J.D Drew Opts out of contract

[VanceJergins]

Re-sign Aram

Trade Jones

Trade for Marcus Giles

Sign Roberts

 

Dave Roberts CF

Marcus Giles - 2B

Derrek Lee -1B

Aramis Ramirez 3B

JD Drew - RF

Matt Murton - LF

Michael Barrett - C

Ceasar No-bat - SS

 

I'm not sure I wouldn't rather keep Jacque (never thought I'd say that) and put Drew in CF...

 

(with the rest of your moves in mind)

Murton

Giles

Lee

Ramirez

Drew

Barrett

Jones

Izturis

 

Looks better to me...

 

Small issue, but I don't know why Drew would be BEHIND the big RBI guys. He's a career .393 OBP guy. Lee has only been that good at getting on base, once....and that was his awesome 2005. Drew's my #3 hitter. I could understand 4th to break up the RHs and have Lee 3rd, since he would still likely be the team's best hitter.

 

But yeah, Drew in CF would be great.

 

I was thinking the same thing. How about this lineup...

 

Giles

Murton (or Murton-Giles)

Drew

Lee

Ramirez

Jones

Barrett

Theriot

 

Oh man, I know this probably wont come close to happening.....but I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.....in a good way.

[Soriano12]

how do you propose the Braves taking a deal for Giles if we just give them Jones?

 

I don't.

 

Had I meant that I would have stated trade Jones for Giles.

[CubsWin]

Re-sign Aram

Trade Jones

Trade for Marcus Giles

Sign Roberts

 

Dave Roberts CF

Marcus Giles - 2B

Derrek Lee -1B

Aramis Ramirez 3B

JD Drew - RF

Matt Murton - LF

Michael Barrett - C

Ceasar No-bat - SS

 

I'm not sure I wouldn't rather keep Jacque (never thought I'd say that) and put Drew in CF...

 

(with the rest of your moves in mind)

Murton

Giles

Lee

Ramirez

Drew

Barrett

Jones

Izturis

 

Looks better to me...

 

Small issue, but I don't know why Drew would be BEHIND the big RBI guys. He's a career .393 OBP guy. Lee has only been that good at getting on base, once....and that was his awesome 2005. Drew's my #3 hitter. I could understand 4th to break up the RHs and have Lee 3rd, since he would still likely be the team's best hitter.

 

But yeah, Drew in CF would be great.

Of course, this is all just speculation until Hendry actually signs the guy, but if he is signed I think I would bat him 3rd as well. Depending on who is hitting around him, Drew and Jones might be the only left-handed bats the Cubs would have. If J.D. along with maybe a 2B were the only offensive FA signing, the line-up could read...

 

Theriot or FA 2B

Murton

Drew

Lee

Ramirez

Jones

Barrett

Izturis

 

Its not the Yankees line-up, but with the right pitching staff, it would be enough to compete, thats for sure.

[erik316wttn]

And people have concerns about Nomar being an injury risk. Nomar is friggin Lou Gehrig compared to JD Drew.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

And people have concerns about Nomar being an injury risk. Nomar is friggin Lou Gehrig compared to JD Drew.

 

Nomar

2004 81 games played

2005 62

2006 122

 

Drew

2004 145

2005 72

2006 146

 

And like was mentioned, Drew's injury in '05 was a broken bone in his hand, that doesn't exactly lend itself to future problems. Compare that to Nomar, who ripped his groin away from the bone.

[Guest]

My offseason shopping list (from a couple months ago now)

 

1) Daisuke

2) Soriano (for 2B)

3) Drew (for CF)

4) middle class pitcher

 

I argued back in early Sept that these additions would be good enough to make us WS caliber in 2007. They're all sitting there waiting to be had.

 

Go get 'em, Jim.

 

It's only money. :D

[erik316wttn]

And people have concerns about Nomar being an injury risk. Nomar is friggin Lou Gehrig compared to JD Drew.

 

Nomar

2004 81 games played

2005 62

2006 122

 

Drew

2004 145

2005 72

2006 146

 

And like was mentioned, Drew's injury in '05 was a broken bone in his hand, that doesn't exactly lend itself to future problems. Compare that to Nomar, who ripped his groin away from the bone.

 

You and your damn stats....

 

But, this is the Cubs. He'll come here, play five games, then simultaneously break both his tibias and fibias, tear both ACL's, MCL's and Patellar tendons, and dislocate both ankles dving in the outfield.

[VanceJergins]

Re-sign Aram

Trade Jones

Trade for Marcus Giles

Sign Roberts

 

Dave Roberts CF

Marcus Giles - 2B

Derrek Lee -1B

Aramis Ramirez 3B

JD Drew - RF

Matt Murton - LF

Michael Barrett - C

Ceasar No-bat - SS

 

I'm not sure I wouldn't rather keep Jacque (never thought I'd say that) and put Drew in CF...

 

(with the rest of your moves in mind)

Murton

Giles

Lee

Ramirez

Drew

Barrett

Jones

Izturis

 

Looks better to me...

 

Small issue, but I don't know why Drew would be BEHIND the big RBI guys. He's a career .393 OBP guy. Lee has only been that good at getting on base, once....and that was his awesome 2005. Drew's my #3 hitter. I could understand 4th to break up the RHs and have Lee 3rd, since he would still likely be the team's best hitter.

 

But yeah, Drew in CF would be great.

Of course, this is all just speculation until Hendry actually signs the guy, but if he is signed I think I would bat him 3rd as well. Depending on who is hitting around him, Drew and Jones might be the only left-handed bats the Cubs would have. If J.D. along with maybe a 2B were the only offensive FA signing, the line-up could read...

 

Theriot or FA 2B

Murton

Drew

Lee

Ramirez

Jones

Barrett

Izturis

 

Its not the Yankees line-up, but with the right pitching staff, it would be enough to compete, thats for sure.

 

Ok, I know the injury risk would be enormous, but imagine if we got Drew for CF and Sheffield for RF and they stayed healthy.

 

Theriot

Murton

Drew

Lee

Sheffield

Ramirez

Barrett

Izturis

Edited November 10, 2006 by VanceJergins

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

125, 148, 158.

 

That's Drew's OPS+ for the last three seasons.

 

Get him signed Jim.

 

Keep Ramirez.

 

Hopefully, we'll win the bidding for Matsuzaka.

 

Sign Craig Wilson to platoon with Jones in RF.

 

Sign Ray Durham.

 

2007 Cubs.

 

2b Durham

LF Murton

1b Lee

CF Drew

3b Ramirez

RF Jones

C Barrett

SS Izturis

 

Rotation:

Zambrano, Matsuzaka, Hill, Miller, Prior/Marshall/Marmol

 

Bullpen: Dempster, Eyre, Howry, Aardsma, Wuetz, Ohman

 

Bench: Wilson (1b/RF/LF), Pagan (OF), Theriot (2b/SS), Moore (1b/3b), Soto ©, Cedeno (SS/2b)

 

That team would be much improved.

[questionmarkgrace]

This may be way beyond Hendry but here is what I would do:

 

1). pay ramirez to stay

2). sign drew to play centerfield

3) sign/trade for two pitchers. Matsuzaka & Meche sound good to me

 

Another option would be to trade for the Sheff in right field and then trade jones for pitching. I know Ramirez is asking for a lot of money and that Drew will be doing the same but bad teams sometimes have to over pay to get good, which is exactly what the tigers did.

[Twiggy]

Offer Drew a similar contract he walked away from with the Dodgers. He said he wasn't happy playing there and the owner said the same thing. Maybe Chicago would be a nice change of scenery for him.

[Wilson A2000]

I never realized the great OBP that Drew has had over his career. His career average is .390 and he has had a bunch of years over .400. Jones only had on OBP is .330 last year. That's 70 points. So what do you do with Jacque? 4th outfielder?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Drew prefers CF. I'd sign him to play that.

 

If the Cubs still want Sheffield, a Murton/Drew/Sheffield OF isn't that bad.

[CubsWin]

Drew prefers CF. I'd sign him to play that.

 

If the Cubs still want Sheffield, a Murton/Drew/Sheffield OF isn't that bad.

Isn't that bad? It would be one of the best offensive OFs in baseball assuming Sheffield's production doesn't drop off the face of the earth and those guys don't get injured anymore than their average.

 

Can Soriano play RF?

[erik316wttn]

Drew prefers CF. I'd sign him to play that.

 

If the Cubs still want Sheffield, a Murton/Drew/Sheffield OF isn't that bad.

Isn't that bad? It would be one of the best offensive OFs in baseball assuming Sheffield's production doesn't drop off the face of the earth and those guys don't get injured anymore than their average.

 

Can Soriano play RF?

 

Why not put him at 2nd? He'd probably be happier there. Second base is a harder hole to fill than the OF. Keep Murton in left, move Soriano to 2nd, and get another bat for the OF (Lee?).

[Jazz]

Drew prefers CF. I'd sign him to play that.

 

If the Cubs still want Sheffield, a Murton/Drew/Sheffield OF isn't that bad.

Isn't that bad? It would be one of the best offensive OFs in baseball assuming Sheffield's production doesn't drop off the face of the earth and those guys don't get injured anymore than their average.

 

Can Soriano play RF?

 

He's got the arm. He also picked up LF relatively well. So yes, I think he could. However, this is redundant because there's zero chance IMO that we get alfonso

[treebird]

Drew prefers CF. I'd sign him to play that.

 

If the Cubs still want Sheffield, a Murton/Drew/Sheffield OF isn't that bad.

Isn't that bad? It would be one of the best offensive OFs in baseball assuming Sheffield's production doesn't drop off the face of the earth and those guys don't get injured anymore than their average.

 

Can Soriano play RF?

 

Why not put him at 2nd? He'd probably be happier there. Second base is a harder hole to fill than the OF. Keep Murton in left, move Soriano to 2nd, and get another bat for the OF (Lee?).

 

good idea, let's sign every top free agent

[NorthsideAvenger]

Drew prefers CF. I'd sign him to play that.

 

If the Cubs still want Sheffield, a Murton/Drew/Sheffield OF isn't that bad.

 

Vance, now we are talking. I would love to get JC Drew in CF.

[Wilson A2000]

Who would lead off? Theriot?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Who would lead off? Theriot?

 

Or sign Ray Durham?

[nilodnayr]

I never realized the great OBP that Drew has had over his career. His career average is .390 and he has had a bunch of years over .400. Jones only had on OBP is .330 last year. That's 70 points. So what do you do with Jacque? 4th outfielder?

 

Jacque can be traded to a team who misses out on a corner OF on the FA market later in the offseason. As I stated in the other thread, compared to other RFs, he was surpisingly very productive and is signed to a very cheap short term contract. He has some value.

[erik316wttn]

Drew prefers CF. I'd sign him to play that.

 

If the Cubs still want Sheffield, a Murton/Drew/Sheffield OF isn't that bad.

Isn't that bad? It would be one of the best offensive OFs in baseball assuming Sheffield's production doesn't drop off the face of the earth and those guys don't get injured anymore than their average.

 

Can Soriano play RF?

 

Why not put him at 2nd? He'd probably be happier there. Second base is a harder hole to fill than the OF. Keep Murton in left, move Soriano to 2nd, and get another bat for the OF (Lee?).

 

good idea, let's sign every top free agent

 

Ok, smartasses aside.....

 

We can afford it. It probably won't happen, seeing as this is the Cubs, and Jim Hendry is in charge, but it's fun to talk about.

 

Besides, say Pie has a phenomenal spring and Murton is hitting. Then you have a logjam in the OF with Pie, Murt, Drew, Jones, and Soriano. If you move Soriano to 2nd, you can throw Pie in there and ditch Jones or trade Murton for pitching.

[baseball7897]

I never realized the great OBP that Drew has had over his career. His career average is .390 and he has had a bunch of years over .400. Jones only had on OBP is .330 last year. That's 70 points. So what do you do with Jacque? 4th outfielder?

 

Jacque can be traded to a team who misses out on a corner OF on the FA market later in the offseason. As I stated in the other thread, compared to other RFs, he was surpisingly very productive and is signed to a very cheap short term contract. He has some value.

 

Trade him to Oakland.

[MPrior]

You and your damn stats....

 

But, this is the Cubs. He'll come here, play five games, then simultaneously break both his tibias and fibias, tear both ACL's, MCL's and Patellar tendons, and dislocate both ankles dving in the outfield.

 

...and the Cubs' staff would still be incapable of diagnosing the problem.

 

Also, sign Drew.

[treebird]

Drew prefers CF. I'd sign him to play that.

 

If the Cubs still want Sheffield, a Murton/Drew/Sheffield OF isn't that bad.

Isn't that bad? It would be one of the best offensive OFs in baseball assuming Sheffield's production doesn't drop off the face of the earth and those guys don't get injured anymore than their average.

 

Can Soriano play RF?

 

Why not put him at 2nd? He'd probably be happier there. Second base is a harder hole to fill than the OF. Keep Murton in left, move Soriano to 2nd, and get another bat for the OF (Lee?).

 

good idea, let's sign every top free agent

 

Ok, smartasses aside.....

 

We can afford it. It probably won't happen, seeing as this is the Cubs, and Jim Hendry is in charge, but it's fun to talk about.

 

Besides, say Pie has a phenomenal spring and Murton is hitting. Then you have a logjam in the OF with Pie, Murt, Drew, Jones, and Soriano. If you move Soriano to 2nd, you can throw Pie in there and ditch Jones or trade Murton for pitching.

 

i was just giving you a hard time. how expensive would soriano, drew, lee AND ramirez be? i honestly don't know. sign those four, and maybe we'll just take our chances pitching-wise.