The Chicago Cubs concluded what was a quiet week —from a fan’s perspective—by filling one of their most pressing needs —third base. The Cubs agreed to trade outfielder Tyler Colvin and third basemen DJ LeMahieu to the Colorado Rockies for third basemen Ian Stewart and pitcher Casey Weathers. While this certainly isn’t a major splash of a deal, it’s one that makes pretty logical sense.

I always liked Tyler Colvin. I always thought that he could have been a solid regular for the Cubs. No matter the trade, you always have that nagging feeling in the back of your head that you just gave something away you probably shouldn’t have. While that feeling isn’t non-existent with Colvin, overall, I think the Cubs did fine.

There’s no question that with both Colvin and Stewart, we are looking at two players that could benefit greatly from a change of scenery. Both of these players have shown substantial upsides, but have also shown nerve-wrecking downsides. From a Cubs perspective, they’ve had an overcrowded outfield for a few years now and they are in dire need of a third baseman. With this move, they are able to acquire a third basemen, ship off an outfielder, and give Colvin a chance to succeed somewhere. I’m alright with all of the above. Generally speaking, it’s what you would call a fair trade.

However, the fact that Stewart is coming off injuries —to his hand and wrist specifically— scares me half to death. General manager Jed Hoyer attempted to set those worries to rest by saying “We wouldn’t have made this trade or given up the talent we gave up if he wasn’t [healthy]. We’re expecting Ian to come in—and obviously he has to bounce back from last year—but we’re assuming he does and we’re looking at him as our starting third baseman.”

On the flip side of that, what else is Hoyer going to say?

Overall, I think it’s a solid trade. It fills needs for the Cubs in what has been a generally quiet week for the team. Uncertainty doesn’t equal wins; neither does change, but when you’re in the recent business of finishing 20 games below .500, you take hope where you can get it. Welcome aboard, Ian.

Brian is a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, having lived in Illinois his entire life and having followed Major League Baseball throughout.

Sources

Cubs Get Stewart For Colvin

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Read More: Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs

According to the Appleton Post-Crescent, former major league pitcher Chris Bosio confirmed that he will be the Cubs’ new pitching coach. Bosio had been working for the Milwaukee Brewers as the pitching coach for their AAA affiliate in Nashville.

“I just can’t tell you how excited I am, number one, to be working with Dale,’’ said Bosio. “When he offered me the job as pitching coach of the Chicago Cubs, to hear him say that, knowing the confidence he has in me, that’s a great feeling. We’re going to be prepared, are going to have intensity and a lot of enthusiasm.’’

Bosio and new Cubs manager Dale Sveum have a long history that dates back to 1979, when the two were playing high school football against each other in California. They were teammates with the Brewers from 1986 to 1991 and coached together with Milwaukee in 2009.

Bosio won 94 games, including a no-hitter, and compiled a 3.96 ERA over 11 major-league seasons.

An official announcement from the Cubs is expected next week, according to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. And for more from around Major League Baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Qualifiers: players will be classified under one position even if they played at more than one. They must also have at least two seasons as the team’s primary starter at the position. Ernie Banks spent significant time at multiple positions and will appear at shortstop where he played his best years.

Cap Anson:

One of Major League Baseball’s early greats, Hall of Famer Cap Anson played more than two decades with the Chicago Cubs dating back to their inaugural National League season as the Chicago White Stockings. Anson ranked among the top ten batting leaders 16 times in 22 seasons including two batting title wins. His lifetime .334 average carried him to 3,435 hits, the sixth most in baseball history. He was the first professional ball player to reach the 3,000 hit milestone and he reached base more than 4,400 times in his career. His 89.1 WAR (wins above replacement) is the highest by any player in Cubs history. Oh, and he happened to spend 19 years as player/manager en route to five pennants, which were the top championships in those pre-World Series days.

Frank Chance:

Hall of Famer Frank Chance served as player/manager for the Chicago Cubs’ two World Series Championship winners in the 1910s. Chance was one of the best base-stealers and toughest outs during the first decade of World Series play. His Cubs won 66.4 percent of their games under his watch while he batted .297 with a 136 OPS+ (league average is 100) at the plate. Chance remains the Cubs’ all-time leader with 402 steals and he twice led the NL in the category. He maintained a .394 OBP and totaled 49.4 WAR in 1,275 games as a Cub.

Mark Grace:

All-Star and Gold Glove first baseman Mark Grace spent 13 of his 16 Major League seasons in Chicago from 1988 to 2000. Grace batted higher than .300 nine times for an overall .308 average, .386 OBP and .832 OPS over 1,910 games as a Cub. He never had much home run power, but he was a great doubles hitter, totaling 511; he ranks second in Cubs history and 46th all-time in the category. Consistently one of the best contact hitters in the league, Grace struck out just 642 times and worked 1,075 walks in 2,245 career games.

Philliabuck Cavarretta:

Former National League MVP Philliabuck Cavarretta helped the Cubs win three National League pennants. Cavarretta played 1,953 games over 20 seasons with the Cubs from 1934 to 1953, totaling 1,977 hits, 347 doubles and 99 triples. His 1945 MVP season included a batting title with a .355 average and a league-leading .449 OBP. During his prime years in the 1940s, he batted .301 with a 130 OPS+ and went to three All-Star Games.

Derrek Lee:

Two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover Derrek Lee anchored the Cubs’ lineup in the mid 2000s. Lee became the last Cub to win a batting title in 2005 when he hit .335 and also led the league with 50 doubles, a .662 slugging percentage and 174 OPS+. He maintained a .903 OPS and posted three 30-homer years with the Cubs, topping out at 46. Through 15 MLB seasons, he is up to 1,959 hits and 331 home runs in 1,942 games.

Honorable mentions: Leon Durham, Bill Buckner, Charlie Grimm, Ray Grimes and Vic Saier.

Sources:

Chicago Cubs Team History & Encyclopedia, Baseball-Reference.com

More from this contributor:

Chicago Cubs top five catchers

Cincinnati Reds top five catchers

Chicago White Sox top five catchers

Boston Red Sox top five first basemen

Atlanta Braves top five catchers

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Carlos Zambrano(notes) is set to return to his Venezeulan team this weekend after being hit in the face by a line drive on November 18th. Zambrano required ten stiches to repair a cut on his face. However, most of us Chicago Cubs fan have little-to-no-interest in what’s going on in baseball in Venezuela. What we’re really concerned about is whether or not Zambrano will be pitching in the Windy City in 2012. Honestly, I don’t know whether or not I want him back.

All of Zambrano’s tantrums over the years have been well documented. The said tantrums culminated with his outburst late last season when he cleaned out his locker and announced his retirement following a poor performance. It was just the last straw in a laundry list of outbursts that are more liken to a 10-year old losing a game to his brother than a professional athlete. The speculation has been growing as to whether or not Zambrano would be back with the Cubs, or if he’d even be allowed back.

Shortly after Theo Epstein’s takeover as the president of baseball operations for the Cubs, he said that Zambrano would have to earn his way back on to the team. Though, he also said that it was possible.

Generally speaking, I’m fed up with Zambrano’s antics. I’ve heard for too long his enormous “upside” when he’s on and level-headed. Yes, he has the ability to be a great pitcher. We’ve seen it happen. That being said, teams shouldn’t put up with those outbursts from anyone, much less from someone that isn’t producing. Having a “potential upside” isn’t the same as having an upside.

If it were just about any other year, I’d give Big Z the ‘ol heave-ho and be on my merry way. However, the Cubs are in fairly dire need of starting pitching. The Cubs rotation will be question mark-ridden with Zambrano, nevermind without. All that being said, I think I’d attempt to trade Zambrano while he still has some trade value. Given he only has one year left on his contract with the Cubs, I doubt he’ll be back anyway. The Cubs might as well get something for him.

Brian is lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, having lived in Illinois his entire life and having followed Major League Baseball throughout.

Sources

Zambrano Set To Pitch Saturday

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(Reuters) – Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum was named on Friday as the new Chicago Cubs’ manager.

Sveum, who has 20 years Major League experience as a player and coach, agreed to a three-year contract with an option for 2015, the Cubs said at a news conference.

“He’s the ideal guy to lead the organization as it continues to grow,” Cubs president Theo Epstein said.

Sveum, 47, served briefly as the Brewers’ interim manager, posting a 7-5 record, but this will be his first permanent job as a Major League manager.

The former infielder inherited a team that finished fifth in the National League Central Division last season with a 71-91 record.

The Cubs are one of baseball’s most famous teams but have not won the World Series since 1908.

“This organization has got to change as far as how the game is played on an everyday basis,” Sveum said.

“It’s got to go in another direction to play this game like it’s the seventh game of the World Series everyday.”

Epstein, who was brought in this year to reshape the Cubs, served as general manager of the Boston Red Sox when Sveum was the third base coach there in 2004-05.

“He has intensity, he’s fearless and he’s extremely comfortable in his own skin,” said Epstein. “He’s been a strong coach and he’ll be a strong manager.”

Sveum played 12 seasons in the majors with the Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees before retiring in 1999.

He replaces Mike Quade who was fired after last season’s losing record.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Julian Linden)