Chicago Cubs: Monday News and Notes 1/23/12

While the new MLB hot-stove darling, Yoenis Cespedes, has been linked to several interested teams this offseason, the Chicago Cubs apparently are the most interested, according to the recently defected Cuban outfielder. Cespedes is reportedly seeking a deal in the neighborhood of $50 million. The 26-year old is now playing in the Dominican Republic Winter League, where he has struggled so far, despite hitting his first home run last week. While Cespedes is older than most potential MLB rookies, he is much younger than the Cubs’ current centerfielder, Marlon Byrd. Byrd has one year left on his contract, and according to Fangraphs, Cespedes’ numbers will project similarly to Byrd’s output. Byrd will turn 35 this August, while Cespedes is entering his prime. While it’s impossible to accurately project Cespedes’ performance in the majors, the promise of a slugging, great-fielding, potentially five-tool player patrolling center field in Wrigley Field is an exciting one for Cubs fans.

The Cubs and the team’s number-one starter, Matt Garza, remain deadlocked over the final year on his arbitration-eligible contract. Garza is reportedly asking for more than initially reported, meaning the Cubs and the 28-year-old pitcher are far apart on an agreement. If the two sides can’t iron out a deal, an arbitration hearing will be held in February. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the uncertainty over Garza’s status may limit the Cubs’ ability to deal him for prospects this offseason. There are apparently several teams interested in Garza, such as the Detroit Tigers, but they have all been unwilling to meet the Cubs’ demands for top prospects. The Cubs could do worse than going to spring training with Garza as their ace. He had a 3.32 ERA in 2011 and a pitching WAR of 2.9.
With the Cubs’ recent acquisition of first baseman Anthony Rizzo and Cubs team president Theo Epstein’s nod to Bryan LaHair starting at first base for the Cubs in 2012, Carlos Pena’s brief Cubs career has officially ended. The 33-year-old Pena signed with the Tampa Bay Rays last week, after playing only one season in Chicago. Pena returns to Tampa Bay, where he played from 2007 through 2010. Pena hit 144 home runs in four seasons with the Rays, while posting an OPS of .884. While with the Cubs in 2011, Pena hit 28 home runs, with an OPS of .819.
Break out the champagne, Cubs fans, the team re-signed Rodrigo Lopez this past week. Lopez came on board last season to help the Cubs’ ailing pitching staff, and actually performed better than expected, posting an ERA of 4.42 in 26 games (16 starts). If Lopez makes the Cubs’ opening day roster, he may pitch in a long-relief role, and be a spot-starter as needed. The 36-year-old Lopez has a career ERA of 4.82. The Cubs also made a similarly low-key move last week, signing utility infielder Matt Tolbert to a minor-league contract. Tolbert, formerly of the Minnesota Twins, hit three home runs in four seasons with the Twins, posting a four-season slash line of .230/.288/.319.  Tolbert won’t impress with the bat, and he has proven to be an average fielder.
While the Cubs’ search for a first baseman ended this month with the signing of Anthony Rizzo, and their apparent major league promotion of first baseman Bryan LaHair, it puts to rest any thoughts of the Cubs signing free agent Prince Fielder. Fielder remains unsigned, and has been linked to more than a dozen teams this offseason, including rumors that the Cubs had shown interest. While it’s highly unlikely Fielder will land in the NL Central again, he may wind up in the National League. Fielder has recently been rumored to be headed to the Texas Rangers, but with their recent large investment in Japanese pitching star Yu Darvish, they aren’t likely to sign Fielder for the money that he is demanding. The Washington Nationals have also been linked to Fielder in recent weeks, but the slugger remains without a team and without a contract.

-James Kries