After a relatively slow off-season, the Cubs stepped it up on New Year’s Eve, saying goodbye to Mark DeRosa while welcoming his replacement, Aaron Miles. DeRosa was traded to Cleveland for three pitching prospects, shortly after the announcement that Miles, a 32-year-old free agent, had agreed to a two-year, $4.9 million deal. Combined with the imminent trade of Jason Marquis to Colorado and the expected free-agent signing of Milton Bradley, the twin moves should give General Manager Jim Hendry the balanced lineup he has been seeking, as well as an opportunity to revive trade talks for San Diego ace Jake Peavy.
Next game
Wolves vs. Rockford
7:30 p.m. Friday
– The Wolves will wear commemorative “Winter Camouflage” jerseys during one of its three Armed Forces Nights on Friday. The white and gray camouflage jerseys, designed in-house by the Wolves, will be auctioned and raffled to benefit various Chicago-area charities.
“I’m tired of criticism that is unwarranted. People who say stuff about me, they don’t know our defense. They don’t know football. Yes, I wish I would have made a lot more big plays. Obviously, everyone could say that on our defense. I wish I was around the ball more, but I wasn’t. Just the way things worked out this season.”
Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher
