Fox Sports: Ramirez SIGNS WITH CUBS!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

He won't get signed before the midnight deadline. I guess we can hope it happens after that. I'm not optimistic.

[Careless]

Closing in on 5 hours left until I have a stroke.

Isn't it Eastern time?

[RichHillIsABeast]

Just because Ramirez doesn't work out a deal before tomorrow doesn't mean he won't sign with us later on.

[Laura]

This thread has gone on a very stupid tangent.

 

There's no problem with discussing whether Hendry is technically an idiot ... but can we keep this thread focused on hysteria over Aramis staying/leaving, plz?

 

If I need to start a new thread for the Hendry talk, I'm happy to do so.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

As for Ramirez, he likes the Windy City so much, agent Paul Kinzer appears to be offering the Cubs a serious hometown discount to make a deal happen. Well, "adopted hometown" discount, anyway, since the Dominican calls Santo Domingo his home.

 

Good.

 

As the story alludes to, get it done before you can expose Aramis to the temptations of an open market.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Just because Ramirez doesn't work out a deal before tomorrow doesn't mean he won't sign with us later on.

 

Yes, but the odds go down significantly with the Los Angeles teams having shown a desire in Aramis.

[CubinNY]

MLB.com Hot Stove

 

As the day wore on, toward the midnight deadline closing teams' exclusive negotiating window with their own free agents, there was a chance of at least one premier player being taken off the floor before the doors swung open.

 

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez's camp continued heavy dialogue with the Cubs, seeking a solution that would make both sides happy.

 

The Cubs do not wish to expose to the temptations of an open market a corner infielder who has hit 105 homers and driven in 314 runs in three full seasons in Chicago.

 

As for Ramirez, he likes the Windy City so much, agent Paul Kinzer appears to be offering the Cubs a serious hometown discount to make a deal happen. Well, "adopted hometown" discount, anyway, since the Dominican calls Santo Domingo his home.

 

Kinzer told the Chicago Sun-Times that his objective on the open market would be a deal as long as seven years, and also freely made references to the $119 million contract given to Carlos Beltran by the Mets two years ago.

 

But the agent also told the paper, "There will be a hometown discount. [The Cubs] definitely want to keep him, and that is still his No. 1 choice. [GM] Jim [Hendry] knows where we stand."

 

And there's your big difference between the national and world markets for ballplayers: Ramirez can take a lower offer, but the Seibu Lions have no such latitude when it comes to Matsuzaka.

 

That is some much needed good news. I wish Bruce would mysteriously come and post that the Cubs and aramis are this close

<->

[USSoccer]

Closing in on 5 hours left until I have a stroke.

Isn't it Eastern time?

 

:titanic:

[CubinNY]

Closing in on 5 hours left until I have a stroke.

Isn't it Eastern time?

 

:titanic:

 

The quote from Serena makes me think it will get done, even if it's no announced tonight.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I'm going to eat. I hope to return in a bit and see more possible good news.

[snoodmonger]

MLB.com Hot Stove

 

As the day wore on, toward the midnight deadline closing teams' exclusive negotiating window with their own free agents, there was a chance of at least one premier player being taken off the floor before the doors swung open.

 

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez's camp continued heavy dialogue with the Cubs, seeking a solution that would make both sides happy.

 

The Cubs do not wish to expose to the temptations of an open market a corner infielder who has hit 105 homers and driven in 314 runs in three full seasons in Chicago.

 

As for Ramirez, he likes the Windy City so much, agent Paul Kinzer appears to be offering the Cubs a serious hometown discount to make a deal happen. Well, "adopted hometown" discount, anyway, since the Dominican calls Santo Domingo his home.

 

Kinzer told the Chicago Sun-Times that his objective on the open market would be a deal as long as seven years, and also freely made references to the $119 million contract given to Carlos Beltran by the Mets two years ago.

 

But the agent also told the paper, "There will be a hometown discount. [The Cubs] definitely want to keep him, and that is still his No. 1 choice. [GM] Jim [Hendry] knows where we stand."

 

And there's your big difference between the national and world markets for ballplayers: Ramirez can take a lower offer, but the Seibu Lions have no such latitude when it comes to Matsuzaka.

 

That is some much needed good news. I wish Bruce would mysteriously come and post that the Cubs and aramis are this close

<->

 

great early news. get it done!

[PrimeTime]

I dont get how the hell a deal cant work out already....If he loves Chicago so much, then just sign for 14 or 15 million a year..I don't get how they cant agree on anything...Im sure hendry is throwing the money on the table...So whats the big holdup if Hendry wants him and Aramis wnats to come back..this shouldve been done by now...I dont know if its Hendrys fault, Or Aramis jsut being stubborn and arrogant

[David]

I can't believe people are trying to argue that we can't call Hendry a stupid GM.

I never said you couldn't call him a stupid GM. Just that it isn't a very supportable statement.

 

Has he failed the last couple of years? Yes.

 

Has some of his moves and non-moves not worked out and angered us? Yes.

 

Have we called for him to do different moves than he has done? Yes.

 

Does any of that equal that he is stupid? No.

 

What, then, does it take to qualify one as a stupid GM?

[Balsa]

How long until the window closes???

 

 

*NERVOUS*

[Southpaw191679666239]

How long until the window closes???

 

 

*NERVOUS*

 

Midnight EST, I'm guessing.

[Laura]

 

The quote from Serena makes me think it will get done, even if it's no announced tonight.

 

Not announcing a deal tonight would be a disservice to the throngs of Cubs fans standing by, ready to inject their foreheads!

[CubFanPhilly]

How long until the window closes???

 

 

*NERVOUS*

 

Midnight EST, I'm guessing.

 

The window doesn't exactly close tonight. It just gets harder, more expensive, and if he's re-signed after tonight it counts against the FA quota.

[Southpaw191679666239]

How long until the window closes???

 

 

*NERVOUS*

 

Midnight EST, I'm guessing.

 

The window doesn't exactly close tonight. It just gets harder, more expensive, and if he's re-signed after tonight it counts against the FA quota.

 

BWKB was speaking of the exclusive window, which does close tonight.

[Balsa]

In my mind, the window closes when other teams can offer deals. Because I don't think Hendry would let it get to that point, his best offer would be on the table before then.

 

IMO, if he goes on the free market, he's gone.

[CubFanPhilly]

In my mind, the window closes when other teams can offer deals. Because I don't think Hendry would let it get to that point, his best offer would be on the table before then.

 

IMO, if he goes on the free market, he's gone.

 

I agree.

[Careless]

In my mind, the window closes when other teams can offer deals. Because I don't think Hendry would let it get to that point, his best offer would be on the table before then.

 

IMO, if he goes on the free market, he's gone.

I think (this is what I imagine I'd do) there's a good chance if he doesn't sign tonight, he just wants to see what he gets offered. If some team blows him away, he's gone. If not, back to the Cubs. No big deal to him to wait an extra week or two if it could potentially make him millions.

But maybe he's just lying about home team discount.

and I'm probably about the 7th person to write that in this thread by now

[soccer10k]

Please get it done Jim.

[WrigleyinEngland]

This is worse than sitting waiting for Dempster to blow another game......

[CubFanPhilly]

So what to you do next if you're Hendry and you can't sign ARAM? (Suicide is not an option.)

 

Sign Drew, Durham, & Nomar or DeRosa (platoon with Moore at 3b?).

That'd leave room to sign only one other FA- presumably a starter. The other starter, a platoon partner for Jones, any other offensive upgrade, and the entire bench would have to come: 1) via trade; 2) Japan/or other foreign signing; 3) off the Type C/D FA scrap heap; and 4) the Farm.

 

Not many good choices left if this doesn't get done.

 

 

VORP

3B
Ramirez       44.5
Garciaparra?  27.6
DeRosa        21.9
Ensberg       19.0
Huff           9.4

OF
Soriano       48.2
Drew          34.9
C. Lee        27.2
Lofton        26.1
Roberts       22.2
Pierre        18.0

2B
Durham        47.9
Giles         14.5
Kennedy       10.9 

[E.J.]

So what to you do next if you're Hendry and you can't sign ARAM? (Suicide is not an option.)

 

Sign Drew, Durham, & Nomar or DeRosa (platoon with Moore at 3b?).

That'd leave room to sign only one other FA- presumably a starter. The other starter, a platoon partner for Jones, any other offensive upgrade, and the entire bench would have to come: 1) via trade; 2) Japan/or other foreign signing; 3) off the Type C/D FA scrap heap; and 4) the Farm.

 

Not many good choices left if this doesn't get done.

 

 

VORP

3B
Ramirez       44.5
Garciaparra?  27.6
DeRosa        21.9
Ensberg       19.0
Huff           9.4

OF
Soriano       48.2
Drew          34.9
C. Lee        27.2
Lofton        26.1
Roberts       22.2
Pierre        18.0

2B
Durham        47.9
Giles         14.5
Kennedy       10.9 

 

I'd look into getting Teahen from the Royals before I'd go after DeRosa or Nomar. The Royals have Alex Gordon waiting in the wings, so they could trade Teahen.