Potential Free Agent Targets

[Handlebar McSkullet]

Here are some names I think the Cubs should look at for next year.

 

Position Players (2006 Salary) *- My Preference

 

2B Adam Kennedy (3.5)

2B Mark Lorretta (3.25)*

2B,3B,LF,RF Mark DeRosa (750k)

2B Luis Castillo (5)

 

OF Mike Cameron (8mil)

OF Tori Hunter (11, he lists the Cubs as part of the 5 team teams he has a no trade clause to.)

OF Gary Matthews Jr (2.75)

OF Darin Erstad (9)

OF Frank Catalanotto (2.7)*

OF Cliff Floyd (6.5)*

OF Luis Gonzalez (11.5)

OF Carlos Lee (8.5)*

OF Dave Roberts (3)

2B/OF Alfonso Soriano (10)

OF Shannon Stewart (6)

OF Jose Guillen (4)

OF Trot Nixon (7.5)*

OF Gary Sheffield (13)

OF Gabe Kapler (150k)

OF Moises Alou (6)

 

Starting Pitchers

 

RH Tony Armas Jr. (2)

RH Adam Eaton (5)

RH Cory Lidle (3)

RH Jason Marquis (5)

RH Greg Maddux (9)

RH Gil Meche (4)*

RH Tomo Ohka (4)

RH Vicente Padilla (4)

RH Sidney Ponson (1)

RH Brad Radke(9)

RH Jason Schmidt (10)

RH Jeff Suppan (4)

RH Steve Trachsel (2.5)

RH Tim Wakefield (4)

RH Woody Williams (5)

RH Paul Wilson (4)

RH Jamey Wright (500k)

 

LH Bruce Chen (3.8)

LH Ted Lilly (4)*

LH Mark Mulder (8mil)

LH Randy Wolf (9)

LH Barry Zito (8mil)*

[Roast]

Two words.

 

Jason Schmidt

[Jazz]

Hendry IMO is going to target one big name pitcher and then overpay for his toolsy bench players. We just have to cross our fingers hes on Schmidt or Zito's jock and will give them 4 years, but we also have to hope he can get his magic back and land us a big bat via trade, Alfonso Soriano anyone?

[Brian]

but we also have to hope he can get his magic back and land us a big bat via trade, Alfonso Soriano anyone?

 

No need to trade for him, he's a FA.

[NewUserName]

Youth movement. Not enough talent there to buy a championship with what we already have.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

This is an honest question.

 

What player of any real value would really want to play for the Cubs right now?

[Jazz]

This is an honest question.

 

What player of any real value would really want to play for the Cubs right now?

 

for some guys the price is always right

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

This is an honest question.

 

What player of any real value would really want to play for the Cubs right now?

 

for some guys the price is always right

 

True. But, with any player of real value I would think they would receive offers similar to what the Cubs would offer.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I wish I wasn't going into this offseason knowing Hendry was gonna screw up, because I'd love to dream of a C. Lee-Matthews Jr.-Jones/Murton OF next year.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Matsuzaka plz.

[C.C.]

This is an honest question.

 

What player of any real value would really want to play for the Cubs right now?

 

for some guys the price is always right

 

True. But, with any player of real value I would think they would receive offers similar to what the Cubs would offer.

 

Simple, Chicago is a big market and players like to play in Wrigley. I can think of worse places to play then Chicago in front of 40,000 people everyday...

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Schmidt, Catalanotto, and a second baseman that can hit in the top 2 in the order. Maybe a platoon partner for Jones if you hate Restovich.

 

Cat/Murton/2B

2B/Cat/Murton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Jones/Restovich

Pie

Izturis

[baseball7897]

Schmidt, Catalanotto, and a second baseman that can hit in the top 2 in the order. Maybe a platoon partner for Jones if you hate Restovich.

 

Cat/Murton/2B

2B/Cat/Murton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Jones/Restovich

Pie

Izturis

 

Hendry needs to add another POWER bat in the OF. Basically that is the same team they are rolling out this year.

[snoodmonger]

I just don't see anyway Matthews Jr. duplicates his #'s. Someone is going to get seriously hosed by signing him.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Schmidt, Catalanotto, and a second baseman that can hit in the top 2 in the order. Maybe a platoon partner for Jones if you hate Restovich.

 

Cat/Murton/2B

2B/Cat/Murton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Jones/Restovich

Pie

Izturis

 

Hendry needs to add another POWER bat in the OF. Basically that is the same team they are rolling out this year.

 

I think you're underestimating the benefit of the platoon. By getting capable hitters in LF v. RHP and RF v. LHP, it probably boosts the combined output of the two spots by 75-100 points in OPS. Basically, the same as going to get the "POWER bat" and leaving the other spot the same, except without paying a heinous amount of money and/or prospects.

[C.C.]

Schmidt, Catalanotto, and a second baseman that can hit in the top 2 in the order. Maybe a platoon partner for Jones if you hate Restovich.

 

Cat/Murton/2B

2B/Cat/Murton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Jones/Restovich

Pie

Izturis

 

Pie needs another year at AAA. No way is he ready for the bigs yet.

[RockTheIvy]

Personally, I would try to sign Mike Cameron to a two year deal, assuming Pierre is gone. Then I would go the platoon route in the other outfield spots, possibly using Pie. And Loretta wouldn't be bad for a one-two year deal.

 

Murton

Loretta

Lee

Ramirez

Cameron

Jones

Barrett

The Tsar

 

Cameron would bring solid CF defense and a big boost in slugging and OBP. I think with those two signings alone, the offense is significantly better.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Schmidt, Catalanotto, and a second baseman that can hit in the top 2 in the order. Maybe a platoon partner for Jones if you hate Restovich.

 

Cat/Murton/2B

2B/Cat/Murton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Jones/Restovich

Pie

Izturis

 

Pie needs another year at AAA. No way is he ready for the bigs yet.

 

Why do you think that

 

Pie has hit his stride at AAA, and has been hitting very well for the better part of 2 months. He's shown he's not overmatched there and is starting to thrive. It wouldn't hurt his development to start in Iowa in '07, but in the same way he won't be damaged by starting and hitting near the bottom of the order in the bigs.

[RynoRules]

Schmidt, Catalanotto, and a second baseman that can hit in the top 2 in the order. Maybe a platoon partner for Jones if you hate Restovich.

 

Cat/Murton/2B

2B/Cat/Murton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Jones/Restovich

Pie

Izturis

 

Pie needs another year at AAA. No way is he ready for the bigs yet.

 

Why do you think that

 

Pie has hit his stride at AAA, and has been hitting very well for the better part of 2 months. He's shown he's not overmatched there and is starting to thrive. It wouldn't hurt his development to start in Iowa in '07, but in the same way he won't be damaged by starting and hitting near the bottom of the order in the bigs.

 

I wouldn't bring Pie up to a Cubs team that is middling or worse like this one. I don't want to put pressure on him to produce immediately. If you put him in an OF populated by Murton and Jones and make no other significant changes, then he is under pressure to put up nos. right away. On the other hand, if we sign / trade for impact guys to "protect" him and allowhim to hit in the lower-third of the order, I wouldn't object to bringing him up.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Schmidt, Catalanotto, and a second baseman that can hit in the top 2 in the order. Maybe a platoon partner for Jones if you hate Restovich.

 

Cat/Murton/2B

2B/Cat/Murton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Jones/Restovich

Pie

Izturis

 

Pie needs another year at AAA. No way is he ready for the bigs yet.

 

Why do you think that

 

Pie has hit his stride at AAA, and has been hitting very well for the better part of 2 months. He's shown he's not overmatched there and is starting to thrive. It wouldn't hurt his development to start in Iowa in '07, but in the same way he won't be damaged by starting and hitting near the bottom of the order in the bigs.

 

I wouldn't bring Pie up to a Cubs team that is middling or worse like this one. I don't want to put pressure on him to produce immediately. If you put him in an OF populated by Murton and Jones and make no other significant changes, then he is under pressure to put up nos. right away. On the other hand, if we sign / trade for impact guys to "protect" him and allowhim to hit in the lower-third of the order, I wouldn't object to bringing him up.

 

Again, platooning Murton and Jones with people who are capable is going to have quite an impact. A Catalanotto/Murton LF will likely put up a .850+ OPS, and a Jones/Restovich(or other RH stick) will likely approach .900. I don't think there's too much pressure to produce if you just stick him down in the 7 spot. You don't have to worry about any effects of only having the pitcher behind him, and he's not in a run producing spot in the order.

[Laura]

FYI, here are Pie's batting splits with the Iowa Cubs.

[1908]

Matsuzaka plz.

Not a free agent.

[RynoRules]

FYI, here are Pie's batting splits with the Iowa Cubs.

 

Uh-oh, he's "clutch":

 

With 2-out: 0.295 0.363 0.492

 

He'll be here soon.

 

In response to TT"s post, I don't think surrounding him with a platoon of avg. OFers (or in Restovich's case, perhaps below avg.) is the protection I am looking for, even if you do drop him to 7th. I'd like to see a proven everyday corner OFer hitting in front of him in the 6 hole, or at least Barrett.

 

I still think that if they shore up the pitching issues, one impact bat could make a huge difference in this lineup.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

This is an honest question.

 

What player of any real value would really want to play for the Cubs right now?

 

for some guys the price is always right

 

True. But, with any player of real value I would think they would receive offers similar to what the Cubs would offer.

 

Simple, Chicago is a big market and players like to play in Wrigley. I can think of worse places to play then Chicago in front of 40,000 people everyday...

 

Yes, but for the players of any value I would think teams such a the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Angels, or White Sox would come calling. (I would think at least one of those teams would be interested). From a player stand point these are better options because of the opportunity to win, in my opinion.

 

For example, take LF. Kenny Williams might be intested in a LF for next season. Are they going to stick with Podsednick/Ozuna in LF? Is Josh Fields being moved to LF and will he be ready for that position next season?

 

If Kenny Williams looks to the free agent market for a left fielder as opposed to trade, then which option is more attractive? Most likely winning in US Cellular or losing in Wrigley (using the past 2 years as the gage)?

[goonys evil twin]

This is an honest question.

 

What player of any real value would really want to play for the Cubs right now?

 

for some guys the price is always right

 

True. But, with any player of real value I would think they would receive offers similar to what the Cubs would offer.

 

Simple, Chicago is a big market and players like to play in Wrigley. I can think of worse places to play then Chicago in front of 40,000 people everyday...

 

Yes, but for the players of any value I would think teams such a the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Angels, or White Sox would come calling. (I would think at least one of those teams would be interested). From a player stand point these are better options because of the opportunity to win, in my opinion.

 

For example, take LF. Kenny Williams might be intested in a LF for next season. Are they going to stick with Podsednick/Ozuna in LF? Is Josh Fields being moved to LF and will he be ready for that position next season?

 

If Kenny Williams looks to the free agent market for a left fielder as opposed to trade, then which option is more attractive? Most likely winning in US Cellular or losing in Wrigley (using the past 2 years as the gage)?

 

If this were true, then no player of value would ever sign for a team other than the current best teams.