FAs after 2006

[back2backjax]

I've been saying all along that the Cubs should go to battle with what they have an not mortgage the farm system for a short-term fix. They have enough talent now that IF - and I know it's a big IF - they have one of those Angels/Marlins/White Sox-type years where people stay healthy and certain guys (Pierre, Cedeno, Murton) play at or above themselves, they can compete for the Wild Card and possibly the division.

 

9.00 Maddux

2.00 Williamson

1.50 Blanco

1.05 Mabry

2.50 Walker

2.30 Hairston

2.80 Patterson

5.50 Pierre

 

I may be a little off, but I believe the salaries above ARE NOT guaranteed by the Cubs beyond 2006. Of course certain players will be due raises etc., but the team should have $20-25 million to spend on FAs in 2007.

 

Can someone provide a list of those who will be available perhaps at the midseason (if their team is out of it) or at least next offseason.

Edited December 27, 2005 by back2backjax

[goonys evil twin]

5.00 Dempster

9.00 Maddux

2.75 Rusch

2.00 Williamson

1.50 Blanco

1.05 Mabry

2.50 Perez

2.50 Walker

4.33 Jones

2.30 Hairston

2.80 Patterson

5.50 Pierre

 

I may be a little off' date=' but I believe the salaries above ARE NOT guaranteed by the Cubs beyond 2006. Of course certain players will be due raises etc., but the team should have $25-30 million to spend on FAs in 2007.

[/quote']

 

Dempster, Rusch, Perez and Jones are all under contract past 2006.

[back2backjax]

5.00 Dempster

9.00 Maddux

2.75 Rusch

2.00 Williamson

1.50 Blanco

1.05 Mabry

2.50 Perez

2.50 Walker

4.33 Jones

2.30 Hairston

2.80 Patterson

5.50 Pierre

 

I may be a little off' date=' but I believe the salaries above ARE NOT guaranteed by the Cubs beyond 2006. Of course certain players will be due raises etc., but the team should have $25-30 million to spend on FAs in 2007.

[/quote']

 

Dempster, Rusch, Perez and Jones are all under contract past 2006.

 

duly noted. good catch.

 

ok, so who can tell us what FAs will be out there for the 07 season?

[goonys evil twin]

http://www.mlb4u.com/0607FA.html

[back2backjax]

http://www.mlb4u.com/0607FA.html

 

ok, so here are the attractive FAs (at least to me) that are unrestricted:

 

IF

> aubrey huff - why give up prospects for him when we can have him in a year for nothing?

> ronnie belliard - live with walker this year and sign belliard next

> julio lugo - or, if JH wants lugo so bad, sign lugo next year and move cedeno to 2B

 

COF

> carlos lee

> jay gibbons

> shannon stewart

 

RHSP

> jon garland

> jose contreras

> kelvim escobar

> adam eaton

 

LHSP

> barry zito

> mark mulder

 

doesn't look like next year's crop will be that exciting unless some teams move in different directions and/or decide to trade guys ahead of FA after 2007.

[goonys evil twin]

I might have mild interest in Davi Dellucci (possibly platoon with Murton) and Jose Guillen (platoon with Jones) at the right price if I was certain my manager would use them appropriately. Milton Bradley could be a huge free agent with a breakout year. Jim Edmonds would be very interesting. I could see Boston throwing big money at him if their CF position is still in question. He'd be a huge risk at his age with his style of play, but you could probably pencil him in for an 850-900 OPS for 140 games in both 2007 and 2008. Cliff Floyd, at 34, would be a bit scary. But if he repeats his 2005, he's going to get a lot of interest.

[DarkLink715]

I'm dreaming, but I love Carlos Lee, it'd be great if we could get him and possibly deal Murton

[ChiCubsFan]

I'm dreaming, but I love Carlos Lee, it'd be great if we could get him and possibly deal Murton

 

Why exactly do you love him? Is it his .324 OBP from last year or his .800ish OPS? This guy is hugely overrated. Everyone sees the big RBI totals and 30+ homers and thinks he's a machine. Well I hope this team can do better than a guy with a career .337 OBP for LF considering the production we'll be getting out of RF. I'd also bet that quite a few GMs will throw big money at him because of his RBI totals and such, so add in that he's probably gonna be overpaid and you got a guy I want Hendry to stay as far away from as possible.

[Balsa]

I would be more than happy to have Carlos Lee in the outfield. Sure, last year was almost his worst year since joining the majors, but his OBP falloff was simply due to less hits, not less walks or more strikeouts. He has a huge amount of extra base hits, and hit 41 doubles last year. He's only 29 years old, and his BB/SO ratio is very similar to Derrek Lee's (if you exclude Derrek's monster season last year).

 

This tells me he is a young player with good plate discipline and power. Not only that, but he's not bad on the basepath either, going 42-14 for steals over the last three years. In 2004 his OBP was .366.

 

I'd trade Murton for him in a heartbeat. (Obviously I know other things would have to be included)