In order, what players do you want the Cubs to have?

[HoopsCubs]

Padilla - Might be the best of the 2nd tier of pitchers available, unless I'm missing a name out there.

 

I like Padilla. What are your feelings about Jeff Suppan?

From 2003-2006 (4 seasons) he has averaged 194 IP, 4.01 ERA and a 1.47 groundball to flyball ratio per season. At age 31, would you give him a 2 year $12M deal?

[CubFanPhilly]

Cabrera

A. Jones

Zito

Tejada

Soriano

[goonys evil twin]

1. Zito

2. Schmidt

3. Matsuzak

4. Mussina

 

I can't comprehend your inclusion of Mussina. He's an old inconsistent pitcher. He could easily be a mediocre 100 ERA+ guy next year, going on his recent track record. He could also easily fail to reach 200 IP again. How in the world can you justify putting him over highly productive lock offensive players.

 

You are blinded by the need for pitching.

 

inconsistent picther? first of all, he's fourth on my list. any of those first 3 i would take over him.

 

no, he's a consistent innings eater that has had 2 below 100 era+ years in his entire career (99 and 98).

 

no, history doesn't show he's due for a terrible year. his ERA+ was 125 this year, but i guess we can just assume he's bound for imminent disaster because he's 38.

 

Who said terrible year? Here's the facts on Mussina.

 

3 years in a row of sub 200 IP. His last 5 ERA+ numbers have been

108

129

98

101

125

 

That's inconsistent. Two good years, 1 decent year and 2 mediocre/average years. That's not somebody you put 4th on your list ahead of difference making offensive players.

 

You are blinded by the need for pitching to the point where you are willing to throw huge money after old pitchers who don't guarantee you much more than a 160 IP season of averageness. And to top it off, you want a broken down shell of his former self in Edmonds to be the offensive centerpiece of the offseason, while at the same time letting Ramirez walk.

 

It's a terrible plan that will lead to nothing more than continue failure.

[SoonerCubFan]

Obviously, if Rodriguez is available, he's at the top. I'd follow him with Cabrera and then Manny. I don't really think all three of those are available, but if they are, I'd want them.

 

The next tier of guys would be Andruw Jones, Marcus Giles, and Adam Dunn, and Drew. I'm fairly certain Jones and Giles could be had. The other two guys are ify.

 

Of the free agen crop, I'd like Schmidt first among the pitchers. I'd probably want any of the above trade targets more than I'd want any of the position free agents, but if those guys prove to be hard to acquire, Soriano tops my list of free agent hitters.

 

Vance,

 

Why would you want ARod over Cabrera? The guy is just 23, gets better every year in a pitcher's park, is fearless and playoff proven and is the only hitter in the game who could give Pujols a run for the money. Just curious ... Miguel would be my top choice by a long shot.

 

Open question for all - I've seen Giles' name as a possibility for a while now, but have not heard why the Braves would even think of letting him go. Why is he presumed to be available?

 

As for me, my wish list starts with retaining ARam. Bottom line for me is to have at least three (preferably four) proven 900+ OPS hitters. DLee and ARam plus one from Cabrera, Manny, Tejada, ARod, or Jones would be the core of a solid offense, especially if we also add in Soriano. We do that and, with Barrett at C, we could live with guys like Theriot, Cedeno, Murton and Pie or a stopgap vet CF to fill the other positions in the field and in the lineup to keep the budget at a reasonable level to also acquire 2 solid innings-eating, GB-throwing SPs.

[CubColtPacer]

Obviously, if Rodriguez is available, he's at the top. I'd follow him with Cabrera and then Manny. I don't really think all three of those are available, but if they are, I'd want them.

 

The next tier of guys would be Andruw Jones, Marcus Giles, and Adam Dunn, and Drew. I'm fairly certain Jones and Giles could be had. The other two guys are ify.

 

Of the free agen crop, I'd like Schmidt first among the pitchers. I'd probably want any of the above trade targets more than I'd want any of the position free agents, but if those guys prove to be hard to acquire, Soriano tops my list of free agent hitters.

 

 

Open question for all - I've seen Giles' name as a possibility for a while now, but have not heard why the Braves would even think of letting him go. Why is he presumed to be available?

/quote]

 

Basically, the Braves are looking to cut payroll. Most of thier players are either cheap or so expensive and unproductive that they are unmovable. Giles is movable, about to go into the last year of his deal, and they weren't happy with him at leadoff whatsoever.

[Guest]

Assuming all these guys are available, here's my list. I'm putting a few extra guys here because I don't really believe that all these guys are available via trade. Also, if I got one of the hitters from the top of the list, then I'd shift the pitchers up above the remaining hitters.

 

1. Cabrera
   
2. ARod
   
3. Crawford
   
4. Daisuke
   
5. Andruw
   
6. Soriano (at 2B)
   
7. Zito
   
8. Drew
   
9. Schmidt

 

I'd be excited to add any of these guys. I'd be ecstatic if we added two (while retaining ARam).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Obviously, if Rodriguez is available, he's at the top. I'd follow him with Cabrera and then Manny. I don't really think all three of those are available, but if they are, I'd want them.

 

The next tier of guys would be Andruw Jones, Marcus Giles, and Adam Dunn, and Drew. I'm fairly certain Jones and Giles could be had. The other two guys are ify.

 

Of the free agen crop, I'd like Schmidt first among the pitchers. I'd probably want any of the above trade targets more than I'd want any of the position free agents, but if those guys prove to be hard to acquire, Soriano tops my list of free agent hitters.

 

Vance,

 

Why would you want ARod over Cabrera? The guy is just 23, gets better every year in a pitcher's park, is fearless and playoff proven and is the only hitter in the game who could give Pujols a run for the money. Just curious ... Miguel would be my top choice by a long shot.

 

Open question for all - I've seen Giles' name as a possibility for a while now, but have not heard why the Braves would even think of letting him go. Why is he presumed to be available?

 

As for me, my wish list starts with retaining ARam. Bottom line for me is to have at least three (preferably four) proven 900+ OPS hitters. DLee and ARam plus one from Cabrera, Manny, Tejada, ARod, or Jones would be the core of a solid offense, especially if we also add in Soriano. We do that and, with Barrett at C, we could live with guys like Theriot, Cedeno, Murton and Pie or a stopgap vet CF to fill the other positions in the field and in the lineup to keep the budget at a reasonable level to also acquire 2 solid innings-eating, GB-throwing SPs.

 

After thinking about it, I'd probably take Cabrera over Arod. Either one would be a great acquisition. If Rodriguez can still handle SS, I might take him over Cabrera.

[Abe Frohman]

What are your top 5 targets for Jim Hendry. Please don't include Ramirez or Z or even the manager right now, just try to put down some realistic targets of guys that might be available or free agents. Mine:

 

1-ARod

2-Schmidt

3-Drew

4-AJones

5-Zito

 

1 - Schmidt

2 - A Rod

3 - Matsuzaka (sp?)

4 - A Jones

5 - Tejada

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

1. AROD (even tho i don't think he will be avail. but who knows)

2. Barry Zito or Jason Schmidt (pref. Zito)

3. Andruw Jones

4. J.D. Drew

5. Carlos Lee

[NCCubFan]

1. Cabrera

2. Arod

3. Ramirez

4. Crawford

5. Tejada

[frostwyrm]

Assuming all these guys are available, here's my list. I'm putting a few extra guys here because I don't really believe that all these guys are available via trade. Also, if I got one of the hitters from the top of the list, then I'd shift the pitchers up above the remaining hitters.

 

1. Cabrera
   
2. ARod
   
3. Crawford
   
4. Daisuke
   
5. Andruw
   
6. Soriano (at 2B)
   
7. Zito
   
8. Drew
   
9. Schmidt

I'd bump Zito to #3 and move Andruw below Soriano, otherwise everything unchanged.

[soccer10k]

1. Cabrera

2. Arod

3. Ramirez

4. Crawford

5. Tejada

 

Replace Tejada with Matsuzaka and you have my list.

[LuckyPup]

1. Cabrera

2. Tejada

3. Arod

4. Drew

5. Zito

[Magnetic Curses]

1. Zito

2. Schmidt

3. Matsuzak

4. Mussina

 

I can't comprehend your inclusion of Mussina. He's an old inconsistent pitcher. He could easily be a mediocre 100 ERA+ guy next year, going on his recent track record. He could also easily fail to reach 200 IP again. How in the world can you justify putting him over highly productive lock offensive players.

 

You are blinded by the need for pitching.

 

inconsistent picther? first of all, he's fourth on my list. any of those first 3 i would take over him.

 

no, he's a consistent innings eater that has had 2 below 100 era+ years in his entire career (99 and 98).

 

no, history doesn't show he's due for a terrible year. his ERA+ was 125 this year, but i guess we can just assume he's bound for imminent disaster because he's 38.

 

Who said terrible year? Here's the facts on Mussina.

 

3 years in a row of sub 200 IP. His last 5 ERA+ numbers have been

108

129

98

101

125

 

That's inconsistent. Two good years, 1 decent year and 2 mediocre/average years. That's not somebody you put 4th on your list ahead of difference making offensive players.

 

You are blinded by the need for pitching to the point where you are willing to throw huge money after old pitchers who don't guarantee you much more than a 160 IP season of averageness. And to top it off, you want a broken down shell of his former self in Edmonds to be the offensive centerpiece of the offseason, while at the same time letting Ramirez walk.

 

It's a terrible plan that will lead to nothing more than continue failure.

 

you are equally blinded by the notion that some sort of ridiculous "balance" needs to exist between offense and pitching. it doesn't. players like soriano and CLee will do us absolutely no good if all we get for the staff is vicente freaking padilla.

 

the pitchers i've named are the best pitchers available. and as pitching is more important than hitting, you take care of the most important facets first. meaning you sign your pitchers before anything else.

 

overspending on some streaky, inconsistent, generally low OBP hitter isn't going to fix this team. what will fix this team immediately is pitching. the best way we can attempt to get that done is by acquiring the best pitching on the market.

 

neither of us knows how big of a payroll the cubs will have next season, targeting hitting first is idiotic, completely idiotic. look at the freaking team era last season and tell me that pitching wasn't the problem.

 

and when doing so, remember that our team OPS in 2006 was 10 points better than the loser of the 2005 world series and nearly identical to the 2005 world champion.

 

you cannot deny that pitching is near-exponentially more important than hitting.

 

seeking some sort of metaphysical "balance" when you aren't the yankees is unbelievably foolish.

[The Troll]

1. ARod

2. Adam Dunn

3. Tejada

4. Soriano

5. Zito

[nilodnayr]

I'm doing mine in chronological order

 

1. Church, Kearns, Vidro

2. Matsuzaka (Zito is plan B)

3. Dunn (for a package centering around murton)

 

I dont think 3 will be necessary but is a (very) nice to have. Part of the point of getting Kearns is for Dunn, if not this year then next when hes a FA.

[Pinktermite]

Clearly pitching is way more important. If the Cubs are serious about winning in the short term, then they lavish money on the top three or four pitchers on the market. Then they re sign Aramis, and trade for ARod or some other impact player whether it hurts the minor league talent or not. You can't have it both ways, trading for impact players while not being willing to give something up is not realistic.

 

So given that, they should go for pitching and more pitching...and try to trade for ARod or Cabrera or some other impact player. Maybe A Jones? Whoever it is...he should come after we've acquired pitching.

[soapy]

I'm going to cheat and split it up:

 

Free Agents

1. Zito

2. Schmidt

3. Soriano (2B)

4. Catalanotto

5. C. Wilson

 

Trade Targets:

1. M. Cabrera

2. Arod

3. Crawford

4. Drew

5. A. Jones

[CP_414]

1. Cabrera

2. ARod

3. Manny

4. Matsuzaka

5. Soriano

[ManCrushOnNomar]

1. Daisukesan

2. Cabrera

3. Soriano

4. Arod

5. Zito