Yasiel Puig Signing: Dodgers Nab Cuban OF For $40 Million, According To Report

Cuban outfielder Yasel Puig signed a multi-year deal worth more than $40 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. Puig was officially declared a free agent by Major League Baseball on Thursday, and prior to his deal with the Dodgers the 21-year-old prospect was linked to the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs.

The $40 million figure exceeds the value of the deals for Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler, who signed for $36 million and $30 million, respectively. As Sanchez points out, the Dodgers had to move quickly on the deal and will need to finalize it before Monday in order to avoid restrictive new CBA guideliens:

In order to avoid being subject to new CBA guidelines that will limit spending on international prospects to $2.9 million per team without penalty, Puig must sign the record-setting deal, have the contract approved by Major League Baseball and pass a physical before Monday.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago, and for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Vs. Mets Final Score: Chicago Gets Rocked, 17-1

The Chicago Cubs came into Wednesday afternoon looking for their second sweep of the season. They didn't even come close, losing 17-1 to the New York Mets in an absolute beatdown at Citi Field on Wednesday. While the Cubs still won the series, they didn't do their run differential any favors in a brutal pitching performance.

Jeff Samardzija, who looked so good early in the season, has seen the wheels come off lately. He allowed nine runs over 4.1 innings on Wednesday, with the Cubs losing for the seventh time in his past eight starts. On June 5, Samardzija's ERA sat at a sparkling 3.13, but it's risen all the way to 5.06 after four consecutive subpar performances.

The Cubs' offense didn't help much, with Jon Niese and Ramon Ramirez combining to allow just one run over the course of the game. Darwin Barney had a pair of hits and Anthony Rizzo hit his second career double, but that about sums up the team's production for the day.

New York exploded offensively, meanwhile, with four different players contributing all of the team's 17 RBI. Daniel Murphy led the way with a double, two homers and four RBI, with David Wright, Ike Davis and Scott Hairston knocking in the remainder of the team's runs.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago, and for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Anthony Rizzo And The Cruel Encumbrance Of Unbridled Hype

Chicago Cubs super prospect Anthony Rizzo made his highly anticipated debut at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. SB Nation Chicago's Ricky O'Donnell just hopes local baseball fans aren't again burned by oversized expectations.

2012 Cubs Transactions: Chicago Sends Wells Down, Recalls Dolis

The Chicago Cubs' promotion of star 1B prospect Anthony Rizzo has grabbed the headlines, but the Cubs made another minor league move on Wednesday that will slightly alter the makeup of the team. The Cubs announced that they have demoted starter Randy Wells and called up reliever Rafael Dolis.

Wells designated and Dolis coming back up.

— Doug Padilla (@ESPNChiCubs) June 27, 2012

Wells has been disappointing during his time up in Chicago, giving up six earned runs in 6.2 innings in his two most recent starts. Dolis was sent down to the minors after a particularly disastrous turn as Chicago's closer, but he can help the Cubs in high leverage situations and has considerable more upside than does Wells.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago, and for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Vs. Mets Lineups: Rizzo Batting Third For Chicago On Wednesday

Anthony Rizzo's Chicago Cubs debut got off to a roaring start on Tuesday night, as he picked up two hits and drove in the game-winning run. The young first basemen will be back in the three-hole on Wednesday afternoon as he faces a tough lefty in Jon Niese of the New York Mets.

Here are today's lineups for both the Cubs and Mets:

Cubs

1. Joe Mather, CF
2. Starlin Castro, SS
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Alfonso Soriano, LF
5. Jeff Baker, RF
6. Geovany Soto, C
7. Darwin Barney, 2B
8. Luis Valbuena, 3B
9. Jeff Samardzija, P

Mets

1. Andres Torres, CF
2. Ruben Tejada, SS
3. David Wright, 3B
4. Lucas Duda, RF
   
5. Ike Davis, 1B
6. Scott Hairston, LF
   
7. Daniel Murphy, 2B
8. Josh Thole, C
9. Jon Niese, P

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago, and for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Vs. Mets Preview: Cubs Can Complete Sweep On Wednesday

The Chicago Cubs have only won three games in a row once this season, when they swept the San Diego Padres at home at the end of May. They can change that on Wednesday with a win over the New York Mets, which would give them both their second sweep and second three-game win streak of the 2012 season.

Leading the charge for the Cubs will be Jeff Samardzija who has struggled lately after a stellar start to the 2012 season. In his last three starts, Samardzija has given up 16 earned runs and 20 hits in just 14 innings. The good news for both Samardzija and the Cubs is that today's game is taking place in Wrigley Field, where Samardzija's season ERA is 2.36.

Opposing him for the Mets will be lefty Jon Niese. Niese has been on the opposite trajectory of Samardzija of late, allowing only six earned runs in 26.1 innings in four June starts.

Game date/time: Wednesday, June 27, 1:20 p.m. CT

Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Ill.

TV: CSN

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago, and for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Yasel Puig Update: Cuban Prospect Officially Free Agent

Cuban prospect Yasel Puig was officially declared a free agent by Major League Baseball by establishing temporary residency in Mexico, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. Sanchez also reports that Puig, who can begin negotiating with MLB clubs, could have an agreement as early as Friday, although a deal can't officially be signed until Puig is unblocked by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Time is of the essence for Puig, who will be rushing to put his name on a dotted line before July 2. Prior to that date, Puig can sign for an unlimited amount of money, and it's being reported that he's seeking a deal in the $30 million range like recent fellow Cuban free agents Yeonis Cespedes and Jorge Soler. But after July 2, the new CBA guidelines kick in, and Puig could not receive more than $2.9 million without his new team incurring a penalty.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago, and for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Mets Vs. Cubs Final Score: Chicago Gets 5-3 Win In Anthony Rizzo's Debut

All eyes were on highly touted prospect Anthony Rizzo in his first game as a member of the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night, and the 22-year old first baseman did not disappoint. Rizzo finished 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the fourth inning as the North Siders earned a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. The Cubs move to 26-48, while the Mets fall to 39-36.

The Cubs fell behind 2-0 until a three-run third inning put them back in front. After the Mets tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth thanks to a sacrifice fly by David Wright, Rizzo's shot would put Chicago in front for good.

Starter Randy Wells was chased after throwing 79 pitches in just three innings and allowing six hits and three runs while striking out three and walking four.

Reliever Scott Maine was credited with the victory, and Carlos Marmol nailed down his fifth save of the season in the ninth to secure the victory.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Mets blog Amazin' Avenue. And for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Mets Vs. Cubs: Anthony Rizzo Singles In First At-Bat

Anthony Rizzo made his Chicago Cubs debut a successful one on Tuesday night. In his first at-bat for the Cubs, he hit a sharp grounder to short that Ruben Tejada wasn't able to handle, allowing Rizzo to reach first safely.

Cubs official scorer Bob Rosenberg actually scored the play an error but, perhaps succumbing to pressure from the crowd, changed it to a hit.

Rizzo hits one sharply to short, reaches when Tejada can't backhand it. Rosenberg gives him error, gets booed, changes to hit. #Perfect

— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) June 27, 2012

Related: Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets Preview, Tuesday 6/25, 7:05 CT: It's Rizzo Time

Here's video of the hit in question.

The Cubs trail New York 2-0 in the third inning.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Mets blog Amazin' Avenue. And for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Vs. Mets Lineups: Anthony Rizzo To Debut, Hit No. 3

The Chicago Cubs (25-48) take on the New York Mets (39-35) on Tuesday afternoon, and many Cubs fans will be paying special attention to the game as 1B Anthony Rizzo -- the team's top prospect -- makes his 2012 debut and his Cubs debut.

Rizzo started the 2012 season in Triple-A, where the 22-year-old slugger hit 23 home runs in just 70 games, finishing his time in Iowa with offensive production 75% above league average, according to weighted runs created plus.

With the arrival of Rizzo, the Cubs will move the duo of UT Joe Mather and OF Tony Campana to the bench as OF David DeJesus takes over at center field and 1B/RF Bryan LaHair begins right field duty.

Here is a look at the lineup, courtesy of the Cubs official Twitter account:

#Cubs lineup vs. @Mets 6/26: DeJesus CF, Castro SS, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, LaHair RF, Valbuena 3B, Barney 2B, Clevenger C, Wells P

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 26, 2012

#Mets Tue. lineup at Chicago: Nieuwenhuis-CF, Tejada-SS, Wright-3B, Duda-RF, Davis-1B, Hairston-LF, Murphy-2B, Thole-C, Gee-RHP

— New York Mets (@Mets) June 26, 2012

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Mets blog Amazin' Avenue. And for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Mets Vs. Cubs Preview: Anthony Rizzo Debuts On Tuesday

When the Chicago Cubs take the field on Tuesday night against the New York Mets, the atmosphere at Wrigley Field will be much different than it has been for most of the 2012 season. For at least one night their 25-48 record won't matter, because 22-year-old prospect Anthony Rizzo will make his Cubs debut. He is expected to start at first base and hit either third or fourth in the lineup, and everyone will be watching very closely. Rizzo played poorly when called up as a member of the San Diego Padres last season -- posting a .141/.281/.242 over 153 MLB plate appearances in 2011 -- but Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer hope things will go much better this time around.

Here is the TV schedule and game information for Tuesday's game:

Game 2 Date & Time: Tuesday, June 26, 7:05 p.m. CT

TV: WCIU

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Mets blog Amazin' Avenue. And for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Mets Vs. Cubs Final Score: North Siders Earn 6-1 Victory In Series Opener

With nearly everyone focusing on the Chicago debut of top prospect Anthony Rizzo on Tuesday, the Cubs went out and secured a victory without the highly touted first baseman in the series opener vs. the New York Mets. The Cubs defeated the Mets 6-1 at Wrigley Field on Monday to improve to 25-48. The Mets fall to 39-35 with the loss.

Starter Travis Wood was brilliant for the North Siders, allowing no runs and five hits over seven innings while striking out six to run his record to 2-3.

Joe Mather hit his fourth homer of the season to get scoring started in the fourth, a two-run shot that also scored catcher Geovany Soto. The other four Chicago runs would be added in the seventh inning after a few costly errors by the Mets. New York finished with four errors on the night.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. And for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Ryan Dempster Injury: Chicago Cubs Starter Likely Out For An Extra Week After DL Stint Ends

Chicago Cubs starter Ryan Dempster has already missed one turn in the rotation and would be scheduled to start again on Tuesday vs. the New York Mets if the 35-year old righty wasn't currently spending time on the 15-day DL thanks to a sore right latissimus dorsi muscle behind his right shoulder.

Related: Anthony Rizzo Promoted To Chicago Cubs 25-Man Roster, Will Debut Tuesday

Dempster is eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday, but ESPN Chicago's Doug Padilla is reporting the veteran starter will spend up to a week out of action after his DL stint expires.

Padilla pegs a July 6-8 series against the Mets in New York as the probable return date for Dempster. The Cubs starter has been the subject of trade rumors as of late.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. And for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

PHOTO: Something's Wrong With Travis Wood's Batting Helmet

Ryan Dempster Injury: Cubs RHP Throws Off Flat Surface, Says He Feels Good

Chicago Cubs starter Ryan Dempster is making progress but his timetable for a return to Chicago is still somewhat uncertain, according to Paul Sullivan. Dempster threw off a flat surface on Monday and said he felt good, which is certainly an encouraging sign.

Dempster throws, feels good, but likely to miss 3 starts this time.

— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) June 25, 2012

Related: Anthony Rizzo Promoted To Chicago Cubs 25-Man Roster, Will Debut Tuesday

Dempster has made 12 starts for the Cubs this season and is 3-3 with a 2.11 record. He's struck out 66 and walked 22 in 81 innings of work.

He hasn't made a start for Chicago since June 15.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. And for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Mets Vs. Cubs Lineups: Anthony Rizzo Not In Monday Night's Lineup

Fans of the Chicago Cubs (24-48) will have to wait another 24 hours before watching 1B Anthony Rizzo's 2012 debut and Cubs debut. The highly-touted prospect left his Triple-A game on Monday afternoon, but the team will wait until Tuesday before officially adding him to the 25-man roster.

Here's a look at today's lineup courtesy of the official Chicago Cubs twitter account:

#Cubs lineup vs. @Mets 6/25: Johnson RF, Barney 2B, Castro SS, Soriano LF, Baker 1B, Soto C, Mather CF, Valbuena 3B, Wood P

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 25, 2012

When Rizzo joins the club, he is expected to take over the starting first base duties for the remainder of the season.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Mets blog Amazin' Avenue. And for more from around Major League Baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. For the latest on trade rumors and transactions, visit MLB Daily Dish.

Mets Vs. Cubs Preview: Chicago Welcomes New York To Wrigley Field

The Cubs begin a six-game homestand on Monday.