So Long, Ronnie: Cubs Lay Ron Santo To Rest

Joe Girardi may not want to coach the Cubs, but he was classy enough to fly in for Ron's funeral:

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi flew into town to attend the wake for Ron Santo and remembered attending Cubs games with his father and cheering for Santo.

"My dad and I would drive up from Peoria and the highlights of the day would be if the Cubs won, Ron Santo hit a home run and the boxes of Ron Santo pizza that I ate in the stands."

Girardi also developed a very special relationship with Santo during Girardi's two tours of duty as a Cubs catcher.

"Ron and I lived near each other in the northern suburbs," he said. "I would pick him up and we'd go over to Northwestern and he would throw me batting practice.

"He always brought his dog with us and security would always tell us that dogs couldn't be in the facility and not to bring the dog again. But he always did because the dog loved running around there and Ronnie loved his dog."

Another Winter Meetings is in the books for the Chicago Cubs, but the wheelin' and dealin' continues:

ORLANDO -- The Cubs leave the winter meetings on Thursday having accomplished their primary objective of finding a first baseman, and now have turned their focus to pitching.

Brandon Webb remains their No. 1 target, and the Cubs reportedly are one of the top two or three teams on the former Diamondbacks ace's list. But the Cubs still have to check out his medical records after Webb missed all but one start the last two seasons. He's coming off shoulder surgery, but may be ready to pitch this spring. 

General manager Jim Hendry also met with Tampa Bay officials Wednesday night, leading to speculation that starter Matt Garza is on their radar. But a deal is unlikely and Rays executives were amused by the speculation.

"Matt Garza will be pitching for us," Rays manager Joe Maddon told the St. Petersburg Times.

The Cubs would have to part with three top prospects to pull off a deal. Garza made $3.35 million last year and stands to get a significant raise in arbitration. The Cubs have one or two openings in the rotation, depending on the health of Carlos Silva.

Oh really? Our speculation is amusing to you, Joe Maddon? Well guess what, jackwagon? We don't all get to live and breathe baseball 365 days a year like you do. So if we want to speculate, you can leave us to do it in peace without your smug comments. Jerkface.

Over at the Daily Herald, Bruce Miles reminds us that not all trades involve people we, or anyone, has heard of: