Anibal Playing Chicago-Ball Update

Earlier I wrote about the Cubs pursuit of Anibal Sanchez.
http://pasttheivy.blogspot.com/2012/12/anibal-ready-to-play-chicago-ball.html

MLB Trade Rumors has reported Sanchez will not make his decision tonight. They have received the information from a tweet by USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

It should be interesting to see when the pitcher will make his choice, along with what his choice is. He has already spent a year in Detroit, but the Cubs may have a better offer. I would love to have the addition of Sanchez to the Cubs. I can see him as a key player in strengthening our pitching.

We will just have to see what he does.

Anibal Almost Ready to Play Chicago-Ball

The Cubs are getting very close to making a deal with the free-agent pitcher Anibal Sanchez.

Sanchez, only 28, went 4 and 6 with a 3.74 ERA last year with the Tigers.

He has said that his choices of who he will be playing for next season have been narrowed down to the Tigers and Cubs. Currently, the Cubs have presented the best offer and Detroit is taking their last shot to top it, reports mlbtraderumors.com

The addition of Sanchez to the Cubs would only be one of many pitchers that the Cubs have thus far signed during the off-season.

We will see how this all pans out, and if the Cubs continue to strengthen their rotation.

Dempster off to Boston

It was a sad moment for Cubs fans last season when talk of Dempster being traded started to arise. Fans became ever sadder when they found out he was for sure off to Texas.

At the time of the trade, many analysts speculated that Ryan, the 35 year old pitcher, could possibly return to the Cubs this season, which makes a lot of sense. The Rangers were in need of someone who could throw the ball, and Dempster was not truly needed here in Chicago because our season was not going anywhere. It  would be a win-win situation for the Cubs. We trade Dempster for some decent prospects, and then after the season, pick back up from free agency. Plus, we were giving him to win a ring with a team that had a chance.

Well anyhow, Ryan Dempster will be wearing red and blue next season, just not for the Cubs. He has signed a deal with the Red Sox for $26.5 million over two years.

Ryan is one of the guys I wish we could get back. He is one of the absolute nicest players you will ever meet. He always has makes time for his fans. A few years ago I was at the Cubs Convention, where at the very beginning is a large presentation of the attendees and new players. Dempster walked out carrying his baby in his arms, and signed for every fan that was there. I forgot to mention that his baby was crying, not the happiest thing around. He signed and signed as he tried to calm his child. Any player that is willing to do that cares about his fans.

Dempster will be continued to be missed by me, and I am sure by Cubs fans everywhere.