FOXSports' Cubs Offseason Grade: D

[fearthecubs]

Chicago Cubs

Additions: RP Scott Eyre (three years, $11MM), RP Bob Howry (three years, $12MM)

 

Subtractions: C Mark Johnson (Brewers – minor league contract)

 

Needs: Outfielders, shortstop.

 

The lowdown: The Cubs need offensive help, and so far they haven't found any. The Cubs are among the many teams interested in Juan Pierre. A trade for Julio Lugo is also a possibility, as is a deal for Brad Wilkerson.

 

Off-season grade so far: D. GM Jim Hendry expected to be in the mix for Rafael Furcal, Brian Giles and A.J. Burnett. Now he's poised to lose out on all of them. Oh, and he also grossly overpaid for Eyre and Howry.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5141196

[Coach.]

Well I guess Hendry should hang his head in shame and leave the Winter Meetings since FoxSports disapproves.

[Illini Iceman]

Chicago Cubs

Additions: RP Scott Eyre (three years, $11MM), RP Bob Howry (three years, $12MM)

 

Subtractions: C Mark Johnson (Brewers – minor league contract)

 

Needs: Outfielders, shortstop.

 

The lowdown: The Cubs need offensive help, and so far they haven't found any. The Cubs are among the many teams interested in Juan Pierre. A trade for Julio Lugo is also a possibility, as is a deal for Brad Wilkerson.

 

Off-season grade so far: D. GM Jim Hendry expected to be in the mix for Rafael Furcal, Brian Giles and A.J. Burnett. Now he's poised to lose out on all of them. Oh, and he also grossly overpaid for Eyre and Howry.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5141196

 

Who is Mark Johnson?

[USSoccer]

I didnt know we had a player named Mark Johnson.

[sethuel1]

I think the grade is a little high.

[Nexus89]

I think Dann Perry is an idiot personally. He hates the Cubs.

 

Anyway... commenting on what he wrote...

 

We lost out on Furcal but $13M per was way too much. I don't think Hendry was ever serious about Burnett and Giles because I don't think they were ever serious about us. And given the market we haven't paid all that much for those relievers. At first I was upset but after seeing what other pitchers of lesser quality have been getting I'm not anymore.

 

I do believe Hendry deserves a low grade thus far because we need to really fix our offense. But he did fix the bullpen. I'd give him a C right now. Still plenty of time.

Edited December 6, 2005 by Nexus89

[Blueheart05]

Well I guess Hendry should hang his head in shame and leave the Winter Meetings since FoxSports disapproves.

 

Exactly... lol

 

It's still a bit early for grades. I think Hendry has been setting us up for the Winter Meetings and beyond by continuing to say how busy the trade market would be this year. I think that was his way of saying that the Cubs would pursue a plethora of FA.

Edited December 6, 2005 by Blueheart05

[hawkeyecub]

It's pretty absurd to give out offseason grades at this point.

[Drew Doughty]

Well, those crazy Arizonan's haven't done anything yet. F- for sure.

[TheDude]

Terrible piece. Just crap. The reliever marker is what it is - Hendry paid what was necessary for established bullpen help. Personally I think bullpen pitching is completely hit or iss and always should come from within, but the within kids weren't stepping up.

 

Nobody was ever a serious player for Giles. He evidently wanted to stay in San Diego afterall. Can't fault Hendry for that. And passing on Burnett is wise.

 

Grade so far - too early to tell

[gflore34]

Terrible piece. Just crap. The reliever marker is what it is - Hendry paid what was necessary for established bullpen help. Personally I think bullpen pitching is completely hit or iss and always should come from within, but the within kids weren't stepping up.

 

Nobody was ever a serious player for Giles. He evidently wanted to stay in San Diego afterall. Can't fault Hendry for that. And passing on Burnett is wise.

 

Grade so far - too early to tell

 

That's fine but, as goony has stated, I fear we'll still be saying something like this in January as well.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Additions: SS Rafael Furcal (three years, $39MM)

Subtractions: None

 

Needs: Starting pitcher, right-handed hitting first baseman, third baseman

 

The lowdown: The Dodgers may be talking to the A's about a Barry Zito-for-Milton Bradley deal. It also appears that Jeff Kent will move to first base once Cesar Izturis returns from injury at mid-season. Bill Mueller and Joe Randa are of interest to fill the hole at third, and the Dodgers may also explore signing an outfielder like Jacque Jones, Jeromy Burnitz, Reggie Sanders or Preston Wilson.

 

Off-season grade so far: A. Great move in signing Furcal to below-market contract.

 

A BELOW MARKET CONTRACT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

 

This is a great example of why not to listen to all media souces.

[wiumike]

Dan Perry also wrote

 

Additions: SS Rafael Furcal (three years, $39MM)

Subtractions: None

 

Needs: Starting pitcher, right-handed hitting first baseman, third baseman

 

The lowdown: The Dodgers may be talking to the A's about a Barry Zito-for-Milton Bradley deal. It also appears that Jeff Kent will move to first base once Cesar Izturis returns from injury at mid-season. Bill Mueller and Joe Randa are of interest to fill the hole at third, and the Dodgers may also explore signing an outfielder like Jacque Jones, Jeromy Burnitz, Reggie Sanders or Preston Wilson.

 

Off-season grade so far: A. Great move in signing Furcal to below-market contract.

 

So the obvious move for Hendry to get an A would have been to sign furcal to market value contract of 4 years 52 million dollars. Nice work Mr. Perry, now I see why I completely over look foxsports website.

[YearofDaCubs]

I think Dann Perry is an idiot personally. He hates the Cubs.

 

Anyway... commenting on what he wrote...

 

We lost out on Furcal but $13M per was way too much. I don't think Hendry was ever serious about Burnett and Giles because I don't think they were ever serious about us. And given the market we haven't paid all that much for those relievers. At first I was upset but after seeing what other pitchers of lesser quality have been getting I'm not anymore.

 

I do believe Hendry deserves a low grade thus far because we need to really fix our offense. But he did fix the bullpen. I'd give him a C right now. Still plenty of time.

I personally thought it would have taken a 5/50 with 5mil signing bonus to get Furcal. If that offer was on the table there could have been a good chance he comes here. So what you are saying is that Hendry didn't pursue Giles and Burnett because they were not serious about us? Come on. I think the grad is inline with hos "so far" the offseason has been going for the Cubs.

[Blueheart05]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Additions: SS Rafael Furcal (three years, $39MM)

Subtractions: None

 

Needs: Starting pitcher, right-handed hitting first baseman, third baseman

 

The lowdown: The Dodgers may be talking to the A's about a Barry Zito-for-Milton Bradley deal. It also appears that Jeff Kent will move to first base once Cesar Izturis returns from injury at mid-season. Bill Mueller and Joe Randa are of interest to fill the hole at third, and the Dodgers may also explore signing an outfielder like Jacque Jones, Jeromy Burnitz, Reggie Sanders or Preston Wilson.

 

Off-season grade so far: A. Great move in signing Furcal to below-market contract.

 

A BELOW MARKET CONTRACT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

 

This is a great example of why not to listen to all media souces.

 

This is typical nonsense. So they say it's below market when he's obviously overpayed. I guess if the Cubs had coughed up 14MM per year for 3 years they would have gotten an 'A' too. :roll:

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Who does Dayn have penciled in as ROTY for '06. How about Cy Young? Wait, no MVP pick yet??? C'mon Dayn...

 

PS - Below market contract for Furcal? Lay off the weed, man.

[RynoRules]

Might be one of the worst pieces of journalism in sports history. Typical Fox Sports cr*p. As a media outlet, they are bottom.

[Lefty]

 

Off-season grade so far: A. Great move in signing Furcal to below-market contract.

 

A BELOW MARKET CONTRACT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

 

This is a great example of why not to listen to all media souces.

 

Dayn Perry doesn't really represent traditional media.

 

While I would prefer Cedeno be given a chance at Short and the money spent on the outfield, Furcal's contract isn't a bad one. It's only 3 years, the Dodgers will be done with him when he's only 30, and with baseball economics the way it is, Furcal only has to do what he's done consistently to contribute enough wins to pay for his contract; stay healthy, play decent Shortstop, and hit .280/.350/.4whatever.

 

As revenues go up the pressure on salaries will lift. Last year Clement got 3/25. Burnett is about to get 5/55. Last year Renteria got 4/40. I think the Dodgers did OK.

[Magnetic Curses]

i think it's a little high as well.

 

hendry bid against himself for 2 relief pitchers and ended up overpaying, while ignoring giles (please don't give me that "his agent told hendry to take a hike"-bs), lost out on furcal (which isn't really his fault per se, but a result of having tunnel vision for a player that we didn't REALLY NEED, at a position that we didn't need to fill.). we now have a grand total of 3 outfielders, 2 of which SHOULD not be opening day starters and the best of which is a 2nd-year player.

 

so....he's made inquiries into abreu and dunn, which are probably his best decisions thus far--but we don't have enough talent to trade for either of those guys and still have leftovers to fill the other spots.

 

giles was our best chance at setting up the offseason, and hendry didn't even sniff his butt--according to what miles has written.

 

this is what we had last year, however, and hendry "came through" for us by spending 6 mil on burnitz at the last minute. so don't say hendry isn't into patterns.

 

the best alternative right now is to somehow convince the dodgers to give us bradley for junk, and then sell the farm for dunn--while starting walker at second and cedeno at ss . i don't see that happening.

 

i wonder what nomar is doing right now.

[TheDude]

There is only one SS in baseball with a higher salary than Furcal. Furcal is talented, but clearly not the 2nd best SS in baseball (nor is Jeter the best at his salary). There is no way possible to claim the Dodgers got him at or under market value.

[CuseCubFan69]

Personally I could care less what some writer thinks especially at this stage.

 

I'd rather hear the opinions of the posters on here.

[fearthecubs]

There is only one SS in baseball with a higher salary than Furcal. Furcal is talented, but clearly not the 2nd best SS in baseball (nor is Jeter the best at his salary). There is no way possible to claim the Dodgers got him at or under market value.

 

Tejada makes less than Furcal. Unbelievable.

[Lefty]

There is only one SS in baseball with a higher salary than Furcal. Furcal is talented, but clearly not the 2nd best SS in baseball (nor is Jeter the best at his salary). There is no way possible to claim the Dodgers got him at or under market value.

 

Tejada makes less than Furcal. Unbelievable.

 

But what would Tejada make if he was an FA today?

[CuseCubFan69]

There is only one SS in baseball with a higher salary than Furcal. Furcal is talented, but clearly not the 2nd best SS in baseball (nor is Jeter the best at his salary). There is no way possible to claim the Dodgers got him at or under market value.

 

Tejada makes less than Furcal. Unbelievable.

 

But what would Tejada make if he was an FA today?

 

IMO...15+.

[JeffH]

There is only one SS in baseball with a higher salary than Furcal. Furcal is talented, but clearly not the 2nd best SS in baseball (nor is Jeter the best at his salary). There is no way possible to claim the Dodgers got him at or under market value.

 

Tejada makes less than Furcal. Unbelievable.

 

But what would Tejada make if he was an FA today?

 

It depends on whether the Dodgers would be bidding.

 

:wink: