Chicago Cubs News

Starlin Castro is the kind of baseball player that inspires introspection. At just 6'1", 160 pounds, his wiry frame doesn't belay the fleet footed fielding he's renowned for or the quick and powerful wrists that have made him a force at all levels of his professional career.

A recent photo of Sammy Sosa shows the former Chicago Cubs slugger with lighter skin than during his playing days .

Like it or not, one of the keys to the Cubs' success in 2010 is a resurgence by Alfonso Soriano.

The Cubs may not have as busy of an offseason as they had last year, but they're certain to be among the league leaders in deflecting rumors.

On Saturday evening, Chicago Tribune writer Paul Sullivan reported that the Chicago Cubs could soon part ways with both pitcher Rich Harden and outfielder Reed Johnson.

After the 2011 season, the Chicago Cubs will have to make a choice: keep third baseman Aramis Ramirez and purchase his club option for $16 million, or let him hit the market and buy the remainder of the contract for $2 million.

On Friday morning, the Chicago White Sox continued moving their roster pieces around before free agency begins by buying out right fielder Jermaine Dye .

Reports out of Philadelphia Friday are that the National League Champion Phillies will not pursue an extension with Brett Myers.

For a losing baseball team. In the middle of a recession. Who does that? "It was my idea" said new Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts, as he smiled and looked out over one of the Wrigley Field skyboxes, noting the work that needs to be done.

Well the were nearing the end of baseball season, and the hot stove has started to heat up.

This has been a big week for surgeries around baseball. On Monday it was the New York Mets' Jeff Francoeur going under the knife , on Tuesday it was the Detroit Tigers' Brandon Inge and the mother of The Ghost of Moonlight Graham having surgery, and yesterday it was the Chicago Cubs' Ted Lilly getting repaired.

In some ways, it's the same old story. The Yankees win, the Yankees win, say it 27 times for emphasis.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Vicente Padilla is recovering from a bullet wound in his leg after a target shooting instructor accidentally shot him.

Last month, Tom Ricketts and his family were in Collier County to do the same. Last week, a group of local investors, Fifth Avenue Advisors, and Chicago-based Esmark announced that they are leading an effort to lure the Cubs to Collier County from its current home in Mesa, Ariz.

A whisper leaked out of Arizona on Wednesday that Chicago Cubs' left-hander Ted Lilly underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery on Tuesday and isn't expected to return until April.

Castle: Keep Bradley? Cubs look to patch up offense. Move 3,000 miles west to San Francisco.

Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 is reporting that the Cubs and reliever John Grabow are in the midst of heavy talks for a multi-year deal.

With a new owner in place and a disappointing 2009 season in the rearview mirror, speculation is Jim Hendry will have one year to turn things around on the North Side.

It's understandable for consumers to be happy about and test out their new purchases: Porsche drivers would want to take a spin in a new ride, new homeowners have dinner parties, and kids with new toys play with them until their parents snap.

Our friends at MLBTR are all over this John Grabow story. Apparently the Cubs want to extend the guy's time with the Cubs via a two-year deal worth $6 or 8 million.