Blanco, Harden, and a Closer Competition

Catcher Henry Blanco has signed with the Padres,

Rich Harden's shoulder will keep him from representing Team Canada in the WBC,

The Tribune Co. has picked a favorite to buy the Cubs - but no one knows who it is,

and Lou Pinella hasn't named Carlos Marmol the closer yet.

It would seem logical that Marmol would inherit the role.

Not so fast, Lou Piniella says.

The Cubs acquired Kevin Gregg from Florida this offseason, and Piniella doesn't want to declare Marmol the closer until he sees both pitchers this spring.

"Let them compete," Piniella said. "I feel comfortable with Marmol, there's no question. But we traded for this other young man, and he was a closer over there with success. Give him a chance, too."

New President... and Old-ish Cubs News

On this day, here's a fun website where you can make your own Shepard Fairey-esque poster.

Marmol, Fukudome, Lilly, Ramirez, Lee, Soto, Zambrano, Guzman, and Jose Ascanio all on World Baseball Classic provisional rosters. The WBC starts this March.

However, Zambrano may miss the WBC; he is planning to undergo LASIK surgery.

Kevin Gregg signed a one-year contract worth $4.2 million, avoiding arbitration in the process.

Felix Pie was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for two pitchers, lefty Garrett Olson and righty Henry Williamson.

Kerry Wood took out a full-page ad in the Tribune and Sun-Times, thanking Chicago fans, his teammates, and the Cubs organization.

DeRosa on Team USA, and the new Cubs Club

Cubs.com reports Mark DeRosa has accepted an invitation to play for the United States in the upcoming World Baseball Classic in March. In the first WBC ('06), Team USA included Cubs Derrek Lee and Michael Barrett. The United States start pool play on March 7 against Team Canada. Italy and Venezuela are also in Pool C with USA/Canada. Pool C's double elimination games will be played in Toronto.

Team Venezuela may invite Carlos Zambrano to play on their team, which means Cubs teammates DeRo and Zambrano could face each other in pool play. Granted, there are no guarantees that Zambrano would accept the invite, much less make the start against Team USA, but it could happen nonetheless.

Fukudome also may play for Team Japan. Japan hosts Pool A games in Tokyo, their first-round opponents are China, Korea, and Chinese Taipei.

Pool B contains Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa; their games will be played in Mexico City. The Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Panama, and Puerto Rico make up Pool D, and the games will be played in San Juan.

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Waxpaperbeercup links to a story about the new tiered Cubs Club membership levels. Long story short, if you pay for a tiered membership level, you get a chance to buy pre-sale tickets. Fact is, the park will always be packed, and Cubs fans will pay any price to get the best tickets to the best games. As long as there is demand, the Cubs will find new ways to squeeze their fanbase for more and more cash. I don't like it, but it's a business and I can't blame them for doing their job and exploring new revenue streams. As long as they keep putting quality product on the field, demand will stay high and the front office has done a reasonable job of raising ticket prices on the most desirable seats while keeping other ticket prices within reach of the common family. Only when the Cubs have a down season will the club and the brokers be stuck with extra tickets.

12/22/08 Mailbag