Chicago Cubs Wiretap

Cubs Trade Hollandsworth To Atlanta

The Chicago Cubs traded outfielder Todd Hollandsworth to the Atlanta Braves on Monday night for minor league pitchers Todd Blackford and Angelo Burrows.

Hollandsworth will give the Braves a left-handed bat and a reserve outfielder during the rest of the season. He is a career .299 pinch-hitter.

Hollandsworth started in left field in the Cubs' 9-6 loss to Los Angeles on Monday night and went 0-for-3 before he was removed. He has a .254 batting average but is in a 9-for-54 slump over his last 28 games.

He played in 107 games for the Cubs this season after joining them a year ago. He played in only 57 games in 2004, batting .318. His season was cut short in late June when he fouled a ball off his shin and did not return.

Via ESPN

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Wood To Have Season-Ending Surgery On Wednesday

Chicago Cubs right-hander Kerry Wood will have season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday.

Wood, who switched to the bullpen Aug. 5 from the rotation to try and alleviate the soreness in his shoulder, was available to pitch Monday night before he is sidelined for the rest of the season.

The surgery will be performed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek at Beacon Orthopedics outside of Cincinnati.

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, missed the entire 1999 season after Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. He has been bothered by arm problems the last two seasons.

Wood is 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA this season. He has started 10 games and made 10 relief appearances.

Via ESPN

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Todd Walker Could Be Moved To Cleveland

The Cubs could make one or two more moves by Wednesday, the deadline for waiver trades.

The Cleveland Indians are among the teams believed to be interested in second baseman Todd Walker, a left-handed hitter who is batting .303 and has played in both leagues.

Via Chicago Sun-Times

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Cubs Are Expected To Go After Furcal

The Cubs are expected to pursue Rafael Furcal, Atlanta's free-agent shortstop, who is 27 years old and will command a three- or four-year deal for around $8 million per season. Despite a slow start in '05, Furcal has a .339 on-base percentage leading off, with 38 steals. He's also fifth in the NL in fielding percentage and has great range at shortstop. Furcal's agent is Paul Kinzer, who has a good relationship with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.

Hendry said Saturday that the "only viable" leadoff man in the system is center fielder Felix Pie, who will wind up missing the final 21/2 months with Double-A West Tenn with a severe ankle injury. Pie will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic and is expected to compete for a roster spot next spring, but the Cubs can't count on him being the leadoff man.

"Getting the right leadoff guy is important," Hendry said. "We all know it's important, but as we all know, there are only five or six of those true guys in the game."

Via Chicago Tribune

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Yankees Acquire Lawton

The New York Yankees are close to a deal to acquire outfielder Matt Lawton from the Chicago Cubs, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

The Yankees would send a minor-league player to be named to complete the deal.

Lawton is batting .266 with 11 homers and 48 RBI

This would be Lawton's second trade of the season. He was dealt from Pittsburgh to the Cubs last month in a swap of outfielders. Jody Gerut was sent to the Pirates in exchange for Lawton, who has also played for the Twins (1995-01), Mets (2001) and Indians (2002-04).

Lawton, 33, is a career .269 hitter with 137 homers. He is a free agent after this season.

Via ESPN

Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees

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