Cubs Will Target Soriano, Schmidt

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

[b_wiggy_66]

I have heard that Schmidt would like to stay on the West Coast, but hopefully we can get him to come to the midwest. Even though people think he is oft-injured he has thrown at least 172 innings each of the last 5 years.

 

2002- 185.1 IP

2003- 207.2

2004- 225.0

2005- 172.0

2006- 213.1

[abuck1220]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

[nilodnayr]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

I would prefer a trade with Washington to get Church to fill CF, not block Pie, and save a ton of $. I'd also want to acquire Kearns and Vidro and get rid of Jaque at the same time.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

I agree, the Cubs are gonna need power from somewhere.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

abuck makes a wonderful point here. I've been critical of Soriano in the past, but the Cubs need a big bat. Outside of Soriano, there aren't any FA that fit that bill.

 

Getting one through trade is dicey at best. I know we will overpay for Soriano and likely regret the contract four or five years down the road, but that's the price we have to pay for in the situation in which we find ourselves.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

Get a 2B in Free Agency(Durham and Iwamura are my favorites, Loretta would be okay too), and revamp the OF in trade. Kearns, Burrell, A-Rod(which isn't the OF, but still), Sheffield, maybe Cabrera, Hawpe, or Cuddyer if they come available.

[b_wiggy_66]

I still find Burrell intriguing. If Philly picked up a big chunk of that contract (which they will have to do to get rid of him) would you do Jones for Burrell?

[sethuel1]

I still find Burrell intriguing. If Philly picked up a big chunk of that contract (which they will have to do to get rid of him) would you do Jones for Burrell?

 

I would do Jones for Burrell if they picked up $7-8 mil

[cjbucks]

According to the Sun Times

 

Link

 

Among the big names on the Cubs' radar are slugging outfielder Alfonso Soriano and right-handed pitcher Jason Schmidt. The Cubs first must focus their attention on signing third baseman Aramis Ramirez to a multiyear extension, preventing him from filing for free agency. General manager Jim Hendry has rated that as his top priority now that Lou Piniella has been hired as manager.

 

Based on Hendry's last offseason I'll be suprised if we get even 1 of those 3.

[Shavo]

Burrell would come cheaper than Jones. My Philly friends tell me they want to dump him ASAP. Jones can be swung in a seperate deal for somthing of actual value.

[A New Era]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

Get a 2B in Free Agency(Durham and Iwamura are my favorites, Loretta would be okay too), and revamp the OF in trade. Kearns, Burrell, A-Rod(which isn't the OF, but still), Sheffield, maybe Cabrera, Hawpe, or Cuddyer if they come available.

 

What and alomst completely strip our farm system of any of the A prospects left of it? I'd rather keep the prospects and sign big free agents when they become available, somewhat simular to the mets.

 

If we would have done it that way a few years ago, just for example. We could have a guy like Beltran and still have guys like Willis, Garland. . ect. . Instead we trade the Willis' and Garland's for mediocre crap and think we're gonna contend. (we=JH). .

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

Get a 2B in Free Agency(Durham and Iwamura are my favorites, Loretta would be okay too), and revamp the OF in trade. Kearns, Burrell, A-Rod(which isn't the OF, but still), Sheffield, maybe Cabrera, Hawpe, or Cuddyer if they come available.

 

What and alomst completely strip our farm system of any of the A prospects left of it? I'd rather keep the prospects and sign big free agents when they become available, somewhat simular to the mets.

 

If we would have done it that way a few years ago, just for example. We could have a guy like Beltran and still have guys like Willis, Garland. . ect. . Instead we trade the Willis' and Garland's for mediocre crap and think we're gonna contend. (we=JH). .

 

This is why many different options were listed. Like was said before, Burrell is pretty much there to be taken, no "A prospects" necessary. Making a trade for one outfielder is not going to strip our system. I'm not suggesting to get 4 of the guys I listed as trade targets.

[abuck1220]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

I would prefer a trade with Washington to get Church to fill CF, not block Pie, and save a ton of $. I'd also want to acquire Kearns and Vidro and get rid of Jaque at the same time.

 

church isn't as good as soriano, plus you'd have to give something up to get him. additionally, the cubs aren't in a position where they have to pinch pennies. saving money should be the last things the cubs worry about (as long as they're spending on good players).

 

i like all the guys TT mentioned, but i don't know if the cubs have the players it will take to get them...and if they do, i'm not so sure i want to give them up. i'd rather just sign soriano, take the hit financially, and not have to lose any of the few decent players the cubs have.

[RynoRules]

According to the Sun Times

 

Link

 

Among the big names on the Cubs' radar are slugging outfielder Alfonso Soriano and right-handed pitcher Jason Schmidt. The Cubs first must focus their attention on signing third baseman Aramis Ramirez to a multiyear extension, preventing him from filing for free agency. General manager Jim Hendry has rated that as his top priority now that Lou Piniella has been hired as manager.

 

Based on Hendry's last offseason I'll be suprised if we get even 1 of those 3.

 

Funny things happen when you are going to be canned and thus have nothing to lose. I think JH is in that spot right now.

[baseball7897]

If Hendry is going after Schmidt, the length of the contract should be no longer than 2 years.

[CuseCubFan69]

According to the Sun Times

 

Link

 

Among the big names on the Cubs' radar are slugging outfielder Alfonso Soriano and right-handed pitcher Jason Schmidt. The Cubs first must focus their attention on signing third baseman Aramis Ramirez to a multiyear extension, preventing him from filing for free agency. General manager Jim Hendry has rated that as his top priority now that Lou Piniella has been hired as manager.

 

Based on Hendry's last offseason I'll be suprised if we get even 1 of those 3.

 

Funny things happen when you are going to be canned and thus have nothing to lose. I think JH is in that spot right now.

 

Or he sells his and the teams soul to win now and the Cubs don't recover for another 5-8 years. Let's hope Mr. Henry makes the right moves indeed.

[mg420]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

i would much rather see drew in cf for the cubs than soriano.

[CuseCubFan69]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

i would much rather see drew in cf for the cubs than soriano.

 

As would I but Drew may cost the Cubs plenty in prospects as Soriano will just cost money, especially if the Cubs lose Ramirez they'll need all the assets to get a 3rd baseman. Hendry has some very good options and if he screws this one up he deserves the boot.

[KingCubsFan]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

Get a 2B in Free Agency(Durham and Iwamura are my favorites, Loretta would be okay too), and revamp the OF in trade. Kearns, Burrell, A-Rod(which isn't the OF, but still), Sheffield, maybe Cabrera, Hawpe, or Cuddyer if they come available.

 

What and alomst completely strip our farm system of any of the A prospects left of it? I'd rather keep the prospects and sign big free agents when they become available, somewhat simular to the mets.

 

If we would have done it that way a few years ago, just for example. We could have a guy like Beltran and still have guys like Willis, Garland. . ect. . Instead we trade the Willis' and Garland's for mediocre crap and think we're gonna contend. (we=JH). .

Your hate for Hendry is blinding. Garland was traded 8 years ago, when Hendry might not have even been in the organization. And Willis was traded before Hendry was GM too. Next time you try and trash Hendry, at least criticize him for things he's actually done.

[baseball7897]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

Get a 2B in Free Agency(Durham and Iwamura are my favorites, Loretta would be okay too), and revamp the OF in trade. Kearns, Burrell, A-Rod(which isn't the OF, but still), Sheffield, maybe Cabrera, Hawpe, or Cuddyer if they come available.

 

What and alomst completely strip our farm system of any of the A prospects left of it? I'd rather keep the prospects and sign big free agents when they become available, somewhat simular to the mets.

 

If we would have done it that way a few years ago, just for example. We could have a guy like Beltran and still have guys like Willis, Garland. . ect. . Instead we trade the Willis' and Garland's for mediocre crap and think we're gonna contend. (we=JH). .

Your hate for Hendry is blinding. Garland was traded 8 years ago, when Hendry might not have even been in the organization. And Willis was traded before Hendry was GM too. Next time you try and trash Hendry, at least criticize him for things he's actually done.

 

It's very easy to second guess.

[A New Era]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

Get a 2B in Free Agency(Durham and Iwamura are my favorites, Loretta would be okay too), and revamp the OF in trade. Kearns, Burrell, A-Rod(which isn't the OF, but still), Sheffield, maybe Cabrera, Hawpe, or Cuddyer if they come available.

 

What and alomst completely strip our farm system of any of the A prospects left of it? I'd rather keep the prospects and sign big free agents when they become available, somewhat simular to the mets.

 

If we would have done it that way a few years ago, just for example. We could have a guy like Beltran and still have guys like Willis, Garland. . ect. . Instead we trade the Willis' and Garland's for mediocre crap and think we're gonna contend. (we=JH). .

 

This is why many different options were listed. Like was said before, Burrell is pretty much there to be taken, no "A prospects" necessary. Making a trade for one outfielder is not going to strip our system. I'm not suggesting to get 4 of the guys I listed as trade targets.

 

Ok understood. Burrell I could go for if it would come cheap. He would be a great upgrade at RF. But I would still want Soriano as well.

[A New Era]

Schmidt + Kuroda = Good

Soriano = Bad

 

where would you prefer the much needed offense to come from?

 

i don't love soriano or anything, but he's the best hope for making this offense respectable.

 

Get a 2B in Free Agency(Durham and Iwamura are my favorites, Loretta would be okay too), and revamp the OF in trade. Kearns, Burrell, A-Rod(which isn't the OF, but still), Sheffield, maybe Cabrera, Hawpe, or Cuddyer if they come available.

 

What and alomst completely strip our farm system of any of the A prospects left of it? I'd rather keep the prospects and sign big free agents when they become available, somewhat simular to the mets.

 

If we would have done it that way a few years ago, just for example. We could have a guy like Beltran and still have guys like Willis, Garland. . ect. . Instead we trade the Willis' and Garland's for mediocre crap and think we're gonna contend. (we=JH). .

Your hate for Hendry is blinding. Garland was traded 8 years ago, when Hendry might not have even been in the organization. And Willis was traded before Hendry was GM too. Next time you try and trash Hendry, at least criticize him for things he's actually done.

 

It's very easy to second guess.

 

Your agenda to go after "JH haters" is blinding. I don't hate JH. It was more of a rant on what the Cubs have done in the past and what I think they should do. It's easy to second guess. But I'll go ahead and first guess for ya. we should not trade Hill, Murton, Veal, Pie, Eric Patterson, or Fox. Instead we should go after the big FA available from Japan and US, and use only the pospects needed to fill the rest in with very good above average players.

[KingCubsFan]

Your agenda to go after "JH haters" is blinding. I don't hate JH. It was more of a rant on what the Cubs have done in the past and what I think they should do. It's easy to second guess. But I'll go ahead and first guess for ya. we should not trade Hill, Murton, Veal, Pie, Eric Patterson, or Fox. Instead we should go after the big FA available from Japan and US, and use only the pospects needed to fill the rest in with very good above average players.

Your original post implies that Hendry makes it a habit of trading our prospects for mediocre garbage. This just isn't true. In his 3+ years as GM, he's done this once (Juan Pierre) and traded one good prospect (Ricky Nolasco). Hendry does a lot of things wrong, but he's pretty good at evaluating our own system and knowing who to trade. If anything, he holds on to too many of them for too long.

I agree with your strategy though. No sense in trading away talent when we have money to spend.

[Soriano12]

ugghhh.

 

Daisuke + Padilla is the way to go.