Chicago Cubs anxious to make mark at winter meetings

The Chicago Cubs have already made several moves so far this offseason, signing starting pitchers Scott Baker and Scott Feldman as well as Japanse closer Kyuji Fujikawa. The team, though, is likely not done, and will continue to search for ways to add to the team at baseball's winter meetings in Nashville this week. The Cubs are a rebuilding team, but Epstein said this weekend that doesn't mean that the team is committed to losing.

"We'll look to move veteran players for younger players and use that as a way to improve our long-term prospects and build our foundation. But it's not like we build the team hoping we go down that path. I hope we're in a position to add, but we'll be prepared for either scenario."

(via CSN Chicago)

The Cubs have already followed the blueprint they drew up last year in signing Baker and Feldman to cheap deals that could allow them to be dealt at some point in the season for younger talent. Chicago has also explored moving its veterans this winter, with Carlos Marmol nearly sent to the Angels in the aborted Dan Haren trade and Alfonso Soriano a hot name on the rumor mill.

Chicago went 61-101 last season in Epstein's first year with the team -- it was the second worst record in baseball behind the Houston Astros, who have now shifted to the AL West.