GM Winter Meetings Updates/Discussion

[DMBZeppelin]

Cubs Winter Meeting Updates:

Tuesday - December 4th, 2007 (All times EST)

3:12 p.m., from Buster Olney
• The Rangers continue to talk to the Cubs about Mark Prior. The Padres also have expressed interest.

9:52 p.m., from Jerry Crasnick
• The Cubs don't have much hope of prying loose center fielder Josh Hamilton from Cincinnati. The Reds are willing to trade Hamilton, but they would prefer not to deal him to another club in the National League Central.

• The Cubs, who received almost no power production from the left side in 2007, want to add two left-handed hitting outfielders to their lineup. If they can sign Kosuke Fukudome from Japan, that would fill one spot. They've inquired about Geoff Jenkins, and some people in the organization want to see GM Jim Hendry pursue a trade for the Angels' Chone Figgins, a switch-hitter. But the Cubs probably don't have what it takes to land Figgins. The Angels value Figgins so highly, one person with ties to the Los Angeles organization said the team might ask the Cubs for third baseman Aramis Ramirez in return.

[DMBZeppelin]

Cubs Winter Meeting Updates:

Wednesday - December 5th, 2007 (All times EST)

8:45 p.m., from Steve Phillips
• The Cubs and Orioles have discussed a Brian Roberts trade. Baltimore could get Rich Hill and Sean Marshall for the second baseman.

10:03 p.m., from Amy Nelson
• If Brian Roberts is traded to the Cubs, it's believed that it might not happen until the Orioles complete a trade for either Erik Bedard or Miguel Tejada. According to a source with knowledge of Baltimore's trade talks, the O's have had so much interest in their players that they "have a lot on their table." But the relationship between Andy McPhail and Cubs GM Jim Hendry dates back several years, so a trade could happen faster than it would with other clubs. Rich Hill, originally thought to be part of a deal, is currently not in the discussions. Instead, Chicago likely would send upper-level prospects to Baltimore. Among the names being considered are Sean Marshall, Sean Gallagher, Felix Pie and Donnie Veal .

10:59 p.m., from Steve Phillips
• The Cubs have denied that Rich Hill would be included in any Brian Roberts deal.

11:11 p.m., from Jerry Crasnick
• When teams bring up Rich Hill's name in trade talks with the Cubs, general manager Jim Hendry counters with Jason Marquis. Hendry has made it known that he's not going to move Hill or center fielder Felix Pie unless he receives an offer that blows him away.

[DMBZeppelin]

Cubs Winter Meeting Updates:

Thursday - December 6th, 2007 (All times EST)

10:44 a.m.
• The Rule 5 draft is over. Here are the picks:

(There was a giant table, but all that matters is)

Pick 1, RHP Tim Lahey, to Tampa Bay (from Minnesota)

Lahey was sold to the Cubs in a prearranged agreement with the Rays. Guevara was traded to San Diego for cash. Many teams passed on making a selection because their 40-man rosters were already full and there wasn't a whole lot of talent available. Former Rule 5 success stories include Josh Hamilton, Dan Uggla and a pitcher named Johan Santana.

12:40 p.m., from Jerry Crasnick
• The Cubs are talking to former Pirates GM Dave Littlefield about joining the organization in an advisory capacity. Littlefield was fired by Pittsburgh this season and replaced by Neal Huntington.

1:44 p.m., from Jayson Stark
• The Orioles' Andy MacPhail left Nashville late Thursday morning. So that makes it official -- the Orioles won't be making any deals here. Their talks with the Cubs about a trade for Brian Roberts have been back-burnered while the Orioles prioritize talks about Bedard and Miguel Tejada. But what we found on that back burner is that there is mutual interest in a deal that would send Roberts to the Cubs for pitcher Sean Gallagher, plus a second player that still needs to be determined. Despite speculation Felix Pie could wind up in that trade, teams that have talked to the Cubs about Pie say he would only be movable in a much bigger deal.

4:11 p.m., from Enrique Rojas
• The Orioles have intensified talks with several teams to trade shortstop Miguel Tejada, second baseman Brian Roberts, and left-hander Erik Bedard. The Astros and Angels are the most interested teams in Tejada.