Community Picks: Tampa Bay Rays 0% vs Chicago Cubs 0%

(WXYZ) - The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs may be interested in a couple of Detroit Tigers players ahead of the MLB trade deadline. According to Jon Morosi, the Cubs have asked about the availability of Justin Verlander and Alex Avila, but neither side has started negotiating a possible trade. Verlander is 5-5 this season with a 4.96 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 17 games. Avila has appeared in 58 game for the Tigers this year, and is batting .310 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs. Morosi also reported that the Cubs had a scout in attendance during Sunday's game where Verlander did not play well. Chicago has the third best pitching in the National League, with an average 4.04 ERA. They are Continue to Article

July 04, 2017 2:32:am EST

OAKLAND, Calif. -- In what could be a preview of the near future for the White Sox, David Robertson is off three days to attend the birth of his second child. One of the team’s most sought after assets, the veteran closer was placed on the paternity list before Monday's 7-2 win over the Oakland A's and isn’t likely to rejoin until the White Sox reach Denver on Friday. For now, the White Sox coaching staff must determine how to survive for three games without Robertson, who has provided stability to the back end of the bullpen. But if all goes according to plan, the White Sox could be in search of a new closer sometime later this month when Robertson is dealt to the highest bidder. While the White Continue to Article

July 04, 2017 12:52:am EST

Trading for Chris Archer sounds like a great idea in theory. It will be an obvious storyline when the ex-Cubs prospect matches up against Jon Lester on the Fourth of July at Wrigley Field. Except the Tampa Bay Rays (43-41) have a slightly better record than the Cubs (41-41). There was enough bad blood after manager Joe Maddon used the escape clause in his contract that it complicated any hopes of the Cubs acquiring Ben Zobrist before the 2015 season. Tampa Bay’s asking price last summer for Matt Moore – a less-accomplished pitcher under club control through 2019 instead of 2021 – started at Kyle Schwarber plus. The Cubs aren’t planning to promote Schwarber to face Archer on Tuesday, allowing Continue to Article

July 03, 2017 8:06:pm EST

Catcher Miguel Montero has been acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Cubs, six days after he blamed Chicago pitcher Jake Arrieta for allowing seven stolen bases in a 6-1 loss to Washington. Toronto said Monday it acquired the two-time All-Star and cash for a player to be named or cash. Montero hit .286 with four homers and eight RBIs in 44 games this season and was designated for assignment Wednesday. He has thrown out one of 31 base stealers this season. The 33-year-old Venezuelan has a .260 career average with 124 homers and 542 RBIs in 12 seasons with Arizona and the Cubs. His 10th-inning RBI single gave Chicago a two-run lead in Game 7 of last year's World Series, a game the Cubs hung Continue to Article

July 03, 2017 12:57:pm EST

WASHINGTON -- The Chicago Cubs?on Wednesday designated catcher Miguel Montero for assignment, one day after he publicly called out starter Jake Arrieta for allowing seven stolen bases by the Nationals in a 6-1 loss Tuesday night. On Tuesday, the catcher criticized Arrieta and the Cubs pitching staff for the Nationals' baserunning success, saying: "That's the reason they were running left and right today, because they were slow to the plate. Simple as that. It's a shame it's my fault because I didn't throw anyone out." Speaking Wednesday, Montero said he apologized to Arrieta, and the right-hander told reporters that the two were on good terms.? But Cubs president Theo Epstein and manager Joe Continue to Article

July 03, 2017 10:46:am EST