When Kerry’s good friend Ron Santo passed away, it no doubt hit Kerry (while attending the services), what it was like to be a Chicago Cub. Ron Santo loved the Cubs more than anyone possibly could. He’s the definition of being a Cub. Just like Jeter is the definition of being a Yankee. Kerry followed his heart all the way back to Chicago, and that’s where he belongs. As much as I want to see Kerry win, seeing him back in the blue pin strides is awesome to see. I’m extremely proud to be a Cub fan right now…and I don’t get to say that often enough. Kerry Wood is a class act on and off the field, and he should serve as the clubhouse leader for all the new guys coming through the ranks. He’ll be able to teach them how to act like a true professional, and I for one cannot wait until we see Kerry run to the mound from the bullpen with people screaming. Absolutely awesome.

“The ultimate battle for the Lombardi Trophy may be a barn burner, but that isn’t always the case on the scoreboard. When Super Bowl 2011 rears its long awaited head to the betting public, everyone should have their eyes on where the oddsmakers key the total points scored for the game.

Since 2000 the Super Bowl has averaged a total of 51.5 points and has hit the UNDER 64-percent of the time. When Super Bowl 2011 posts its lines, the sharps will likely lean towards the UNDER yet again, but that doesn’t mean this won’t be an exciting game.”

Maddux will join the Cubs in 2010 as assistant to the general manager Jim Hendry.  During spring training Maddux will work with the coaching staff on in instruction for major and minor league pitchers.

Also announced this off-season was that former Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, and now minor league manager for the previous three seasons, will be making another step closer to the majors.  Sandberg first managed the Cubs single-A affiliate for two seasons before being promoted to double-A manager for the 2009 season.  Sandberg has been promoted again, and will manager the triple-A affiliate Iowa Cubs in 2010.

So what does this mean for the future Cubs coaching staff?

Lou Pinella originally signed a three year deal with the ball club in 2006 and was to retire after the last season.  Lou decided not to retire though, and will remain with the Cubs for at least one more season.  He has also stated that Sandberg would be in the mix as his replacement.

Now that Sandberg is only one step from the big leagues, he may receive his call up as a manager after next season.

And who may he look to as a pitching coach?  Why not a former Cy Young winner, future Hall of Famer, and also a former Cubbie like himself?

After breaking the home run record more than a decade ago, McGwire admitted his steroid usage during his playing career which went on for more than a decade, including his recording breaking season.

“It’s very emotional, it’s telling family members, friends and coaches, you know, it’s former teammates to try to get a hold of, you know, that I’m coming clean and being honest,” he said. “It’s the first time they’ve ever heard me, you know, talk about this. I hid it from everybody.” – from ESPN.com

McGwire is now officially the sixth player expected of using steroids in the top 15 of the all-time MLB home run list. The other 5 players include:

• Barry Bonds (never admitted)
• Sammy Sosa (never admitted)
• Alex Rodriguez
• Rafael Palmeiro
• Manny Ramirez

Mark McGwire was signed by the Cardinals this offseason to be the teams new hitting coach.

UPDATE from SportsbyBrooks: McGwire will sit for Bob Costas on MLB Network tonight at 7p ET from a location in California. Huge coup for MLB net, let’s just hope Costas doesn’t give McGwire a pass as Peter Gammons did with Alex Rodriguez.

So will the 2010-11 off-season give us more stories?

There are a few more bigger names becoming free agents, but how many will test the open market or be traded by the mid-season trade deadline? Let’s take a look at some of these teams and how their paths could play out:

• Joe Mauer: Maybe one of the biggest names on the market after a 2009 MVP season. Mauer is sure to land a gigantic deal, that is, unless he remains a Twin. Minnesota is his hometown. I expect Mauer to take a hometown discount and stay with the Twins longterm, even if it means passing up on a extra $50-70 million if he took offers from the Red Sox or Yankees.
• Carl Crawford: Crawford has a lot of years left in his career and at age 28 may just be hitting his prime. With many years of MLB service left, he most likely will not remain with the small market Tampa Bay Rays. As Brett Rosin wrote, I would look for Crawford to be traded before the trade deadline, as the Rays cannot afford to lose him for nothing and center field prospect Desmond Jennings is right around the corner.
• Jayson Werth: After signing a sub-par contract with the Phillies two years ago, Werth is due for a big payday after the 2010 season. His back to back seasons of 24 and 36 home runs and two seasons of 20 stolen bases, with the addition of his good fielding ability is more than enough to land him a long term deal. But the Phillies have expensive contracts invested in several other positions, such as with Utley, Howard and Halladay. Werth will most likely test the open market and find himself a suitor for a contract somewhere between what Jayson Bay and Matt Holliday were given this season.
• Victor Martinez: If Mauer remains a Twin as expected, Martinez becomes the biggest name catcher on the market next season. The only way I see Martinez leaving the Red Sox is if Mauer does test the open market. In this case, the Yankees and Red Sox battle out for Mauer, with the loser landing Martinez. Not a horrible consolation prize.
• Carlos Pena: Back to the small market Rays. When Pena began hitting his stride a couple years ago, it was expected he would land a big contract. The same could happen next off-season, but I expect Pena will remain with the Rays. I also don’t see a scenario where Pena gets traded, as the Rays owe him a $750,000 if traded after the 2009 season.
• Derek Jeter: I don’t see any way Jeter leaves New York. He started his career in pin-stripes and should retire in pin-stripes.

There are a few other big names on the market next season, including Josh Beckett, Cliff Lee and Ted Lilly. Beckett and Lee should each receive long term contacts and so could Lilly, barring any setbacks in his return from surgery following the 2009 season.

• Cubs do not offer arbitration to Kevin Gregg, Rich Harden, Reed Johnson or Chad Fox. (source)
• The White Sox do not offer arbitration to Jermaine Dye, Octavio Dotel,  Scott Podsednik or Ramon Castro.  (source)
• The Blue Jays offered arbitration to Marco Scutaro and Rod Barajas.  (source)
• Royals decline to offer arbitratio to Miguel Olivo. (source)
• Astros offer arbitration to Jose Valverde, although they do not offer arbitration to Miguel Tejada, LaTroy Hawkins or Doug Brocail. (source)
• Tigers do offer arbitration to Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon, however, decline to offer arbitration to Placido Palanco. (source)
• Dodgers do not offer arbitration to Orlando Hudson, Randy Wolf,  Guillermo Mota, Jon Garland, Ronnie Belliard, Vicente Padilla or Will Ohman. (source)
• Twins offer arbitration to Carl Pavano. (source)
• Yankees make no arbitration offers, which includes: Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte, Xavier Nady and Hideki Matsui. (source)
• Marlins offer no arbitration to Kiko Calero, Nick Johnson, Brendan Donnelly or Ross Gload. (source)
• Braves do not offer arbitration to Adam LaRoche or Garret Anderson, do offer arbitration to Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez. (source)
• Marlon Byrd and Ivan Rodriguez each offered arbitration by the Rangers. (source)

Check back later for more arbitration updates. Here are a few other rumors and moves happening:

• Roy Halladay sets trade deadline. (source)
• Rays acquire Kelly Shoppach. (source)