CHICAGO CUBS

The Cubs finished 71-91, 25 games off the pace in 5^th place and one game behind the 4^th place Pittsburg Pirates. Except for their on base percentage (20^th) the Cubs were a average hitting team finishing 13^th and 15^th respectively in batting average (.256) and slugging percentage. On the pitching side of things, horrific best describes them. The Cubs ERA was 25^th overall, and opponents hit .262 against Chicago hurlers.

On the Free Agent market, Reed Johnson RF, re-signed for 1-year, $1.150 million, slugger Carlos Pena 1B, .225 BA, 28 HR’s 80 RBI’s went back to Tampa Bay, Aramis Ramirez 3^rd B, signed with Milwaukee .306 BA, 26 HR’s, 93 RBI’s for 3 years, $36 million and Kerry Woods, RP for 1-year, $3 million.

Coming to Chicago from Oakland is David DeJesus RF, .240 BA, 10 HR’s 46 RBI’s for 2 years $10 million, and from Pittsburg lefthander Paul Maholm, LSP-3.66 ERA, 1-year, $4.75 million.

STARLIN CASTRO

With Ramirez and Pena gone, so is the Cub offense. Replacing those guys will be hard to do. Starlin Castro was the only other piece left in their arsenal along with Raphael Soriano. The pitching is non=existent, however they did bring in help with Paul Maholm.

They are in need of help in the trading market to get them moving past Pittsburg. Right now they could fall backwards.