Now who does Hendry get to pitch?

[nilodnayr]

Nice list. Give me Bedard or Jennings and Wolf(would be the best bargain of the 2nd-tier guys)

 

I dont think Pie nabs us Bedard.

[nilodnayr]

Jennings is above everyone else, as he would be a legit #2 starter.

Hudson, Padilla, and Westbrook to me are nice options, but probably low end #2's.

Igawa is the next interesting and probably a solid 3.

Wolf and Heilman would be a great low risk/high reward guys.

Not much interest in Meche, Lilly or Batista.

 

At this point, it looks like the Cubs want to spend. If they can spin some salary off (Izturis, Jones, Dempster, Eyre) and make even money swaps, I'd go after cheap pitching and still go after Drew.

 

I think the Cubs bullpen has the potential to be great if they don't have to throw so many innings. So, the key to me is getting an arm that can give them 200+ IP and do it at least at league average. Get 2 such guys and spend little to do so, the Cubs could be a vastly improved team considering they have already upgraded the offense.

 

Really? Jennings' peripherals scare me A LOT. Maybe its just me, but even his 2004 and 2005 ERAs of over 5 seem a bit lower than expected to me. Hes going to cost a lot in terms of players (they asked for Hill) and becomes a FA in 2008. Jennings seems like a true buy high player based on just one good year (the most recent) of conventional metrics. Or in other words, a 2007 cub.

[Laura]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If that happens, I'm gonna need a new pair of pants. I'm already on my second pair tonight.

[nilodnayr]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If that happens, I'm gonna need a new pair of pants. I'm already on my second pair tonight.

 

long lines at the pisser in Texas Stadium?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If that happens, I'm gonna need a new pair of pants. I'm already on my second pair tonight.

 

long lines at the pisser in Texas Stadium?

 

Nope. Check out the Ramirez thread.

[A New Era]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If that happens, I'm gonna need a new pair of pants. I'm already on my second pair tonight.

 

long lines at the pisser in Texas Stadium?

 

Nope. Check out the Ramirez thread.

 

Oh. I was gonna say. The Soriano thread? :lol:

[CubsInNC]

Jennings is above everyone else, as he would be a legit #2 starter.

 

What would it take to get Jennings? I know Hill has been mentioned. But would a package built around Barrett do it, with us getting Ianetta in return? Is that something we should even consider? Don't know much about either of those 2 Rockies.

[Jazz]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If that happens, I'm gonna need a new pair of pants. I'm already on my second pair tonight.

 

the mere fact that Hendry is targeting arguably the best pitcher after getting arguably the best bat makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

[RynoRules]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If that happens, I'm gonna need a new pair of pants. I'm already on my second pair tonight.

 

Vance and I are agreeing on way too much these days.

 

If Jim lands Schmidt I might even be able to forgive the DeRosa signing.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If that happens, I'm gonna need a new pair of pants. I'm already on my second pair tonight.

 

Vance and I are agreeing on way too much these days.

 

If Jim lands Schmidt I might even be able to forgive the DeRosa signing.

 

After the Soriano signing, agents will be lining up at Jim's table like strippers do at the drunk old man who is tipping Jacksons.

[HoopsCubs]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If the payroll is now $120M, they should be able to get him. If it's still in that $110-115M range, then it would seem they would need to dump 2 of the following 4 salaries for some margin: Dempster, Eyre, Jones and Izturis. For argument's sake, I am assuming Barrett and Howry are going nowhere.

[RynoRules]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If the payroll is now $120M, they should be able to get him. If it's still in that $110-115M range, then it would seem they would need to dump 2 of the following 4 salaries for some margin: Dempster, Eyre, Jones and Izturis. For argument's sake, I am assuming Barrett and Howry are going nowhere.

 

The only name I have read to be listed under the "safe" column is Murton. Thus I think Jones and Eyre are strong candidates to be traded. Jones has a very reasonable contract, and Eyre is a member of an exclusive fraternity of overpaid baseball players known as left-handed relievers. Dempster is also good trade bait with Wood back in the fold, especially after Jim gave him that unsolicited vote of confidence last week.

[biittner77]

I wonder if the Orioles would do Marshall, Guzman and Pie for Bedard. That seems like a starting point for Bedard.

[Mark_R]

I wonder if the Orioles would do Marshall, Guzman and Pie for Bedard. That seems like a starting point for Bedard.

 

Can we toss in Izturis, Eyre, and Jones and get Tejada too?? :D

 

Then we can play Pie in CF and have a middle three of Lee, Ramirez, and Tejada. That would be quite amazing.

 

So unrealistic.

[CoolHandLuke]

I wonder if the Orioles would do Marshall, Guzman and Pie for Bedard. That seems like a starting point for Bedard.

 

Can we toss in Izturis, Eyre, and Jones and get Tejada too?? :D

 

Then we can play Pie in CF and have a middle three of Lee, Ramirez, and Tejada. That would be quite amazing.

 

So unrealistic.

 

no pie!

[wastra]

One of the writers in Chicago said the other day that Eyre has a limited no-trade clause in his contract, and that there was little chance that he would be traded.

 

I think Ohman is the bullpen lefty most likely to be dealt.

[RynoRules]

One of the writers in Chicago said the other day that Eyre has a limited no-trade clause in his contract, and that there was little chance that he would be traded.

 

I think Ohman is the bullpen lefty most likely to be dealt.

 

I'd much rather deal Eyre and free up some salary space, but I hear what you are saying.

[questionmarkgrace]

I thought eyre's limited no trade clause was mearly a list of four or five teams he would never go to. If thats the case he's still very tradeable assuming two out of the five are KC and Tampa Bay.

[biittner77]

Wasn't Eyre a big Dusty fan? Seems like he would want out. OTOH, Ohman probably has more value by being cheaper and younger.

[Laura]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If the payroll is now $120M, they should be able to get him. If it's still in that $110-115M range, then it would seem they would need to dump 2 of the following 4 salaries for some margin: Dempster, Eyre, Jones and Izturis. For argument's sake, I am assuming Barrett and Howry are going nowhere.

 

Phil Rogers hints that payroll might top $125M:

 

There's going to be a lot of screaming about how much the Cubs are spending on players this winter, especially if their payroll jumps from $95 million to more than $125 million, which it might.

 

ETA: Murphy on the Score says that all indications are that payroll will be $120M+.

[Hatman]

Igawa, Westbrook, Hudson are about the only three available guys worth looking at... and Hudson only if you can get the Braves to pick up some of the contract.

 

I wouldn't mind Jennings, but rumor has it the Rockies asked for Hill... uh, no.

 

In a Jennings v. Westbrook...I like Westbrook. Their 2006 stats are very similar except that Westie has a much better GB/FB ratio. Fewer K's, less pitches and seems generally more efficient. Besides, Clev needs/wants pen help and we have it in spades (and clubs too if you include a few of the names we trotted out in 2006)

[snoodmonger]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If that happens, I'm gonna need a new pair of pants. I'm already on my second pair tonight.

 

Vance and I are agreeing on way too much these days.

 

If Jim lands Schmidt I might even be able to forgive the DeRosa signing.

 

After the Soriano signing, agents will be lining up at Jim's table like strippers do at the drunk old man who is tipping Jacksons.

 

leave my uncle out of this.

[A New Era]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If the payroll is now $120M, they should be able to get him. If it's still in that $110-115M range, then it would seem they would need to dump 2 of the following 4 salaries for some margin: Dempster, Eyre, Jones and Izturis. For argument's sake, I am assuming Barrett and Howry are going nowhere.

 

Phil Rogers hints that payroll might top $125M:

 

There's going to be a lot of screaming about how much the Cubs are spending on players this winter, especially if their payroll jumps from $95 million to more than $125 million, which it might.

 

ETA: Murphy on the Score says that all indications are that payroll will be $120M+.

 

What a great feeling it is to be sitting here reading that Serena. I tell you.

[Rob]

Levine was on ESPN radio earlier tonight and said that the Cubs had made inroads with Schmidt and had a shot at landing him.

 

If the payroll is now $120M, they should be able to get him. If it's still in that $110-115M range, then it would seem they would need to dump 2 of the following 4 salaries for some margin: Dempster, Eyre, Jones and Izturis. For argument's sake, I am assuming Barrett and Howry are going nowhere.

 

Phil Rogers hints that payroll might top $125M:

 

There's going to be a lot of screaming about how much the Cubs are spending on players this winter, especially if their payroll jumps from $95 million to more than $125 million, which it might.

 

ETA: Murphy on the Score says that all indications are that payroll will be $120M+.

 

Serena, if I wasn't convinced every woman on the internet is actually a creepy old man in the real world, I'd kiss ya.