No one has mentioned the bench...

[UK1679666180]

Right now, they have Perez, Mabry, Blanco...

 

As far as additional help. I'd like to see Marrero given a flyer, I think he'll rebound and can play several position in the OF as well as 3rd C.

 

I'd also like to see them take a flyer on Durazo as the LH bat off the bench.

 

That's 5, fill the last spot with someone like Fontenot or a CF'er like Greenberg.

[DCNashville]

Right now, they have Perez, Mabry, Blanco...

 

As far as additional help. I'd like to see Marrero given a flyer, I think he'll rebound and can play several position in the OF as well as 3rd C.

 

I'd also like to see them take a flyer on Durazo as the LH bat off the bench.

 

That's 5, fill the last spot with someone like Fontenot or a CF'er like Greenberg.

 

Patterson? Or are you assuming he's as good as gone?

[UK1679666180]

Right now, they have Perez, Mabry, Blanco...

 

As far as additional help. I'd like to see Marrero given a flyer, I think he'll rebound and can play several position in the OF as well as 3rd C.

 

I'd also like to see them take a flyer on Durazo as the LH bat off the bench.

 

That's 5, fill the last spot with someone like Fontenot or a CF'er like Greenberg.

 

Patterson? Or are you assuming he's as good as gone?

 

I think he's gone, I doubt he'll get paid 2.5mil+ to be a defensive replacement in LF/RF and be the 2nd or 3rd LH'ed option off the bench.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Hairston Jr.

[rawaction]

No focus on the bench because the Cubs still need a starter in RF and SS/2B assuming they are getting rid of Walker at all costs.

 

And I think 5 is probably gonna be it with the bench again. With Kerry not healthy, the Cubs will look to fill his spot with 2 men (5th starter and swing starter in case the first guy is ineffective. And when he comes back, they will justify that arm by saying that they need it in case a starter leaves the game early.

 

That being said, Marrero would be a decent addition. I'd also hold onto Hairston if Cedeno is the starting SS.

[UK1679666180]

Hairston Jr.

 

I'd like to Hairston back as well, but as w/Corey, you have to factor cost as well as Hairston maybe having some trade value to a team looking for a cheap 2B (see STL).

 

Ideally, I hope he's back in that role.

[CuseCubFan69]

Hairston Jr.

 

I'd like to Hairston back as well, but as w/Corey, you have to factor cost as well as Hairston maybe having some trade value to a team looking for a cheap 2B (see STL).

 

Ideally, I hope he's back in that role.

 

I think it would spend on how much the Cubs spend for right field. If they go cheap they could have Patterson and Hairston on the bench.

[UK1679666180]

If it came down to Patterson or Hairston, as much as I hate to say it, I'd rather have Hairston.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

The Cubs bench has alot of versatility & experience with:

Blanco- back-up C

Hairston- 2B, all 3 OF spots

Mabry- RF,LF,1B,3B

Neifi- 2B/SS

 

My guess is that the Cubs may wait until the after the non-tender date & will add a another OF for the bench. Too bad Kelton's gone, he would have been a nice fit for the last bench spot.

[UK1679666180]

I consider Blanco to a starter (starter B)...

 

He'll start about 20%-25% and he won't be used a PH'er unless it is a DS, so situationally he's pretty useless as a RH'ed option facing a LH'er given that Barrett is a RH'er and Baker will use several options before him.

[Illini Iceman]

The Cubs bench has alot of versatility & experience with:

Blanco- back-up C

Hairston- 2B, all 3 OF spots

Mabry- RF,LF,1B,3B

Neifi- 2B/SS

 

My guess is that the Cubs may wait until the after the non-tender date & will add a another OF for the bench. Too bad Kelton's gone, he would have been a nice fit for the last bench spot.

 

What about Kelton would have made him a nice fit? Nothing I have seem from him indicates he is capable of hitting ML pitching and coming off the bench in PH and spot duty is probably harder than with regular playing time. He hasn't established himself at any position so he isn't really valuable as a defensive replacement. His speed is average so he doesn't add much as a pinch runner.

There have to be a ton of low cost options better than Kelton that will be available

[Jehrico]

The Cubs bench has alot of versatility & experience with:

Blanco- back-up C

Hairston- 2B, all 3 OF spots

Mabry- RF,LF,1B,3B

Neifi- 2B/SS

 

My guess is that the Cubs may wait until the after the non-tender date & will add a another OF for the bench. Too bad Kelton's gone, he would have been a nice fit for the last bench spot.

 

What about Kelton would have made him a nice fit? Nothing I have seem from him indicates he is capable of hitting ML pitching and coming off the bench in PH and spot duty is probably harder than with regular playing time. He hasn't established himself at any position so he isn't really valuable as a defensive replacement. His speed is average so he doesn't add much as a pinch runner.

There have to be a ton of low cost options better than Kelton that will be available

I would have taken Die Hard or Sing in that last bench slot over Kelton. Sing will be best served getting in a full year of AAA, but I think he'd be more valuable in the majors than Kelton.

[c3ci1]

Durazo would be an interesting bench option. I see that he's a type A FA.

[WindyCity]

Durazo would be an interesting bench option. I see that he's a type A FA.

 

Oakland did not offer Durazo arbitration. He would be a nice bat of the bench -- but doesn't seem to fit the Cubs MO of trying to get bench guys that can play many positions.

[umpunk]

I'm probably in the minority on this, but I actually like Hairston. In video game land I would probably go with this line-up as of today (well sort of "today" anyway):

 

CF - Pierre

2nd - Hairston

1st - Lee

3rd - Ramirez

RF - Who ever we get

LF - Walker/Murton

C - Barrett

SS - Cedeno

P -

 

It take a great RF to put us in contention and Walker in LF would be shakey, but that's what I'd do.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

With this as the current line-up:

 

CF Pierre

2b Walker

1b Lee

3b Ramirez

RF TBD

C Barrett

LF Murton

SS Cedeno

 

I'd have the bench as:

1b/3b/of Mabry

2b/cf/lf Hairston

C Blanco

2b/ss Perez

 

I'd look to add Rondell White as a bench bat who would do well as a spot starter. I might give a look to Richard Hidalgo, and D'Angelo Jimenez.

 

If Walker is moved for a RF bat, then I'd definitely look at Jimenez or put either Fontenot or the riot on the bench.

[SteveSarley]

Patterson is not "good as gone," he's gone - guaranteed. I hope we can only get something of decent value for him. It would be a shame to have to dump him for nothing, like Sammy last year.

I'm surprised that Hairston hasn't been mentioned in any of the rumored trade packages. It was obvious that the coaching staff didn't like him. When you're a "good field - no hit" type of player, it helps if you don't play putrid defense and make incredibly boneheaded baserunning gaffes.

Hairston is a goner, too.

Although Eli Marrero had a horrendous season offensively last year, I love the idea of having a guy on the bench who can be the third catcher. It makes it much easier on the coaches who are always stuck with never being able to use the second catcher for pinch hit purposes.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If I'm not mistaken, Mabry can do some emergency catching, can't he? If so, I'd love to see Dusty get bold for once, and use Barrett and his top RH pinch hitter off the bench on the days Blanco starts. That would improve the Cubs bench for those 25 games right there.

 

I was disappointed to see Rob Mackowiak get traded, he was one of the guys I had hoped to see on the Cubs bench.

[CubinNY]

I might give a look to Richard Hidalgo, and D'Angelo Jimenez.

 

Would Hildalgo accept a bench job? Would Dusty know he is a bench player?

 

I like those two for the bench.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I might give a look to Richard Hidalgo, and D'Angelo Jimenez.

 

Would Hildalgo accept a bench job? Would Dusty know he is a bench player?

 

I like those two for the bench.

 

Hidalgo's last two seasons:

2004: 239/301/444

2005: 221/289/416

 

He only played in 88 games last season. With those numbers dogging him, he's going to have trouble getting a regular job with anyone.

 

To me he makes a good option for the bench. He's a power threat as a pinch hitter, even if he doesn't make contact a lot. He'd also be ideal for a defensive replacement late in a game. He has a canon for an arm and if you felt a team my try to take an extra base on you late in the game, he could be subbed in at rightfield or leftfield and help neutralize that threat.

 

In his 9 year career, he's only had three seasons that were "good," but he seems like the type of player that could be capable of rebounding for a career year. I wouldn't sign him as a starter and wouldn't want to pay him more than 1.5 million, but if I could get him on those terms, I think he'd be a decent addition.