Due to our signings, the 06 draft looks pretty bleak

[anemic offense]

From my understanding, the Cubs forfeited their 2nd and 3rd round picks when they signed Eyre and Howry. With Jones now coming aboard, the Cubs gave away their 4th round pick as well (their 1st round pick was protected). That's one draft pick (unless we have multiples I don't know about) in the 1st 3 rounds. These FAs sure as hell better pan out.

[goonys evil twin]

I couple years ago I was laughed at for pointing out that the signing of Latroy Hawkins cost the Cubs a #1 draft pick, and that if you are going to lose a #1 you're better off losing it while acquiring a more impactful player than a middle reliever.

 

 

But the Cubs scouts haven't been finding many good prospects in the draft anyway. They'd be better off pouring money into the international scouting scene, and maybe investing in a Japanese vet.

[CubinNY]

From my understanding, the Cubs forfeited their 2nd and 3rd round picks when they signed Eyre and Howry. With Jones now coming aboard, the Cubs gave away their 4th round pick as well (their 1st round pick was protected). That's one draft pick (unless we have multiples I don't know about) in the 1st 3 rounds. These FAs sure as hell better pan out.

 

Wilken will have to earn his keep.

[YearofDaCubs]

Watch us draft another pitcher in the first round.

[Diffusion]

The Indians get the Cubs' second round pick for Howry, the Giants' get our third round pick for Eyre and the Twins get our fourth round pick for Jones. The Cubs will not receive any compensation for any of the free agents we've lost this winter (Nomar, Burnitz etc). The Cubs will have one pick in the first four rounds, at thirteenth overall.

[WrigleyField 22]

Our first pick is in the top half though, so hopefully they pick up an impact player. Someone who will be ready in a few years to come and make an impact, at any position.

[jtownie]

from what I have read it appears as though this was the draft to not have a lot of high-round picks. You can bet the house that the Cubs will take some HS pitcher with huge upside. Especially considering they traded 3 out of the farm system.

 

What pick are we? 11? if only Justin Upton wouldn't sign with the Dbacks and by some miracle fall to the Cubs.

[Tedward]

I couple years ago I was laughed at for pointing out that the signing of Latroy Hawkins cost the Cubs a #1 draft pick, and that if you are going to lose a #1 you're better off losing it while acquiring a more impactful player than a middle reliever.

 

But, you can argue in a sense that the Cubs got that #1 pick back, and then some, when they acquired two former #1 picks for Hawkins (Williams, and Aardsma). Aardsma probably won't pan out, but Williams seems like a fair return for Hawkins.

 

What I would like to see is that 2nd through 4th round money put back into players from the international market. I've been disapointed in the Cubs efforts to sign impact players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela the last couple of years. I'm not sure if that is Wilken's responsibility, or if that falls more on the scouts in those countries - Ortega & Serra. Whatever the case, I hope the Cubs use that money to find the next Felix Pie, Ronnie Cedeno, or Carlos Zambrano.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The Cubs will not receive any compensation for any of the free agents we've lost this winter.

 

Why not? Burny was a type A and Nomar a type B.

[Tedward]

The Cubs will not receive any compensation for any of the free agents we've lost this winter.

 

Why not? Burny was a type A and Nomar a type B.

 

The Cubs didn't offer arbitration to either player, therefore no comp. pick

[WrigleyField 22]

I couple years ago I was laughed at for pointing out that the signing of Latroy Hawkins cost the Cubs a #1 draft pick, and that if you are going to lose a #1 you're better off losing it while acquiring a more impactful player than a middle reliever.

 

But, you can argue in a sense that the Cubs got that #1 pick back, and then some, when they acquired two former #1 picks for Hawkins (Williams, and Aardsma). Aardsma probably won't pan out, but Williams seems like a fair return for Hawkins.

 

What I would like to see is that 2nd through 4th round money put back into players from the international market. I've been disapointed in the Cubs efforts to sign impact players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela the last couple of years. I'm not sure if that is Wilken's responsibility, or if that falls more on the scouts in those countries - Ortega & Serra. Whatever the case, I hope the Cubs use that money to find the next Felix Pie, Ronnie Cedeno, or Carlos Zambrano.

 

I'm sure its not even and issue of having money from the draft class. The signing bonuses that are handed out to high roung picks should be more than enough to cover the cost of a project from Latin America, so much so that with or without those picks we should be trying to find the next Carlos Zambrano.

[UK1679666180]

I've been disapointed in the Cubs efforts to sign impact players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela the last couple of years. I'm not sure if that is Wilken's responsibility, or if that falls more on the scouts in those countries - Ortega & Serra. Whatever the case, I hope the Cubs use that money to find the next Felix Pie, Ronnie Cedeno, or Carlos Zambrano.

 

Exactly, some will point out to the Cubs not having a top 5 picks nearly every other year anymore like 98', 00', 01'. (Patterson, Montanez, and Prior), Harvey is the only one from a top 10 pick to make the top 10. But, the biggest hit has been International FAs.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The Cubs will not receive any compensation for any of the free agents we've lost this winter.

 

Why not? Burny was a type A and Nomar a type B.

 

The Cubs didn't offer arbitration to either player, therefore no comp. pick

 

Duh! I knew that.

[WrigleyField 22]

On the topic of International signings, did we ever get a new Pacific Coast Scout.

Finding guys like Ryu and Choi is valuabl to the farm as well.

[Tedward]

On the topic of International signings, did we ever get a new Pacific Coast Scout.

Finding guys like Ryu and Choi is valuabl to the farm as well.

 

No. To my knowledge, Derrek's father was never replaced when he left the organization.

[UK1679666180]

They rely on the Major League Scouting Bureau to provide the info., I'm almost positive they do likewise in Australia as well as Europe.

 

I don't think they've signed a player from Australia since Morrissey, I know they scouted some in '02, but I haven't anything since.

[CuseCubFan69]

On the topic of International signings, did we ever get a new Pacific Coast Scout.

Finding guys like Ryu and Choi is valuabl to the farm as well.

 

The Cubs did hire Jerry Lewis as the European Scout and he has helped sign Pierre and Jacque.

[cubweiser03]

They rely on the Major League Scouting Bureau to provide the info.,

 

Lets buy it. Cubs have money to burn.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

The Twins offered arbitration to Jones? Ugh...

[YearofDaCubs]

I know UK in the past has mentioned that we have moved away from scouting in Central/South America. I don't think that is a good move at all considering how much talent is out there. These cost-cutting moves by this organization really disturbs me.

[goonys evil twin]

I know UK in the past has mentioned that we have moved away from scouting in Central/South America. I don't think that is a good move at all considering how much talent is out there. These cost-cutting moves by this organization really disturbs me.

 

Are they cost cutting moves or baseball philosophy?

 

Given what they've paid for such mediocre veterans, the contract they gave Baker, the never ending stream of advisors to the GM and whatnot, as well as the money they've paid draft picks, I wouldn't say this is entirely cost cutting.

[UK1679666180]

I know UK in the past has mentioned that we have moved away from scouting in Central/South America. I don't think that is a good move at all considering how much talent is out there. These cost-cutting moves by this organization really disturbs me.

 

Are they cost cutting moves or baseball philosophy?

 

Given what they've paid for such mediocre veterans, the contract they gave Baker, the never ending stream of advisors to the GM and whatnot, as well as the money they've paid draft picks, I wouldn't say this is entirely cost cutting.

 

I think they've shifted importance, it went from rebuilding to trying to win it all. I don't they had enough pieces from within or on the current roster to try and win it all when they did shift.

 

They've cut expenses in the scouting/development and allocated towards the majors, if I was to guess as to what has happened.

 

They'd be better off sticking with the original plan of building from within as they had planned in the late 90s and ealy part of this decade.

 

They went from building like Yankees to building like the Giants and it doesn't work like that w/out enough of a core.

[UK1679666180]

Of course, the Yankees went from building from within like Atlanta to building well... like the latter Yankees.

[YearofDaCubs]

I know UK in the past has mentioned that we have moved away from scouting in Central/South America. I don't think that is a good move at all considering how much talent is out there. These cost-cutting moves by this organization really disturbs me.

 

Are they cost cutting moves or baseball philosophy?

 

Given what they've paid for such mediocre veterans, the contract they gave Baker, the never ending stream of advisors to the GM and whatnot, as well as the money they've paid draft picks, I wouldn't say this is entirely cost cutting.

Well, whatever it is it stinks.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

What pick are we? 11? if only Justin Upton wouldn't sign with the Dbacks and by some miracle fall to the Cubs.

 

13.

 

With the lack of picks from rounds 2-4, it'd be nice if the Cubs turned that round 2-4 signing bonus money into a nice Latin American player. And it'd be even nicer if the Cubs properly returned to the international scene.

 

Zambrano, Guzman, Pie, Cedeno, Pinto, Choi, Ryu were/are all valuable assets to the franchise.