V.Wells a Cubs target this offseason?

[Neuby]

Meanwhile, Arizona left fielder Luis Gonzalez told a suburban Phoenix paper the Cubs and White Sox would be two teams he would be interested in signing with this winter. The Cubs aren't expected to show much interest in Gonzalez, though they may look into the possibility of acquiring Toronto's Vernon Wells, a right-handed power hitter and Gold Glove center fielder who will make $5.6 million next year in the final year of his contract. Wells is a favorite of Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken, who drafted and signed Wells in 1997 when he worked in Toronto.

 

Vernon Wells or Andruw Jones in center would like mighty nice with Soranio and Schmidt in the fold.

[rocket]

i'd love him for like 3 years 15 million, but he's gonna be way overpriced. just say no.

[rawaction]

Wells is extremely cheap next year for what he provides. The Cubs could add him AND spend big money on 2B or SP. Of course, if you sign a guy like Soriano or Schmidt, you can't really re-up Wells after this season with Ramirez, Lee, and Zambrano still on the payroll.

[jmajew]

If the cubs were to trade for Wells and we then gave him an extension it would probably be along the lines of 4 years and 40-48 million. Our CF problem and our big bat problem would be solved for years to come. You can eventually either trade Pie or play him in RF in 2008.

 

If we trade for Wells we will not need to go after Soriano which means we could spend more money on the pitching staff. Wells would clearly give us more financial flexibility than signing Soriano would.

[Neuby]

I'm in favor of trading for Wells or Jones and adding Soranio at second base and Scmidt. I think I am alone in the camp that belives the payroll will be around 110 million nect year and that we need two impact bats for this lineup.

 

Murton

Soranio

Lee

Ramirez

Wells

Jones

Barrett

Izturis

 

 

 

The cubs could get a lot of payroll relief next year if they can move Rusch and go with guys like Soto,Theriot,Murton,Wuertz,Hill, Pagean,Moore, and a young gun for the fifth starters role if Miller isn't willing to accept another deal based on incentives. Even better if they can find a way to move Izturis and play Theriot and Cedeno at short.

[mg420]

what would it take to get wells though? i wouldnt want to see them give up pie, ep, veal or gallagher and hill is obviously not going anywhere.

[rawaction]

what would it take to get wells though? i wouldnt want to see them give up pie, ep, veal or gallagher and hill is obviously not going anywhere.

 

I think it would take Marshall and Pie.....or if the Cubs weren't willing to trade Felix. Marshall, Cedeno, and Marmol.

[soccer10k]

Considering the Blue Jays are trying to challenge the Red Sox and Yankees and want to be competative in the AL East, I don't see them trading Wells in the offseason.

 

ETA: Maybe at the trading deadline next year if they aren't in contention and either don't want to resign him or can't resign him.

[jmajew]

what would it take to get wells though? i wouldnt want to see them give up pie, ep, veal or gallagher and hill is obviously not going anywhere.

 

I think it would take Marshall and Pie.....or if the Cubs weren't willing to trade Felix. Marshall, Cedeno, and Marmol.

 

I think they will want pitching...that is clearly where they need depth. So something along the lines of Marshall, Cedeno, Mateo, and Marmol. I also believe I heard the rumor forgot from where, maybe ESPN, that if the Blue Jays trade Wells they will go very hard after Soriano. My bet is they would get him because of the tax benefits of playing in Canada, Soriano seems like he would be that kind of guy.

[Outshined_One]

From the Pierre thread:

 

Wells get a bit too much hype because of his RBIs. His base numbers are pretty good, but nothing particularly spectacular.

 

This season: .305/.358/.547

Past three seasons:.288/.339/.498

Career: .288/.336/.493

 

I think the Blue Jays are going to hold some one hostage for him. I don't think he'd be worth giving up a boatload of prospects over, especially if he just ends up being a one year rental.

 

He'd be a step up in CF, but I don't know if you could justify giving up a package of top prospects for him. I'd imagine Andruw Jones could be had for cheaper given his down year.

[Quakers]

Considering the Blue Jays are trying to challenge the Red Sox and Yankees and want to be competative in the AL East, I don't see them trading Wells in the offseason.

 

ETA: Maybe at the trading deadline next year if they aren't in contention and either don't want to resign him or can't resign him.

 

The Jays have some good young outfielders, Rios and Lind come to mind. If Reed Johnson is for real, Wells could be available. The Jays would want good, young arms.

 

I hadn't thought about the Wells/Wilkens connection.

[TXCubsFan]

what would it take to get wells though? i wouldnt want to see them give up pie, ep, veal or gallagher and hill is obviously not going anywhere.

 

I think it would take Marshall and Pie.....or if the Cubs weren't willing to trade Felix. Marshall, Cedeno, and Marmol.

 

If the Cubs trade Pie, wouldn't that suggest the Cubs think Harvey has a good chance of contributing in the majors? His arrival would coincide with the end of JJones' contract.

[Backtobanks]

Meanwhile, Arizona left fielder Luis Gonzalez told a suburban Phoenix paper the Cubs and White Sox would be two teams he would be interested in signing with this winter. The Cubs aren't expected to show much interest in Gonzalez, though they may look into the possibility of acquiring Toronto's Vernon Wells, a right-handed power hitter and Gold Glove center fielder who will make $5.6 million next year in the final year of his contract. Wells is a favorite of Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken, who drafted and signed Wells in 1997 when he worked in Toronto.

 

Vernon Wells or Andruw Jones in center would like mighty nice with Soranio and Schmidt in the fold.

 

Shouldn't the title of this thread have a question mark at the end of it.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

1. Trade for Andruw Jones or Vernon Wells.

2. Sign FA Alfonso Soriano.

3. Sign Zito or Schmidt, or trade for a front-line starter.

4. Get a back of the rotation veteran starter like Lilly or Batista or Lieber.

5. Bring back Wood for the bullpen.

 

Yeah, that'll happen. But if it did, problems are solved. I bat Theriot leadoff at SS and Murton 2nd in LF. Barrett is 8th (he actually hits well there), and then 3-7 of Lee, Ramirez, Jones/Wells, Soriano and Jock at 7th, what's not to like?

 

I could also see Murton slid down to 7 or 8 in favor of getting either Wells or Soriano more at-bats at 2.

 

Wood money savings alone would nearly cover Jones or Wells' salary. Pierre + Maddux money brings Soriano. If you can dump Izturis and/or Jock, the savings would cover item #4 above. The only new money the Cubs would need would be for Zito or Schmidt.

 

Oh well.....

[soccer10k]

Considering the Blue Jays are trying to challenge the Red Sox and Yankees and want to be competative in the AL East, I don't see them trading Wells in the offseason.

 

ETA: Maybe at the trading deadline next year if they aren't in contention and either don't want to resign him or can't resign him.

 

The Jays have some good young outfielders, Rios and Lind come to mind. If Reed Johnson is for real, Wells could be available. The Jays would want good, young arms.

 

I hadn't thought about the Wells/Wilkens connection.

 

Ah, ok. Thanks for the info.

[WrigleyField 22]

It would suck If we had to give up three young pitchers for Wells considering we did that for Pierre last year. No way we should trade for him unless an extenstion is signed.

[ZFan38]

Wells wants to play in Texas, he won't sign long term anywhere else.

[soccer10k]

It would suck If we had to give up three young pitchers for Wells considering we did that for Pierre last year. No way we should trade for him unless an extenstion is signed.

 

I agree completely.

[Guest]

It would suck If we had to give up three young pitchers for Wells considering we did that for Pierre last year. No way we should trade for him unless an extenstion is signed.

 

I agree completely.

 

not if it was the same three pitchers or similar quality. I would love to have wells in cf for $6 million or so even if only for a year.

[soccer10k]

It would suck If we had to give up three young pitchers for Wells considering we did that for Pierre last year. No way we should trade for him unless an extenstion is signed.

 

I agree completely.

 

not if it was the same three pitchers or similar quality. I would love to have wells in cf for $6 million or so even if only for a year.

 

I realize that Pierre and Wells are two completely different players that bring different things to the table. I just don't like the idea of trading three decent/good pitching prospects for a one year rental.

[Guest]

It would suck If we had to give up three young pitchers for Wells considering we did that for Pierre last year. No way we should trade for him unless an extenstion is signed.

 

I agree completely.

 

not if it was the same three pitchers or similar quality. I would love to have wells in cf for $6 million or so even if only for a year.

 

I realize that Pierre and Wells are two completely different players that bring different things to the table. I just don't like the idea of trading three decent/good pitching prospects for a one year rental.

 

yea, I know what you are saying, I just think if those three pitchers are never going to help the big league team, AND the cubs make other moves to contend next year, I wouldn't complain. the pierre deal was awful because pierre wasn't going to help them contend in my opinion. that all being said, I probably wouldn't go hard after wells. he just isn't that good.

 

I'm not especially enamored of Jones either as I think he is post-peak and his defense has declined. if he were a free agent, I would be more excited. if pie or veal is dealt for either I wouldn't be happy.

[RichHillIsABeast]

There's this dude named Pie. Yeah, he's many times more valuable in CF than RF. He will make the league minimum you say? Awesome. Spend money wisely, please. Don't ruin our future just to save Hendry's job.

[Neuby]

1. Trade for Andruw Jones or Vernon Wells.

2. Sign FA Alfonso Soriano.

3. Sign Zito or Schmidt, or trade for a front-line starter.

4. Get a back of the rotation veteran starter like Lilly or Batista or Lieber.

5. Bring back Wood for the bullpen.

 

Yeah, that'll happen. But if it did, problems are solved. I bat Theriot leadoff at SS and Murton 2nd in LF. Barrett is 8th (he actually hits well there), and then 3-7 of Lee, Ramirez, Jones/Wells, Soriano and Jock at 7th, what's not to like?

 

I could also see Murton slid down to 7 or 8 in favor of getting either Wells or Soriano more at-bats at 2.

 

Wood money savings alone would nearly cover Jones or Wells' salary. Pierre + Maddux money brings Soriano. If you can dump Izturis and/or Jock, the savings would cover item #4 above. The only new money the Cubs would need would be for Zito or Schmidt.

 

Oh well.....

 

We have the same plan for this offseason but I don't think the Cubs need to get a back of the rotation starter. Schmidt or Zito at the top of the rotation to go with a healthy Zambrano will really anchor the rotation.

 

Zambrano

Schmidt/Zito

Hill

 

I let the bottom two spots come from Prior , Miller, Omalley,Mateo, Guzman, Gallegher, Marmol and Marshall. Granted some of those young arms will likely form a package that nets up Jones. I don't think there will be any money left over but a guy that really interests me is Mark Mulder who might come cheap coming off his surgery and might only take a one year deal something Hendry might gamble on. If you have Wood in the back end of the bullpen I think you can afford to gamble on the last two spots of the rotation with the offense being that good and the domiant bullpen of Wood, Dempster,Howry, Eyre, Wuertz, and Ohman.

110 Million payroll should be what the Cubs fielded this season after the ticket hikes , new seats, extra rooftop money ect.

[Guest]

Pie would be fine in CF if you are willing to accept that he likely will struggle for periods of time and won't produce nearly as much as the other options. Frankly, I want the better defender in CF when Pie comes up - I don't care who hits more.

[WrigleyField 22]

It would suck If we had to give up three young pitchers for Wells considering we did that for Pierre last year. No way we should trade for him unless an extenstion is signed.

 

I agree completely.

 

not if it was the same three pitchers or similar quality. I would love to have wells in cf for $6 million or so even if only for a year.

 

If they are of the Pinto/Mitre quality it wouldn't be as bad, but still would suck. If we give up someone as good as Nolasco he better be signing a nice extension. If we are talking about Marshall/Guzman/Mateo/Marmol, I would probably only give one, and then let them have their picks of whatever second teir guys they want.