Will Paying $800k for Rudy Jaramillo Help Alfonso Soriano?

Jon Heyman is reporting this:

Highly respected hitting guru Rudy Jaramillo is in serious talks with the Chicago Cubs about becoming their new hitting coach, and it appears likely that the sides will reach an agreement for Jaramillo to join the Cubs soon, SI.com has learned...It is believed he will receive a multiyear deal for about $800,000 per year. Dave Duncan and Mike Maddux are thought to currently be the highest paid coaches in baseball at about $750,000.

Hmm. That's a lot of cash for a coach. Well, I guess he's some type of super genius.

Jaramillo worked with Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano when Soriano was a Ranger. The Cubs are hoping their reunion will spark Soriano

Hmm (again). Soriano's slash line by team:

NYY 284/322/502   
TEX 274/316/498
WAS 277/351/560
CHC 275/328/508 

If the Cubs want to spark Sori via a new hitting coach, they should hire Mitchell Page.

Dominican Winter League Cubs

The 2009-2010 Winter League Cubs post has been updated with the first few Cubs added to Dominican Winter League rosters. Basically, Alfsono Soriano and a bunch of kids.

Update Esmailin Caridad and Aramis Ramirez are on Licey's roster.

Cashner Has Rough AFL Debut, Castro Keeps Hitting

Andrew Cashner threw the first two frames of an Arizona Fall League match-up in Mesa this afternoon. A home run, one of three hits, a walk and three strike outs were enough for one day in the hitter friendly AFL. No PITCHf/x, that will only be in Peoria and Surprise.

Cashner opened his first inning with a strike out, a single and a walk. Cashner got the second out by striking out Ike Davis. Davis could get a look at first in 2010 for the Mets. Not quite out of the jam, Cashner gave up his gopher ball to another New York first base prospect, the Yankees' Brandon Laird. No further damage, beyond an infield single.

Two Cubs star prospects also started (but finished) the game. Starlin Castro knocked out three more hits, bringing his total to 7 in 14 at bats. He also stole his first base of the Fall season.

Castro shared the left side of the infield with Josh Vitters. We might see this combo in Wrigley before too long. Vitters was hitless with a walk in four trips. Yes, Josh Vitters took a walk.

Gameday

Update The Trib had a reporter at the game. Cashner was described as sharp, despite the first inning troubles. The prospect had this to say:

"I thought I threw the ball well except for one pitch,"...

One mistake, he acknowledged, was grooving a 3-2 fastball to Laird, who went opposite field to right for a three-run homer in the first.

"I left it up in the middle of the plate," said Cashner, the Cubs' first-round pick in 2008 out of TCU. "He hit it well, but it might not have been out at a lot of parks."

Cashner also said he's on a 40-pitch limit.

Samardzija Goes Six in Second Start for Mexicali

Jeff Samardzija continued his questionable journey towards the 2010 Cubs rotation. Making his second start for Mexicali, Samardzija completed six innings while allowing one run on six hits. He struck out four and didn't give up any walks.

Hopefully he'll get a start at Mazlatan at some point, since they stream their home games online.

Don't Let Your Babies Grow-up to be Catchers

One catcher, one off-season, three operations:

Mariners catcher Rob Johnson, who was right-hander Felix Hernandez's personal catcher for most of the season, will have surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, the first of several surgeries he faces in the next several weeks.

In approximately three weeks, Johnson will return to Colorado for an identical operation on his [left] hip.

After three to four weeks of rehabilitation, Johnson will return to Seattle, where he will undergo an operation on his left wrist. That procedure will be performed by wrist specialist Dr. Carlton Keck.

Johnson is also recovering from an ankle injury.

2009-2010 Winter League Cubs

Here's the latest on the Cubs Winter ball participants. All roster information from MLB.com.

Cubs winter stats

Dominican Republic

Oriente: Rafael Dolis, Marcos Mateo, Junior Lake, Alfonso Soriano
Cibao: Mario Mercedes
Licey: Esmailin Caridad, Aramis Ramirez
Este: Jeffry Antigua, Alberto Cabrera, Manolin De Leon, Jose Pina, Jose Made, Nelson Perez

Venezuela

Anzoategui: Eduardo Figueroa, Carlos E. Rojas, Carlos Zambrano, Jose Guevara, George Matheus
Magallanes: Robert Hernandez, Robinson Chirinos, Andres Blanco, Luis Rivas, Larry Suarez
Caracas: Marwin Gonzalez, J.R. Mathes
Aragua: Jonathan Mota
Margarita: Jhon Rodriguez


Mexico

Mexicali: Brad Snyder, Matt Camp, Jeff Samardzija, Brian Schlitter


AFL Cubs

Samardzija and Friends in Mexico

Jeff Samardzija is meh in Mexico, too. Four innings (box score), two walks and two strike outs. He gave up a run on three hits as Mexicali got clubbed by Hermosillo.

Nothing special, but better than Brian Schlitter. Schlitter, who spent 2009 in Double-A Tennessee, gave up four runs (two earned) on three hits. He didn't retire a single batter.

Farm hands Brad Snyder and Matt Camp (who may be minor league free agents at the moment) started for Mexicali in the outfield.