Offseason scenarios

[thedaymen]

A lot of people talk about adding a big arm (Zito, Mulder) and a big bat (Lee, Soriano) but I think we have to remember what we're dealing with. Post your scenario for the offseason here.

 

1) Aramis announces his decision to opt out of the last year of his contract.

2) Hendy declares the top priority is resigning the Cubs stars.

3) While negotiating Pierre's 3 year/$30 million contract, the Giants net Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Lee for a combined salary that resembles Barry Bonds. The Yankees sign Zito.

4) The Cubs' now move to address the problem at third base and hammer out a deal with David Bell (3 years $24 million.) In the meantime the Red Sox sign Jason Schmidt and the Nationals resign Soriano.

5) The Cubs announce its cool that they didn't get any of the big stars in the offseason because the early word on Prior and Miller is they'll be 100% by spring training. But to be safe they trade Matt Murton to the Mets for Steve Trachsel because Steve "won almost 20 games last season."

6) Kerry Wood signs with the Astros for $1.5 million and incentives and will compete in ST for the closers role.

7) To make up for the new hole in left, the Cubs sign Cliff Floyd, a known power hitter who will close the hr gap at Wrigley to start in left and replace Ramirez's power.

 

Rotation:

Zambrano

Prior (replaced in May by Marmol)

Miller (replaced in ST by Williams, replaced in June by Guzman)

Trachsel

Marshall

 

Lineup:

CF - Pierre

SS - Izturis

LF - Floyd (spends 100 games on DL replaced by Pagan/Mabry)

1B - D Lee

C - Barrett

RF - Jones

3B - Bell

2B - Cedeno/Theriot

 

edited because I had Wood signing with two teams.

[Backtobanks]

It's always refreshing to read such a positive post.

[Drew Doughty]

unfortunately, I can definitely see that happening. and we'll bring back Dusty.

[goonys evil twin]

I spent too long and lost it.

 

in short:

 

• 8 Pierre 8.00
  6 Izturis 4.20
  3 Lee 13.00
  5 Ramirez 12.00
  9 Jones 5.00
  7 Cameron 7.00
  2 Barrett 4.00
  4 Cedeno 0.35
  Blanco 1.50
  Counsell 2.00
  Ledee 1.00
  Pagan 0.35
  Theriot 0.35
  Prior 4.00
  Zambrano 10.00
  Lidle/Batista/Radke/Trachsel etc 7.00
  westbrook 7.00
  Marshall 0.35
  Wuertz 0.35
  Ohman 0.75
  Guzman 0.35
  Howry 4.00
  Eyre 3.00
  Dempster 5.00
  Novoa 0.35
   
  

[danonwaveland]

Goony,

 

Did you steal a copy of the Cubs' mission statement/goals from Andy's or Jim's office? Or do you just read those two guys like an open book? Your note at the bottom:

 

"Chicago Cubs baseball - just trying to make it respectable."

 

sounds an awful lot like something with which they'd be satisfied.

[SouthSideRyan]

If David Bell gets a 3/24 contract from anyone I'll eat my hat.

 

If Carlos Lee and Aramis Ramirez combined only make about 20M next year I'll eat your hat.

 

If the Cubs trade Matt Murton for Steve Trachsel I'll eat everyone on this forum's hat.

[Soriano12]

If David Bell gets a 3/24 contract from anyone I'll eat my hat.

 

If Carlos Lee and Aramis Ramirez combined only make about 20M next year I'll eat your hat.

 

If the Cubs trade Matt Murton for Steve Trachsel I'll eat everyone on this forum's hat.

 

The initial post was a joke....I hope.

[SouthSideRyan]

If David Bell gets a 3/24 contract from anyone I'll eat my hat.

 

If Carlos Lee and Aramis Ramirez combined only make about 20M next year I'll eat your hat.

 

If the Cubs trade Matt Murton for Steve Trachsel I'll eat everyone on this forum's hat.

 

The initial post was a joke....I hope.

 

I thought so too but then you have responses like

 

unfortunately, I can definitely see that happening. and we'll bring back Dusty.

[Drew Doughty]

If David Bell gets a 3/24 contract from anyone I'll eat my hat.

 

If Carlos Lee and Aramis Ramirez combined only make about 20M next year I'll eat your hat.

 

If the Cubs trade Matt Murton for Steve Trachsel I'll eat everyone on this forum's hat.

 

The initial post was a joke....I hope.

 

I thought so too but then you have responses like

 

unfortunately, I can definitely see that happening. and we'll bring back Dusty.

 

also a joke

[UMFan83]

If David Bell gets a 3/24 contract from anyone I'll eat my hat.

 

If Carlos Lee and Aramis Ramirez combined only make about 20M next year I'll eat your hat.

 

If the Cubs trade Matt Murton for Steve Trachsel I'll eat everyone on this forum's hat.

 

The initial post was a joke....I hope.

 

I thought so too but then you have responses like

 

unfortunately, I can definitely see that happening. and we'll bring back Dusty.

 

Yeah it was obviously a joke, but other then the Murton for Trachel trade, I can see that trail of logic occuring.

[chuckywang]

If that happens, I will cease to be a Cubs fan. Seriously.

[goonys evil twin]

If David Bell gets a 3/24 contract from anyone I'll eat my hat.

 

If Carlos Lee and Aramis Ramirez combined only make about 20M next year I'll eat your hat.

 

If the Cubs trade Matt Murton for Steve Trachsel I'll eat everyone on this forum's hat.

 

The initial post was a joke....I hope.

 

I thought so too but then you have responses like

 

unfortunately, I can definitely see that happening. and we'll bring back Dusty.

 

Yeah it was obviously a joke, but other then the Murton for Trachel trade, I can see that trail of logic occuring.

 

Trachsel is a free agent. I got Murton and prospects being traded for a guy like Westbrook once the Cubs sign an outfielder like Cameron or Hunter.

[soapy]

Jesus, this thread is depressing.

[thedaymen]

Trachsel is a free agent. I got Murton and prospects being traded for a guy like Westbrook once the Cubs sign an outfielder like Cameron or Hunter.

 

I forgot that....so they can sign Trax and Floyd without having to give up anything. Then how do they get rid of Murton? It must be hard to be Jim Hendry and have so many issues with which to deal.

 

Maybe they can trade Murton back to the Red Sox for Clement....hmmmm...

 

edit: Incidently, the money mentioned to sign aramis and clee was supposed to be the money saved by dumping Barry and losing Schmidt, not just dumping Barry.

Edited August 24, 2006 by thedaymen

[wastra]

3) While negotiating Pierre's 3 year/$30 million contract

 

I know the post was tongue in cheek, but it may not be far off:

 

 

Pierre probably will be offered about $24 million over three years.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060823cubsgamer,1,4471621.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

 

 

And then I actually might vomit.

[Captain Barnicle]

Oh man. This thread made my stomach feel uneasy and puts me in a right bad mood.

 

As others have said, I don't think this is out of the realm of possibility, or even probability that we will proceed with a similar plan.

 

Jim has had a super hard-on for Floyd (remember the trade rumors), and desires to put the Jones clone in the other corner spot.

 

Resigning Pierre seems very likely.

 

I am by no means going to hold out much hope for Lee, Zito, or Schmidt. There are AT LEAST 5 other teams that will be interested that have more money and more willingness to spend it.

 

Yipes. We have some grim scenarios if Ramirez opts out.

[USSoccer]

-I think Aramis opts out and Hendry resigns him for 4/$60m with another opt out after 2 years.

 

-I think he offers Pierre the 3/$24, he rejects it, and then is offererd arb and declines.

 

-I think we sign Trachsel to 3/$18 and Soriano to 4/$60m

 

-Zito signs with Boston, Schmidt with Seattle, Lee with Texas.

 

-I think Baker is offered a 2 year extension, but with the caveat that the coaching staff is replaced. Baker will refuse, and Hendry will fire the entire coaching staff except for Speier and the bullpen coach who's name I can't remember. Hendry will then hire Lou Piniella.

 

-Pie is given the starting CF job out of ST, and Cliff Floyd is signed for 2/$16m with an option for a 3rd year.