The Cubs have inked Ken Kadokura to a minor league contract. Kadokura, a pitcher, previously played with Kosuke Fukudome in Japan.
The Cubs also invited 20 players to spring training. Those invited reportedly include former reliever Mike Stanton (last appeared in '07 with Cincinnati) and outfielder So Taguchi.
Michael Wuertz also signed with the team; he was the last arbitration-eligible player to re-sign (joining Kevin Gregg and Ronny Cedeno).
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.
Last night the Cubs did not offer Kerry Wood arbitration. The arbitration process is complicated, but basically because of the saturated free agent market, the Cubs did not want to take the chance that Kerry Wood would choose to re-sign and have to pay him at least 80% of last years salary. It is obvious now that the Cubs would rather not get anything for losing him than take the chance of having to sign him to a contract. Kerry Wood's career as a Cub had many ups-and-downs (what else is new?), but he was the longest tenured Cub (now it's Big Z) and was on 4 teams that made the postseason. That 20-strikeout, one-hit game against the Astros (in only his 5th major league start) was the stuff of legend, and sadly he never really was able to live up to the hype surrounding him after that. Still, he was a class act, a good role model (better than his hero, Clemens), and it'll be weird to see him in another jersey this Spring. Can't wait to see him enter a game as an opponent in Wrigley.
I do believe some team will come after Kerry (despite there being a bunch of other relievers on the market) so the Cubs securing two compensation picks is a good move.
I saw a clip where Jeff Samardzija mentioned his interest in joining the starting rotation. What are the odds this could be a possibility in 2009? If he can pitch as well as a starter as he did as a reliever in '08, then that move would give the Cubs a solid rotation with Dempster, Zambrano, Samardzija and [Jason] Marquis or [Rich] Hill. -- Bruce D., Columbia, S.C.
Rich Hill? What is this, 2006? Forget about Lilly, Harden, or Marshall... put Hill (a guy who can't throw strikes in WINTER BALL) back in the rotation with a guy who's pitched in 26 major league games, less than 28 innings, and ask them to be the back end of your rotation! Good job Bruce D. from South Carolina, you are the reason Cubs fans get a bad name.
