February 17, 2004 CHICAGO (Ticker) - Greg Maddux reportedly is on the verge of returning to the Chicago Cubs. According to reports out of Atlanta and Chicago, the four-time Cy Young Award winner has agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract. An official announcement could come as early as Tuesday night. The 37-year righthander is expected to undergo a physical in the next 48 hours. Maddux, an eight-time All-Star who has finished in the top five of the Cy Young Award voting nine times, rejoins the team he broke in with in 1986. He also gives the Cubs once of the sport's best rotations - one that features potential Cy Young Award winners Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. The return of Maddux, who was 16-11 with a 3.96 ERA in 36 starts for the Atlanta Braves in 2003, should bring added excitement to Wrigley Field as he needs just 11 wins for 300 in his career. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_y...HNlYwN0bQ--?slug=madduxcubs&prov=st&type=lgns
ESPN article ESPN.com news reports Is Greg Maddux going back to his old stomping grounds? The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports in Wednesday's editions that, according to a source, the free-agent pitcher is close to an agreement with the Chicago Cubs. In fact, Maddux is expected to be on hand when pitchers and catchers report to the Cubs' spring training practice facility in Mesa, Ariz., on Wednesday. Maddux left Chicago in 1992 after six seasons in which he won 93 games. He has spent the last 11 seasons in Atlanta and now has 289 wins in his career. On Monday, two reports out of New York suggested that the Yankees were wooing Maddux. But the Atlanta newspaper reports that only the Cubs, Giants and Dodgers have had serious interest in the four-time Cy Young winner. Maddux is negotiating to get at least half of the $14.75 million he made with the Braves in 2003, according to the Journal-Constitution.
