Not getting anything out of the front office, Tribune beat writer Paul Sullivan hit on agent Scott Boras last night for news on the Cubs-Beltran situation. Boras was only too happy to oblige, outing the Cubs’ apparent continuing interest for the other GMs to see.

I found a couple of things about the article (linked below) eerie in light of my optimistic comments yesterday.

Me (yesterday): “…perhaps the Cubs GM is flying under the radar to San Juan [Puerto Rico, where Carlos Beltran was earlier this week] right now.”

Sullivan in last night’s article: “…[Boras] said he respects the Cubs ability to ‘fly below the radar’”.

Sullivan tried to get comments from Hendry, but he declined as he was “en route to a family get-together” (uh-huh), but did say the Cubs are still “interested” in Beltran.

In light of all the recent press, and with respect to the inability to trade Sammy Sosa to date, this would have been the perfect time for Hendry to say that the Cubs are no longer in the Beltran hunt. The fans have been prepared for it, and a back-up plan involving a possible Magglio Ordonez acquisition has been heavily floated. But Hendry did not take that opportunity to say the Cubs are not interested in Beltran and has never said so. I admit I am overly optimistic, but it seems the Cubs still have a shot at signing this year’s premier free agent.

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Boras: Beltran, Sosa fate not tied (Sullivan)

From around the country
Hey, it looks like the Scripps Howard News Service is the first to predict a Cubs pennant for 2005. Do they know something, or have they not been paying attention?

--

Meanwhile, I’ve felt bad this week chatting about free agent signings during one of the worst humanitarian crises the world has witnessed, but I wasn’t sure what I could say that would mean anything.

Well done to Al Yellon at And Another Thing!, who simply pointed out what we all can do to help, if only a little. See Al’s latest post for a link to the relevant Red Cross donation site for pledging assistance to relief efforts in Asia.

As an optimist, I choose to believe that the downbeat reports this week of the Cubs losing out on Carlos Beltran due to financial and personnel (Sosa) constraints are simply the parroting of the media message that the front office wants out there this week. The Yankees and Astros have done enough on their own to keep Beltran's price tag high. A showy pursuit by the Cubs in advance of talks would make the competition bid even higher.

In the De Luca column linked below, it is reported that the Astros want an answer by the end of this week, not by January 8th. Of course, that could mean simply declining their offer and not necessarily agreeing to someone else's.

It is against my nature as an off-season Cubs news junkie, but I am hoping for complete quiet from the organization this week. There has been no announcement that the Cubs will meet with Beltran like the Yankees and Astros have done and like the Mets and possibly Tigers will. What I am banking on is Jim Hendry already being in Puerto Rico to make the Cubs' offer with no negotiation through the media. After all, he went quietly to California to close the deal with Nomar. It will be far more difficult to do with the number one free agent on the market, but perhaps the Cubs GM is flying under the radar to San Juan right now.

For the moment, no news is good news.

Sun-Times
Adding Beltran seems like impossible dream for Cubs (De Luca)

From around the country
The Baltimore Sun (Reg. Req.) says that "the Orioles aren't pursuing a trade with the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Sammy Sosa despite various reports to the contrary."

The Tribune article (Reg. Req.) on Todd Hollandsworth's return to the team is interesting both for getting a sense of club thinking on the outfield next year, and the situation regarding the battling trainers who were overwhelmed with Cub injuries last year. They've also got a "Where Are they Now?" piece on the 2003 playoff squad, demonstrating that only one infielder and one outfielder from that championship team remain on the Cubs for 2005.

Sun-Times
Cubs' timing not right for Beltran (Kiley)
Player in question backs up Groeschner (Kiley)

Herald
Cubs re-sign Hollandsworth to one-year contract (Miles)
Alou finalizes Giants deal (AP)

From around the country
The Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser has an account of a settlement between Jennie Patton and the Cubs over a sex discrimination lawsuit. The former part-time scout for the Cubs sued the organization for failing to promote her because she is a woman.

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Cubs wait, see about Beltran bid (Sullivan)
Snub by Cardinals led to ex-trainer's lawsuit (Mitchell)

Merry Christmas from Cubs for Breakfast

When there's no news and no moves, even the beat writers following the Cubs resort to naked speculation. Usually that's the realm of uninformed columnists and fans. Sober Bruce Miles says why not Green for Sammy over at the Herald, whereas breathless Mike Kiley at the Sun-Times says no way no how on a deal with the Dodgers.

Herald
Cubs making Green trade in realm of possibilities (Miles)

Sun-Times
Training for a fight: Krum files lawsuit vs. Cubs (Kiley)
Dodgers don't want Sammy (Kiley)

Southtown
Giants poised to sign Moises (AP)

From around the country:
I got nothin'

Here in Ireland, it is tough to get into the spirit of the Hot Stove league--away from the computer anyway. I was reminded of how far removed I am from the world of baseball the other day at my in-laws, when my wife’s niece was taken to task by my brother-in-law for the designer gear she was wearing – that being the pink ladies-style Yankees hat on her 18 year old head. He saw it as a designer label, she called it a “New York hat”.

Yankees merchandise is widespread here despite the complete and utter lack of interest in baseball in the general population. It is down to the Bronx Bombers’ marketing partnership with Manchester United, their soccer equivalent in Europe, and its former megastar player David Beckham being photographed wearing a "New York hat" a few years ago.

I think I saw some pink Cubs hats on sale at Wrigley Field when I was there this year, but somehow I can’t see them taking off the same way – thank god for that.

--

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Yanks fume as big deal falls apart (van Dyck)

Sun-Times
Nets not good enough at Wrigley, city says (Spelman)

From around the country
Tampa Bay could offer a reunion of sorts for the Cubs erstwhile double-play combo from their division championship season of 2003. The Devil Rays, already mentioned as a Mark Grudzielanek suitor, are apparently considering asking Alex Gonzalez to play third base for them in 2005. If it was good enough for A-Rod, why not A-Gon?

In Barry Rozner's Daily Herald column this morning, Ryne Sandberg is the guest, ostensibly to talk about his Hall of Fame chances. In the end, Rozner lets the mild mannered one go off down a path of subtly slamming the players of today for their less-than-subtle abuse of performance enhancing drugs, which Ryno seems to view as an abuse of the game itself.

The Rocky Mountain News reports that Desi Relaford has offers from the Cubs, Rockies and Rangers. He can apparently play all the positions the newly-re-signed Jose Macias plays, plus shortstop. Is the Cubs' offer now withdrawn, because Macias has been signed, or is Jose just a stop-gap measure?

Southtown
North Siders tender contracts to five players, re-sign Macias (Vorva)

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Jockeying heats up in Beltran derby (van Dyck)
Reds sign Mercker to 2-year deal (AP)

Sun-Times
Engineers say nets at Wrigley should remain in place (Spelman)

Herald
Finding a closer, Sosa situation top Hendry's list of challenges (Miles)
Alou OK after spinout in Dominican Republic

Sun-Times
Sosa-to-Mets deal not dead yet (Kiley)
Sosa quandary gumming up works for Cubs-Beltran deal (De Luca)

Congratulations to Matt Clement, who signed a multi-year deal with Boston. With the Cubs hosting the Red Sox in inter-league play next June, maybe Matt will get one more start in Wrigley Field to make up for the ones he missed in September when he was pulled from the rotation.

RIP Ted Abernathy, who I remember from the Cubs bullpen in the late 60s-early 70s, and who threw with an underhand submarine type motion that was unique at the time. Abernathy died aged 71 in North Carolina.


Sun-Times
Cubs cut back on bleachers to win city OK

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Clement jumps at Red Sox pitch
Sammy another piece in puzzle (Sullivan)

I Don’t Get it Either

Thanks to Anonymous for his or her comment on Dec. 10. He or she said:

I don't get it if I need to get Cubs news I just go to the link below or run an RSS feed.
http://www.prosportsdaily.com/mlb/cubs/rumors.html
Its great what your doing but its redundant...

Believe me, I thought about this too, because there are so many ways already to “get Cubs news”. I wasn’t aware of the site you mention, but for an automated feed of relevant Cubs articles it is excellent. Most ways of aggregating lots of sources reporting on a topic result in either too much irrelevant junk or else too narrow a focus in terms of sources. The Pro Sports Daily bot works really well, as it sucks up articles from the four Chicago dailies as well as major news sources around the country.

So, am I wasting my time? I started doing this because during the off season I am scouring for Cub news updates every morning between around 3:30 and 5:30 am Chicago time (it’s a lot later here) when a lot of daily news sources get updated. I thought, since I’m already scanning, it might be useful for others if I collected the new headlines and stuck them in one place early every morning for easy access. It only takes me an extra minute or two and others might benefit from it.

A couple things that will keep me going:

-I get new headlines up about 90 minutes earlier than Pro Sports Daily and other aggregators.

-I filter out articles that add nothing to what has already been posted. I also “filter in” bits that might not make it the other sites or get lost among the junk: e.g., the last paragraph of a piece from Louisiana on Todd Walker, or something from a columnist (rather than a news article) that includes actual news and not just commentary.

So, for the moment, I’ll keep posting. If I get more feedback that Cubs for Breakfast is redundant, I’ll reconsider the format, but I intend to do that anyway when the season starts.

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Serious suitors kissing off Sosa (Sullivan)

Fround around the country
At the very end of this morning's New York Times (Reg. Req.) article on Atlanta's trade for Tim Hudson, Braves General Manager John Schuerholz "said he had financial flexibility to address Atlanta's outfield needs, [and] admitted that he had had preliminary conversations with the Chicago Cubs about Sammy Sosa." But the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Reg. Req.) says that despite this, "a deal appears highly unlikely."

Some Thursday items that posted late:

Sun-Times
Cubs still hope to talk with O's (Kiley)

Southtown
Sosa rumors rumble (Vorva)

Cubs.com
Cubs' Spring camp opens Feb. 16 (Muskat)

Herald
Cubs no closer to moving Sosa (Miles)

Tribune (reg. Req.)
Cubs keep shopping while Sosa takes hit (Sullivan)

From around the country
The Baltimore Sun (Reg. Req.) quotes an Orioles executive as saying that the team would only be interested in acquiring Sammy Sosa if the Cubs paid 80 percent of his salary....The papers in Boston are saying that Matt Clement is now the Red Sox's main target for a new starting pitcher, but the ex-Cub free agent has just visited the Dodgers and Angels and will make a decision on where to sign today or tomorrow....Meanwhile, the Reds are still interested in Kent Mercker, but have not made an offer yet.

Ill-Timed Hiatus

After missing only one day in our first six weeks, it’s too bad that a staff shortage in the kitchen will keep the Breakfast closed for a few days just as we start to pick up some visitors (and, just as the Hot Stove really heats up – damn!). But it’s nice to have a life once in awhile too. Updates will resume sometime next week.

Herald
Payroll could exceed $100M (Miles)
Hendry's assumption: Sosa will return in 2005 (Miles)

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Maggs: 'Why not the Cubs?' (Sullivan)
Cubs can't let Beltran go elsewhere (Rogers)
For Cubs, dealing Sosa not so easy (Foltman)

From around the country
Despite Jim Hendry's posturing in the Herald and Trib (and the Sun-Times and Southtown), the Sosa saga continues with full force. New York Newsday says this morning that Mets GM Omar Minaya has not given up, and that the Cubs have upped their offer financially.......Remember that story in October suggesting that Nomar Garciaparra could go to the Yankees next year and play second base alongside Derek Jeter at short and Alex Rodriguez at third? The New York Post claims it was Nomar himself who came up with the idea......The Brewers are the latest to throw their hat into the ring for Matt Clement

Sun-Times
Sosa plays mum on trade talk (Kiley)
Hendry zeroing in on Brewers' Kolb (Kiley)

Herald
Christmas shopping in Anaheim (Miles)

Southtown
Blanco could be a real steal (Vorva)

Cubs.com
Blanco signs deal with Cubs

Herald
Return engagement (Spellman)
Walker thinks Sosa will apologize (Miles)

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Nomar, Walker on board (Sullivan)

Sun-Times
Cubs' daily double: Nomar, Walker (Kiley)
Mariotti column

Cubs.com
Cubs agree to terms with Walker

Cubs.com
Cubs reach deal to keep Garciaparra

Sun-Times
Cubs bid adieu to disappointed Alou (Kiley)

The Kiley article above and Carrie Muskat’s piece on MLB.com last night suggested that the Cubs might offer arbitration to Todd Hollandsworth, who says he is completely healed. Paul Bako is also mentioned as an arb candidate, while the remaining free agents are given short shrift. Do they have the inside track here? We’ll find out tonight.

Why do the Rockies still think the Cubs might be interested in Charles Johnson? This comes up in the Denver press about once a week. Could there be a Sosa angle, even after last week's events?

The Mets are the latest to join the queue to talk to Matt Clement's agent, although Peter Gammons has added the Dodgers and Cardinals to the list...

Herald
Cubs' Hendry working hard to re-sign Garciaparra, Walker (Miles)
Rozner column with new Cubs rumor

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Toughest tasks up next for Hendry (Sullivan)
Santo low-keys Hall vote (Sherman)
Cubs hire head trainer

Sun-Times
Cubs go combo, get set to re-sign Nomar, Walker (Kiley)

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Cubs might take look at rehabilitating Nen (Rogers)

Cubs Free Agent Watch III: Moises Alou

The Japan Times said last month that Moises Alou, “coming off a 39-homer, 106 RBI, .293 year at age 38, will check out the options available for 2005, including a return to Chicago and a second tenure of play for his father, this time in San Francisco.”

Do those options really exist?

Apparently, “his father would love for him to play in San Francisco and it would depend on what kind of offer the Giants can make,” according to Scout.com. The Cubs declined his option but said they could be interested in a cheaper deal, however, that seems very unlikely if Sammy Sosa cannot be traded.

But the New York Post says the Mets are interested in maybe having Alou instead of Sosa, and the Texas Rangers are also said to be looking at a 2005 outfield with Mo.

From around the country:
Shreveport Times: Walker open to return to Chicago

The St. Louis Post Dispatch said on Saturday that although Nomar was first choice, the Cubs have started talking to Edgar Renteria's agent just in case. Today, they mention that Tony Womack is now being looked at more closely by the Cards than the Cubs...Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Star Telegram (Reg. Req.) says the Rangers will wait to see if the Cubs offer Todd Walker arbitration before offering him a deal to play in Texas....

Sun-Times
Steroid fallout dims chances of Sosa trade (De Luca)

From around the country
New York Newsday says the Giambi episode casts further shadows over the potential Sosa trade, as the Mets front office tries to convince their GM to "Just Say No"...

Sun-Times
Cubs working on deal to keep Garciaparra; Walker could be in the mix (Ginnetti)

Herald
Cubs' Hendry still optimistic (Miles)

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Astros open Beltran bidding (van Dyck)

Herald
Cubs' Hendry working to sign Garciaparra (Miles)

Tribune (Reg. Req.)
Pedro talks put Sammy on hold (van Dyck)