With Sammy Sosa sitting in the stands at Wrigley Field for today’s Mets-Cubs game it got both Bart Hubbach of the NY Post’s Mets Blog and Ed Ryan of Mets Fever wondering if he would be a good fit for the Mets. Both asked but neither had the answer to that all important question, Can Sammy Sosa play first base?

Also, Joel Sherman of the NY Post in his Blog Hardball wonders, injuries aside does Pedro Martinez have anything left?

Plus, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News writes about how the Second City teams always like to, as Cubs broadcaster said “Bite the Big Apple”.

The Mets lost by a score of 8-1 today at Wrigley Field and were swept in their mini two game set. Ted Lilly got the win for the Cubs. Nelson Figueroa took the loss for the Mets.

Figueroa pitched OK. He went 5 innings, allowed 7 hits and 5 walks, but limited the damage to 3 runs, 2 of which scored after Carlos Delgado mental error. Speaking of Delgado, what is wrong with him? I keep telling myself he’s going to come around, but the reality is that he is an aging 35 year old and is not the big bopper he once was.

Jorge Sosa was also a disaster today, allowing a grand slam in the 8th to series MVP Ronny Cedeno.

On a lighter note, Carlos Beltran made a terrific play in centerfield that robbed Derrek Lee of an extra base hit.

Brady Clark drove in the Mets lone run with an rbi groundout.

The Mets look to right the ship tomorrow against the Nationals. The pitchers will be Johan Santana and TIm Redding.

Fresh off their series win against the Phils, the Mets (10-7) travel to Chicago to face off against the Cubs (12-6) at the historic Wrigley Field. The pitchers for tonights game will be John Maine (1-1 3.78) and Carlos Zambrano (2-1 3.04). Gametime is slated for 7:05 EST. It can be seen on SNY and is also available on MLB.tv

Lineup:

• SS Jose Reyes
• 2B Luis Castillo
• 3B David Wright
• CF Carlos Beltran
• 1B Carlos Delgado
• RF Ryan Church
• C Raul Casanova
• LF Endy Chavez
• P John Maine

Interesting, no Pagan again tonight.. Schneider still out with a sore forearm..

As always, head on over to The Hot Foot Bleachers to talk Mets baseball during the game

Reed Johnson will not be a Met. Why you ask? Because he’s a Cub. According to the MLB website, the Chicago Cubs have signed him to a one year deal.

No terrible surprise here, since Omar seemed pretty happy giving the shot to Angel Pagan, who has been doing pretty good so far in the spring. At least now we know he’ll definately make the roster.

A warrant has been issued for Scott Speizio of the Cardinals, stemming from his vehicular accident last December. It includes but isn’t limited to DUI and hit and run. In response he has been released from the Cardinals. Speizio admitted last season to having a problem with controlled substances.

Former Single A batboy Cameron Maybin is currently favored to be the starting CF for the Marlins, according to Steve Wine of the AP. If that falls through, the team will most likely see who’s available at the local Little League, and scout some of the prominent sandlots of Miami.

ESPN is reporting the Cubs may look into selling naming writes for Wrigley Field, a move to upset baseball purists. Wrigley is considered to be one of the games great traditions, along with the Cubs losing.

According to Ken Rosenthal at Foxsports.com, The Chicago Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome have agreed to a 4 year deal. The deal is expected to be for approximately 12m a year.

We’ll see which Matsui he’ll follow in the footsteps of.

Gorden Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs are currently the team to beat in the race to sign OF Kosuke Fukudome. The White Sox, Padres, Mariners, Rangers and Giants have reportedly had serious interest in signing him.

The report also has a couple of trade rumors regarding the Cubs. As it stands right now, Mark Prior appears likely to land in his hometown of San Diego if dealt this offseason, though the Reds have also been linked to the 27-year old southpaw.

Also, Wittenmyer notes that the Toronto media have had reports out that suggest the Jays may pursue Cubs closer Ryan Dempster, who is prepping a return to the rotation next year.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports that the Detroit Tigers have acquired OF Jacque Jones from the Chicago Cubs for IF/OF Omar Infante.

In 453 at-bats this past season, the 32-year old Jones hit .285 while hitting 5 homeruns and driving in 66 runs. Definitely a down year in terms of power for Jones as he has managed to hit over 20 home runs in the previous three seasons.

Infante, 25, has played in the reserve role for the Tigers the past couple of seasons after being called upon in 2004 to be the everyday second-baseman.

This is the second trade in this offseason that the Tigers have made after acquiring veteran SS Edgar Renteria from Atlanta for two prospects just two weeks ago.

A Jake Peavy for Manny Ramirez deal could be in the works.

The Mariners have contacted the agent of OF Luis Gonzalez.

The Giants and C Bengie Molina are in serious contract negotiations.

The Phillies as well as the Indians and P Joe Borowski are working on a 1-year deal.

The Cubs are more likely to trade OF Jacque Jones than OF Matt Murton.

The voting for AL MVP could be deadlocked on top between Derek Jeter and Justin Morneau.

The Red Sox are showing interest in Rangers SS Michael Young. They are also offering the Nationals OF Wily Mo Pena in exchange for P Chad Cordero.

The Astros, Rangers, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Cubs and Mets are all in the hunt for P Vicente Padilla.

The Cubs are pursuing SS-2B Julio Lugo, but they want him to move to centerfield.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Cubs are close to signing OF-2B Alfonso Soriano to an 8-year $135 million deal.

Wow, thats a lot of dough.

I'm really suprised by this. Every indication lead us to believe he was headed to Philadelphia, but you really can't take anything you hear in the offseason as fact. Its full of suprises.

Lou Pinella will be a very, very happy man tonight.

Update 3:28 PM
ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago is reporting Soriano has signed a 8-year $136 million deal.

The Yankees are showing interest in 1B-3B Shea Hillenbrand.

Yankees P Scott Proctor might be moved to the rotation for 2007.

The A’s have promoted bench coach Bob Geren to be the clubs next manager.

The Red Sox are showing interest in former Expos and Brewers P Tomo Ohka, who was a former prospect in the Red Sox organization.

SS Alex Gonzalez has been offered a 3-year, $15 million contract from either the White Sox or Reds.

A’s owner Lewis Wolff said the club will consider bringing in OF Barry Bonds to replace the all-but departed DH Frank Thomas.

The Orioles could persue either Mariners 1B Richie Sexson or Reds OF Adam Dunn this winter.

The Cubs are open to trading C Michael Barrett for some pitching help.

The Astros and Rockies have discussed a trade that would bring P Jason Jennings to Houston while sending either OF/2B Chris Burke or P Brad Lidge to Colorado.

The Mets are showing interest in P Adam Eaton, but his agent says he believes the Mets have Eaton as a “backup choice”.

SNY had former Met Lee Mazelli in their headquarters for an interview yesterday. It is believed he would work during Mets broadcasts.

The Red Sox could try to convince P Roger Clemens to return to Boston to be the teams closer.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting
that they have re-signed P Kerry Wood to an incentive-laden one year
contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Wood said he felt an
“obligation” to return since he hasn't lived up to his previous
contract.

Lou Pinella will sleep a lot easier tonight after bringing back Wood and 3B Aramis Ramirez, thats for sure.

The Chicago Tribune reports…

Hat tip to Randy W for the tip.