If you're willing to blow out your system anyway

[Caryatid]

If the Cubs are, in fact, willing to blow out their farm system for anyone (Juan Pierre, anyone?), they might as well think big.

 

The fact is, if they could send out Pierre, Jones, Dempster and whatever they have of value for prospects in July, I'd be happy.

 

If, at the same time, they also could go after two players that have been hinted at being available, I would consider this season a success: Carl Crawford (.850 OPS and only 23) and Miguel Cabrera.

 

Its entirely possible that they don't have the prospects to get these two players, but if they could go into next season with an outfield of Murton/Platoon, Crawford, and Cabrera along with an infield of Ramirez, Cedeno, X, and Lee, this team would, in my opinion, contend again.

[Larry Horse]

All depends, as always, on the starting pitching.

[Caryatid]

All depends, as always, on the starting pitching.

 

The larger point here is that if you were to trade Pierre and Jones and pick up a Crawford and Cabrera, you'd save roughly 8 million in salary. Couple that with the 22 coming off the books for Maddux and Wood, and the team would have 30 million in salary. That's THREE $10 million per year pitchers, if need be. The team could pick up Zito and still have probably 18-20 million in salary to spend. Or pick up Zito and Smoltz and still have 8 million just to equal this year's payroll.

[JWCUB]

All depends, as always, on the starting pitching.

 

The larger point here is that if you were to trade Pierre and Jones and pick up a Crawford and Cabrera, you'd save roughly 8 million in salary. Couple that with the 22 coming off the books for Maddux and Wood, and the team would have 30 million in salary. That's THREE $10 million per year pitchers, if need be. The team could pick up Zito and still have probably 18-20 million in salary to spend. Or pick up Zito and Smoltz and still have 8 million just to equal this year's payroll.

 

Your starting rotation for 07

 

Z

Prior

Marshall

Marmol

Miller

 

Barring any major trades.

[Caryatid]

All depends, as always, on the starting pitching.

 

The larger point here is that if you were to trade Pierre and Jones and pick up a Crawford and Cabrera, you'd save roughly 8 million in salary. Couple that with the 22 coming off the books for Maddux and Wood, and the team would have 30 million in salary. That's THREE $10 million per year pitchers, if need be. The team could pick up Zito and still have probably 18-20 million in salary to spend. Or pick up Zito and Smoltz and still have 8 million just to equal this year's payroll.

 

Your starting rotation for 07

 

Z

Prior

Marshall

Marmol

Miller

 

Barring any major trades.

 

So, in other words, mediocrity again. That's the whole point of this-you could make smart deals for young, talented players, and fill pitching holes with successful, tried-and-true starters.

 

Theoretically, 98 million could buy a starting lineup of Crawford, Walker, Lee, Cabrera, Ramirez, Barrett, Murton, and Cedeno, and a rotation of Zambrano, Schmidt/Smoltz, Zito, Prior, and Marshall/Marmol.

[sweetpeteman]

If we get Crawford and Cabrera, there is a good chance we don't have Marshall and Marmol.

[erik316wttn]

If we get Miggy Cabrera via trade, I'll change my name to "PinkFairyWussyBoy".

 

And you can hold me to that.

 

This is the Cubs. We're not capable of pulling off a trade for one of the best hitters in the game before he's even hit his prime yet.

 

It's nice to fantasize about it. But that's all it will ever be: A FANTASY.

 

Am I saying he'll never be a Cub? No. But if he ever is, he'll be 38 with 2 bad knees, a .240 batting average, and he'll get a 3-year deal.

[Caryatid]

If we get Miggy Cabrera via trade, I'll change my name to "PinkFairyWussyBoy".

 

And you can hold me to that.

 

This is the Cubs. We're not capable of pulling off a trade for one of the best hitters in the game before he's even hit his prime yet.

 

It's nice to fantasize about it. But that's all it will ever be: A FANTASY.

 

Am I saying he'll never be a Cub? No. But if he ever is, he'll be 38 with 2 bad knees, a .240 batting average, and he'll get a 3-year deal.

 

If last year was any indication, we already did do that with Lee.

 

Anyway-what isn't a fantasy in this forum? Unless you're talking about things that have already happened, its all fantasy. Aside from that, seeing as how we all love to second guess so much, I just figured I'd throw a first-guess in there.

 

Why not speculate?

 

$98 million could buy an incredibly competitive (dare I say World Series contending) team.

[erik316wttn]

If we get Miggy Cabrera via trade, I'll change my name to "PinkFairyWussyBoy".

 

And you can hold me to that.

 

This is the Cubs. We're not capable of pulling off a trade for one of the best hitters in the game before he's even hit his prime yet.

 

It's nice to fantasize about it. But that's all it will ever be: A FANTASY.

 

Am I saying he'll never be a Cub? No. But if he ever is, he'll be 38 with 2 bad knees, a .240 batting average, and he'll get a 3-year deal.

 

If last year was any indication, we already did do that with Lee.

 

Anyway-what isn't a fantasy in this forum? Unless you're talking about things that have already happened, its all fantasy. Aside from that, seeing as how we all love to second guess so much, I just figured I'd throw a first-guess in there.

 

Why not speculate?

 

$98 million could buy an incredibly competitive (dare I say World Series contending) team.

 

I should have clarified:

 

This team is not capable of trading for an already great hitter who hasn't even hit his prime yet.

 

When we traded for Lee he was good, but not great.

[Caryatid]

If we get Miggy Cabrera via trade, I'll change my name to "PinkFairyWussyBoy".

 

And you can hold me to that.

 

This is the Cubs. We're not capable of pulling off a trade for one of the best hitters in the game before he's even hit his prime yet.

 

It's nice to fantasize about it. But that's all it will ever be: A FANTASY.

 

Am I saying he'll never be a Cub? No. But if he ever is, he'll be 38 with 2 bad knees, a .240 batting average, and he'll get a 3-year deal.

 

If last year was any indication, we already did do that with Lee.

 

Anyway-what isn't a fantasy in this forum? Unless you're talking about things that have already happened, its all fantasy. Aside from that, seeing as how we all love to second guess so much, I just figured I'd throw a first-guess in there.

 

Why not speculate?

 

$98 million could buy an incredibly competitive (dare I say World Series contending) team.

 

I should have clarified:

 

This team is not capable of trading for an already great hitter who hasn't even hit his prime yet.

 

When we traded for Lee he was good, but not great.

 

I'm not sure what the point is of just saying "its never going to happen, this team's terrible and it always will be terrible." If that's the case, then why bother being so involved with them? Isn't speculation and hope the only thing we have at this point? We spend enough time having to revel in the crappiness that is this team right now-if we're all forced to then revel in the potential crappiness that is forever with this team, then we might as well just give up and stop posting, stop rooting for them, stop going to games, stop buying merchandise, etc., because right now, hope is all we got.

[erik316wttn]

If we get Miggy Cabrera via trade, I'll change my name to "PinkFairyWussyBoy".

 

And you can hold me to that.

 

This is the Cubs. We're not capable of pulling off a trade for one of the best hitters in the game before he's even hit his prime yet.

 

It's nice to fantasize about it. But that's all it will ever be: A FANTASY.

 

Am I saying he'll never be a Cub? No. But if he ever is, he'll be 38 with 2 bad knees, a .240 batting average, and he'll get a 3-year deal.

 

If last year was any indication, we already did do that with Lee.

 

Anyway-what isn't a fantasy in this forum? Unless you're talking about things that have already happened, its all fantasy. Aside from that, seeing as how we all love to second guess so much, I just figured I'd throw a first-guess in there.

 

Why not speculate?

 

$98 million could buy an incredibly competitive (dare I say World Series contending) team.

 

I should have clarified:

 

This team is not capable of trading for an already great hitter who hasn't even hit his prime yet.

 

When we traded for Lee he was good, but not great.

 

I'm not sure what the point is of just saying "its never going to happen, this team's terrible and it always will be terrible." If that's the case, then why bother being so involved with them? Isn't speculation and hope the only thing we have at this point? We spend enough time having to revel in the crappiness that is this team right now-if we're all forced to then revel in the potential crappiness that is forever with this team, then we might as well just give up and stop posting, stop rooting for them, stop going to games, stop buying merchandise, etc., because right now, hope is all we got.

 

You do have a point, but I find very little to be hopeful about right now.

[Caryatid]

If we get Miggy Cabrera via trade, I'll change my name to "PinkFairyWussyBoy".

 

And you can hold me to that.

 

This is the Cubs. We're not capable of pulling off a trade for one of the best hitters in the game before he's even hit his prime yet.

 

It's nice to fantasize about it. But that's all it will ever be: A FANTASY.

 

Am I saying he'll never be a Cub? No. But if he ever is, he'll be 38 with 2 bad knees, a .240 batting average, and he'll get a 3-year deal.

 

If last year was any indication, we already did do that with Lee.

 

Anyway-what isn't a fantasy in this forum? Unless you're talking about things that have already happened, its all fantasy. Aside from that, seeing as how we all love to second guess so much, I just figured I'd throw a first-guess in there.

 

Why not speculate?

 

$98 million could buy an incredibly competitive (dare I say World Series contending) team.

 

I should have clarified:

 

This team is not capable of trading for an already great hitter who hasn't even hit his prime yet.

 

When we traded for Lee he was good, but not great.

 

I'm not sure what the point is of just saying "its never going to happen, this team's terrible and it always will be terrible." If that's the case, then why bother being so involved with them? Isn't speculation and hope the only thing we have at this point? We spend enough time having to revel in the crappiness that is this team right now-if we're all forced to then revel in the potential crappiness that is forever with this team, then we might as well just give up and stop posting, stop rooting for them, stop going to games, stop buying merchandise, etc., because right now, hope is all we got.

 

You do have a point, but I find very little to be hopeful about right now.

 

I think you just hit the nail on the head and gave me a title for a book on Cubs fans:

 

"Unreasonable Hope Offset by Periods of Utter Despair: The Life of a Chicago Cubs Fan"

[MarkPrior]

All depends, as always, on the starting pitching.

 

The larger point here is that if you were to trade Pierre and Jones and pick up a Crawford and Cabrera, you'd save roughly 8 million in salary. Couple that with the 22 coming off the books for Maddux and Wood, and the team would have 30 million in salary. That's THREE $10 million per year pitchers, if need be. The team could pick up Zito and still have probably 18-20 million in salary to spend. Or pick up Zito and Smoltz and still have 8 million just to equal this year's payroll.

 

Your starting rotation for 07

 

Z

Prior

Marshall

Marmol

Miller

 

Barring any major trades.

 

Why does everyone keep insisting that Wade Miller will ever be good again? Seriously, think to yourselves...have we learned anything from these reconstruction projects...Prior and Wood, especially the latter. Though Dempster has remained healthy and done a decent job, he is the only exception. Look at Williamson....

 

Don't get me wrong, I love Wood just as much as a lot of Cub fans, hell he's my favorite Cub ever even surpassing Grace, but I've finally come around to the point where I don't expect him back again. We must have the same attitude with Miller, of course not as nilihistic, but we shouldn't expect great things from him, even in 2007.

[erik316wttn]

If we get Miggy Cabrera via trade, I'll change my name to "PinkFairyWussyBoy".

 

And you can hold me to that.

 

This is the Cubs. We're not capable of pulling off a trade for one of the best hitters in the game before he's even hit his prime yet.

 

It's nice to fantasize about it. But that's all it will ever be: A FANTASY.

 

Am I saying he'll never be a Cub? No. But if he ever is, he'll be 38 with 2 bad knees, a .240 batting average, and he'll get a 3-year deal.

 

If last year was any indication, we already did do that with Lee.

 

Anyway-what isn't a fantasy in this forum? Unless you're talking about things that have already happened, its all fantasy. Aside from that, seeing as how we all love to second guess so much, I just figured I'd throw a first-guess in there.

 

Why not speculate?

 

$98 million could buy an incredibly competitive (dare I say World Series contending) team.

 

I should have clarified:

 

This team is not capable of trading for an already great hitter who hasn't even hit his prime yet.

 

When we traded for Lee he was good, but not great.

 

I'm not sure what the point is of just saying "its never going to happen, this team's terrible and it always will be terrible." If that's the case, then why bother being so involved with them? Isn't speculation and hope the only thing we have at this point? We spend enough time having to revel in the crappiness that is this team right now-if we're all forced to then revel in the potential crappiness that is forever with this team, then we might as well just give up and stop posting, stop rooting for them, stop going to games, stop buying merchandise, etc., because right now, hope is all we got.

 

You do have a point, but I find very little to be hopeful about right now.

 

I think you just hit the nail on the head and gave me a title for a book on Cubs fans:

 

"Unreasonable Hope Offset by Periods of Utter Despair: The Life of a Chicago Cubs Fan"

 

Haha. I'd buy it!

[soccer10k]

If we get Miggy Cabrera via trade, I'll change my name to "PinkFairyWussyBoy".

 

I don't care if he does absolutely nothing as a Cub if we get him. Just seeing you change your name to PinkFairyWussyBoy would be worth it.

[CubsBullsBears]

This is the Cubs. Hendry will never make a serious attempt at any of these players. He'll just pretend he went after them and give his typical, "i feel short" crap.

[cheapseats]

 

Why does everyone keep insisting that Wade Miller will ever be good again?

 

Another question:

 

Why does everyone keep insisting that Miller will be part of the 2007 rotation when he's only signed for this season?

[Wild_Cubs04]

 

Why does everyone keep insisting that Wade Miller will ever be good again?

 

Another question:

 

Why does everyone keep insisting that Miller will be part of the 2007 rotation when he's only signed for this season?

 

Bingo

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I like the idea of Crawford in CF, especially since any deal involving Cabrera will likely include Pie (their CF line is ugly - 220/289/355/644). My only question is, can Cabrera play LF? And if so, does he still want to? I have no problems shopping Aramis for a LF if Cabrera was acquired, but I'd want another big bat like Abreu or Burrell. It's too early for me to do math, but that leaves enough money to sign at least 1 premium FA pitcher.

[Caryatid]

This is the Cubs. Hendry will never make a serious attempt at any of these players. He'll just pretend he went after them and give his typical, "i feel short" crap.

 

See my posts above. If there's nothing to hope for, then we might as well just not follow the team anymore.

[SoonerCubFan]

I'm not sure what the point is of just saying "its never going to happen, this team's terrible and it always will be terrible." If that's the case, then why bother being so involved with them? Isn't speculation and hope the only thing we have at this point? We spend enough time having to revel in the crappiness that is this team right now-if we're all forced to then revel in the potential crappiness that is forever with this team, then we might as well just give up and stop posting, stop rooting for them, stop going to games, stop buying merchandise, etc., because right now, hope is all we got.

 

Good points. If there is one way to salvage this entire season for me it is by trading for Miguel Cabrera. I would forgive Hendry ALL of his lousiness the past 2 seasons if he could pull this one off.

 

However, having already pulled out my hair when he let Rolen go to the Cards in 2002 because, of all the lame-brained idiocy, the Cubs weren't "in the race" at the time, I assume he'll have the same lack of future vision now as well. Heck, Jocketty will probably get him for LF by trading off Ponson, Wainwright and Taguchi - you know, because they're in the race now. Then they'll immediately sign him to a 10 year contract because it's all about this year.

[texascub]

This is the Cubs. Hendry will never make a serious attempt at any of these players. He'll just pretend he went after them and give his typical, "i feel short" crap.

 

If he's sensitive about his height, then he should stop drafting such tall pitchers.

[CubsBullsBears]

This is the Cubs. Hendry will never make a serious attempt at any of these players. He'll just pretend he went after them and give his typical, "i fell short" crap.

 

If he's sensitive about his height, then he should stop drafting such tall pitchers.

Typo. I hit the e 2x instead of l.

[larhur]

If we make any more trades with the florida marlins their whole starting staff will be X Cubs

[badgercub]

I like the idea of Crawford in CF, especially since any deal involving Cabrera will likely include Pie (their CF line is ugly - 220/289/355/644). My only question is, can Cabrera play LF? And if so, does he still want to? I have no problems shopping Aramis for a LF if Cabrera was acquired, but I'd want another big bat like Abreu or Burrell. It's too early for me to do math, but that leaves enough money to sign at least 1 premium FA pitcher.

 

Instead of Crawford, would Baldelli be easier to acquire? The only thing about that is the recurring injuries, it would be a bit of a gamble but, if the roster was constructed in such a way that you had fewer injury risks than in years past I think you could get him for cheaper than Crawford and still get a great ballplayer.