Biggest Off-season need: #2 Starter or Big bat?

[CuseCubFan69]

Put me down for Schmidt + Soriano.

 

As others have said, Schmidt seems the better value over Zito. A better pitcher who will likely sign a shorter contract. If Prior were more reliable, I'd say go with Z, Prior & the young'ns. But I think we need to bring in an additional arm from the outside.

 

As for offense...

 

I'd sign Soriano and put him back at 2B.

 

I'd offer arby to Pierre, but wouldn't really try to re-sign him. I'm sure someone will offer him a multi-year deal, which will help the Cubs make up for the lack of picks after their signing of FA's.

 

If Walker ends up as a type A player at 2B, I'd offer arby but make it clear to him that if he accepts, he's going to be a bench player. If he ends up as a type B, I wouldn't risk it.

 

I'd then do what I could to trade for Abreu and move Jacque to CF. Abreu's not the player he once was, but his OBP combined with Soriano's power is exactly what the offense needs to move amongst the best in the NL.

 

I'd be left without a traditional leadoff hitter, but I'd have 5 bats I have a fair amount of confidence in with:

 

Abreu

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Barrett

 

I think that would be plenty to establish a decent offense right there, even if we stuck with Jones, Murton & Cedeno at the other positions.

 

If Soriano won't bite, then I'd go for Carlos Lee. But I think Murton/Soriano would outplay Lee/Walker.

 

IMO most managers would bat Soriano lead off. If you make the gamble would you move Cedeno to get a SS that could lead off to help avoid Soriano from leading off since Pierre would be gone?

If Jose Reyes became available, I'd be all over it. :D

 

Well Tim let's get Wright too while we're at it! Do you think Reyes is available or is this wishful thinking? Also my friend...Reyes is about as much a Baker/Hendry guy as you could get, imagine how peeved Baker would be if he's fired and the Cubs than get Reyes?

Not even wishful thinking as much as smart-aleck response, Cuse.

 

I see said the blind man. He would be perfect for Hendry/Baker though. What would you do about the leadoff spot? No cute answers but a precise get to the point this is it cause I know the answer is what I'd like to see!

[Guest]

I really think that having a traditional leadoff hitter is very overrated in importance. Look at how much good Pierre's 30 steals have done for the offense so far.

 

I'd be very tempted to put Murton into the leadoff spot given that roster and see if he could put in a Youklis-type performance there. I'm not sure how many SS there are around baseball that would be an upgrade at leadoff. I guess I could see if Tampa is tired of BJ's defense, yet.

[CuseCubFan69]

I really think that having a traditional leadoff hitter is very overrated in importance. Look at how much good Pierre's 30 steals have done for the offense so far.

 

I'd be very tempted to put Murton into the leadoff spot given that roster and see if he could put in a Youklis-type performance there. I'm not sure how many SS there are around baseball that would be an upgrade at leadoff. I guess I could see if Tampa is tired of BJ's defense, yet.

 

You'd want somebody that could on base at a decent clip though right? If Murton can prove he can handle rightys I have no problem with him at the leadof spot. Of course Baker has to go for that to happen.

[RynoRules]

I really think that having a traditional leadoff hitter is very overrated in importance. Look at how much good Pierre's 30 steals have done for the offense so far.

 

I'd be very tempted to put Murton into the leadoff spot given that roster and see if he could put in a Youklis-type performance there. I'm not sure how many SS there are around baseball that would be an upgrade at leadoff. I guess I could see if Tampa is tired of BJ's defense, yet.

 

You'd want somebody that could on base at a decent clip though right? If Murton can prove he can handle rightys I have no problem with him at the leadof spot. Of course Baker has to go for that to happen.

 

Boggs led off for the Sox in the 80's all the time. Not saying Murton even approaches Boggs, just saying. I'd love to see Walker leading off, but he's as good as gone (again).

[CuseCubFan69]

I really think that having a traditional leadoff hitter is very overrated in importance. Look at how much good Pierre's 30 steals have done for the offense so far.

 

I'd be very tempted to put Murton into the leadoff spot given that roster and see if he could put in a Youklis-type performance there. I'm not sure how many SS there are around baseball that would be an upgrade at leadoff. I guess I could see if Tampa is tired of BJ's defense, yet.

 

You'd want somebody that could on base at a decent clip though right? If Murton can prove he can handle rightys I have no problem with him at the leadoff spot. Of course Baker has to go for that to happen.

 

Boggs led off for the Sox in the 80's all the time. Not saying Murton even approaches Boggs, just saying. I'd love to see Walker leading off, but he's as good as gone (again).

 

Who has the better OBP between Pierre and Walker?

[mul21]

Put me down for Schmidt + Soriano.

 

As others have said, Schmidt seems the better value over Zito. A better pitcher who will likely sign a shorter contract. If Prior were more reliable, I'd say go with Z, Prior & the young'ns. But I think we need to bring in an additional arm from the outside.

 

As for offense...

 

I'd sign Soriano and put him back at 2B.

 

I'd offer arby to Pierre, but wouldn't really try to re-sign him. I'm sure someone will offer him a multi-year deal, which will help the Cubs make up for the lack of picks after their signing of FA's.

 

If Walker ends up as a type A player at 2B, I'd offer arby but make it clear to him that if he accepts, he's going to be a bench player. If he ends up as a type B, I wouldn't risk it.

 

I'd then do what I could to trade for Abreu and move Jacque to CF. Abreu's not the player he once was, but his OBP combined with Soriano's power is exactly what the offense needs to move amongst the best in the NL.

 

I'd be left without a traditional leadoff hitter, but I'd have 5 bats I have a fair amount of confidence in with:

 

Abreu

Lee

Ramirez

Soriano

Barrett

 

I think that would be plenty to establish a decent offense right there, even if we stuck with Jones, Murton & Cedeno at the other positions.

 

If Soriano won't bite, then I'd go for Carlos Lee. But I think Murton/Soriano would outplay Lee/Walker.

 

I like this a lot and would be ok with doing that. I think you would end up with an order something like this:

 

Murton

Barrett

Lee

Abreu

Soriano

Ramirez

Jones

Cedeno

 

I'm definitely in the sign Schmidt over Zito camp. Schidt has done it better for longer and any inconsistencies he's had have been due to injury, which he's done pretty well to avoid over his career.

[RynoRules]

I really think that having a traditional leadoff hitter is very overrated in importance. Look at how much good Pierre's 30 steals have done for the offense so far.

 

I'd be very tempted to put Murton into the leadoff spot given that roster and see if he could put in a Youklis-type performance there. I'm not sure how many SS there are around baseball that would be an upgrade at leadoff. I guess I could see if Tampa is tired of BJ's defense, yet.

 

You'd want somebody that could on base at a decent clip though right? If Murton can prove he can handle rightys I have no problem with him at the leadoff spot. Of course Baker has to go for that to happen.

 

Boggs led off for the Sox in the 80's all the time. Not saying Murton even approaches Boggs, just saying. I'd love to see Walker leading off, but he's as good as gone (again).

 

Who has the better OBP between Pierre and Walker?

 

Walker by about 40 points, though Pierre's has been on the rise for a few weeks now (finally).

[sporrer17]

Murton at leadoff with his good OBP skills would make too much sense. I love that move personally, but I see him as a 2/6/7 hitter under Baker. He's not exactly an RBI machine at this point, so I think 3-5 are definitely out of the question, and if we were stuck with him at one of those spots, we may be sunk. He is great at going the other way, and he's a fairly patient hitter, almost ideal for the 2 hole. Even his speed fits nicely there, as he doesn't "clog" anything up for D-Lee behind him.

 

If Murton does start hitting like he can, I don't want to give up on him yet. I know we need a big bat, but I want Murton to be a big part of this team.