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Cubs free agents to test market

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With just two days left before exclusive negotiating time runs out on teams and their free agents, all three Cubs free agents the team would like to bring back -- pitchers Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood and backup catcher Henry Blanco -- appear headed to the open market first, if they come back at all.

Chicago Sun Times

Kerry Wood , Stephen Dunn/Getty Images Kerry Wood , Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
November 12, 2008  07:23 AM ET

Of those three, Blanco stands the best chance of coming back, and even that doesn't look good. With the never-ending desire for pitching in the majors and the pending sale of the Cubs, they stand a slim chance of being able to offer contracts that will rival other teams. But Hendry knows how to make things work, so it could very well happen that the Cubs retain all three...

November 12, 2008  08:25 AM ET

Cubs management already said that they don't plan to bring back Blanco, but want to bring back the other 2. I am still wary about Kerry Wood, so Marmol might end up taking over if Wood gets a contract that is rediculous.

November 12, 2008  08:41 AM ET

I agree with you UCF......I think Kerry will get a big offer and the Cubs will rightly pass and move onto Marmol as their closer.

Comment #4 has been removed
Comment #5 has been removed
November 12, 2008  08:49 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

I agree with you UCF......I think Kerry will get a big offer and the Cubs will rightly pass and move onto Marmol as their closer.

the question with Kerry is "Wood ya?" My answer an empathic "no": the guy's been hurt his entire career and had one good stint as a closer. Teams will figure him out and wait for his fastball, he'll start biting his nails get an infection, well you all know the rest.

November 12, 2008  09:18 AM ET

No to wood...yes to dempster

November 12, 2008  09:20 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

Kerry wherelandup where? St.Louis? ................laughs.............

Not St Louis. We've had enough injured pitchers to last the rest of my lifetime

November 12, 2008  09:38 AM ET

Par for the coarse for players on a team that has shown it will spend.

November 12, 2008  10:55 AM ET

well come on who wouldnt at this point?? of COURSE ur gonna test the market...doesnt mean ur not gonna stay with the cubs though...it just means you wanna see what other teams are wanting for ur services to their team. Then that jumps up the offer on the cubs side if they really want you that bad...great financial scheme...

November 12, 2008  10:55 AM ET

oh and if it wasnt for this peavy trade dempster may have signed already at this point...

November 12, 2008  10:56 AM ET

and i would take blanco back because we dont really have a good backup catcher on hand and no liable good backups in the free agency except for blanco....makes ALOT of sense to keep him.

Comment #14 has been removed
November 12, 2008  12:41 PM ET

Just heard that the Cubs have signed Mark Mulder to a 4 year contract.

They are also working very agressively to sign Mark Prior back.

November 12, 2008  01:48 PM ET

Obama is a Sox fan. I am now pledging my allegiance to the White Sox. I do call the right to convenietly declare myself a Cub fan where I see fit and show extreme bitterness at a moment's notice.

November 12, 2008  01:59 PM ET

The Rangers would be silly not to grab hometown boy Kerry Wood and make him their closer. But then again they are the Rangers.

November 12, 2008  02:28 PM ET

all three will be back...end of story...next

November 12, 2008  02:44 PM ET

The Cubs have Soto as the starting catcher, so Blanco is expendable because the Cubs can sign a free agent backup catcher on the cheap. I think he Cubs will make competitive offers to Wood and Dempster. Wood, I think, will sign. He and his wife love Chicago and the Cubs have been good to Kerry over the years. If Dempster goes elsewhere, then fine, we will just have to buy one on the market.

November 12, 2008  05:19 PM ET

Damn..I personally dont want to loose Dempster or Wood. Blanco..blah, he can leave, Soto will rock, like said, get a cheap backup.

Hmm...

 
November 12, 2008  05:19 PM ET
QUOTE(#18):

all three will be back...end of story...next

Inside source!!!


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