Farewell, Fans
Cubs Fan Report Rides into the Sunset

Cubs Fan Report

So this is it, our final Cubs Fan Report. Our last goodbye. It's definitely a sad day for us — we loved putting together these daily write-ups, and we met a lot of awesome Cubs fans. Thanks for coming along with us and following the world's greatest baseball team. (Well, not literally the greatest, but you know what we mean.) You can still chat with us about All Things Cubs on our Facebook and Twitter pages, and we hope to meet many of you in person at the Cubs Mid-Winter Tweetup at Kitty O'Shea's on January 14 during the Cubs Convention. Could Cubs Fan Report return someday? Well, if Mark Prior can keep coming back, anything is possible. In the meantime, we've compiled a list of our favorite Cubs sources. Enjoy. Thanks again for your support, and go Cubs!

Kid K Coming Home?
Wood Would Bring Big Boost to Bullpen
So it looks like Kerry Wood is coming right back to where he started. David Kaplan reports the Cubs are set to sign the right-handed free agent, who pitched with the Cubs from 1998-2008. "Wood should provide tremendous support to closer Carlos Marmol and along with left hander Sean Marshall will form a very formidable back end of the bullpen," Kaplan writes. Wood won't have the arm that once whiffed 20 Astros, but he posted an eye-popping 0.69 ERA with the Yankees last year. Are you a little more optimistic now, Cubs fans?

Kap's Corner: Cubs moving toward signing Kerry Wood
Bleed Cubbie Blue: Cubs about to sign Kerry Wood
Cubbies Crib: Cubs closing in on deal with Kerry Wood

Adios, Zambrano?
With Lee Gone, Yanks Might Want Big-Z
We thought Cliff Lee to the Yankees was a done deal. But he's going to Philadelphia, which means New York hasn't picked up any pitching help this offseason. Maybe there's another big-name pitcher out there they might want to look at: Carlos Zambrano. Word is the Cubs would love to move him (and his massive contract, and his... ummm.... complicated psychology). But would he allow it, given that he has a no-trade clause? Bruce Levine and MLB say probably not, but you never know....

New York Daily News: Brian Cashman may dip into...
Chicago Sun-Times: Dominoes may deliver for the Cubs
ESPN Chicago: Agent: Nothing has changed with Big Z
MLB: Indications point to Big Z staying with Cubs

Prince Albert
Could Pujols Really, Truly End up at Wrigley?
We all know Albert Pujols means more to St. Louis than that damned arch and the official civic outfit of white leather shoes with plaid pants. But his contract ends after next year, and The Outfield Ivy notes only a few teams have the jingle to afford Pujols. Also, two of them — Boston and New York — are set at first. Given that Carlos Peña is only signed for one year, and several large contracts (Kosuke Fukudome, Carlos Silva, Aramis Ramirez) are coming off the books, well... it does make some sense, doesn't it?

The Outfield Ivy: Could Albert Pujols really land with the Cubs?

Trade Secrets
Miles: Cubs Not Done Moving Players
Because of the funky contract given to Peña, the Cubs might still have a little coin to work with. Bruce Miles says Jim Hendry is still interested in reclamation project Brandon Webb, and the team is still gazing lovingly at Matt Garza. Miles says the Cubs are willing to trade some celebrated minor leaguers: "The only prospects the Cubs won't move are Brett Jackson and Chris Archer. All the others would be on the table in trade talks. That includes Josh Vitters and Jay Jackson," he writes. Sounds pretty serious.

Daily Herald: Cubs' holiday-season shopping continues

Chat Room
Levine: Don't Blame Hendry for Cubs Woes
Bruce Levine. Chat. We want it that way. Levine defends Hendry, reminding us the Cubs won the division in 2007 and 2008. "Hendry hasn't had any money to spend since the Tribune went bankrupt in December 2008," he says. Levine also says the Cubs aren't spending now because they believe that cash "should go to minor-league development and signing free agents outside of the U.S.," which we are down with. And Big Z? "Zambrano is not going anywhere, in my opinion, except to church on Sunday," Levine says.

ESPN Chicago: Chat with Bruce Levine

The Cubs have released their spring training schedule... Mark Prior is taking his talents to the South Bronx... The Heckler has the scoop on how Lou Piniella and Mike Fontenot are keeping busy during the holidays... Looks like Tom Ricketts isn't the only guy to find love in the Wrigley Field bleachers... Remember how you told us your favorite all-time Cubs player when you subscribed? Here's your Top 10 All-Time Favorite Cubs.

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