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Posted
Dave van Dyck / The Tribune[/url]"] With the signing of free agent Alfonso Soriano for $17 million a year and the future addition of at least two more big-name pitchers, the Cubs could start next season with the highest payroll in the National League and one of the top three in all of baseball.

 

Estimates have the Cubs' salaries reaching as high as $125 million next season, which would have been second last year to the Yankees' $195 million and surpassing the Mets' NL-high $101 million and even the White Sox's $102 million.

 

But, though admitting a "sense of urgency that hasn't been there before" prevails, team interim President John McDonough claims there really is a salary ceiling set by Tribune Co. bosses, although he would not say what that is.

 

"The number is fair and realistic," McDonough said. "[General manager Jim Hendry] does have some room to acquire some pitching. He knows what our budget is, and he's going do everything he can to make it work."

 

With the hiring of McDonough to replace Andy MacPhail, is there an unprecedented commitment that has been missing the last few years?

 

"There's always been a commitment to winning, but with the responsibilities we have in front of us ... [spending] is going to be part of the process that we have in place to get there," McDonough said. "We're in the business to win.

 

"We want to win, we want to do it the right way and we want to do it consistently. We want to put a team on the field for a long, long time that's going to be very, very good."

 

Asked specifically about the Yankees' way of doing things, McDonough replied:

 

"It's the caliber of person you're signing. We already have some really good players in place. You have Derrek Lee, Michael Barrett, Aramis Ramirez, a very young and good player in Matt Murton.

 

"So it's not as if we've gone out on this crazy, wild spending [spree] where we're picking up everybody on the free-agent market. Soriano made a lot of sense."

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Posted
Dave van Dyck / The Tribune[/url]"] With the signing of free agent Alfonso Soriano for $17 million a year and the future addition of at least two more big-name pitchers, the Cubs could start next season with the highest payroll in the National League and one of the top three in all of baseball.

 

Estimates have the Cubs' salaries reaching as high as $125 million next season, which would have been second last year to the Yankees' $195 million and surpassing the Mets' NL-high $101 million and even the White Sox's $102 million.

 

But, though admitting a "sense of urgency that hasn't been there before" prevails, team interim President John McDonough claims there really is a salary ceiling set by Tribune Co. bosses, although he would not say what that is.

 

"The number is fair and realistic," McDonough said. "[General manager Jim Hendry] does have some room to acquire some pitching. He knows what our budget is, and he's going do everything he can to make it work."

 

With the hiring of McDonough to replace Andy MacPhail, is there an unprecedented commitment that has been missing the last few years?

 

"There's always been a commitment to winning, but with the responsibilities we have in front of us ... [spending] is going to be part of the process that we have in place to get there," McDonough said. "We're in the business to win.

 

"We want to win, we want to do it the right way and we want to do it consistently. We want to put a team on the field for a long, long time that's going to be very, very good."

 

Asked specifically about the Yankees' way of doing things, McDonough replied:

 

"It's the caliber of person you're signing. We already have some really good players in place. You have Derrek Lee, Michael Barrett, Aramis Ramirez, a very young and good player in Matt Murton.

 

"So it's not as if we've gone out on this crazy, wild spending [spree] where we're picking up everybody on the free-agent market. Soriano made a lot of sense."

 

Good to see the Murton-love....there can never be too much.

Posted
At least one potential purchaser has gone strangely silent. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, a dot-com billionaire, acknowledged interest in purchasing the team last summer but said he had been told it was not for sale. Asked what he thought about its attractiveness, he declined to answer, saying he would not "want to drive up the value."

 

 

Hmmmmmmm.

Posted
You have Derrek Lee, Michael Barrett, Aramis Ramirez, a very young and good player in Matt Murton.

 

McDonough gets a lot of love for da big murt shout out.

Posted
At least one potential purchaser has gone strangely silent. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, a dot-com billionaire, acknowledged interest in purchasing the team last summer but said he had been told it was not for sale. Asked what he thought about its attractiveness, he declined to answer, saying he would not "want to drive up the value."

 

 

Hmmmmmmm.

Sounds an awful lot like he wants us. :D

 

BUY THE CUBS CUBES

Posted
What happened with the Mets?

 

Contracted. Where you been?

 

Better than Kurt Douglas surfing through their streets, or am I getting confused?

 

Nah, you're pretty much right on target.

 

I was looking for a picture of Charley Steiner with a tie around his noggin', but I couldn't find it.

 

"INSERT CHARLEY STEINER FOLLOW ME TO FREEDOM PICTURE HERE."

Posted
Once the Mets sign Zito to a 10 year 190 million contract, they'll pass us for the lead again.

 

Which will force our hand to up the ante for payroll, right :D?

Posted
I've been saying all along that it would be that high. this only confirms it.

 

http://wiki.coolmon.org/files/cookie.jpg

Posted
I've been saying all along that it would be that high. this only confirms it.

 

http://wiki.coolmon.org/files/cookie.jpg

 

No milk?

Posted
I've been saying all along that it would be that high. this only confirms it.

 

http://wiki.coolmon.org/files/cookie.jpg

 

Cookie stand's not part of the food court.

Posted
So the Cub have around 25 million to spend on two starters at least and a center fielder? Man I hope they can dump Izzy and Jones on some other team and Ruschs retires so we can afford both Lugo and Schmidt.
Posted
What happened with the Mets?

 

Contracted. Where you been?

 

Better than Kurt Douglas surfing through their streets, or am I getting confused?

 

Nah, you're pretty much right on target.

 

I was looking for a picture of Charley Steiner with a tie around his noggin', but I couldn't find it.

 

"INSERT CHARLEY STEINER FOLLOW ME TO FREEDOM PICTURE HERE."

 

One of the ALL-TIME classics!!!!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPt3eLv7Ie0

Posted
Schmidt + Westbrook/Lee + Lugo - Izturis = ?????

playoffs

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