News on Cubs, free agents all a matter of timing

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts no doubt will have to sign off on any “megadeal” the Cubs might make, but Ricketts deferred Tuesday to baseball president Theo Epstein on such questions.

With Internet reports out that the Cubs have interest in mega free agents Albert Pujols and (not “or”) Prince Fielder, Ricketts was asked what he’d do if Epstein came to him with an offer for one of those players.

“Like I’ve always said, there’s one person responsible for making those decisions and one person accountable for those results,” Ricketts said during a meeting with writers. “If he (Epstein) believes strongly that’s what’s in the best interest of the team, then he’s got my support.”

Here’s the reality: The Cubs are not planning a mega-platoon at first base between Pujols and Fielder (costing maybe $600 million) and they’re not planning to play Fielder at first base and move Pujols back to third base.

Timing is key with the breaking of this “news.” The winter meetings are next week, and the agents for both players no doubt are looking to create markets for these free-agent first basemen.

Fielder is represented by superagent Scott Boras, who noted at the GM meetings earlier this month that Fielder has hit well in Wrigley Field.

As one Milwaukee person put it, if the Cubs don’t contact Fielder, Boras will contact the Cubs. It ought to be a mob scene next week in Dallas when Boras walks through the hotel lobby and is surrounded by reporters.

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer did not wish to comment, citing club policy in not discussing potential free agents.

But the Cubs are a big-market club, and they’ll no doubt do their due diligence by listening to any and all sales pitches.

Fielder, 27, is the younger of the two players. He’s a left-handed hitter but a poor fielder at first base.

Pujols, 32, has been a monster force in the game since 2001. He bats right-handed and is an excellent first baseman.

Getting his men:Tom Ricketts said Tuesday it didn#146;t take him long to know that Theo Epstein was his guy to lead the Cubs#146; baseball operations.Ricketts announced former GM Jim Hendry#146;s firing in August and promptly began a search. Although it was assumed, Ricketts would come home with a new GM, he did more. He named Epstein president of baseball operations and allowed Epstein to hire a GM (Jed Hoyer) and a director of scouting and player development (Jason McLeod).#147;To say it was the plan all along is probably an exaggeration,#148; said Ricketts, who added it took him only a few minutes into the interview for him to feel Epstein was the right person. #147;But over time, from the day Jim left, through the end of the season and into early October, I liked the idea of bringing in a larger team than just hiring one guy.#147;But ultimately the people that have all come in with Theo are the people Theo wanted to have come in. So he#146;s really filled out that team.#147;I think we have a great energy around the office. I#146;m very impressed with all the guys. They#146;re smart, working hard. They#146;re really on a mission. It#146;s fun to be around.#148;Quirky business:Former big-leaguer Jamie Quirk told media outlets in Houston that he will become the Cubs#146; new bench coach. Quirk has worked the past two seasons as the Astros#146; bullpen coach.The Cubs likely will announce their entire coaching staff at one time in the near future. Current bench coach Pat Listach is a good possibility to remain on the staff in a different capacity.New Cubs manager Dale Sveum is said to like former Brewers teammate Chris Bosio as pitching coach.In other moves, Greg Maddux, special assistant to former GM Jim Hendry, will be leaving the organization. Maddux is likely to take a job with the Texas Rangers. His brother Mike (who interviewed for the Cubs#146; managerial job) is the Rangers#146; pitching coach.A cooling draft: Under the new collective-bargaining agreement between the players and owners, there are several financial penalties for teams that go above #147;slotted#148; prices for draft picks.The Cubs went above the suggested slots this past June in an expensive draft.#147;People knew that this was an issue that was going to be discussed in the CBA,#148; Tom Ricketts said. #147;I was personally surprised at just how far it went. I thought there might be some changes, but I wasn#146;t sure how far it would go. It#146;s a big shift, a bigger shift than I expected.#148;Pushing for Santo:Cubs legend Ron Santo is on the #147;Golden Era#148; ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Santo died last December.Results for Golden Era voting will be announced Monday at what should be an eventful winter meetings. The Cubs are making a push for Santo.#147;Obviously, Ron belongs in the Hall of Fame,#148; Tom Ricketts said. #147;We#146;re doing what we can to get that message out to the people that make that decision and we#146;re hopeful that they#146;ll see it that way come this weekend.#148;Big Z doings:Tom Ricketts said he would defer to Theo Epstein on the fate of wayward pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who walked out on the team in August. Epstein said Zambrano would have to #147;earn#148; his way back to the team.Zambrano is pitching winter ball in Venezuela.bmiles@dailyherald.com