July 2014 - Chicago Cubs Wiretap
The Chicago Cubs have reportedly reached an agreement on a one-year deal with Chris Denorfia.
Denorfia, 34, spent parts of five seasons with the San Diego Padres, mostly serving in a platoon role in the outfield, before being traded to the Seattle Mariners last season.
The Chicago Cubs are among the clubs interested in signing Stephen Drew.
The 31-year-old Drew hit .162/.237/.299 in 300 plate appearances during the 2014 season.
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro was questioned by police in the Dominican Republic in connection with a shooting at a nightclub early Saturday morning that left six people injured, including one in serious condition, according to an ESPN.com report.
The Padres and Phillies have discussed a potential trade for left-hander Cole Hamels, Philly.com reported Sunday evening. Outfielder Wil Myers would be the headliner heading back to Philadelphia, according to the report.
The Boston Globe reported last week the Padres, Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers were interested the 30-year-old Hamels.
The Chicago Cubs have agreed to sign David Ross to a two-year, $5 million deal.
It was reported earlier Friday that Ross would sign with the San Diego Padres, but he ends up with the Cubs.
The Seattle Mariners have acquired Justin Ruggiano from the Chicago Cubs.
Seattle will send right-hander Matt Brazis to Chicago in return.
Ruggiano is expected to make more than $2 million in arbitration.
Jason Motte has agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, according to a source.
Motte has spent his entire Major League career with the St. Louis Cardinals. He had a 4.68 ERA in 29 appearances this past season.
Jon Lester set MLB records for largest signing bonus and biggest upfront payment with his $155M, six-year deal with the Cubs, according to an ESPN.com report.
The pitcher's contract calls for a $30M signing bonus, of which $15M is due by April 1, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Ben Cherington says he wishes the Boston Red Sox had some time with negotiate with Jon Lester prior to the 2014 season.
Lester agreed to a deal with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. He became a free agent this offseason after the Red Sox dealt him to the Oakland Athletics in July.
The Red Sox made Lester an offer of $70 million over four years, which has been reported multiple times. Cherington wishes Boston had a chance to improve that offer, which he felt was a starting point.
"Back at the beginning of this process, we made a commitment with (Lester's agent Seth Levinson) and Jon to not talk about the details of the conversations publicly and we've honored that," Cherington said. "So I'm not going to stop honoring that now.
"The problem when pieces of conversations or pieces of information get put out without the whole context of what's going on, it can sort of shape the public narrative. All I can say is that we had a lot of conversations prior to making an offer. I think there was a decent understanding on both sides of where, back in spring training, and during the season, of where the range of both sides were looking. We felt that we could enter into a conversation, and we could start a conversation and that’s the only way you get to a deal, is to start a conversation. We just weren't able to have the kind of dialogue back in the spring, or during the season, that we wanted to.
"As I've said before, can we learn things from what happened? Sure. Always can. But right now, once you get into free agency, it becomes a different animal. We understand that. Simply put, the Cubs offered more than we did and he made a choice and we respect it and wish him nothing but the best. We go back to focusing on putting our team together and we feel really good about where we are."
Las Vegas likes the Chicago Cubs much better now that Jon Lester is in the mix.
At 12-1 odds, the Cubs have moved into the top tier of favorites in Las Vegas to win the 2015 World Series.
The Cubs began the offseason at 40-1 to win the World Series at the Westgate SuperBook, but have seen their odds steadily increase over the last month with the addition of manager Joe Maddon. They were at 18-1 to begin the week at the SuperBook.
The Cubs haven't won the World Series since 1908.
