A 115 Million Payroll?

[NCCubFan]

I hope that an increased payroll comes with increased expectations, and that Hendry is told that he MUST come up with a contending team in 2007 if he wishes to remain for 2008.

[bhogg]

I like the idea of trading Barrett. Unless he puts up Piazza like numbers, he'll never make up for his less-than-stellar catching skills.

 

As for comparing him to Wells, yes they have similar stats. The difference is that you could get wells for 155 games while you might only get Barrett for 125 games.

 

 

I've always believed you can win with a defensive catcher as long as you make up for it at the other positions. . .. . the last few years, the cubs have not had that luxury.

[BigbadB]

We trade Moore, Veal, Mateo and 15 mil to Florida for Miguel Cabrera, thus covering the ENTIRE FLORIDA PAYROLL! :D

 

We wouldn't need to give them 15m if we were taking one of their biggest breadwinners off their hands. :wink:

 

Also, let whatever team trades for Willis pay half their payroll.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Well I've been doing a little more number crunching to see what kind of team I can construct.

 

Beginning with these players,(with salary or est salary in parenthesis)

 

1b Lee (13)

2b ?

3b Ramirez (11)

SS Izturis (4.15)

LF Murton (400 K)

CF ?

RF Jones (4)

C Barrett (4.5)

SP's Zambrano (10), Prior (4.5), and Hill (333K).

Bullpen: Dempster (5), Eyre (2.7), Howry (4), Wuertz (500 K), Ohman (1), and Aardsma (333 K).

Bench: Theriot (333K), Cedeno (333K), Soto (333K), and Moore (333K)

 

That right there gives me a 66.765 million payroll with two rotation spots, 2b, and CF left to fill along with two bench spots.

 

If I begin by signing Soriano for secondbase and pay him 15 million a year, my payroll jumps to 81.765. My next move is to add a starting pitcher. I'd prefer to add Matsuzaka for ten million plus the posting fee, but I'll add Schmidt for 11 million. That puts me at 92 million and change.

 

My next bold move is to deal with the Braves. I'll offer Sean Marshall and Felix Pie for Andruw Jones and Tim Hudson. According to Cotts, Hudson is due only 6 million next season before jumping to 13 million. But with Jones and Hudson my payroll sits at 112.265.

 

I'll have to work cheaply to fill out my bench, probably having to use players like Restovich and those like him to complete the task.

 

However, my team will look like this:

 

2b Soriano

LF Murton

1b Lee

3b Ramirez

CF Jones

RF Jones

C Barrett

SS Izturis

 

SP Zambrano

SP Schmidt

SP Hudson

SP Prior

SP Hill

 

(For pitching depth, I'd have Mateo, Marmol, Guzman, and Ryu)

 

Bullpen:

Dempster

Eyre

Howry

Aardsma

Wuertz

Ohman

 

(For bullpen depth, one of the starters or Novoa provides some insurance.)

 

Bench:

Soto C

Theriot 2b/ss/3b

Moore 1b/3b

Restovich RF/LF

Pagan RF/LF/CF

Cedeno SS/2b

 

The bench is young and weak, but with the current line-up I think we survive.

 

That team could win it all.

[Sammy Sofa]

I like the idea of trading Barrett. Unless he puts up Piazza like numbers, he'll never make up for his less-than-stellar catching skills.

 

As for comparing him to Wells, yes they have similar stats. The difference is that you could get wells for 155 games while you might only get Barrett for 125 games.

 

Is he going to start taking foul tips to the jewels and punching rival catchers on a regular basis?

[erik316wttn]

1. Hire Lou.

2. Prior, Eyre and Pie for A-Rod.

3. 3-way: Jones + Soto + $3MM to LAD, Izturis + Dempster + Eric Patterson to KC; Sweeney + Grudzielanek + Sisco to LAD; Drew + mid-level LAD prospect to Cubs.

4. Sign Matsuzaka.

5. Murton to Baltimore for Erik Bedard.

6. Sign Tony Graffanino.

7. Sign Dave Roberts.

8. Michael Barrett + Angel Guzman + Mitch Atkins to Toronto for Vernon Wells.

 

World Series.

 

1. - Roberts, LF

2. - Drew, RF

3. - Rodriguez, SS

4. - Lee, 1B

5. - Ramirez, 3B

6. - Wells, CF

7. - Theriot/Graffanino, 2B

8. - Blanco, C

 

SP: Zambrano, Matsuzaka, Hill, Bedard, Marshall

RP: Wood, Howry, Wuertz, Aardsma, Marmol, Ohman, Clay Rapada?

 

The rotation is too inconsistent there. Z is the only given. You'd need Zito or Schmidt or something in there to solidify that.

[Warpticon]

I like the idea of trading Barrett. Unless he puts up Piazza like numbers, he'll never make up for his less-than-stellar catching skills.

 

As for comparing him to Wells, yes they have similar stats. The difference is that you could get wells for 155 games while you might only get Barrett for 125 games.

 

Is he going to start taking foul tips to the jewels and punching rival catchers on a regular basis?

 

I'm pretty sure that has more to do with his taking a day off every 5 games or so due to being a catcher and all.

 

I'll still take the friendlier contract and similar offense at a much rarer position from Barrett over Wells.

[Jazz]

This is huge. that extra 15 mil is the difference between only 1 impact player, and maybe 3.

 

 

1) Hire Piniella

2) Sign Daisuka Matsuzaka for 13 mil~ + posting fee

3) Sign Jason Schmidt for 12 mil~

4)Trade

Jones, Marmol, Soto, Sweeney, Gruzielanek, and Sisco to Dodgers

Drew, and Emil Brown to Cubs

Mateo, Izturis, and Dempster to Royals

5) Trade Prior, Eyre, Gallagher, and Veal to Yankees for A-Rod and Pavano

6) Trade Dopirak, Marshall, and Cedeno to Reds for Ryan Freel

7) Sign Tony Graffanino (3M~)

8) Sign Zambrano (10M) and Ramirez (13M) to Extensions

 

1 - Freel CF (1.5M)

2 - Murton LF (350k)

3 - Lee 1B (13M)

4 - Rodriguez SS (16M)

5 - Ramirez 3B (13M)

6 - Drew RF (11M)

7 - Barrett C (4M)

8 - Theriot 2B (350k)

 

SP1 - Zambrano (10M)

SP2 - Matsuzaka (13M~)

SP3 - Schmidt (12M~)

SP4 - Hill (350k)

SP5 - Pavano (10M)

 

Bullpen

Wood (3M)

Aardsma (350k)

Ryu (350k)

Ohman (750k)

Howry (4M)

Wuertz (350k)

Guzman (350k)

 

Bench

C - Blanco (1M)

IF - Graffanino (3M~)

IF - Moore (350k)

OF - Coats (350k)

OF - Brown (1.4M)

[Laura]

I'm curious about how the Phil Rogers rumor that the Cubs don't want to pay "Dusty Baker money" for the next manager jives with the ~$115M payroll rumors. I understand that team payroll is not the same as manager/coaching staff payroll, but I wonder what the interplay is here.

[Anomalied]

Here's my idea for the 2007 Cubs with the new payroll taken into effect.

 

• Sign Alfonso Soriano for 4 years / 60 million. Try him out in centerfield and put Theriot at second base. If he can't cut it, put him at second and call up Pie for center.
   
  Sign Jason Schmidt for 3 years / 40 million. He gets 13/13/14.
   
  Sign Vincente Padilla for 2 years / 12 million as your fourth starter.
   
  Sign Frank Catalanotto for 2 years / 6 million as a utility outfielder.
   
  Restructure Aramis Ramirez's deal so that he stays in Cubbie blue for the rest of his contract. Swing him a few extra million.
   
  Extend Carlos Zambrano, upping his salary to 15 million / 5 years.
   
  Resign Kerry Wood to an incentive-based deal, around the range of 3 million.
   
  Start Sean Marshall, Angel Guzman, Juan Mateo, Ryan O'Malley, etc at Iowa. Bring them up if/when Prior and Wood get hurt.
   
  Stock the bench with rookies. Cedeno covers the middle infield while Moore plays the corners. Soto (hopefully) can be a younger Blanco.
  

Hitters

1B: Derrek Lee ($13,000,000)

2B: Ryan Theriot ($350,000)

3B: Aramis Ramirez ($13,000,000)

SS: Cesar Izturis ($4,500,000)

LF: Matt Murton ($350,000)

CF: Alfonso Soriano ($15,000,000)

RF: Jacque Jones ($5,000,000)

C: Michael Barrett ($4,000,000)

OF: Angel Pagan ($350,000)

OF: Frank Catalanotto ($3,000,000)

IF: Ronny Cedeno ($350,000)

IF: Scott Moore ($350,000)

C: Geovany Soto ($350,000)

Total: $59,600,000

 

Pitchers

SP: Carlos Zambrano ($15,000,000)

SP: Jason Schmidt ($13,000,000)

SP: Rich Hill ($350,000)

SP: Vincente Padilla ($6,000,000)

SP: Mark Prior ($4,500,000)

SP/RP: Carlos Marmol ($350,000)

RP: David Aardsma ($350,000)

RP: Will Ohman ($1,000,000)

RP: Ryan Dempster ($5,000,000)

SU: Scott Eyre ($3,000,000)

SU: Bob Howry ($3,000,000)

CP: Kerry Wood ($3,000,000)

Total: $54,550,000

 

Grand Total: $114,150,000

[jmajew]

Here is what I would do with that extra 15 million.

 

1) Sign Zito to 4/56, 16, 15, 13, 12. We will have to overpay.

2) Sign Cameron to 2/14.

3) Sign Lugo to 3/18

4) Trade Marshall, Veal, Jones for Hudson.

5) Resign Zambrano to 5/75.

6) Resign Ramirez to 4/56.

 

 

This would put us right around 115 million.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here is what I would do with that extra 15 million.

 

1) Sign Zito to 4/56, 16, 15, 13, 12. We will have to overpay.

2) Sign Cameron to 2/14.

3) Sign Lugo to 3/18

4) Trade Marshall, Veal, Jones for Hudson.

5) Resign Zambrano to 5/75.

6) Resign Ramirez to 4/56.

 

 

This would put us right around 115 million.

 

I want no part of Hudson unless Andruw is coming with him...or the cost is much, much less than Marshall and Veal.

[Warpticon]

or the extra 15 mil is for a 20 mil bid on Dai-san

 

Dai-san sugoi! :mamoru:

[Warpticon]

4) Trade Marshall, Veal, Jones for Hudson.

 

WHAT?!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

4) Trade Marshall, Veal, Jones for Hudson.

 

WHAT?!

 

My thoughts as well. Now if it were Marshall, Veal, Jones for Andruw and Hudson...that's a good deal.

[RationalSoxFan]

I really thought he meant Orlando Hudson, it probably would be a better deal.

[Rob]

I guess I can take a stab at this...

 

Re-sign Aramis (5/$65m) and Zambrano (5/$75m)

 

Re-sing Wood (1/$2m) with incentives going up to $5m [we will assume he earns all of it for the sake of the exercise]

 

Jones, Dempster, and Veal to Dodgers for J.D. Drew

 

Izturis, Pie, Aardsma, and Ryu to Toronto for Vernon Wells

 

Prior, Eyre, and Moore to New York for ARod and cash ($4m per year)

 

Sign Craig Wilson (2/$9m)

 

Sign Russell Branyan (1/$1m)

 

Grab Daisuke Matsuzaka (4/$35m) [for the purposes of this exercise, the posting fee would be offset as a marketing cost, as it should be adequately covered by the increased share of the japanese market]

 

Sign Jason Schmidt (4/$50)

 

C - Barrett ($4m)

1B - Lee ($13m)

2B - Theriot ($0.4m)

SS - ARod ($12m)

3B - Ramirez ($13m)

LF - Murton ($0.4m)

CF - Vernon Wells ($5.6m)

RF - J.D. Drew ($11m)

 

Bench:

 

1B/OF/C - Wilson ($4.5m)

CI - Branyan ($1m)

OF - Pagan ($0.4m)

IF - Cedeno ($0.4m)

C - Soto ($0.4m)

 

Rotation:

 

SP1 - Zambrano ($15m)

SP2 - Matsuzaka ($8.75m)

SP3 - Schmidt ($12.5m)

SP4 - Hill ($0.4m)

SP5 - Guzman ($0.4m)

 

Bullpen:

 

CL - Howry ($4m)

SU - Wood ($5m)

SU - Wuertz ($0.4m)

MRP - Ohman ($1m)

MRP - Marmol ($0.4m)

LRP - Marshall ($0.4m)

Junk time - Novoa ($0.4m)

 

Total: $114.75m

 

I'm not thoroughly sold on this being my best solution; it's just my first thoughts.

 

Also, are those trades too far off the mark?

[CubsWin]

Also, are those trades too far off the mark?

The A-Rod one is. No way the Yank-mes do that.

 

On the Cubs side, I wouldn't trade Pie for Vernon Wells, at least not right now. Also including arguably the Cubs hottest pitching prospect, Donnie Veal, in a deal to land the injury-prone J.D. Drew when you are already giving up Jones and Dempster is too much, IMO.

[bhogg]

can you imagine how many twinkies, ho-ho's, and donuts you can buy with $15 million?

[Jazz]

can you imagine how many twinkies, ho-ho's, and donuts you can buy with $15 million?

 

not enough for hendry's taste. Better jack it up another 5M

[rawaction]

There's so many ways I could go to spend the alleged $38M. With that payroll, there's really no reason the Cubs should NOT have at least 1 of A. Jones, Soriano, Drew, CLee, Dunn, Wells, ARod, Tejada if they are available. Obviously, I go after ARod first. Then probably Tejada and Soriano, with Soriano's position depending on who else I sign (Bradley, Loretta, Durham, Roberts). Then lastly the OFs, with Drew or Jones the top target of that group.

 

Realistically, I think it's a longshot the Cubs get any of the big arms; Schmidt, Zito, Matsuzaka. So, if I'm the GM, I jump hard on any deal that nets the Cubs a starter along with a bat. The Jones/Hudson combo seems to be the best and most likely to be available fit. But I would explore ARod/Pavano first and see if that would work. Ultimately, I think it comes down to Jones and Hudson for Pie, Marshall, and another player, with the Braves eating some of Hud's deal later in the contract.

 

So, Jones at 14M and Hudson at 6M, puts me at about 88M.

 

I'd probably then look to sign a relatively cheap FA pitcher (Padilla, Batista, Lilly). Say Padilla 2 yrs/$12M. That puts me at 94M.

 

Then I'd go after middle IF, first getting into the Lugo bidding for SS, then going after Durham, Loretta, and Derosa for 2B. Assuming, I only get one and Lugo outprices himself....I get Durham for 2yrs/$13M. That puts me over 100M.

 

The rest I'd use to give Ramirez and Zambrano raises. I'd re-sign Wood for the bullpen and look to trade Dempster for prospects (Howry closer, Wood RH setup). I'd go after Wes Helms as my corner IF backup and Jose Cruz Jr. for my backup OF.

 

Lineup-

2B-Durham

LF-Murton

1B-Lee

CF-Jones

3B-Ramirez

RF-Jones

C-Barrett

SS-Izturis

 

Rotation- Zambrano, Hudson, Hill, Prior, Padilla

Bullpen- CL-Howry, Wood, Wuertz, Ohman, Eyre, Aardsma

Bench- Cruz, Helms, Cedeno, Theriot, Soto, Pagan

[CubsWin]

As with both the Ramirez and Lee trades, taking advantage of when other teams are seeking salary relief is a great way to improve your team's talent. Thus, I like the idea of going after Andruw Jones and Tim Hudson so long as the Braves are truly anxious to get rid of Hudson and the taking on of his salary will lower the asking price for Jones.

 

I don't think acquiring A-Rod is realistic this off-season and certainly not for any price the Cubs should be willing to pay.

 

Daisuke Matzusaka is the FA pitcher to target given the relative ease in obtaining exclusive bargaining rights. His yearly cost should be lower than either Zito or Schmidt due to their ability to play the open market. He is also 26 and had success in the WBC this past spring.

 

If the Cubs can trade for Andruw Jones, which I think is a bit of a longshot, then I would like them to get Julio Lugo to play SS and start Theriot at 2B. If they can't land Jones, then Soriano seems like a must. I'm leery of him simply because he is unlikely to be worth what he'll be paid, but now is the time to overpay.

 

I like resigning Wood to an incentive-heavy contract to be a reliever with the likelihood of trading Dempster when Wood shows he is ready and able.

 

For the bench, I think Soto can do the job, but if Blanco is willing, I'd happily bring him back at 1.5 million. I'd like Moore to be in AAA next season, though he looks close to being ready. I know he is never going to leave St. Louis, but I would really like Scott Spiezio on the Cubs bench.

 

So if Jones can be aquired...

 

 

SS Lugo

LF Murton

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

CF Jones

RF Jones

C Barrett

2B Theriot

 

Zambrano

Hudson

Matzusaka

Hill

Prior

 

Dempster/Wood

Howry

Eyre

Wuertz

Ohman

Aardsma

 

I'll fill out the bench later...

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Trade for Hudson*

Sign Durham

Trade for Drew*

 

Durham

Murton

Lee

Ramirez

Drew

Barrett

Pie

Izturis

 

Zambrano/Hudson/Hill/Prior/Remaining youngin'

 

Same pen if you don't trade any of the big contracts, Wuertz is the closer.

 

*Try very very very hard to include Jones in one of the two trades.

[NorthsideAvenger]

4) Trade Marshall, Veal, Jones for Hudson.

 

WHAT?!

 

My thoughts as well. Now if it were Marshall, Veal, Jones for Andruw and Hudson...that's a good deal.

 

Sorry vance, I'm not purposedly trying to pick fights with you, or it's not my intention, but imo, if there is one minor leaguer who is OFF-LIMITS, it is Donald Veal. And I certainly would not part with him for two massively overpriced contracts. And I think the Cubs could get Jones and Hudson WITHOUT having to put Veal in. Now, Jones/Marhsall/Marmol/Patterson for Hudson/AJ would atleast get to the table, especially if the Braves don't have to eat much of the contract.

[Mephistopheles]

I wouldnt put Jones in the untouchable category, but at this point in Tim Hudson's career, he's simply not good.

 

And secondly, investing in Barry Zito is a terrible idea.