Now what?

[CP_414]

Well, now we have boatloads of money, and no one to give it to. How about a trade for Manny Ramirez? The contract is big bucks, but short term. His offensive production would exceed Aramis'. Of course he doesn't "hustle" either, right? If we take on the money, his cost in prospects might not be too bad.

 

Trade for Manny

Sign Drew

Sign Schmidt and Igawa

Trade for Marcus Giles

 

C - Barrett

1B - Lee

2B - Giles

SS - Izturis/Theriot

3B - Moore/Theriot

LF - Manny

CF - Drew

RF - Murton

 

Zambrano (with extension), Schmidt, Hill, Prior/Miller, Igawa

 

 

Yeah, right.

[Soriano12]

May I suggest

 

http://images.usatoday.com/money/_photos/2004/09/30/jack-daniels.jpg

[baseball7897]

Nothing.

[Neuby]

you forget to include death as an option and I live by my own rules so I choose death.[/i]

[Outshined_One]

Panic?

[USSoccer]

rationialize your failure?

[Geech]

The Cobs should consider trying to rebuild like the Marlins.

[Brian]

contract the cubs

[questionmarkgrace]

Wait. We will wait while Jim Hendry moves at a snails pace to address the newest hole in the line up that he created.

 

I am really looking forward to a season of Lou Piniella but if he quit tomorrow it would be down right hilarious.

[questionmarkgrace]

also I heard earlier in the week that Lou will be on the final word tomorrow night. I think it will come on sometime during the bears/giants game.

[bhogg]

I think we should keep the team as-is.

 

Then, we hope for the NL central to all hover around .500, with us sneaking into the post season on the last day.

 

We get hot, get lucky, win a few games, and end up winning it all.

 

 

That gives us about $40 million to spend on a kick ass WS parade!!!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The best thing the Cubs could do is to punt for 2007 and try to prepare a team for 2008. Hendry won't do this, but the FA class for 2007-2008 offseason is a much richer class. Trying to patch this season will only make the team worse in the long run.

 

I think the Cubs first should approach Zambrano with an extension. If he declines, trade him. The haul from that trade alone might bring 2-3 high ceiling, can't-miss prospects.

 

Secondly, I'd decide what direction to go with Barrett. If he's not extended, trade him as well.

 

There's not much else to trade unless the Cubs could get a remarkable package for Lee as well.

 

Free up enough money to pursue only those players that you want for 2008 and beyond and have lots of money to build a great team in 2008.

 

It won't happen. We'll suck next year and likely for the next four after that. The only consolation is that Hendry likely will be fired by the All-Star Break.

[Guest]

I think the Cubs should sign Aramis Ramirez.

[NCCubFan]

I think the Cubs MUST sign Aramis Ramirez.

[RynoRules]

I think the Cubs should re-sign Maddux. I dunno what Himes is waiting for. I mean, he's young and just won the Cy last season...

 

Whoops! Sorry! De ja vu.

 

<------------------------------

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I guess if I were just hired as the GM after Jim Hendry is fired, I'd probably put in a bid and try to get Iwamura here. I'd also bring back Nomar, with the knowledge that if he gets hurt (again), I'd have Scott Moore in Iowa working on his game. I figure both Iwamura and Nomar will be in the $6MM range, or combined a bit less than what Ramirez would have made.

 

I then turn my focus to JD Drew, who I regard as a priority (unlike Hendry, I am willing to aggressively be high bidder), and I pursue trades involving Jock, Izturis and Dempster, none of whom I want. I will also include one or two of my starting pitchers (anyone but Z and Hill), and in the right deal, I'll move Murton as well.

 

My trade targets would be a corner outfielder and a veteran starting pitcher.

 

Finally, I'd poke around to see just how healthy Eric Gagne is going to be, and I certainly am a player for one of the several #3/#4 type FA starting pitchers on the market.

 

Net result would not be a powerhouse, bona fide World Series contender, but a decent team that might compete for a playoff spot at least.

[b_wiggy_66]

I guess if I were just hired as the GM after Jim Hendry is fired, I'd probably put in a bid and try to get Iwamura here. I'd also bring back Nomar, with the knowledge that if he gets hurt (again), I'd have Scott Moore in Iowa working on his game. I figure both Iwamura and Nomar will be in the $6MM range, or combined a bit less than what Ramirez would have made.

 

I then turn my focus to JD Drew, who I regard as a priority (unlike Hendry, I am willing to aggressively be high bidder), and I pursue trades involving Jock, Izturis and Dempster, none of whom I want. I will also include one or two of my starting pitchers (anyone but Z and Hill), and in the right deal, I'll move Murton as well.

 

My trade targets would be a corner outfielder and a veteran starting pitcher.

 

Finally, I'd poke around to see just how healthy Eric Gagne is going to be, and I certainly am a player for one of the several #3/#4 type FA starting pitchers on the market.

 

Net result would not be a powerhouse, bona fide World Series contender, but a decent team that might compete for a playoff spot at least.

 

Bidding for Iwamura already ended, and with JIm working on Wade Millers contract you know that there was not time to bid on Iwamura

[YearofDaCubs]

time to fire Hendry and blow this team up...

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

time to fire Hendry and blow this team up...

 

QFT