Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella's contract is up at the end of this year and he apparently hasn't…

Starlin Castro is not yet a 20-year-old. He stands six-feet tall, but weighs less than 165 pounds. Yet, he is the top prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization, and to this point, he is the Cactus League leader in on-base plus slugging (OPS). It is an exceptionally good time to be Starlin Castro.

Unfortunately, it may turn out to be an equally bad time to be a Chicago Cubs fan. If and when Castro reaches the Major Leagues in 2010, he will be a colossal disappointment and the team will be left holding a painfully familiar Shawon Dunston-shaped bag.

Instead, the Cubs would be wise to capitalize on Castro’s considerable hype by trading him now. Teams across the league would clamor for Castro, and the offers GM Jim Hendry would have to choose from would be very attractive. Chicago has a number of holes to fill, and with a relatively valuable incumbent Ryan Theriot still two years from free agency, shortstop simply is not one of them.

It is only prudent, though, to move beyond the simplistic assertion that the team does not have much need for Castro, and look instead at what makes Castro less than the super-prospect the Cubs’ public relations department hopes the fans will perceive him to be. The following are the 2009 Minor League numbers of both Castro, and fellow Cubs system shortstop Andres Blanco:

Castro: .299 batting average, .342 on-base percentage, .392 slugging average, 3 home runs, 5.7% walk rate, 11.3% strikeout rate

Blanco: .304 batting average, .353 on-base percentage, .474 slugging average, 6 home runs, 6.6% walk rate, 12.2% strikeout rate

Obviously, those numbers do not flatter the supposedly superior Castro, although he is six years Blanco’s junior and his merit above Blanco’s is not in doubt. To make matters worse, Castro’s numbers came in time split between Single-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee. Blanco’s came exclusively at Triple-A Iowa, before his call-up to the parent club.

Only one widely disseminated projection system, Sean Smith’s CHONE, formulates projections for players who have never appeared in the Major Leagues. That system estimates that if Castro were to make the Major League squad in 2010, he would post a meager .629 OPS. Blanco, according to the same system’s numbers, would post a .682 mark.

Obviously, the buzz on Castro is not about 2010, but about what he could become in the years thereafter. His walk rates, however, suggest that if such a revelation is forthcoming, it is a long way off. Castro has shown neither power nor patience in his Minor League experience, and two seasons of pro ball is a long time for a player to go without demonstrating either of those skills.

Castro does possess a quick bat, and scouts rave that he will develop power as his frame fills out. However, if that growth is unaccompanied by a new approach at the plate, it will not mean much for his offensive game.

Blanco is far superior to Castro as a defender, but then again, Blanco is among the league’s best defensive shortstops. Castro is a plus glove man there in his own right, and provides value on that side of the ball. There is no particular reason to dislike Castro as a player in the long term.

Simply put, the Cubs do not need to take the risk. Castro should land with whichever team has a top-shelf talent to trade, whom the Cubs can acquire with a package centered around their teenage phenom.

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Carlos Silva looks forward to coming to the ballpark these days. Silva threw three scoreless innings after making an adjustment during a bullpen session, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 8-7 on Thursday. Silva, acquired from Seattle for Milton Bradley and cash in December, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out none.

This article was originally published at TheDailyCub.com , my blog covering all things Chicago Cubs.

Let’s take a look at an alternate universe, one where nobody ever has to take accountability, then gets to do an interview on a major network without being asked about your play.

It’s a world where, if you screw up, the world is just against you. It’s not your fault. Why should you take the blame when people are trying to hold you down?

This is the world that former-Cub Milton Bradley lives in, and he has been showing it to the world the past week, with an interview with ESPN’s Colleen Dominguez.

Let’s take a look at this interview comment by comment from Milton Bradley.

Quote: “Well I mean, unless you go out there and you’re Superman. You know, you’re Andre Dawson, you’re Ernie Banks, you’re Hall of Fame. You know know, then, it’s going to be tough.

“I got the same mail, you know, LaTroy (Hawkins) probably got, the same mail Jacque (Jones) got. Every time I got mail I handed it to the PR guy and said ‘Here it goes.’

“It got to the point where I didn’t even have to open up the letter to know what it was. I could see it from the envelope.”

Analysis: Yes, Milton. The major reason is race, and look at these other two examples of disappointing Chicago Cubs players as proof.

What he’s really disappointed about is that Cubs fans didn’t give his magic a chance as a way to embrace him despite his struggles on the field.

I mean, being able to read mail without opening it, that’s magic on Chris Angel’s level. In fact, when he threw that ball up in the stands despite there only being two outs, he was actually performing a magic trick, we just didn’t let him finish.

Quote: “I’ve never got hate mail. I got it in LA (Los Angeles), I got it in Oakland, and I got it in Chicago. And never anywhere else.”

Analysis: Exactly, it’s not like those three stints made up half of your career. And it’s also not like you just contradicted yourself completely in about 15 seconds.

Quote: “You really think that something’s going to take place. I’ve had bottles thrown at me, um, you really think it’s going to be something worse. You’re kind of on the field, you know, not feeling comfortable.”

Analysis: I now exactly how you feel, and when you keep saying “you know,” it really hits home, you know.

And I’m really curious on what that “something worse” that Milton says he fears of. Is it just upping what gets thrown at him, or is he saying it is on the line of assassination?

Because if it’s just a different ballpark snack, who cares, if it’s an assassination attempt, why would he even take the field, you know.

I commend Milton for his bravery, it takes great heart to show up everyday despite having people trying to kill him at every game, just waiting for the right moment.

Quote: “I was pretty much a prisoner in my own home. You know, I pretty much stayed home, ordered in every day, never went anywhere.

“I went out one time when a buddy of mine came in to visit right before the All-Star break and I go to a restaurant and I hear a guy badmouthing myself and (Alfonso) Soriano.

“Saying how terrible we were and we didn’t deserve anything and we should go back to the ghetto where we came from and that kind of stuff.”

Analysis: Again, risking threat of death to show his friend a good time, Bradley’s bravery is commendable.

As for hearing that one person saying that Bradley and Soriano should just go back to the ghetto because they weren’t worth anything, all of Chicago is now lumped into this one fan.

Sorry Chicago, but because of him, you are all racist people who hate black people (although Soriano is Dominican).

Quote: “I fear more for the people around me, I don’t worry about myself too much. I’m going to be alright.”

Analysis: Give this man a statue, vote him into office, he deserves to be honored every way possible.

Quote: “I worried about my family, I worried about my kids. The worst part that was the last straw was when I found out that my kid had been called derogatory name at school, you know.

“Three-year-olds shouldn’t be called names, that comes strait from the home. And when we had a meeting with the school and we met with the parents, you know, the parents totally denied it. But, you know, that comes from the home.”

Analysis: I know exactly what you mean. These parents are just trying to deny that their kid did any wrong-doing, and people like that are the lowest scum of society.

Also, that kid must also hate Milton Bradley, because that’s the only way that it should be involved in an interview about sports, you know, because this interview is sports related.

Quote: “In that first at bat, bases loaded, big situation you know. Adam Wainright on the mound for the Cardinals, throws me, you know, a good curveball down and in, a ball. But I get rung up on it and react. I react, you know, never curse, never call the umpire his name, but I get ejected.”

Analysis: First off, the umpire was already decidedly racist because he called that close pitch a ball instead of a strike. If you weren’t swayed by the bad call, the fact that he threw you out of the game after you yelled in his face proves it.

Quote: “I have a painting, I have it in my house. It’s of a guy in the ’60s holding a sign that says ‘I am a man.’ It’s important to me because when you get into this game, you start playing, you know, people give you a check, and they think, you know, you’re a slave.

“They tell you what to do. Move, jump, stuff like that, and to a certain extent they can, but I’m a man first and you’ll respect me just like you’d respect anyone else.”

Analysis: AMEN. First off, that painting sounds just powerful. Secondly, you are a man Milton Bradley, and I’m behind you 100 percent.

They can’t make you their slave just because they pay you $7,000,000 to hit .257 and 12 home runs. Those guys like Lou Piniella are taking you for granted, if only you could show those guys and go make $7.50 an hour bagging groceries.

Those guys have it made.

Quote: “I take it all in stride [Piniella calling him a ‘Piece of sh*t’]. You know, the next day he called me into his office and wanted to apologize.

“You know I felt, you know, he put me on blast, called me out in front of everybody, you can apologize in front of everybody. He didn’t chose to go that route, but I accepted his apology nonetheless. Because as a Christian, that’s what you do.

“You know I don’t have time to hold grudges against people. You know, I’ve got enough stuff I got to deal with.”

Analysis: You are completely correct Milton. Even though that sh*thead Piniella did that to you, why hold a grudge. Just wait a couple months and talk about how Lou was wrong on ESPN.

If any of you couldn’t understand, I was being completely sarcastic. I think Milton was being a complete idiot throughout all of his time with the Cubs, and he has done so throughout his time in the majors.

Good luck Seattle Mariners, you are going to need it.

I’m Joe W.

Read more Chicago Cubs news on BleacherReport.com

While the signings of guys such as Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley are in the forefront of Cubs fan’s minds, there have still been a number of great moves made by the front office throughout the years. This article will look at the ten best free agent signings in team history.

First, a few ground rules. I have only included signings made from the beginning of free agency in 1975 on, since prior to that the only free agent signings were ametuer free agents, as the draft did not exist yet. Thus, everyone was a free agent to start their careers.

Also, I did not include ametuer free agent signings after 1975, including the signings of foreign players such as Carlos Zambrano and Carlos Marmol, since they were not free agents in the traditional sense of the term.

What I have compiled is a list of the ten best free agent signings that the Cubs have made as one would generally think of free agency, and while the list is far from impressive, each player made a significant contribution to the team and cemented their place in Cubs’ history.

So with that, here are what I feel are the ten best free agent signings in Chicago Cubs history.

Begin Slideshow

While the signings of guys such as Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley are in the forefront of Cubs fan’s minds, there have still been a number of great moves made by the front office throughout the years. This article will look at the ten best free agent signings in team history.

First, a few ground rules. I have only included signings made from the beginning of free agency in 1975 on, since prior to that the only free agent signings were ametuer free agents, as the draft did not exist yet. Thus, everyone was a free agent to start their careers.

Also, I did not include ametuer free agent signings after 1975, including the signings of foreign players such as Carlos Zambrano and Carlos Marmol, since they were not free agents in the traditional sense of the term.

What I have compiled is a list of the ten best free agent signings that the Cubs have made as one would generally think of free agency, and while the list is far from impressive, each player made a significant contribution to the team and cemented their place in Cubs’ history.

So with that, here are what I feel are the ten best free agent signings in Chicago Cubs history.

Begin Slideshow

Chicago Cubs General Manager, Jim Hendry, had some good words of advice for Milton Bradley on Wednesday. Hendry told ESPNChicago.com that it is time for Milton to look at himself in the mirror and take some responsibility for his unsuccessful season in Chicago.

Bradley recently did an interview with ESPN’s Colleen Dominguez. He told her that he felt like a prisoner in his own home when he was in Chicago. Also that he received hate mail with no postage mark on it. When asked if this mail came from inside the organization, Bradley told her that he hoped not but maybe it could’ve.

Hendry told ESPNChiacgo.com, “”That’s absolutely ridiculous,” Hendry said. “That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I think it’s time maybe Milton looked at himself in the mirror. It is what it is. He didn’t swing the bat; he didn’t get the job done. His production was the only negative, or lack of.”

On the “bright side” Bradley had nothing bad to say about Hendry. Bradley thanks Hendry for the generous waste of money that was spent on him.

Bradley hit .257 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI after signing a hefty $30 million deal. This off season he was traded to the Mariners for Carlos Silva and cash.

Hendry wants to move past Bradley once and for all.

“We’ve done our best to move on,” Hendry said. “We thought we helped Milton move on, too, by putting him in another place, and that’s how we approached it. It’s just time to go about our business.”

Ryan Dempster took the time to defend us Cubs fans.

“The fans, they pay for their ticket to come in [to the ballpark],” Dempster said. “They have every right to boo if they feel you’re not giving 100 percent or not your best effort. They love their Cubs. Chicago fans are very forgiving.”

Dempster also put it perfectly when asking if African-Americans have trouble in Chicago.

“Anytime you struggle, it can be tough no matter what the color of your skin is.”

Bradley, it’s time you move on from the supposed bad treatment from Cubs fans. Move on and try and succeed for once. Good luck in Seattle.

Read more Chicago Cubs news on BleacherReport.com

With 25 days until Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs, I would like to clear the air about one Cub.

Kevin Millar, owner of a World Series ring and scruffy facial hair, is, in the simplest form, no longer a serviceable major leaguer.

If he makes the team out of camp it will be because his image as a blue-collar “winner” preceded him, and likely not because he tore the cover off the ball in Arizona against AAA pitching (although he is hitting a robust .400 so far this spring…in five at-bats).

I’m not here to argue Millar’s resume because it speaks for itself.

He was a valuable member of the 2004 Boston Red Sox and a key bat in their fierce lineup.  He didn’t have a great postseason for the Red Sox (.250 BA in the ALCS; .125 BA in the World Series), but was nonetheless a solid player worthy of a World Series ring.

But in the world of “What have you done for me lately?”, Millar is lagging behind.

His 2009 batting average of .223 was downright sad, and because it came off the heels of a 2008 season in which he hit just .234, it is safe to say the 38-year-old is washed up.

His power numbers last year (7 HR, 29 RBI, .363 SLG) provide the nail in the coffin for Millar’s career.

His 2008 campaign was at least tolerable for the Baltimore Orioles because it came with 20 home runs and 72 runs batted in.

It’s not that I hate Kevin Millar (although I’ll never understand why he is getting so much press this spring training); it’s just obvious to me that he has no role on this team.

The man can not play anywhere but first base, where the Cubs have perennial All-Star Derrek Lee and left-handed bat Micah Hoffpauir already established on the club.

He can’t play left field—his defense would be worse than Alfonso Soriano’s—so scratch that idea, and he certainly can’t be a designated hitter in a league that does not offer that option.

For Millar to occupy the 25th spot on this roster, it would strictly be to pinch-hit, and that is just not a feasible option.

The Cubs’ bench won’t be anything to write home about, but I’ll take my chances with Koyie Hill, Sam Fuld, Tyler Colvin, Mike Fontenot/Jeff Baker, Andres Blanco, Xavier Nady, Micah Hoffpauir etc.

Millar has garnered attention on ESPN for his ability to “bust the curse” that was the Boston Red Sox’ title drought.

However, anyone with a brain will realize that he was but one man on a very good (albeit steroid-filled) team and could be held responsible for only so much.

Millar has his best days in the rearview-mirror, but youngsters like Colvin and Blanco at least provide the glimmer of hope that they could improve.

But all is not lost for Millar.

He will no doubt be an analyst for ESPN in a year or two, so don’t feel too bad for him if he doesn’t make the cut this season.

Read more Chicago Cubs news on BleacherReport.com

“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggonit, people like me.”

That was not a quote from Milton Bradley, formerly of the Chicago Cubs, and about a fourth of the teams in baseball.

He’s probably not good enough. He certainly wasn’t in Chicago.

I don’t know how smart he is, but does a guy that acts like him have anything upstairs? 

As for people liking him—well you know the answer to that one.

People can’t stand him—from his teammates, coaches, managers, GM’s, and the fans.

Have I left anyone out?

If they knew him, they wouldn’t like him either.

He doesn’t even like himself.

After  departing Chicago and the debacle that was his time on the north side, Bradley vowed a few weeks ago that he was done talking about Chicago and that he was a Seattle Mariner now.

That was then, this is now.

Last week he came out in the New York Times and complained to them about his time spent in Chicago. Now he has come out to ESPN and reporter Colleen Dominguez about how poorly he was treated in the “windy city.”

Bradley said he “felt like a prisoner in his own home” when he played for the Cubs last year.

“It was pretty bad,” he told Dominguez. “I would have rather tore my knee up and gone through rehab all over again then have to deal with that.”

Think of the torture the man went through for the first year of his $30 million contract.

I would have rather been a prisoner in the Cook County Jail then being subjected to his play on the field and his crying off of it.

Shut up already!

I thought you were done with Chicago and that was in the past.

He then plays the race card saying he received racist mail, and that even his 3-year-old child was called a derogatory name at pre-school.

I’m not saying it’s impossible that he did receive racist mail, but come on, using the “N” word on his child by kids, parents, and teachers at the school. That’s what he said last year when he was still with the team. His mother also alluded to that.

I’m not buying that one.

Bradley was kind enough not to blame the whole city of Chicago.

“I don’t think the entire city of Chicago is racist or anything like that. If you weren’t booing me, I’m not talking to you.”

So now booing is racist.

How many racists were booing Todd Hundley, who was booed out of town despite his father having been a fan favorite in the ’60’s?

How about Kyle Farnsworth and numerous other white players that did not perform up to standards or show the type of attitude and work ethic that the fans deserved?

This is his 8th team in 11 seasons.

There is a reason for that.

I’m sure his current team, the Seattle Mariners, are questioning their decision to trade for him, wondering if he’s going to ruin the chemistry in their locker room like he did with the Cubs last year.

Here’s a guy who has had incidents wherever he has played, be it with the fans, teammates, umpires, broadcasters, and even his own managers.

As usual, he blames everyone except for himself.

“People don’t want to see a guy that’s brash and cocky and a little arrogant making a lot of money. When you get paid a lot to play this game, they expect miracles. And when you don’t go out there and perform like that, then people don’t like it.”

Translation: I’m an ass who thinks I’m a lot better than I really am, and people shouldn’t expect me to play hard or play well just because I’m making a lot of money.

The only comment Bradley made that made any sense was when he commented on Lou Piniella last year calling him a ” piece of s___ ” after another incident.

Piniella apologized personally to him, (I don’t know why) but not in front of the team like Bradley wanted.

He said, “I accepted his apology nonetheless, because I’ve got enough stuff I’ve got to deal with.”

A truer statement was never echoed, because he sure does have a lot of stuff to deal with.

Is Bradley just unlucky that all of these things keep happening to him?

Is he not to blame?

Maybe I’m one of those people expecting too much from the poor guy because he’s making a lot of money. After all, it’s not his fault that Jim Hendry gave him that contract.

Is Milton Bradley sane, and everybody else crazy?

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Look for Cubs general manager Jim Hendry to step up his efforts to land a veteran right-handed reliever, most likely via the trade market.

The Cubs got more bad news when right-handed setup man Angel Guzman was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his pitching shoulder. He will be out indefinitely.

Guzman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in January, and while throwing from flat ground in the early days of spring training, he felt discomfort in the shoulder. He had to be shut down in September last year because of soreness in the triceps area.

“If he misses any more significant time, it will be hard to get him ready,” Hendry said.

The Cubs had hoped Guzman would be ready to pitch in Cactus League games by the middle of March, but that’s not going…