December 9, 2015

, Cubs to Yankees, agree to four-year deal with http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-land-ben-zobrist-20151208-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Javier Baez remains in Cubs' mix http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-javier-baez-remains-with-cubs-20151209-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Pitching price is right for Cubs with http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-like-pitching-price-20151208-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs create wiggle room for more additions http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-have-salary-space-20151208-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, welcomes bigger target on Cubs' back http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-joe-maddon-welcomes-target-20151208-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs, in sync with 's rehab http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-addison-russell-healing-20151209-story.html

 Chicago Sun-Times, Combo deal: Cubs trade Starlin Castro to Yankees, sign Ben Zobrist http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/1165660/combo-deal-cubs-trade-starlin-castro-yankees-sign- free-agent-ben-zobrist

 Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs build pitching depth with under-the-radar moves http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/1165768/cubs-build-pitching-depth-radar-moves

 Daily Herald, sign Zobrist, trade Castro http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20151208/sports/151208903/

 Daily Herald, Maddon: Cubs need to 'adjust back' to avoid sophomore slump http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20151208/sports/151208909/

 Daily Herald, Imrem: Chicago Cubs make sense in how they're spending their dollars http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20151208/sports/151208895/

 Cubs.com, Cubs add FA Zobrist, deal Castro to Yanks http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/159006676/cubs-add-ben-zobrist-trade-starlin-castro

 Cubs.com, Cubs acquiring assets without giving up prospects http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/159191500/cubs-theo-epstein-keeps-prospects-in-trades

 Cubs.com, Maddon guarding against sophomore jinx http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/159134522/joe-maddon-excited-about-year-2-with-cubs

 Cubs.com, Bid on epic Cubs experiences in charity auction http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/159163194/cubs-experiences-available-in-charity-auction

 Cubs.com, Maddon's success due to unique philosophy http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/159156510/joe-maddon-succeeds-with-unique-philosophy

 Cubs.com, Cubs thrilled to add Lackey to their fold http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/159133736/cubs-thrilled-to-add-john-lackey

 Cubs.com, Maddon adds to Cubs' haul as Best http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/159067596/joe-maddon-wins-mlb-award-for-best-manager

 ESPNChicago.com, Cubs fill holes with moves that send Castro out, bring Zobrist and Warren in http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/36010/cubs-fill-holes-as-castro-leaves-zobrist-warren-arrive

 ESPNChicago.com, Joe Maddon on : It's a perfect fit for Cubs http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/36004/joe-maddon-on-john-lackey-its-a-perfect-fit-for-cubs

 ESPNChicago.com, Busy Cubs aren't done yet after Ben Zobrist, Starlin Castro deals http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/66928/busy-cubs-arent-done-yet-after-zobrist-castro

 CSNChicago.com, Domino effect: Cubs sign Ben Zobrist for $56 million and trade Starlin Castro to Yankees http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/dominos-fall-cubs-make-pair-splashes-winter-meetings

 CSNChicago.com, Traded from Cubs, Starlin Castro starts over with Yankees http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/traded-cubs-starlin-castro-starts-over-yankees

 CSNChicago.com, Joe Maddon sees Javier Baez and as building blocks – not trade chips – for Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/joe-maddon-sees-javier-baez-and-jorge-soler-building-blocks-%E2%80%93- not-trade-chips-%E2%80%93-cubs

 CSNChicago.com, Ben Zobrist agrees to four-year deal with Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-agree-four-year-deal-ben-zobrist

 CSNChicago.com, Cubs send Starlin Castro to Yankees http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/report-cubs-send-starlin-castro-yankees

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Chicago Tribune Cubs trade Starlin Castro to Yankees, agree to four-year deal with Ben Zobrist By Mark Gonzales

Cubs President Theo Epstein condensed his two major moves Tuesday night as the simple transaction of “trading” mercurial infielder Starlin Castro for two-time All-Star Ben Zobrist and Adam Warren.

But it took some juggling for Epstein and his staff to address several significant needs for the Cubs.

The Cubs cleared $38 million in trading Castro to the Yankees for Warren, 28, who could help the pitching staff in a variety of roles and isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2018 season, and a player to be named.

In moving the contract of Castro, 25, a three-time All-Star who moved to second base and excelled in the final month of the 2015 season, the Cubs cleared enough money to sign Zobrist, a highly-sought free agent, to a four-year, $56 million contract. The versatile Zobrist fills many needs and allows them some financial freedom to plug other less significant holes.

“That’s something, in our situation, that made a lot of sense for us,” Epstein said in addressing the moves.

Zobrist, 34, who spent his first nine seasons with Cubs manager Joe Maddon with the Rays, has a lifetime .355 on- base percentage. Since 2009, Zobrist ranks fourth in the majors with 566 walks and fifth with 247 doubles. That should help a Cubs offense that had a .321 on-base percentage and led the league with 1,518 .

With the expected loss of free agent , Zobrist could fill in as the Cubs’ leadoff hitter, Epstein said. Zobrist has scored at least 74 runs in each of his last seven seasons.

The switch-hitting Zobrist also provides balance to the Cubs’ lineup, which showed vulnerability against the Mets’ hard-throwing right-handed in the National League Championship Series.

“He’s exactly the type of hitter we’re looking for,” Epstein said.

Zobrist played second base in 69 of his 126 games for the Athletics and Royals last season and will spend the majority of his time there, Epstein said. Over his career, he has played much .

Javier Baez will continue to play various positions, but now the Cubs have the depth and financial resources to acquire another pitcher or a solid defensive center fielder.

The Cubs expressed their interest in Zobrist early in the free-agent period but asked him to remain patient so they could clear money and address other needs.

That included moving Castro, who lost his shortstop job to rookie Addison Russell on Aug. 7 but resurrected his career with a move to second base and an NL-high .369 batting average in September and October.

Yankees general manager said he tried to acquire Castro at the July 31 trading deadline with the intention of moving him to second but that the Cubs weren’t interested.

Discussions resurfaced a few days ago, and the Cubs found a fit with Warren, who was 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA in 43 appearances (17 starts).

“We’re excited on our end,” Cashman said. “We think (Castro) is a guy who is an above-average defender at second base, has a quality stick, is 25 and can play short and third and gives us a lot of athleticism for his age and hopefully performance.”

The trade of Castro removes one of the final links of the pre-Epstein era that started before the 2012 season. Castro received a seven-year, $60 million contract in 2013 but was inconsistent at the plate and in the field.

“It’s certainly bittersweet with sadness that we see him go,” Epstein said after talking with Castro, who currently is working out near the Yankees’ spring training facility in Tampa.

Warren, like , and Clayton Richard, will be stretched out as a starter in spring training but could be used initially as a reliever. Warren could end up in the rotation in the future with John Lackey’s contract expiring and eligible for free agency after 2017.

Warren, who features a 95 mph fastball with an “excellent change-up,” according to Epstein, was 6-6 with a 3.66 ERA in 17 starts and had a 2.29 ERA in 26 relief appearances.

“It was tough to lose him, but you have to give to get,” Cashman said.

The player to be named is expected to be infielder , according to a source.

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Chicago Tribune Javier Baez remains in Cubs' mix By Mark Gonzales

One of the more remarkable achievements of the Chicago Cubs' off-season is that they've been able to make moves without surrendering any of their major prospects.

That includes 23-year-old Javier Baez, who may not get a true shot at starting on a daily basis in 2016 unless he's traded.

Nevertheless, Baez remains a Cub as newly acquired Ben Zobrist, 34, is expected to start at second base most of the time. There could be playing time for Baez at second on days in which Zobrist starts at other positions, such as left field in place of if the Cubs are facing a tough left-handed pitcher.

"And then going forward, long-term, this will give more opportunity for Javier Baez as well with Zobrist’s flexibility and ability to play all over the field," President Theo Epstein said Tuesday night. "I think you look at the corner outfield and a lot of days we’ll have Kyle Schwarber out there, who is just learning the position, and () Jorge Soler, who hasn’t quite managed to play the 162 games (but will be spelled on occasion by ). So I think Zobrist protects us all over the infield as well as the outfield."

Before the Cubs acquired Zobrist and traded Starlin Castro for pitcher Adam Warren and a (believed to be Brendan Ryan), Epstein acknowledged the attention that Baez and Soler attract from other teams.

"We value those guys tremendously," Epstein said. "There’s tremendous value holding onto the Baezs and Solers of the world and letting their talent manifest over a full major league season. They’re guys who have the opportunmithy to play a major league seaon over six months.

"We’re invested in both guys. We’re listening. If the right deal were to come along, we’d pay a little closer attention. But certainly both guys are important parts of our future, and we look forward to them continuing to establish themselves."

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Chicago Tribune Pitching price is right for Cubs with Adam Warren By Mark Gonzales

The Chicago Cubs were extremely happy and had a right to feel relieved Tuesday night after acquiring pitcher Adam Warren from the .

The Cubs were linked to pitchers Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran of the Atlanta Braves and also talked to the , who have left-hander Matt Moore.

All three are under team control for several years, but President Theo Epstein found the price of young starting pitching extremely expensive.

"We looked into the starting pitching markets and the trade market, and we really came to feel like the price of poker was very high to acquire starting pitching," Epstein said. "Years and dollars for starters of note in free agency that came with a significant amount of risk, frankly, that we weren’t comfortable with.

"In the trade market, we felt like in a lot of cases, we would have had to pay for $2 on the dollar almost in return, so I think (signing) John Lackey on a two-year deal and Warren on three years of control with the ability to start as well as pitch in the , made a lot of sense to us as a reaction to what’s going on in the market."

The Cubs completed the acquisition of Warren and a player to be named later - believed to be infielder Brendan Ryan - for infielder Starlin Castro shortly before the acquired Miller for shortstop Dansby Swanson (the first overall pick in the 2015 ), Ender Inciarte and pitching prospect Aaron Blair.

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Chicago Tribune Cubs create wiggle room for more additions By Mark Gonzales

The addition of Ben Zobrist lessens the Chicago Cubs' need for an offensive-minded center fielder.

In addition, the way that the contracts of John Lackey and Zobrist were structured allow the Cubs to continue to look for pitching as well as address their void in center field with the expected departure of free agent center fielder Dexter Fowler.

"We’ll continue to pursue smaller moves for depth," President Theo Epstein said. "Obviously we’d welcome an impact move if it’s out there. All the moves we have been pursuing previously here are potentially alive for us."

Zobrist's four-year, $56 million contract was structured so that he'll receive a $2 million bonus with a $10 million salary in 2016, followed by salaries of $16 million in 2017 and 2018 and $12 million in 2019.

Lackey will receive a $7 million bonus with a salary of $12.5 million in 2016 and 2017. The Cubs have earmarked about $90 million to 12 players for 2016 - including $11 million for since-departed Edwin Jackson.

With about $40 million left to spend, the Cubs have about up to $10 million to spend for their non-arbitration eligible players. That could allow them to be more creative, as Epstein thanked the Cubs' business department with its assistance that enabled them to acquire Lackey and Zobrist with more room to spend with a surplus of relievers and infielders.

"I wouldn't say we’ve limited ourselves in any trade talks going forward, but we don’t have to act out of need or desperation," Epstein said. "We can be very selective."

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Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon welcomes bigger target on Cubs' back By Mark Gonzales

After advancing to the National League Championship Series with a young nucleus returning, manager Joe Maddon welcomes the challenge of greater expectations.

"The point is everybody knows us now," Maddon said during his media session at the Winter Meetings. "Like I said, the target's bigger, whatever. They're going to study us even a little bit harder.

"The challenge is going to be difficult. However, once the first bomb falls, everybody becomes a veteran. At least these guys have that veteranship from last year, so they know how to react to moments a little bit better now. They're not going to get as wide-eyed or freaked out over an 0-for-7 or 0-for-8. So that's going to be beneficial."

Maddon believes the signing of John Lackey to a two-year, $32 million contract will make the Cubs more formidable in their quest to advance farther. Maddon was a coach with the Angels when Lackey reached the majors.

"I really believe that the particular kind of edge that John provides is really going to be helpful for us moving forward," said Maddon, adding that Lackey's Game 7 victory in the 2002 with the resulted in a playoff bonus large enough to play for his daughter Sarah's wedding.

"I like the idea of coming off the kind of year that we had to really add this kind of a personality to the group, I think, would really benefit us even more. Our veterans within the group are already spectacular, and now you add John Lackey. I couldn't be more excited."

Maddon likes that the addition of Lackey will give the Cubs a formidable threesome with NL Award winner Jake Arrieta and as well as an added edge.

"I love the edge," Maddon said. "Edge is good. I'm good with it. I know how supportive he is. He's a great teammate, how supportive he'll be with the entire group, but I also know that, when he plays, he's going to demand the guys are ready to play. I love it.

"I think he's good for us. He's almost like the perfect fit for us after the season we just had."

"You walk into a three-game series, and the other team calls for your pitching, and you say it's going to be Lester, Arrieta and Lackey. They don't like that."

Lackey will receive a $7 million bonus and salaries of $12.5 million in 2016 and 2017.

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Chicago Tribune Cubs, Scott Boras in sync with Addison Russell's rehab By Mark Gonzales

The Chicago Cubs and agent Scott Boras disagree over the timing of 's major league debut, but they are in agreement over the handling of the rehabilitation of fellow rookie standout Addison Russell.

Cubs President Theo Epstein said that Russell healed quickly after missing the National League Championship Series due to a moderate left hamstring strain suffered while legging out a in the fourth game of the NL Division Series.

But to ensure that Russell remains healthy for 2016, the Cubs and Boras agreed that the 21-year-old shortstop continue his off-season preparation at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala.

Epstein said one of his medical staff members contacted Steve Odgers, who operates Boras Sports Training Institute and was a former strength and conditioning coach with the White Sox, to work together on a plan for Russell, who is represented by Boras.

"I think one thing the Boras Corporation does very well is to stay involved in their players when they’re going through obstacles, whether it’s medical or things going on in their personal lives," Epstein said. "They do a nice job of helping with the support of the players and their continued development, and obviously that’s something we do on a daily basis.

"So why not we work together as much as possible? It always helps the player to have his organization and representation align so that he doesn’t have to deal with unnecessary contentiousness. There are times when it becomes adversary. You deal with it at the time. But it’s less frequent than you would imagine."

Epstein's comments occurred one day after a grievance filed in May by the Players Association became public. The grievance alleges that the Cubs manipulated Bryant's service time so that he wouldn't be eligible for free agency until after 2021.

Bryant is represented by Boras.

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Chicago Sun-Times Combo deal: Cubs trade Starlin Castro to Yankees, sign free agent Ben Zobrist By Gordon Wittenmyer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – If anyone wasn’t sure this was Theo Epstein’s team before the winter meetings this week, the Cubs’ president made it clear with a pair of moves Tuesday night that sent embattled All-Star infielder Starlin Castro to the Yankees in a trade and landed coveted free agent hitter Ben Zobrist with a four-year, $56 million deal.

Castro, a three-time All-Star shortstop, who struggled then thrived after an August demotion and switch to second, was the last remaining big-league player Epstein’s front office inherited when it took over four years ago.

Even after getting right-hander Adam Warren in the Castro deal, the Cubs aren’t done dealing, said Epstein, who still seeks a center fielder to fill free agent Dexter Fowler’s vacancy and continues to troll the trade market for pitching depth.

But Tuesday night’s moves, on the heels of signing free agent starter John Lackey to a two-year deal, were significant in filling much of the team’s wish list, while preserving resources to stay aggressive in the pursuit of an outfielder.

The Castro trade moved $38 million in salary over the next four years to the Yankees, while returning an established big-league swingman in Warren, a first-year arbitration player, and utility infielder Brendan Ryan.

“It was an opportunity to essentially trade Starlin for Ben Zobrist and Adam Warren,” said Epstein of the quick- succession moves that represented just one tandem set of possible deals the Cubs have tried to arrange – the trade offsetting much of Zobrist. “We couldn’t have made this free agent signing without this trade and would not have made this trade without the free agent signing.

“It makes it not that significant a commitment, relatively speaking, on the financial end. Zobrist makes a little bit more than Starlin, but we do get a controllable, affordable pitcher back for the next three years to balance it out a little bit. And we didn’t have to go back into the free agent market to get someone with Warren’s skills set.”

Zobrist, 35, is a two-time All-Star and longtime favorite of Cubs manager Joe Maddon – his manager for nine seasons in Tampa Bay and the manager who helped turn Zobrist into a star by using the shortstop in every defensive position except .

The veteran of two World Series, including Kansas City’s championship this year, is the kind of disciplined, potentially top-of-the-order hitter the Cubs looked to add this winter.

He’ll play primarily second base, said Epstein, who tried to acquire Zobrist in a trade last winter before the Rays traded him to the .

“Ben’s a winning baseball player, and you look at his overall contribution on the field – his offense, his defense and his – and he’s been one of the more valuable players in the game for a long time,” said Epstein, who blamed Zobrist’s relative dip in offensive and defensive performance much of 2015 on coming back early from a knee injury. “He’s exactly the type of offensive player that we’re looking for.

“I think it takes a little bit of the pressure off the center field search that we don’t necessarily need someone who’s a leadoff hitter and center fielder,” add Epstein, who suggested the Cubs could give up some offense in that search now if it meant getting an especially good fielder.

Zobrist makes $12 million in 2016, which includes his $2 million signing bonus, then $16 million, $16 million and $12 million the final three years of the deal. He also has a no-trade clause through the first three years of the deal.

Warren, 28, who has a four-pitch array including a fastball that reached the mid-90s, appeared in 43 games for the Yankees in 2016, including 17 starts (7-7, 3.29 ERA).

“He’s an underrated pitcher,” said Epstein, who almost immediately had calls from teams wondering if he’d make Warren available. “We believe he can be a and a good one in the . We also think he can be extremely effective out of the bullpen. His ability to do both makes him incredibly valuable to us.”

The Cubs told Castro in recent weeks that he would not be traded this winter, in part because the trade market for him wasn’t strong. But talks with the Yankees that died early in the offseason restarted this week when the Yankees called the Cubs after the winter meetings started.

On the recommendation of their top evaluators, the Yankees tried to trade for Castro this summer, with the intent of moving him to second – before the Cubs did it – but couldn’t get a deal done.

Yankees GM Cashman said he originally wasn’t willing to include Warren in a deal for Castro.

“He proved what he could do with the position switch, and I thought he was one of the big reasons they propelled into the playoffs the way they did,” said Cashman, who said the 25-year-old Castro was a fit for the Yankees both defensively and as a younger, controllable player.

“We think he’s a guy that’s obviously an above-average defender at second base, a quality stick, 25 years old, approaching 26,” Cashman said. “He can play short, third, gives us a lot of athleticism, coverage, age and hopefully performance.”

Epstein, who talked to Castro Tuesday night, described a “bittersweet feeling with some sadness that we see him go” and lauded Castro’s work, attitude and in particular the way he handled being forced off short.

One of the byproducts of the Castro-Zobrist switch is the potential for more playing time for Javy Baez as Zobrist moves around the field, Epstein said.

Another byproduct: Baez and right fielder Jorge Soler are still in the fold as potential trading pieces if the right deal for a center fielder or impact pitcher comes along.

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Chicago Sun-Times Cubs build pitching depth with under-the-radar moves By Gordon Wittenmyer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It didn’t take the Cubs long splashing around in the deep end of the off-season pitching pool to decide on some different strokes for accomplishing their pitching goals this winter.

Whether it leads to the division-championship season they have in mind for 2016, they’ve at least preserved immediate payroll flexibility and potential flexibility for the next two or three years during a period of relatively limited resources.

“As we looked into the starting pitching markets aggressively, both the free agent market and the trade market, we really came to feel like the price of poker was very high to acquire starting pitching,” team president Theo Epstein said.

That’s why the Cubs struck as swiftly as they did to sign veteran John Lackey to the two-year, $32 million deal that was struck Friday and became official Tuesday – a deal that might have been impossible to get done if it hadn’t been finalized before ’s record-setting $34.4 million-a-year deal was reached with the Diamondbacks.

“We were hoping to get something done before both Price and Greinke were off the board because we thought it might lead to a sort of cascade effect with the next tier starting to go quickly,” Epstein said. “We thought we had a chance to maybe get Lackey done on a contract that made a lot of sense for him and for us, and we didn’t want that to be necessarily sabotaged by the market.”

That increasing price of playing poker is also why right-hander Adam Warren looked especially attractive in Tuesday’s salary-driven trade of Starlin Castro to the Yankees.

“There’s lots of different ways to do this,” Epstein said. “We’d love to acquire a young who we control for the next five years, but I don’t see too many of those moving, and things have to match up just perfectly.

“We really want to add to the depth, quality, versatility of our staff and also get through this next [2016-17] offseason as well, if we can, with guys we control beyond 2016.”

Warren, 28, is a first-year arbitration-eligible player who has a 3.39 career ERA, mostly as a reliever, and a fastball that touches 95 mph out of the bullpen (92-93 when he starts) — under club control for three more years.

He went 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA in a 2015 season that included 17 starts.

And he quickly became a modestly priced, controllable player for a Cubs staff that is starting to look thick with effective, versatile pitchers – if not the marquee Greinke and types.

“Years and dollars were really significant for starters of note in free agency and came with a significant amount of risk, frankly, that we weren’t completely comfortable with,” Epstein said. “And in the trade market we felt like in a lot of cases we would have liked to pay like two dollars on the dollar almost in return.”

That was especially true of talks with the Braves over starter Shelby Miller. Sources say the price for Miller seemed to get steeper the longer the Cubs talked with the Braves – who eventually got an eye-popping haul for Miller on Tuesday from the Diamondbacks, including shortstop prospect Dansby Swanson, this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick.

And the price for young Cleveland pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar only went up after that deal.

The Cubs have a top four in the rotation of Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Lackey and Jason Hammel. They have potential fifth starters in and Warren, or possibly Clayton Richard or Trevor Cahill.

Those four potential fifth starters combined are likely to cost roughly what Hammel ($9 million) makes. Only Lester and Lackey will start the season with financial commitments beyond 2016.

And Lackey’s deal was structured so creatively that he costs only $12.5 million in ’16 — and only $30 million over the two years of the deal. That’s because the Cubs paid $2 million of his $7 million bonus out of a 2015 budget surplus (the remaining $5 million is due in 2017).

The bullpen looks like it will be filled with one-year deals. And they’re on the way to a power-pitching bullpen with a left-right balance and versatile long and/or situational pitchers.

“You can have impact pitching without necessarily having all household names, sort of bona fide, top-of-the- rotation guys,” Epstein said. “We still have to go out and accomplish it, but if you have a staff where there’s no negative contributors, no replacement-level pitchers, but all solid, contributing pitchers who throw strikes and can follow a game plan and miss bats and be effective, that in and of itself can make you one of the best pitching staffs.

“I like to think if everyone pitches up to their potential next year we’re getting close to that ideal.”

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Daily Herald Chicago Cubs sign Zobrist, trade Castro By Bruce Miles

The Cubs stepped things up big time at the winter meetings Tuesday.

First, they made official the signing of starting pitcher John Lackey, with whom they agreed on a two-year, $32 million deal last week.

Then, during the evening, they traded former all-star infielder Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees for right- handed pitcher Adam Warren and a player to be named later (reported to be veteran infielder Brendan Ryan). They also signed infielder Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million free-agent contract. The Cubs and Zobrist had been linked in trade talks this past summer.

Castro, who had been a Cubs major-leaguer since 2010, endured a rough 2015 season, enduring a midseason benching before rallying toward the end to help the team in its push to the National League championship series. He wound up with a line of .265/.296/.375 with 11 homers and 69 RBI. He no doubt helped his trade value with a good stretch drive.

In Warren, the Cubs are getting a 28-year-old who went 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA this year for the Yankees. In three-plus big-league seasons with the Yankees, Warren is 13-15 with a 3.39 ERA. He gives the Cubs some needed depth in their starting rotation, which currently includes Lackey, Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks. It's possible the Cubs could move Hammel before the off-season is over.

Zobrist, 34, is a who can play second base, shortstop and the outfield. He combined to play 126 games this year between the Oakland Athletics and the world-champion , compiling a line of .276/.359/.450 with 13 homers and 56 RBI. He played for current Cubs manager Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay from 2006-14.

Earlier Tuesday, Maddon talked with reporters at the winter meetings in Nashville and praised Zobrist's versatility and willingness to accept multiple roles.

Zo, from Day One, he's always been accepting of that," Maddon said. "He's all about winning. That's what he's about."

Maddon also had high praise for Castro, whom he never "lost" as a player even though Castro lost his starting shortstop job to Addison Russell and later moved to second base. The 25-year-old Castro is 9 hits shy of 1,000 for his major-league career.

"We felt confident Addy would be good," Maddon said of Russell. "I didn't know how well Starlin would take it and then adjust to it, and he couldn't have done any better. I mean, I'm visualizing the conversation I had with him right now, and he was so respectful and listened very carefully.

"I'm talking about Starlin. He sat for a couple of days. He didn't really play a lot. But we assured him that we were still going to work him back in there."

Russell injured his hamstring during Game 3 of the division series against the Cardinals, with Javier Baez taking over in that game and playing through the championship series against the Mets. There has been talk Baez would be traded, but Castro was dealt, with Zobrist providing a replacement and keeping the Cubs deep in the middle of the infield.

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Daily Herald Maddon: Cubs need to 'adjust back' to avoid sophomore slump By Bruce Miles

It's been a little while since we heard from Cubs manager Joe Maddon, but he was back in business Tuesday at the winter meetings.

Maddon always makes it interesting, and during the winter meetings, he has a media core from around the major leagues to entertain.

One of Maddon's biggest challenges for 2016, in addition to following a 97-win season, will be to make sure the Cubs' young players keep going and avoid the dreaded "sophomore jinx."

Rookies Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler often saw action in the same lineup.

"I think the sophomore jinx is all about the other team adjusting to you and then you don't adjust back," Maddon told the assembled media in Nashville, Tennessee.

"So the point would be that we need to be prepared to adjust back. I think that's my definition of the sophomore jinx, and sometimes you will get the group that takes things for granted and believes or concedes that it's just going to happen again.

"I just talked to the group upstairs in our room, and I've already talked to them about the fact that's the one thing I have been thinking about is how to avoid that. And the conversation I need to have early on in (spring training) camp, without being negative, without being critical of our guys, because we're just showing up.

"You don't want to be -- they're coming off a wonderful season. It's a very complimentary kind of a thing. You want to talk to them and praise them. But the target's going to be bigger, and I want us to embrace the target."

One of Maddon's favorite sayings is "never let the pressure exceed the pleasure." He knows all eyes will be on the Cubs in 2016 after they enjoyed a surprise 2015, making it all the way to the National League championship series before falling to the .

"The pressure is going to be possibly greater, and I want us to embrace the pressure," Maddon said. "The bigger target, the greater pressure, I think, equals a grander chance for success.

"So I'm all about that, and I definitely will bring that to our guys' attention. The combination of the accountability of our young players combined with our veterans, I really believe we could avoid those kind of pitfalls."

Happy to have Lackey:

The Cubs on Tuesday officially announced their two-year, $32 million deal with pitcher John Lackey, with whom they agreed to terms last week, pending a physical.

Maddon knows him from their days together with the Angels more than a decade ago.

"It's really exciting to get John," Maddon said. "Got to know him about 2002. Part of the World Series, obviously, he was a big part of the Angels winning the World Series, and he actually helped pay for my daughter's wedding. I was really grateful for many years for that.

"John is one of the best competitors I've ever been around. You see it from the outside looking in. He demands a lot on a daily basis when he plays, of himself and his team, and I love it."

Lackey has the reputation of being somewhat of an "edgy" personality.

"I really believe that the particular kind of edge that John provides is really going to be helpful for us moving forward," Maddon said. "I like the idea of coming off the kind of year that we had to really add this kind of a personality to the group, I think, would really benefit us even more.

"Our veterans within the group are already spectacular, and now you add John Lackey. Couldn't be more excited."

It's just business:

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant has filed a grievance against the team, claiming it manipulated his service time to delay his free agency by one year.

The Cubs brought Bryant up from the minor leagues April 17. By doing so, they gained essentially a "free" full year of service time out of Bryant.

If the Cubs had allowed Bryant to start the season on the big-league roster, he would have become a free agent after the 2020 season. By delaying the call-up, the Cubs assured themselves of having Bryant's services through 2021 before he can be a free agent.

The move is allowed under the collective-bargaining agreement, but Bryant's people -- along with those of the Phillies' Maikel Franco, who also filed a grievance -- contend it goes against the spirit of the agreement.

"We've known about this since May," Cubs general manager told reporters Monday. "We've had a great relationship with Kris, we have a great relationship with (Scott Boras, Bryant's agent).

They obviously decided to file a grievance in May, and nothing has changed since then. The fact that the news came out today doesn't change anything about where we are.

"Obviously, we feel like we were in the right, but I'm not going to comment on the case or open this back up. For us, it's been, what, seven months?" Hoyer said.

"I'm thrilled for Kris; he had a great year. Couldn't have been more excited that he was Rookie of the Year. This is something that will be handled with due process."

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Daily Herald Imrem: Chicago Cubs make sense in how they're spending their dollars By Mike Imrem

Baseball money has become mind-boggling, and there's enough to go around.

All any of the 30 major-league teams needs to contend for a championship is to allocate their considerable assets wisely.

The Chicago Cubs appear to have done that by agreeing to a couple of so-called bargain contracts with a couple of so-called bargain free agents.

Veteran pitcher John Lackey: two years, $32 million. Versatile position player Ben Zobrist: four years, $56 million.

Yes, those are bargains in this affluent era of the game.

The Cubs also sent the $40 million left on Starlin Castro's contract -- another bargain figure, right? -- to the Yankees for lower-priced pitcher Adam Warren and a player to be named.

Major Leage Baseball is swimming in cash due to new-age revenue streams pumping into the game.

No team needs a $300 million payroll to win a World Series. The Dodgers have operated like that's what it takes and failed miserably.

The Royals won a World Series for considerably less. Anything above $100 million should be enough, and the Cubs will be well above that.

The Cubs' latest moves indicate that they have a winning mix: Money and brains.

Maybe luck, too.

Cubs president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer caught a break when ace pitcher David Price turned them down to sign with the Red Sox.

Let's round off what the Cubs offered Price to $200 million, though it likely was a bit less.

Price was more of a luxury than a necessity for the Cubs, considering that they already have Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester at the top of their rotation.

The Cubs needed a No. 3 as much as a No. 1 and that turned out to be Lackey, close to ancient but coming off an outstanding season with the Cardinals.

Lackey is one tough guy. He isn't afraid to a batter. He isn't afraid to take the ball every fifth day. He isn't afraid to go deep into a game.

Gritty pitcher to have on a team like the Cubs.

Then there's Zobrist, a player who can play every position on the field and maybe even pitch long relief if Cubs manager Joe Maddon asked that of him. They prospered together in Tampa Bay, Maddon and Zobrist did, and should be comfortable with each other in Wrigley Field.

Lackey and Zobrist fill a needs at a combined commitment of $88 million, dozens of millions of dollars less than Price would have cost.

The Cubs then saved those 10s of millions -- baseball would call them a pittance these days -- in the Castro transaction.

It always made more sense to go after two pitchers, a No. 3 and No. 4, than to wind up with Price only.

Right now the Cubs' rotation lines up with Arrieta, Lester, Lackey and two from among Warren, Jason Hammel or Kyle Hendricks.

The Cubs still should have cash left over for a center fielder, bullpen help and more starting-pitching depth.

Maybe the Cubs would have had enough dollars for other reinforcements even after signing Price, but better that they didn't have to prove it.

Nothing is guaranteed now, of course. Lackey has to remain ageless. Others have to remain healthy. Everybody has to remain motivated.

Then the Cubs have to prove they're a team rather than just a big batch of talented individuals.

If they weren't before, the Cubs certainly are contenders after Tuesday's flurry of activity.

All because they're turning dollars into sense.

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Cubs.com Cubs add FA Zobrist, deal Castro to Yanks By Carrie Muskat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Officially, the Cubs made two deals at the Winter Meetings on Tuesday, agreeing to a deal with versatile free agent Ben Zobrist and trading Starlin Castro to the Yankees, but the reality is, the moves were interconnected and would not have happened separately.

The Cubs landed Zobrist with a four-year, $56 million contract, and acquired right-handed pitcher Adam Warren and a player to be named from the Yankees for Castro, a three-time All-Star who grew up in the organization.

"We couldn't have made this free-agent signing without this trade, and would not have made the trade without the free-agent signing," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon will be reunited with one of his favorite players in Zobrist, who played for Maddon with Tampa Bay from 2006-14. He split last season between the A's and Royals, helping Kansas City win the World Series. On the season, Zobrist batted .276 with 13 home runs, 36 doubles and three triples, playing second base, third base, left field and right field.

The Cubs' pursuit of Zobrist didn't come to light until Tuesday, but they had talked to him about a potential union early in the offseason.

"It was pretty clear that we were right at the top of the list of places where he wanted to play," Epstein said. "We asked him to be patient and said that we couldn't act right away but that we had a lot of interest and if the right corresponding move came our way, we could get involved quickly."

The Yankees had shown interest in Castro early in the offseason as well, but Epstein said that was it. When the Cubs arrived in Nashville for the Winter Meetings, Epstein got a call from New York general manager Brian Cashman. Zobrist had his physical on Tuesday in Chicago, and the Cubs could not announce the deal until that was completed.

"We needed all the components of both deals to line up, including the medicals, and have the timing sync up," Epstein said.

Zobrist will receive full no-trade protection in the first three years of the deal. The contract includes a $2 million signing bonus plus $10 million salary in 2016, $16 million in both '17 and '18, and $12 million in '19. Castro has four years and $38 million remaining on the seven-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Cubs in 2012.

Zobrist is the type of contact hitter the Cubs need, and he is projected to bat at the top of the order. Chicago is still in the market for a center fielder, but now the club does not have to find someone who can also fill the leadoff spot vacated by Dexter Fowler's departure.

"Ben's a winning baseball player," Epstein said. "If you look at his overall contribution on the field -- his offense, his defense, his baserunning -- he's been one of the most valuable players in the game. He's incredibly versatile. He's exactly the type of offensive player we're looking for who grinds every pitch, works his at-bat, makes a ton of contact, draws his walk, gets on base and is versatile and can play all over the field."

Maddon is a big believer in giving versatile players like Zobrist more credit, and he lobbied again on Tuesday to have one named to the All-Star teams.

"A real legitimate [super-utility] guy is a position, and it permits you to do so many different things with your lineup daily and so many different things to get progress daily," Maddon said Tuesday during his manager session. "When you have a guy -- part of that is the selfless attitude of the player themselves. Not everybody is suited to that for two reasons. They're not comfortable moving around or their ego doesn't permit them." But Maddon says Zobrist has accepted that role from Day 1.

"He's all about winning -- that's what he's about," Maddon said.

Castro batted .265 last season in a roller-coaster season in which he began the year as the Opening Day shortstop but was benched and eventually moved to second base. He accepted the switch, and led the National League with a .426 average in September.

"He really grew up in this organization," Epstein said of Castro. "He went through a lot here and made tremendous contributions to help get us where we are. It's a bittersweet feeling with some sadness that we see him go."

Warren, 28, will be stretched out this spring and can be used as either a starter or reliever. He posted a 3.29 ERA in 43 appearances with the Yankees last season, splitting time between the bullpen and rotation.

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Cubs.com Cubs acquiring assets without giving up prospects By Phil Rogers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Sooner or later, it's going to happen. Theo Epstein is going to trade one of his top prospects.

That could happen any day now. But somehow, it didn't happen on Tuesday in the swirling, fast-moving waters of baseball's Winter Meetings.

For the 1,517th consecutive day since he agreed to become the Cubs' president of baseball operations, Epstein remained in the business of accumulating ultra-talented players in their formative years, not using them as collateral to make his team a little better for the short term. That's discipline.

And it's hard to believe Epstein has been able to do it when you look at all the moves that he has made, including the most recent two: signing Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million contract and trading Starlin Castro to the Yankees for Adam Warren, a very useful pitcher, and a player to be named later (expected to be backup infielder Brendan Ryan).

They're among 11 players whom the Cubs have acquired through free agency, trades or waiver claims since being swept by the Mets in the 2015 National League Championship Series -- and Epstein is still holding all of his most valuable cards.

You'd think Epstein has got more moves to make and those could be some real beauties. in free agency? There's certainly lobby talk about it. A deal that sends Javier Baez and a handful of others to the Rays for more pitching, maybe even one solid starter (Matt Moore or , most likely) and a late- reliever (Brad Boxberger or Jake McGee)? No reason why not, if Epstein can cut ties with any of his valued kids.

This is a guy who traded Nomar Garciaparra in his first season as the Red Sox's general manager. He can make the tough call. But he's just fine with having a surplus of intriguing parts.

Epstein went into the offseason needing to re-sign or replace free agent Dexter Fowler in center field and add depth to the rotation and bullpen. He talked about wanting to improve the fielding, especially the outfield defense.

John Lackey (signed to a two-year, $32 million contract that became official Tuesday), Trevor Cahill and a cast of relievers with something to prove (lefties Rex Brothers and Edgar Olmos and right-handers Spencer Patton and Andury Acevedo) answer the questions about pitching depth. Center field becomes the priority.

Heyward is a perfect fit if there's any way to fit him onto the payroll, and don't underestimate Epstein's cunning in figuring out how to make him fit.

No doubt with the help of manager Joe Maddon, Epstein swept in at the 11th hour and landed Zobrist on Tuesday, when he seemed more likely to go to the Mets -- who had put on a full-court press to get him -- or the Nationals.

At 34, the switch-hitter doesn't seem an obvious long-term fit for the Cubs. A lot of the value that has made Zobrist one of baseball's biggest secret weapons (his 39.3 WAR since 2009 ranks fifth among position players) came through his versatility, and he has been telling teams he wants to be a regular second baseman. But he's a guy Maddon wanted badly after managing him for nine seasons with Tampa Bay, and Epstein got him even though he already had four second basemen on the 40-man roster (Castro, Baez, Tommy La Stella and Arismendy Alcantara).

That's Theo being Theo.

Castro, the longest-tenured Cub, will be missed after he joyously took advantage of the chance to learn second base once Addison Russell had replaced him at shortstop. But Zobrist was signed for only $15 million more than the Cubs still owed Castro, and Epstein is dealing Castro when his value is high.

There's nothing sexy about Warren. But he was as consistently effective as anyone in the Yankees' rotation (3.66 ERA in 17 starts, albeit only 96 ) when Joe Girardi moved him to the bullpen at midseason. Girardi pointed out how Warren was moving into the rotation after pitching in relief in 2014 and needed to be handled cautiously. "We want Adam for a long time,'' Girardi said in announcing the move.

Turns out the Cubs are the team that could benefit from Warren being limited to 131 1/3 innings.

For now, Warren could wind up battling Kyle Hendricks, Travis Wood, Clayton Richard and Cahill for a rotation spot if Epstein does get around to dealing Baez or right fielder Jorge Soler for one of those 25-and-under arms he covets.

Maybe Baez will wind up as the center fielder. Or maybe he'll play third and Kris Bryant will go to center field. Or maybe Heyward is more than pie in the sky.

Sounds crazy, but with the Cubs in this era of Theo and Joe, never say never.

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Cubs.com Maddon guarding against sophomore jinx By Carrie Muskat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Cubs relied on several rookies in their 97-win season and trip to the postseason in 2015. How do they avoid a sophomore jinx? Manager Joe Maddon is already thinking about that.

"I think the sophomore jinx is all about the other team adjusting to you and then you don't adjust back," Maddon said Tuesday during his manager session at the Winter Meetings. "So the point would be that we need to be prepared to adjust back. I think that's my definition of the sophomore jinx, and sometimes you will get the group that takes things for granted and believes or concedes that it's just going to happen again."

Maddon said he addressed the topic of how players like Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber deal with Year 2 during a meeting Tuesday with the Cubs' front office in Nashville.

"I've already talked to them about the fact that's the one thing I have been thinking about is how to avoid that," Maddon said.

He just has to figure out the timing of his message. Maddon said he didn't want to hit players with any negative vibes when they report to Spring Training in February, but needs to make them aware.

"The target's going to be bigger, and I want us to embrace the target," Maddon said. "The pressure is going to be possibly greater, and I want us to embrace the pressure. The bigger target, the greater pressure, I think, equals a grander chance for success. So I'm all about that, and I definitely will bring that to our guys' attention."

Maddon wasn't too worried, though, considering the players involved.

"The combination of the accountability of our young players combined with our veterans, I really believe we could avoid those kind of pitfalls," he said.

Maddon said the rookies' ability to overcome in-season struggles should prepare them for any difficulties they may have in their second years.

"They're going to become more consistent," he said of the young players. "They're going to understand what pitchers are trying to do better. Thus, they're going to be even better offensive players."

What the players will have to deal with now is that opponents have a better scouting report.

"The point is everybody knows us now," Maddon said. "At least these guys have that veteran leadership from last year, so they know how to react to moments a little bit better now. They're not going to get as wide-eyed or freaked out over an 0-for-7 or an 0-for-8, so that's going to be beneficial."

The question, though, is whether all of the young players will return. Javier Baez and Jorge Soler both have been mentioned in trade rumors. Has Maddon braced for the possibility that they could lose one of the two?

"As of right now, I don't anticipate that happening, I really don't," Maddon said. "But if it were to happen, it happens."

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Cubs.com Bid on epic Cubs experiences in charity auction By Carrie Muskat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Want to talk baseball with Cubs broadcasters Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies? Or have you always wanted to play catch at Wrigley Field? How would you like to spend some quality time with one of the Cubs players?

You can bid on these items as part of the Winter Meetings charity auction, organized by Major League Baseball, MLB Advanced Media, MLB Network and all 30 teams.

This is the fourth year for the charity auction that includes once-in-a-lifetime baseball experiences and unique items to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. The initiative was inspired by the numerous employees, friends and fans of the game who have been affected by cancer.

There are three Cubs related items to bid on. You can meet the broadcasters, including the television duo of Kasper and Deshaies, or meet a Cubs player, or play catch at Wrigley Field.

The auction initiative has raised nearly $500,000 since its inception and a significant portion of the proceeds from this year's event will go to Stand Up To Cancer, a longtime partner of Major League Baseball, its founding donor in 2008. In addition, this year's auction will benefit Do It For Durrett, in honor of the late Rangers ESPN.com reporter Richard Durrett, who passed away suddenly last year, and the YouCaring page established for Sun Sentinel beat writer Juan C. Rodriguez, who is currently battling a brain tumor.

The auction is live on MLB.com until Thursday, at 8 p.m. CT.

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Cubs.com Maddon's success due to unique philosophy By Hal Bodley

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- When Joe Maddon packed his wife, dogs and the mega bucks the Cubs had given him in his luxury RV and headed for Chicago a year ago, I wondered, "Will success spoil Joe Maddon?"

After all, a lot more separates St. Petersburg from Chicago than 1,200 miles. What worked for the small-town Tampa Bay Rays might not play well in one of the USA's greatest cities.

Wrong.

I was foolish to think for a moment that Maddon and his managerial wizardry wouldn't prosper at Wrigley Field, and I'm not talking about the five-year, $25 million contract.

In his first year, Maddon steered the Cubs to 97 victories, took them to the postseason for the first time in seven years and stunned the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series.

Oh, yes, the Cubs were swept by the Mets in the NL Championship Series, but truthfully, they weren't supposed to be there in the first place.

And that's what Maddon is all about -- taking teams to heights far above expectations. He's one of baseball's best managers -- at this moment, maybe the best. Last month, Maddon won the NL Manager of the Year Award to go with the two from the American League that he received with the Rays.

And on Tuesday, Maddon was named Best Manager as the final 2015 Esurance MLB Awards were unveiled at the Winter Meetings.

Earlier in the afternoon, Maddon had a session with the media as he looked back over his first season with the Cubs and the prospects for going even further in 2016.

Yes, Maddon said, when he arrived in Chicago last spring, there was some concern. He didn't ride in on a white horse, but the long-starved fans regarded him as their savior.

"Everybody was anticipating a bigger market and all this -- bigger city, a different kind of scrutiny and all this kind of stuff," Maddon said. "I'd never lived in a big city like Chicago. So, just driving to the ballpark, getting your laundry done -- things like that are a little bit different.

"But once you walk through the door, everything turns out to be the same. And when the game begins and you stand in the corner of the dugout and look up in the ballpark and the last seat is filled -- well, that's kind of nice."

As a contrast to Tropicana Field, which seldom had large crowds, Maddon added, "To report to work there [Wrigley Field] every day and have it filled up like that, it's pretty special, man. It's very special."

Turning perennial losers into winners made it even more special. Maddon blended a group of veteran pitchers and the Cubs' highly vaunted crop of young hitters -- third baseman Kris Bryant won the NL Rookie of the Year Award -- into a winning juggernaut.

Maddon continued with his wacky motivational tactics and threw in some of the gimmicks he used at Tropicana Field, but nothing replaced his philosophy about winning a baseball game.

The prize was a berth and a win over Pittsburgh, as well as the upset of St. Louis, the NL Central winner that led the Major Leagues with 100 victories. Making it even more special is the fact Maddon grew up a die-hard Cardinals fan. "A fierce Cardinal fan," he added.

Even though the Cubs were swept by the Mets in the NLCS, the season was a rousing success.

With the maturity of the young players, Tuesday's addition of starting pitcher John Lackey, the Cubs should be even better in 2016.

As Maddon said, the target will be even larger as opponents will be coming after the Cubs. Now the fans have been teased and will be expecting much more.

And then there's the sophomore jinx.

"I think the sophomore jinx is all about the other team adjusting to you, and then you don't adjust back," Maddon reasoned. "So, the point would be that we need to be prepared to adjust back."

There's also the problem of one year's success affecting the next season. Players sometimes forget what it took to achieve what they did previously, and learn the hard way that they cannot turn it on and off.

"Sometimes you will get a group that takes things for granted and believes or concedes that it's just going to happen again," Maddon said. "They're [the Cubs] coming off a wonderful season …You want to talk to them and praise them, but the target's going to be bigger, and I want us to embrace the target." Pressure?

"Yes, the pressure is going to be possibly greater, and I want us to also embrace the pressure," Maddon said. "Those are two good things -- the bigger target, the greater pressure. They equal a grander chance for success.

"I'm all about that, and I definitely will bring that to our guys' attention. The combination of accountability of our young players combined with our veterans -- I really believe we can avoid those kinds of pitfalls."

In 2014, when , Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa were elected to the Hall of Fame, I cornered Maddon at the Winter Meetings and suggested their type of managing is a thing of the past.

Maddon, a huge advocate of analytics and information, somewhat agreed an evolution is taking place.

Tuesday, Maddon said, "Primarily for me, I like information, and I like the fact that the information is accurate. "People want to treat it like fantasy baseball a lot, but it's actually really baseball with real people."

That's what makes Joe Maddon so real -- and successful.

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Cubs.com Cubs thrilled to add Lackey to their fold By Carrie Muskat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Cubs added a key piece to the rotation on Tuesday, formally announcing the signing of free agent John Lackey to a two-year, $32 million contract.

"It's really exciting to get John," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the addition, announced at the Winter Meetings.

Maddon and Lackey were first together in Anaheim, and the right-hander helped the Angels win the World Series in 2002, winning Game 7 against the Giants. Maddon quipped that the pitcher's performance in the postseason "actually helped pay for my daughter's wedding -- I was very grateful for many years for that."

Lackey, 37, will be slotted in behind his former Red Sox teammate Jon Lester and National League Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta. Not a bad combination.

"He's one of the best competitors I've ever been around," Maddon said. "He demands a lot on a daily basis when he plays, of himself and his team, and I love it. I really believe the particular kind of edge that John provides is really going to be helpful for us moving forward. I like the idea of coming off the year we had to add this kind of personnel to the group I think it will benefit us even more. Our veterans within the group are spectacular and now you get to add John Lackey."

The Cubs are coming off a 97-win season and trip to the postseason for the first time since 2008. They reached the NL Championship Series, only to get swept by the Mets. With Lester, Lackey and Arrieta, the Cubs now have three pitchers who were ranked in the top 15 ERAs in the NL in 2015.

Lackey was 13-10 with a career-best 2.77 ERA in 33 starts with the Cardinals last year, and finished ninth in the Cy Young voting after matching his career high in starts. His 218 were second-most in his career. Maddon said he felt Lackey will be a perfect fit on the Cubs.

"I like the edge, I love the edge. Edge is good," Maddon said. "I know how supportive he is. He's a great teammate, how supportive he'll be with the entire group, but I also know that, when he plays, he's going to demand the guys are ready to play.

"I think he's good for us," Maddon said. "He's almost a perfect fit for us after the season we just had." With the addition of Lackey, the Cubs' 40-man roster now is 38.

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein contacted Lackey early in the offseason to express their interest in the right-hander. Epstein knows him well, having signed Lackey to a five-year, $82.5 million contract in December 2009 with the Red Sox.

"We had the chance to get Lackey done on a contract that made sense for him and for us," Epstein said. "We're glad we got it done because we think he's a real quality pitcher and person."

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Cubs.com Maddon adds to Cubs' haul as Best Manager By Carrie Muskat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Joe Maddon, who guided the young Cubs to a 97-win season and a trip to the National League Championship Series in his first season in Chicago, was honored Tuesday with the Esurance MLB Award for Best Manager.

Maddon was picked over the Royals' and the Rangers' Jeff Banister. Voting was done before the postseason.

Maddon was not the only Cub to be celebrated by the MLB Awards. Jake Arrieta, who led the Major Leagues with 22 wins, was named both Best Starting Pitcher and Best Breakout Player, Kris Bryant was elected Best Rookie, and Krista Dotzenrod won for Best Fan Catch for her deft ability to snare a foul ball in her beer cup.

Maddon led the rookie-packed roster to the third-best record in the Major Leagues (97-65). His campaign for the season was "Respect 90." If a player runs hard 90 feet to first base, that will affect the rest of his game, Maddon said.

The Cubs infield for the majority of the season was 25 years old and younger -- until turned 26 on Aug. 8. All were considered talented, but no one knew what to expect. Maddon let them play. They developed confidence with each late-inning win. The Cubs went 13-5 in extra-inning games, won 23 games in their last at-bat, and had 35 come-from-behind wins. The Cubs' success was aided by strong pitching -- they finished third in the NL with a 3.36 team ERA, led by Arrieta's 1.77.

Arrieta was 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA in 25 starts in 2014 but finished 22-6 in 33 starts this past season. He was second in ERA to Zack Greinke and third in strikeouts in the NL (236). The right-hander also set a career-high in innings pitched (229).

In his first season in the big leagues, Bryant batted .275 with 26 home runs and 99 RBIs, the latter two new Cubs records for rookies. He led all Major League rookies in RBIs, doubles (31) and runs (87), and was second in walks. The only player in Major League history to reach 26 homers, 99 RBIs, 31 doubles, 87 runs and 77 walks in his rookie season was Boston's Ted Williams in 1939.

Maddon, Arrieta and Bryant also were honored by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Maddon was named top NL manager, Arrieta won the NL for top pitcher, and Bryant was named top rookie. The Esurance MLB Awards annually honor Major League Baseball's greatest achievements as part of an industry- wide balloting process that includes five components, each of which accounts for 20 percent of the overall vote: media, front-office personnel, retired MLB players, fans at MLB.com and Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) voters.

Individual awards were presented for 24 separate categories, including Best Major Leaguer, Everyday Player, Bounceback Player, Social Media Personality and Postseason Performer. Winners were also recognized for the year's Best Offensive Play, Defensive Play, Moment, -Game Performance, Social Media Post, Celebrity Fan and Fan Catch.

Nominees were judged on their bodies of work from the entire year -- from Opening Day through the postseason -- and selected after a careful review of all 30 clubs. Winners in all categories receive a Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) trophy.

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ESPNChicago.com Cubs fill holes with moves that send Castro out, bring Zobrist and Warren in By Jesse Rogers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Last year on Day 2 of the winter meetings the Chicago Cubs signed Jon Lester. This time they pulled off essentially a two-for-one deal, signing free-agent infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist and getting from the New York Yankees pitcher Adam Warren, plus a player to be named (likely infielder Brendan Ryan), in a trade that sent three-time All-Star second baseman Starlin Castro to New York.

Once again it was a headline-grabbing day for the Cubs' front office as it continues to reshape and fortify the team for 2016.

“We could not have made this signing without this trade, and would not have made this trade without this signing,” Cubs president Theo Epstein said.

Longtime Castro fans won’t understand moving a 25-year-old who might return to the All-Star Game someday at a new position, for a 34-year-old super-. Epstein would prefer you look at the “totality” of the deal to appreciate it.

“The shape of [Zobrist's] contribution fits our club a little bit better,” he said.

To wit:

-- Though Castro struck out less than usual last season, Zobrist is the quintessential contact hitter who walked more than he whiffed in 2015. The Cubs want their free-swinging lineup to have a few more contact guys.

-- Zobrist can lead off, making the Cubs' task of finding a center fielder easier. He doesn’t have to be the combo guy that Dexter Fowler was.

-- Epstein believes the switch-hitting Zobrist will help mitigate some struggles against right-handed pitching. “We were starting to get vulnerable to the right-handed power pitcher with a good breaking ball,” he said.

-- Zobrist can play all around the diamond, adding flexibility to the roster and allowing infielder Javier Baez more at-bats. The Cubs want to continue to break Baez in slowly, putting him in the best positions to succeed. When Zobrist starts or moves to the outfield, Baez would be free to play second.

-- Zobrist just helped the Kansas City Royals to a championship. “Ben is a winning baseball player,” Epstein said. “His offense, his defense, his base running. He’s been one of the more valuable players in the game for a long time. He’s incredibly versatile.”

None of the above points means Zobrist is a more talented player than Castro, but the Cubs feel he’s a better fit for them at this particular time. Add the pitching element in Warren, and that’s the totality of the deal Epstein wants to focus on.

“Adam Warren is a quality major league pitcher,” Epstein said. “We really came to feel the price of poker was very high to acquire starting pitching.”

Shelby Miller wasn’t coming to Chicago, and neither were some of the other names on the market as asking prices were simply too high -- think Kyle Schwarber or Kris Bryant -- so the Cubs did what they set out to do on the mound: add an impact guy in John Lackey and depth at pitcher in Warren.

The Cubs must feel like good fortune follows them. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was interested in Castro at the trade deadline, thinking he could be a good player at second base. Though a deal wasn’t struck, Castro moved over to second for the Cubs anyway and thrived down the stretch. What if he had struggled? Cashman was given firsthand knowledge, and it paid off for the Cubs. After Epstein proposed a Castro-for-Warren deal at the beginning of the offseason, Cashman balked but then agreed -- just before Zobrist was getting set to make his decision. Syncing up the deals was part luck but mostly due to hard work.

It may not feel like a lot, but the Cubs checked off a bunch of boxes on Tuesday night. The one fear -- regarding Lackey and Zobrist -- is that age catches up with them. Otherwise the Cubs got more flexible while adding a winning ballplayer and a young pitcher. They had another good Day 2 of the winter meetings, and may not be done yet as Epstein intimated another trade/free-agent signing was possible.

"There is still the potential for that again," Epstein said.

As if Tuesday's blockbusters weren't enough. The next one could be even bigger if it includes outfielder Jason Heyward. To be continued.

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ESPNChicago.com Joe Maddon on John Lackey: It's a perfect fit for Cubs By Jesse Rogers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Saying he likes the “edge” newly aquired pitcher John Lackey brings to the Chicago Cubs, manager Joe Maddon envisions him slotting right behind Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta and lefty Jon Lester in a formidable top end of the starting rotation.

“You walk into a three-game series and the other team calls for your pitching, and you say it's going to be ‘Lester, Arrieta and Lackey,’ they don't like that,” Maddon said after the two-year deal was announced Tuesday afternoon.

Maddon joked that Lackey helped “pay for his daughter’s wedding” after the two won a World Series together for the Los Angeles Angels in 2002, when Maddon was a coach and Lackey a rookie. Now, Lackey's a 37-year-old grizzled veteran who isn’t exactly a touchy-feely guy. Maddon likes that for a young team coming off a winning season. Lackey won’t endure the idea of a letdown.

“I like it,” Maddon said. “I like the edge. I love the edge. Edge is good. I'm good with it. I know how supportive he is. He's a great teammate, how supportive he'll be with the entire group. But I also know that, when he plays, he's going to demand the guys are ready to play. I love it.”

Lackey has won two World Series championships, most recently with Boston in 2013. He played for the minimum last year after undergoing surgery and missing the entire 2012 season. But he put up huge numbers with the St. Louis Cardinals, producing a 2.77 ERA in 33 starts. That durability after Tommy John surgery is key -- as is his desire to win.

“John is one of the best competitors I've ever been around,” Maddon stated. “You see it from the outside looking in. He demands a lot on a daily basis when he plays, of himself and his team, and I love it. I really believe that the particular kind of edge that John provides is really going to be helpful for us moving forward.

“I like the idea of coming off the kind of year that we had to really add this kind of a personality to the group, I think, would really benefit us even more. Our veterans within the group are already spectacular, and now you add John Lackey. Couldn't be more excited.”

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ESPNChicago.com Busy Cubs aren't done yet after Ben Zobrist, Starlin Castro deals By Jonah Keri

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Chicago Cubs dramatically revamped their infield, signing Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million deal and flipping Starlin Castro to the Yankees for pitching help, all in a matter of minutes.

In Zobrist, the Cubs gain a player who before 2015 ranked as one of the most valuable commodities in baseball. He is rarely seen as a big threat via more traditional metrics such as Triple Crown stats, never batting .300 or posting 100 RBIs in a season, but Zobrist at his best combines an impressive batting eye with solid gap power, baserunning prowess with excellent defense, along with a versatility that's enabled him to play more than 100 games at five positions during his 10-year major league career.

Zobrist will probably shelve most of that multi-position skill, at least for 2016, and take over as the Cubs' everyday second baseman. The Cubs are banking on getting something closer to either the pre-2015 version of Zobrist or the 2015 playoff version rather than what he offered during the regular season. From 2009 through 2015, Zobrist ranked fourth in the majors in Wins Above Replacement, a stat that seeks to measure all facets of the game but doesn't account for any added value derived from Zobrist's versatility. During Kansas City's October to the crown, he batted .303/.370/.515, with a number of key hits throughout the postseason.

In between, Zobrist posted by far his least productive season as an everyday player. He missed 36 games last season, most of those because of a knee injury, which also appeared to hamper his production for a while after his return from the DL in late May. That marked the first time Zobrist played in fewer than 146 games since he became a big league regular in 2009. The knee injury also saddled Zobrist with the worst defensive numbers of his career and also his lowest Wins Above Replacement total as a full-time player.

The Cubs are betting that Zobrist can shake off last season's malady and stay healthy and productive through his age-35 to age-38 seasons. That's far from a sure bet, even if Zobrist's price tag looks a lot better than the $80 million range that had been briefly floated as a rumor earlier in the day.

The Cubs were already armed with enviable middle-infield depth, and their acquisition of Zobrist further enabled them to flip Castro to the Yankees for an effective arm and some salary relief. In Adam Warren, the Cubs nabbed a 28-year-old right-hander who can pitch out of the bullpen and in the rotation. That swingman profile has obscured some impressive, under-the-radar numbers. With Warren and Trevor Cahill both in the fold, the Cubs now have ample insurance should any of their starters get hurt, if Kyle Hendricks or Jason Hammel falters, or if the bullpen needs to soak up multiple innings to bail out a bad turn from any of the starting five.

On the other end of the trade, Castro had his share of defects: a shaky throwing arm that fueled copious errors when he played shortstop; an erratic offensive track record, including a .265/.296/.375 batting line last season; and a contract that guarantees him another four years and nearly $42 million. Still, he's 25, just a year older than Yankees second-base prospect , who has failed to impress anyone at the major league level yet. Castro is also a three-time All-Star with nearly 1,000 career hits and has been one of the most productive middle infielders in the game during his better seasons.

Though the Cubs have now acquired John Lackey, lefty reliever Rex Brothers, Cahill, Warren, and Zobrist, they might not be done. Adding Zobrist could mean that Javier Baez is now expendable, too. As ESPN.com's Jesse Rogers reported, Baez’s name has come up in trade talks with multiple teams. Those inquiries make tons of sense: Baez is just 23; owns prodigious raw power, albeit with Grand Canyon-sized holes in his swing to match; can play multiple infield positions; offers six years of controllable service time; and will make the league minimum for the next two seasons. If the Cubs want to add a young pitcher with upside, Baez could be a key piece who could help make that kind of deal happen.

Still, even after losing out on David Price, the Cubs' seven-deep rotation doesn't look like much of a weakness. The more pressing need exists in the outfield. With center fielder and effective leadoff man Dexter Fowler a free agent, the Cubs have a key lineup spot to fill. The good news is that they have multiple options when it comes to filling it, whether or not they use Baez as trade bait.

Jason Heyward is the best remaining free agent on the market and also a perfect fit to replace Fowler, if the Cubs are confident his all-world defensive skills can translate to playing center field every day. At 26, Heyward would offer the kind of youth, stellar glove, and on-base ability that teams covet. The Cubs could also make a more modest investment in someone like , who is two years older than Heyward but also offers better- than-average defense, plus a strong bat against righties that could be leveraged into a strong platoon, if the Cubs can find a lefty-masher to complement him.

Coming off a run to the NLCS, the Cubs own a roster that's built to win both now and in the future, and they have some of the deepest pockets in the game. That means that even with their improved pitching depth and a free- agent market for starting pitchers that has thinned out considerably, snagging one more arm isn't out of the realm of possibility. Price, Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann, Jeff Samardzija, Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ, and others are off the market, but , Wei-Yin Chen, Yovani Gallardo, Ian Kennedy and other capable starters remain in play.

Add it all up, and you have a team that's already been more active than most of its biggest NL rivals -- with the potential for another impact deal or two still to come.

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CSNChicago.com Domino effect: Cubs sign Ben Zobrist for $56 million and trade Starlin Castro to Yankees By Patrick Mooney

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The dominos started falling for the Cubs on Tuesday night, signing Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million deal, flipping Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees and keeping options open for another major move at the winter meetings.

The Cubs did all this in concert at the Opryland, landing the super-utility guy who’s been one of Joe Maddon’s all- time favorite players and trading a three-time All-Star shortstop for pitcher Adam Warren and a player to be named later (reportedly infielder Brendan Ryan).

The Cubs tried to acquire Zobrist twice within the last year – but couldn’t make a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays or Oakland A’s – and needed to get creative to pull off this deal.

The Yankees were the only team willing to pay the price for Castro – who’s guaranteed $38 million across the next four seasons – and still give up a useful piece in return.

In Zobrist, the Cubs get a switch-hitting leadoff guy (.355 career on-base percentage) who can set the table for Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant and set an example for Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell. Zobrist can take over at second base and still give Maddon options all over the infield and outfield.

In Warren, the Cubs get a 28-year-old right-hander they believe will benefit from getting out of the American League East and stick as a starter at a time when the price for pitching is skyrocketing. Warren went 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA in 43 games (17 starts) for the Yankees this year and remains under club control for three more seasons.

In reshaping a 97-win team that got swept out of the National League Championship Series by the New York Mets – a contender that had made Zobrist a primary target in free agency – the Cubs wanted to change their offensive profile, improve the overall defense and add even more veteran leadership to the clubhouse.

The Zobrist connections are obvious, from geography to personal history to future possibilities. He grew up in downstate Illinois, attended Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais and keeps a home in the Nashville area. He earned two All-Star selections and developed into one of the game’s most valuable and versatile players on Maddon’s Tampa Bay teams.

“It permits you to do so many different things with your lineup daily,” Maddon said. “When you have a (super- utility) guy, part of that is the selfless attitude of the player. Not everybody is suited to that for two reasons: They’re not comfortable moving around or their ego doesn’t permit them.

“Zo, from Day 1, he’s always been accepting of that. He’s all about winning.”

Zobrist thrived after a midseason trade to the Kansas City Royals, hitting .303 with an .880 OPS in 16 playoff games and helping another maturing, homegrown core win a World Series title.

“Look at what Zobrist did in the postseason,” Cubs president Theo Epstein said. “This move wasn’t based on the postseason. Our evaluation wasn’t based on the postseason. But facing the best pitching in the world, in the most competitive environment, he worked really good at-bats, put the ball in play when it needed to be put in play, drove the ball when it needed to be driven and found his way on base a lot.

“Those kind of winning, competitive at-bats are what we’re looking for (and) it sets a great example for the young hitters that we have. We haven’t had that really polished, veteran hitter who can go out, day in, day out, and set a great example of grinding every pitch and working an at-bat. (If) you’re hitting behind him in the lineup, you’ll see how he attacks an at-bat. You can’t help but get better.”

The Cubs still needed to trade Castro, who didn’t whine or complain when Russell took over at shortstop in August, reinventing himself as a second baseman and coming close to 1,000 hits before his 26th birthday.

The Yankees believe Castro can handle The Bronx and might raise his game while playing in pinstripes, part of the franchise’s overall youth movement while waiting for the Alex Rodriguez/Mark Teixeira/CC Sabathia megadeals to expire.

Zobrist – who will be 35 in May – gets a no-trade clause for the first three years of the deal and a $2 million signing bonus. The rest of the contract breaks down like this annually through 2019: $10 million; $16 million; $16 million; $12 million.

“We expressed our interest and asked him to be patient,” Epstein said. “We couldn’t act right away, but we had a lot of interest and if the right corresponding move came our way, we could get involved quickly. As it turned out, we (got) one phone call just in time to help it pick back up."

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CSNChicago.com Traded from Cubs, Starlin Castro starts over with Yankees By Patrick Mooney

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Even through all the ups and downs in Chicago, Starlin Castro still dreamed about being on the Cubs team that finally won it all.

Castro got closer than anyone predicted this year, watching the big crowds at Wrigley Field come alive again and clap along to his walk-up song, “Ando En La Versace,” unscripted moments that weren’t focus-group-tested on season-ticket holders.

But Castro won’t be around to see the rebuild all the way through, traded to the New York Yankees on Tuesday for pitcher Adam Warren and a player to be named later (reportedly infielder Brendan Ryan), the trigger the Cubs needed to sign super-utility guy Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million contract.

The Yankees aren’t the kings of the winter meetings anymore, sitting out the bidding wars for big-name free agents and trying to build a deeper roster with more flexibility and athleticism while waiting out some huge contracts.

For Cubs fans, it feels like Castro has been around forever, but he is still only 25 years old, a three-time All-Star and a versatile defender with 991 career hits already on his resume.

“We want to get younger,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said inside the Opryland bubble. “We want to obviously improve in areas of need with younger, controllable pieces that we believe are performers. And I think he checks all those boxes.”

The Yankees needed up-the-middle options, could absorb the $38 million Castro is guaranteed across the next four years and kept an open mind about a player with some perception issues. Jim Hendry — the former Cubs general manager who promoted Castro from -A Tennessee to the big leagues in 2010 — is a special assistant to Cashman.

Castro had occasional mental lapses and made some headlines with a few off-the-field incidents, but he will ultimately be remembered for the way he handled Addison Russell taking over at shortstop in August. Castro accepted his new role at second base, got hot again and helped the Cubs win 97 games and two playoff rounds.

“I don’t think any factor of change of scenery is necessary,” Cashman said. “He proved what he could do with the position switch there. I thought he was one of the big reasons they really propelled into the playoffs the way they did.

“He was flying with his performance once he got over to second base (and in a) pressure situation had a good postseason. So I don’t think he needs a change of scenery at all. Just let him settle in and be an everyday second baseman.”

The Cubs tried to move Castro before the July 31 trade deadline and watched him pass through waivers in August, when the difficult decision might have been to simply dump the contract if another team claimed him.

But a late-season surge convinced the Cubs that they wouldn’t just give Castro away. The Cubs made another pitch to the Yankees at the beginning of the offseason, and the talks started up again when team president Theo Epstein got a phone call here in Nashville.

Castro signed with the organization nine years ago, as a teenager out of the Dominican Republic, and became the lightning rod as the Cubs trudged through five fifth-place seasons.

Castro almost always stood at his locker answering questions and taking the heat, burning to be in the lineup and play every day, something he learned from another old Yankee, Alfonso Soriano, who absorbed those lessons from , and Bernie Williams in New York.

Now Castro starts the rest of his baseball life at , and that might be the best thing for him.

“He really grew up in this organization,” Epstein said. “He went through a lot here, made tremendous positive contributions to help get us to where we are. So it’s certainly a bittersweet feeling with some sadness that we see him go. I wish him nothing but the best for him and his family in New York and wearing the pinstripes, where I believe he’ll thrive.”

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CSNChicago.com Joe Maddon sees Javier Baez and Jorge Soler as building blocks – not trade chips – for Cubs By Patrick Mooney

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Cubs have discussed the outlines of a Shelby Miller trade with the Atlanta Braves at length, but a source close to the talks insisted the two sides weren’t at all close to a Javier Baez deal as Monday night turned into Tuesday morning at the winter meetings.

Beyond shooting down that report, multiple sources indicated the Braves have been more focused on Jorge Soler, saying Baez isn’t Atlanta’s type of player, making him a much better match for the and Tyson Ross, a pitcher the Cubs have targeted at least since the July 31 deadline.

But manager Joe Maddon – whose voice resonates with Theo Epstein’s front office – sees Baez and Soler as building blocks and not trade chips.

“Anything’s possible,” Maddon said during Tuesday’s media session at the Opryland complex. “It’s part of the business. It’s part of the game. As of right now, I don’t anticipate that happening. I really don’t. But if it were to happen, it happens.”

That could obviously change before the Cubs leave Nashville, Tennessee, but Maddon opened some eyes with the way he lobbied for Baez to make last season’s Opening Day roster and used him as a September call-up and in the playoffs.

The Cubs got exposed as a flawed defensive team and swept by the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. Maddon has repeatedly described Baez as one of the best young middle infielders he’s ever seen, and his violent swing has drawn comparisons to Gary Sheffield.

Maddon has called Soler a Vladimir Guerrero with plate discipline, the type of premium talent that would get drafted No. 1 overall if the Cuban outfielder had been born in the United States.

Soler has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but showed so much potential in October, hitting .474 with three homers, three doubles and six walks in seven playoff games.

Baez just turned 23 and Soler will be 24 next season and the Cubs seem to understand both players have boom-or- bust potential.

“My biggest concern would be the kid, the player, (because) Javy is special,” Maddon said. “I really like him a lot personally, and really got to know Soler.

“Soler is another example of a (coaching) staff really impacting a guy in a positive way – Manny (Ramirez and) Johnny Mallee and ‘Ske’ () and Davey (Martinez). It’s really wonderful how our group worked together to get the most out of these guys.

“So, yes, of course, anything’s possible, but I really anticipate they’re going to be here.”

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CSNChicago.com Ben Zobrist agrees to four-year deal with Cubs By Staff

The Cubs and Ben Zobrist agreed to a four-year deal, the team announced Tuesday night.

Zobrist spent the first nine years of his major league career with the Tampa Bay Rays, earning All-Star nods in 2009 and 2013. He played under Cubs manager Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay from 2006 to 2014.

Last year Zobrist was a key part of the Kansas City Royals' World Series run after being dealt from Oakland at the All-Star break.

In 59 games with the Royals he hit .284 with seven homers and 23 RBIs. He hit .303 with home homers and six RBIs in 16 postseason games as the Royals topped the Mets in five games.

Zobrist has a .265/.355/.431 slash line on his career.

The Cubs did not announce the terms of the contract, but reports indicated it was a four-year deal, later confirmed by CSN's Patrick Mooney.

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CSNChicago.com Cubs send Starlin Castro to Yankees By Staff

The Cubs traded middle infielder Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees, the team announced Tuesday night.

The Cubs simultaneously announced that Ben Zobrist agreed to a four-year deal with the team.

In six seasons with the Cubs, Castro hit .281 with 62 homers and 363 RBIs, making three All-Star teams.

In 151 games last season, Castro hit .265 with 11 homers and 69 RBIs. He was moved to second base midway through the season and posted a .358/.379/.597 slash line over his final 45 games of the regular season, picking up 48 hits, 12 doubles and six home runs over that stretch, scoring 18 runs and driving in 23.

The Cubs received pitcher Adam Warren in the deal. Warren went 7-7 with three holds, one save and a 3.29 ERA last season. He made 26 appearances out of the bullpen and made 17 starts.

The Cubs will also receive a player to be named later in the trade.

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