Despite his protestations the first time around, Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee could still be sent packing. The latest report has the Cubs working on a deal to send Lee to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for a group of prospects. Lee could again reject the trade because of his 10/5 status (10 years in the league, 5 with the same team) but sources indicate Lee favors a trade to the NL East-leading Braves. The trade would be more about a salary dump for the Cubs rather than a move to rake in talent. more ›

The major league baseball trade deadline looms this weekend and there's sure to be some wheeling and dealing here in Chicago. The White Sox, having leaped to the top of the AL Central, are suddenly buyers while the Cubs are looking like big sellers as they head into 2011 in which they'll hope to start with a new, younger roster and a new manager. Rumors are swirling that Ted Lilly might have pitched his last game as a Cub last night. But one Cub who doesn't appear to be going anywhere is Derrek Lee. The 34-year-old first baseman invoked his rights as a 10-and-5 player (10 years in the league, five with the same team) to nix the trade; Lee also has a no-trade clause in his contract. more ›

• A downstate spring break bike trip took a tragic turn for a trio of University of Chicago Lab School students when a minivan struck the group, killing one and inuring two.
• Unemployment was up again in February in the state of Illinois, but the job loss might be slowing.
• Seven women have been arrested as the Cook County Sheriff's office has busted up a large identity theft ring.

A few days ago, we mentioned ESPN had produced a documentary on the infamous Steve Bartman for their "30 For 30" series and readers seemed to share the same exasperation we felt when reading the news: just let it die already. Anyone who blames Bartman for the Cubs falling apart in the 2003 NLCS didn't watch the 2003 NLCS. And now it seems the Cubs players involved in that playoff series feel the same as we all do. more ›

Cubs stars Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez are putting in their two cents on the recent round of steroid accusations (cough*A-Rod*cough) and both come down pretty hard on those who break the rules. Said Lee, ''There should be zero tolerance. We've had plenty of warnings. There's no excuses. You get caught now, there should be no sympathy. A year to me is even light.'' Meanwhile, his teammate Ramirez wants the 104 perpetrators exposed: ''Because [otherwise] everybody's going to be looking over your shoulder and saying, 'They might have done it,' or, 'They might have done it.' Just get it out and get it over with and move on." The Sun-Times has more comments from the two stars. And what of Alfosno "The $136 Million Dollar Man" Soriano, who became a Texas Ranger the year after A-Rod left the team? Said Fonz, ''I played in Texas for two years, and I didn't see anybody do it." more ›

A quick addendum to yesterday's post about Dominic DiAngi, the boy who landed in the hospital after getting beaned by a foul ball off Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly's bat. Lilly as well as first baseman Derrek Lee visited the boy last night at Children's Memorial Hospital, where they stayed for 20 minutes and brought the kid a Cubs jersey. The Cubs have been in constant contact with DiAngi's family, and also sent him a baseball autographed by the entire team, a glove and jersey autographed by shortstop Ryan Theriot, and a bat signed by second baseman Mark DeRosa. more ›

When Carlos Zambrano, Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fokodume receive their first paychecks of the 2008 seasons, there will be a signature on them. Whose it'll be, nobody knows. That's because current Cubs owner Sam Zell vows to close a deal on the sale of the Cubs by Opening Day. more ›

It took a four-run seventh-inning rally, but the Cubs took the first game of a critical three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers by winning 5-3 at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. Jacque Jones, whom Cubs fans couldn't wait to unload earlier this season, drove in two of the runs with a key double during the seventh. With Alfonso Soriano on the DL and Derrek Lee's power missing, it's been Jones who has been the key to... more ›

- Craig Stebic had his divorce petition dismissed. We're guessing he got no argument from his wife. more ›

On this -- officially the slowest sports day of the year -- we will take the opportunity to look back at the first half (or so) of the season for the Cubs and Sox. Fans of both teams entered the season with high expectations. Has either team lived up to those expectations? Cubs After spending a ton of money on free agents during the off season, the Cubs sit in second place in the NL... more ›

Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the July 10 All-Star Game being held in San Francisco. Chicago baseball fans will see at least three of our local guys in the game. Given the White Sox sub par season, it's not surprising that they have only one All-Star this year -- the minimum representation any team gets. Closer Bobby Jenks will be the lone Sox player on the Americal League roster this year. Quite a... more ›

We don't know about you, but we just cannot get that excited for this weekend's Cubs-White Sox series that begins this afternoon at the Cell. The Sox have lost 20 of their last 28 games since the two last met, while the Cubs haven't played much better. The "lovable losers" haven't been so lovable of late, with their manager being suspended for bumbing an ump during an on-field tirade, the now exiles Michael Barrett getting... more ›

The fireworks continued to fly this past weekend at the again-not-so-Friendly Confines. Derrek Lee became the latest member of the Cubs to throw a punch, when he went after San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Young in the fourth inning after being plunked on the hand by a pitch. The altercation led to a bench-clearing brawl. In addition to Young and Lee, Padres pitcher Jake Peavy and Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry were also tossed from... more ›

Any weekend that has the Cubs and White Sox playing each other is exciting, but since the Sox added A.J. Pierzynski to the mix he seems to have developed an uncanny ability to fan the flames even more. Remember his little run-in with Cubs catcher Michael Barrett last year? A.J. didn't disappoint this year, either, causing fireworks at the beginning and end of the weekend, both on the field and off. On Friday, during Mike... more ›

Chicagoist knows a thing or two about coming back, with a lot of pressure to better the situation. We stepped off a 15-hour flight and headed into the office just yesterday, after 10 days away. Will the Cubs' Kerry Wood encounter similar looks of relief from his teammates and fans tonight, returning to the mound for the first time since his August '05 surgery. Having gone from 4 games above .500 to 5 games under... more ›

Yesterday, we mentioned Derrek Lee's injured wrist, suffered during a game against the Dodgers, in a play that also saw relief pitcher Scott Eyre suffer a seperate injury. more ›

Maybe the Cubs should have sold the naming rights to the bleachers to Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and instead of a "batters' eye" lounge, the should have installed a medical clinic. Because the Cubs just cannot seem to stay healthy. No sooner does the media report that Kerry Wood may be close to beginning his minor league rehab, the Cubs see two players injured on the same play! They didn't even run into each other, so this kind of fate takes special talent. more ›

While the Cubs prized arms have been little more than ongoing sources of concern, their prized slugger has been manificent since joining the team prior to the 2004 season. On Monday, the Cubs signed Derrek Lee to a $65 million, 5 year extension. The deal is expected to be annouced officially during a scheduled Tuesday press conference. Lee won the NL batting title with a .335 average last year, while leading the league in hits... more ›

What a difference a year makes! Last year, as we embarked on a new baseball season, we discussed the eternal optimism of Chicago baseball fans in light of decades of futility. But in 2005 something most unexpected and most wonderful happened. Chicago won a World Series! And it wasn't even the Chicago team that many thought had a shot at the title. While the Cubs entered the season picked by many to reach the postseason,... more ›

As Fox repeatedly reminded us last night, "This time, it still counts." As in the winning league's representative in the World Series gets home field advantage. So it's a good thing for the White Sox that the AL won the All Star Game 7-5 last night. more ›

Major League Baseball announced its All Star rosters over the holiday weekend, and at least five Chicago players will be in Detroit for the game on July 12th. Representing the White Sox will be Paul Konerko, Jon Garland and Mark Buehrle. Konerko was a bit of a surprise, considering his .247 batting average. But it's kind of a make-up call for last year's snub when he was hitting close to .300 at the time. Garland and Buehrle clearly deserve their selections. In fact, one or the other is likely to be the starting AL pitcher for the game. Having already earned $15,000 bonuses for making the team, each have an additional $10,000 bonus riding on starting the game. more ›

The Trib named its All-City team leading up the first meeting between the White Sox and Cubs this year. As the second crosstown series approaches, the Trib is allowing its readers to pick their team. Chicagoist is a little skeptical of the result thus far, however. We make no excuses for our allegiance to the South Siders and the Sox do sport the best record in baseball, but we still think the fan selected All-City... more ›

You know baseball season is close at hand when Red Eye decides to start the annual Chicago baseball debates with Jimmy Greenfield's Top 10 baseball players list. more ›