After making a few changes in the front office, the Chicago Cubs look set to have a busy offseason. Here's the latest...
- Aramis Ramirez declined his half of 2012's mutual option with the Cubs, and will hit free agency. He's the top name in a very weak 3B free agent class, and is coming off of a very good season (.306/.361/.510). It's thus likely that the 33-year-old will command a lucrative multi-year contract this winter.
- Carlos Zambrano has signed a contract to pitch in the Venezuelan Winter League for Caribes, and he's scheduled to make his first start on November 6th. It's still unknown whether or not Zambrano will pitch for the Cubs again; the 30-year-old right-hander is owed $18MM next year.
- Cubs manager Mike Quade, who is under contract through 2012, is scheduled to meet this week with team brass. According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Tribune, he has yet to learn whether he'll be back. Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue wrote last week about Cubs managerial candidates for next season, and seems pretty sure that Quade won't be back. As he put it, "I don't think there's anyone other than Quade himself who really believes that the Cubs won't have a new field manager (and coaching staff) next season."