Ryan Freel

Ryan Freel is now a Chicago Cub after the Baltimore Orioles traded him in exchange for fellow outfielder Joey Gathright . Freel, who's been struggling with injury, was unhappy out the playing time he would recieve with the Orioles. From a report at foxsports.com: The deal is cash-neutral, according to one source. The Cubs will pay the balance of Gathright's $800,000 salary for 2009 with the O's paying the balance of Freel's — about $3.3 million. Freel, who recently completed an injury...Read Full Story

photo by timailius We all know that the team that you break camp with is not the same you’ll have at the end of the year.  The Chicago Cubs make midseason trades and transactions just like every other MLB team. New players become available on other teams and players on your own team become available as the needs of a ballclub change.  Certain players become expendable.  There are positions where a team feels like it can improve.  Rookies get called up from the minors.  Players get hurt...Read Full Story

The Cubs have reportedly approached the Orioles about utility player Ryan Freel . Freel can play all three outfield positions, second, and third base. The Cubs decided to demote Joey Gathright, likely signaling the end of his time in Chicago. My main problem with this trade is this would not have been a problem if the Cubs kept Mark DeRosa, who instead was traded to the Indians for three minor league prospects. While DeRosa was a fan favorite, and proved to be a very versatile player, the...Read Full Story

The Orioles and Cubs have completed a trade that would send utility player Ryan Freel to the Cubs for outfielder Joey Gathright . It was originally reported that Gathright was being demoted, but the two teams were able to pull off a quick exchange after he cleared waivers. The deal is cash-neutral, a source told Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal. So the Orioles will pay Ryan Freel's 3.3 million dollar salary and the Cubs will pay Joey Gathright's 800,000 dollar salary. Freel gives the Cubs...Read Full Story

Despite Dusty Baker's love for veterans, the Front Office may see the potential for its younger players and stick with them. I'm not saying that Jeff Keppinger and Norris Hopper have at all proven themselves, but they have shown that they can contribute and deserve a fair look. Also, Encarnacion has shown great strides at third base and will get a good look while Votto and Jay Bruce should get spots in the lineup. I see them starting the year with Hatteberg at first, Votto in left, and a...Read Full Story