2007 Free Agents

[moorecg]

Who's out there?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

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

[erik316wttn]

Looking to next year already?

 

Can't say I blame you.

[Omar]

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

 

Hm. They have Derrek Lee on that list. Almost scared me.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

What are the chances Francona won't be extended?

[sunnydoo]

doesnt have ARams option either.

[moorecg]

Looking to next year already?

 

Can't say I blame you.

 

Yup.

 

Luis Castillo (Maybe we can trade someone to the Twins cause otherwise I'd think they'd exercise that option)

Carlos Lee

Maybe think about adding Trot Nixon too.

 

Put Pie in CF and see what he can do.

 

 

That's what I'd do. Possibly add a starting pitcher depending on what the rest of this season does. We MUST add offense/OBP/Power.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It's a little better than last year, but not much. It also doesn't include Walker, so I know the list is incomplete. It also has some players who have already been extended like Lee and Ortiz.

 

There's more pitching, especially from the left side.

 

Assume the Cubs have a core back of these guys:

 

1b Lee

2b: ?

3b: Ramirez

SS: Cedeno

LF: Murton

CF:

RF: Jones (though, I'm eager to replace him)

 

SP: Zambrano

SP: Prior

SP: Marshall/Guzman/Hill

 

The bullpen should be adequate to good next season with Dempster, Howry and Eyre all returning. The remaining three spots can be filled with guys like Ohman, Wuertz, Ryu, Novoa and possible Marmol or other arms on the farm.

 

If we don't keep Maddux and let Wood go, we could have around 25 million or so to play with on the free agent market.

 

If we use Theriot, Perez, and Pagan as the mainstays on the bench and Soto as the back-up catcher, we won't need to spend much on the bench.

 

I'd call up Pie to play CF and try to deal Jones if possible. If I'm forced to keep Jones, I'd likely try to get a player like Craig Wilson to platoon with him. Jose Guillen could be another option there as well.

 

If I'm able to deal Jones, I hope that Drew voids his option or if Sheffield's option isn't picked up, I try to get him on a one-year deal.

 

The pickings are slim at secondbase. I'd love to keep Walker, but I assume he is gone. Adam Kennedy or Ronnie Belliard could be decent replacements as would be Luis Castillo if the Twins decline his option.

 

I'd like to get one if not two veteran starting pitchers to anchor the rotation behind Zambrano, Prior and the youngsters. Mulder and Zito top the list, but I also would be interested in Schmidt as well.

 

The Cubs will have the money to be players.

 

A deal for a player like Abreu isn't entirely out of the question either.

[sunnydoo]

Adam Kennedy? yuck. I think Lewis gets the shot next year if Walker isnt back. (yes i know EP has the majority of the time at WT, but its time to see if he can or he cant after being AA MVP last year).

 

Murton and Jones one or both need to be gone.

 

Pie will be CF next season.

 

Between ARam (.275/.327/.806), Maddux, and Wood being gone, will have about 35 million to play with.

 

I would go after Melvin Mora (.282/.363/.818) at 3b. He is a better hitter, higher OBP, more OPS, and a heck of a lot more durable than Ramirez ever thought about being.

 

I would then heavily pursue Escobar or Contreras to add another SP (i am not 100% convinced on Miller yet).

 

Another top priority would be finding a decent backup defensive catcher that could start if there would be an emergency spot on the IF that Barret would need to take over. You could then use Soto to come up to the backup role.

 

I would also invest in a 2 or 3 field OF like a Frank Catalonatto.

 

Not really worried about the pen or the other starter positions. Think the minor league system is good for that.

 

And i would definitely get Alex Sanchez from the Reds.

[BigbadB]

Wow! Longest offseason in baseball history if we are starting now.

 

I guess another way to look at this past horrible offseason is that if the Cubs brass noticed there wasn't a whole lot available in the corner outfield spots in future offseasons, then it might have been a good idea to land a big player in previous offseasons.

 

Instead, they stand there with excuses like "there was no one available" and "he wasn't in our price range", etc... for why they don't have a decent player in the outfield.

[Flames24Rulz]

Carlos Lee is a definite guy to go after in the offseason.

 

looking at that manager list, Ned Yost or Eric Wedge would be real nice.

[Balsa]

Too early. Too many things will change by the time we actually get to the offseason for this debates to have any relevant meaning.

[BigbadB]

Except for the fact Carlos Lee is currently in negotiations with the Brewers on a contract extension.

 

And if I was Carlos Lee, I'd want to stay in Milwaukee. That team is going to be good.

[CuseCubFan69]

Except for the fact Carlos Lee is currently in negotiations with the Brewers on a contract extension.

 

And if I was Carlos Lee, I'd want to stay in Milwaukee. That team is going to be good.

 

And when he's 37 Hendry can sign him to a 3 year deal.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Adam Kennedy? yuck. I think Lewis gets the shot next year if Walker isnt back. (yes i know EP has the majority of the time at WT, but its time to see if he can or he cant after being AA MVP last year).

 

Murton and Jones one or both need to be gone.

 

Pie will be CF next season.

 

Between ARam (.275/.327/.806), Maddux, and Wood being gone, will have about 35 million to play with.

 

I would go after Melvin Mora (.282/.363/.818) at 3b. He is a better hitter, higher OBP, more OPS, and a heck of a lot more durable than Ramirez ever thought about being.

 

I would then heavily pursue Escobar or Contreras to add another SP (i am not 100% convinced on Miller yet).

 

Another top priority would be finding a decent backup defensive catcher that could start if there would be an emergency spot on the IF that Barret would need to take over. You could then use Soto to come up to the backup role.

 

I would also invest in a 2 or 3 field OF like a Frank Catalonatto.

 

Not really worried about the pen or the other starter positions. Think the minor league system is good for that.

 

And i would definitely get Alex Sanchez from the Reds.

 

Why would we want a former roid user who wasn't good even when he was on the juice. He's Tom Goodwin, only worse.

[sunnydoo]

Why would we want a former roid user who wasn't good even when he was on the juice. He's Tom Goodwin, only worse.

 

a- i was joking

 

but

 

b- we need someone from Cuba to help Mr Valdes when he gets to the majors. Although Contreras or El Duque could help him make the adjustment, Mr Sanchez would be a nice fallback and utility OF.

 

And why throw off on Goodwin? He is a very nice person and one of the classiest Cubs of the new millenium.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Why would we want a former roid user who wasn't good even when he was on the juice. He's Tom Goodwin, only worse.

 

a- i was joking

 

but

 

b- we need someone from Cuba to help Mr Valdes when he gets to the majors. Although Contreras or El Duque could help him make the adjustment, Mr Sanchez would be a nice fallback and utility OF.

 

And why throw off on Goodwin? He is a very nice person and one of the classiest Cubs of the new millenium.

 

Tom Goodwin wasn't a bad person, just not a great ballplayer. He served his role, I guess.

 

We don't need Sanchez, though. I guessed you were joking...but if we want someone like Sanchez, there are better options...mainly Angel Pagan who is already on the roster.

[CubfaninCA]

soriano's the guy they go after. of course, he could be a cub soon. he fits the hendry philosophy. they might make a run at lugo too.

 

i don't think they'll go after zito. he'll cost too much. a lot depends on what wood, prior & miller do. if all 3 fail, (highly possible), hendry looks to nab a starter.

 

has mulder or contreras re-upped already?

[Mark_R]

Contreras did yeah.

[nolanwood]

I wouldn't mind seeing us land Lugo and move Cedeno over to 2B, as I'm assuming Walker will more than likely be gone. I'd like to have Mora as well, however, I wouldn't take him over Aram....unless he flukes this year and doesn't put up #'s comparable to the last couple years. Catalanotto would make an excellent utility guy. Escobar would make a nice addition to the pitching staff, as would Zito, Mulder or Pettitte.

[sethuel1]

Adam Kennedy? yuck. I think Lewis gets the shot next year if Walker isnt back. (yes i know EP has the majority of the time at WT, but its time to see if he can or he cant after being AA MVP last year)..

 

That was 2 years ago, on one of the most BABIP-inflated years I've ever seen. Lewis is D-U-N done.

[CubfaninCA]

Whoa just looked @ Lugo's Pierreish numbers. What happened?

 

Aubrey Huff has really struggled too. Makes Jock Jooooooooooones look good.

[YearofDaCubs]

Whoa just looked @ Lugo's Pierreish numbers. What happened?

 

Aubrey Huff has really struggled too. Makes Jock Jooooooooooones look good.

Both players just got back from injury.

[soapy]

If Baker's not here, get Bellhorn as a "super-sub", please.

[soapy]

Just throwing out more names, but I still think a Floyd/Murton platoon in LF would be nice.

 

Did Bradley sign a long-term deal with Oakland?