November 30, 2016 Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs sign outfielder Jay, who likely will share job with Almora http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-sign-outfielder-jay-who-likely-will-share-job-with-almora/ Chicago Sun-Times, Trump taps Cubs’ Todd Ricketts for Deputy Commerce post http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/trump-taps-cubs-todd-ricketts-for-deputy-commerce-post/ Daily Herald, Jay joins Chicago Cubs, figures to replace Fowler http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161129/sports/161128875/ Daily Herald, Imrem: If White Sox won't deal with Cubs, they are fools http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161129/sports/161128912/ Cubs.com, Cubs sign outfielder Jay to 1-year contract http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/209881208/jon-jay-agrees-to-one-year-contract-with-cubs/ Cubs.com, Baez reportedly to play for Puerto Rico at Classic http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/209880494/javier-baez-to-play-for-puerto-rico-at-wbc/ Cubs.com, One year made big difference for Montgomery http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/209867944/mike-montgomery-successful-with-mariners-cubs/ ESPNChicago.com, Cubs bring aboard OF Jon Jay http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18168245/jon-jay-signs-chicago-cubs CSNChicago.com, What The Jon Jay Deal Means For The Cubs And Dexter Fowler http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/what-jon-jay-deal-means-cubs-and-dexter-fowler Chicago Tribune, Cubs prospects Eloy Jimenez, Ian Happ rank among AFL's elite http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-eloy-jimenez-ian-happ-cubs-prospects-20161130- story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs prepare for Dexter Fowler's departure, sign center fielder Jon Jay http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-jon-jay-contract-20161129-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs are in contact with free-agent reliever Daniel Hudson http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-daniel-hudson-20161129-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Javier Baez to play for Puerto Rico in World Baseball Classic http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-javier-baez-puerto-rico-wbc-20161129- story.html -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs sign outfielder Jay, who likely will share job with Almora By Steve Greenberg Jon Jay? You don’t say. The Cubs and Jay, a veteran outfielder who will be 32 on Opening Day, agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract worth a reported $8 million. Jay has played seven major league seasons — his first six with the Cubs’ rivals in St. Louis — primarily as a center fielder. He can play all three outfield spots, but he’s known for his stellar glove work in the middle of the outfield. Jay’s career fielding percentage in center is .996, the highest mark for any active player (minimum 500 games) at the position. Bigger picture: The move solidifies months-long speculation that the Cubs will lose the services of popular center fielder Dexter Fowler, one of the heroes of the team’s drive to the World Series title. While Cubs fans come to terms with saying goodbye to “Dex,” the 30-year-old Fowler — a first-time All-Star in 2016 who tied for the team’s postseason lead with three home runs and 11 runs scored — will be seeking a lucrative, multiyear deal elsewhere. “Incredible, man,” Fowler said during the playoffs of his two seasons on the North Side. “Cubbies fans always show me the love, and they know I love them.” How much Jay plays during the season to come will have a lot to do with the ongoing development of Albert Almora Jr., the team’s first-round draft pick in 2012 and a solid contributor off the bench during the 2016 regular season and playoffs. The right-handed-hitting Almora is considered a potential Gold Glove-level talent in center field and could have more upside offensively than the left-handed Jay. For now, the clear expectation is that Almora and Jay will share the position. Jay is a career .287 hitter with 31 home runs, 253 RBI and 374 runs scored. His OPS (.737) and stolen-base (45) totals are modest, though he is coming off a strong season in San Diego. Over 90 games with the Padres, he hit .291 with 26 doubles. Jay missed all of July and August after breaking his right forearm on a pitch thrown by the Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez. Jay batted .300 in 105 games as a Cardinals rookie in 2010. He hit a career-high .305 in 2012, finishing 10th in the National League. He also posted a .303 average in 2014. In 112 big-league at-bats last season, Almora hit .277 with three home runs and posted a .763 OPS. In 80 games at Triple-A Iowa last season, he hit .303 with 43 RBI and stole 10 bases. -- Chicago Sun-Times Trump taps Cubs’ Todd Ricketts for Deputy Commerce post By Lynn Sweet WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump named key players on his economic team on Wednesday, including tapping Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce. The Chicago Sun-Times reported last week that Ricketts was in line to take on the number two spot in the Commerce Department. Ricketts, who oversees the political operations of the GOP wing of the Ricketts, led an anti-Trump effort during the Republican primary season. Once it was clear Trump would be the nominee, the GOP side of the Ricketts family led a Super PAC drive to help elect him. Trump also announced he intends to nominate Steve Mnuchin, his campaign finance chair, as Treasury Secretary and business executive Wilbur Ross to be the Commerce Secretary. In a statement Trump noted the Cubs World Series win, saying Ricketts is “an immensely successful businessman with unparalleled knowledge of the finance industry. “As Deputy Commerce Secretary he will help us cut waste and streamline government so that it works for the people of America. The incredible job he and the Ricketts family did in the purchase and turnaround of the Chicago Cubs – one perfect step after another, leading to the World Championship, is what I want representing our people. I am very proud to have him on our team.” Ricketts said in a statement, “I am honored that President-elect Donald J. Trump has asked me to serve our country at this critical juncture in our history. Advancing practical policies that promote economic opportunity is critical to making America great again. I’m eager to begin this important work and serving with Wilbur Ross to implement President-elect Trump’s economic agenda, which will improve the lives of all Americans.” From the statement from the Trump transition team: “Ricketts is committed to promoting the values of fiscal responsibility and educating taxpayers on wasteful and excessive government spending. He is the son of Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts and has years of hands-on experience in the finance industry. Like President-elect Trump, Mr. Ricketts will use this knowledge to fix the broken Washington D.C. system, keep jobs in the United States and spur job growth.” -- Daily Herald Jay joins Chicago Cubs, figures to replace Fowler By Bruce Miles The Chicago Cubs are quite familiar with outfielder Jon Jay, having seen him regularly when he was with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2010-15. On Tuesday, the Cubs made Jay one of their own, signing him to a one-year, $8 million contract. The move easily can be read that the Cubs are prepared to move on from center fielder Dexter Fowler, as Jay's primary position is center. Fowler, the Cubs' spark plug from the leadoff spot the past two seasons, is a free agent again this winter, and he's looking to cash in on the Cubs winning the 2016 World Series. Jay, who turns 32 in March, played this past season with the San Diego Padres, putting up a line of .291/.339/.389 with 2 home runs and 26 RBI in 90 games. He suffered a broken right forearm in June when hit by a pitch. For his career, Jay has a batting line of .287/.352/.384 with 31 homers and 252 RBI. He was a member of the Cardinals' 2011 world-championship team, and his .996 fielding percentage in center field is the highest of any active player at the position with at least 500 games there. Jay, who bats and throws left-handed, could share time in center with Albert Almora, a former first-round draft pick who came up this year and made a positive impression on the Cubs and made the postseason roster. It will be a tall order to replace Fowler, who put up a line of .276/.393/.447 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI this year. Fowler hit 1 home run in the National League championship series against the Dodgers and 2 against Cleveland in the World Series, one leading off Game 7. Fowler was a free agent last off-season, but he wound up re-signing with the Cubs in the early days of spring training after a deal with the Baltimore Orioles fell through. -- Daily Herald Imrem: If White Sox won't deal with Cubs, they are fools By Mike Imrem So, the bulletin on a slow news day this week was that the White Sox won't consider making a trade with the Cubs. That's what ESPN's Buster Olney reported and he's a reasonable, reliable, respected baseball journalist. If the Sox insist on trading Sale -- which they shouldn't do, by the way -- they'd be foolish not to consider a proposal from the Cubs.