see him go...

One year after an offseason filled with all the wrong moves, the Chicago Cubs have started this one off on a much better foot.  On Thursday, the Cubs made their latest offseason transaction by trading INF Aaron Miles and 3B/OF Jake Fox to the Oakland A’s for RHP Jeff Gray and two prospects.

Last July, just before my time as a Chicago ST&N writer, I proposed the idea of trading Fox for bullpen help while his value was highest and the team was in desperate need of another arm.  Fox has a great bat and lots of potential, but with no natural position in the field, his future is with an American League club where he can play everyday as a designated hitter.

GM Jim Hendry had the following to say about Fox: “We feel we maximized his value in the trade, but we’re giving Jake the opportunity to be an everyday player in the American League as a first baseman, [designated hitter], and corner position that we don’t have available with Derrek [Lee] and [Aramis Ramirez] and [Alfonso] Soriano.”

While it’s unfortunate to see Fox go, the trade allowed Hendry to unload the $1.7 million dead weight that is Aaron Miles.  Last season, Miles batted a career-low .185 with no home runs and 5 RBIs, and was less useful on offense than Carlos Zambrano.  Miles was versatile in the field, but with Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, Jeff Baker and Andres Blanco capable of playing the middle infield positions, there was really no spot for someone who can hit about as well as I can. Read the rest of this entry →