Would you have sacrificed a season to spend big next year?

[UMFan83]

Would you have rather done what we did this year (overpay to sign "top" FAs in a very weak class) or would have rather the Cubs come out, make a few minor moves, hope that Prior gets healthy, and basically tell the fans that our best chance to win a World Series is in 2008 and that they are 'building' for it?

 

Look at the FA class next offseason:

 

1B: Mike Sweeney

2B: Castillo, M. Giles, Kent

SS: M. Young, C. Guillen, Uribe

3B: A. Rodriguez (potentially, not likely)

C: Lo Duca, Posada, I. Rodriguez

OF: Abreu, M. Bradley, Burrell, Byrnes, Dunn, Dye, Hunter, A. Jones, Rowand, Ichiro, V. Wells, Wilkerson, Bonds

 

SP: Buehrle, Colon, Garcia, Livan Hernandez, Jennings, R. Johnson, Lieber, Pinero, Rogers, Schilling, Smoltz, Westbrook

RP: Tons

 

Yes, that class isn't exactly 'loaded' but there are a ton more options to spend money on, and since the market is more diluted the prices would be more reasonable IMO. Also to note, a lot of these players will never see FA as they will be locked up before the end of the year. But you gotta think that the class would have given us a much better chance of winning in 2008.

 

I dunno, just a hypothetical question to think about.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Burrell isn't a FA until after '08, and Abreu and Dunn have options that have a decent likelihood of getting picked up. Guillen really intrigues me though. I wonder if Dombrowski would rather trade him now for a package than wait to see if he tests Free Agency.

[UMFan83]

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2000/04/2007-free-agents.html

 

Thats where I got my info....says Burrell is a FA after 2007....could be a mistake though

[Transmogrified Tiger]

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2000/04/2007-free-agents.html

 

Thats where I got my info....says Burrell is a FA after 2007....could be a mistake though

 

Probably, because I was going off of their Phillies page that says he makes 14M in '08.

[CubFanPhilly]

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2000/04/2007-free-agents.html

 

Thats where I got my info....says Burrell is a FA after 2007....could be a mistake though

 

It is a mistake on the web site. Burelll has two years left on his contract.

[oldstyle81]

after 99 years, whats another year. i mean whats another year of listening to people bitch about the cubs not doing anything and all the fans getting is a crap product on the field?

 

Maybe we shouldve just given Dusty 10 million for 1 year and say we will take our chances with 2008.

 

Your ideas are flawed as well, whos to say that a number of those players wont be resigned before then and whos to say that they will even want to sign with the cubs regaurdless of money.

 

the starting pitching crop isint exciting, Colon, too many injuries, R Johnson, Rogers, Schilling, Smoltz, too old.

[SouthSideRyan]

Somebody mentions this idea every offseason, and every next offseason the free agent class sucks again.

[UMFan83]

after 99 years, whats another year. i mean whats another year of listening to people bitch about the cubs not doing anything and all the fans getting is a crap product on the field?

 

Maybe we shouldve just given Dusty 10 million for 1 year and say we will take our chances with 2008.

 

Your ideas are flawed as well, whos to say that a number of those players wont be resigned before then and whos to say that they will even want to sign with the cubs regaurdless of money.

 

the starting pitching crop isint exciting, Colon, too many injuries, R Johnson, Rogers, Schilling, Smoltz, too old.

 

a) I said that there was a chance that a lot of these players would be locked up before they ever hit FA

 

b) I never endorsed either side of the question...I just wanted to throw out a hypothetical situation and see what people thought

 

c) The starting crop next year looks a HELL of a lot better then this years "led" by Zito (grossly overrated), Schmidt (injuries, lost velocity, old), and Meche (still don't completely understand why he was valued so high)

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't think next year's SPs are all that impressive. Too many in that list are at the very end of their careers.

[oldstyle81]

after 99 years, whats another year. i mean whats another year of listening to people bitch about the cubs not doing anything and all the fans getting is a crap product on the field?

 

Maybe we shouldve just given Dusty 10 million for 1 year and say we will take our chances with 2008.

 

Your ideas are flawed as well, whos to say that a number of those players wont be resigned before then and whos to say that they will even want to sign with the cubs regaurdless of money.

 

the starting pitching crop isint exciting, Colon, too many injuries, R Johnson, Rogers, Schilling, Smoltz, too old.

 

a) I said that there was a chance that a lot of these players would be locked up before they ever hit FA

 

b) I never endorsed either side of the question...I just wanted to throw out a hypothetical situation and see what people thought

 

c) The starting crop next year looks a HELL of a lot better then this years "led" by Zito (grossly overrated), Schmidt (injuries, lost velocity, old), and Meche (still don't completely understand why he was valued so high)

 

 

i wouldnt say its a hell of a lot better, you have 4 guys at or above 40 who could very well suck this year. Colon has shoulder problems, Prior and Wood are good examples of why not to bother with shoulder problems.

 

id much rather get someone at the trade dealine and go from there instead of waiting and possibly getting nothing from the 2007 FA crop

Edited December 11, 2006 by oldstyle81

[Guest]

Would you have rather done what we did this year (overpay to sign "top" FAs in a very weak class) or would have rather the Cubs come out, make a few minor moves, hope that Prior gets healthy, and basically tell the fans that our best chance to win a World Series is in 2008 and that they are 'building' for it?

 

Look at the FA class next offseason:

 

1B: Mike Sweeney

2B: Castillo, M. Giles, Kent

SS: M. Young, C. Guillen, Uribe

3B: A. Rodriguez (potentially, not likely)

C: Lo Duca, Posada, I. Rodriguez

OF: Abreu, M. Bradley, Burrell, Byrnes, Dunn, Dye, Hunter, A. Jones, Rowand, Ichiro, V. Wells, Wilkerson, Bonds

 

SP: Buehrle, Colon, Garcia, Livan Hernandez, Jennings, R. Johnson, Lieber, Pinero, Rogers, Schilling, Smoltz, Westbrook

RP: Tons

 

Yes, that class isn't exactly 'loaded' but there are a ton more options to spend money on, and since the market is more diluted the prices would be more reasonable IMO. Also to note, a lot of these players will never see FA as they will be locked up before the end of the year. But you gotta think that the class would have given us a much better chance of winning in 2008.

 

I dunno, just a hypothetical question to think about.

I don't think that class is much better than this one, honestly. Certainly not enough better to waste a season for.

[UMFan83]

I don't think next year's SPs are all that impressive. Too many in that list are at the very end of their careers.

 

Maybe not impressive but I think they are a lot better as a whole then this years.

 

Buerhle/Schilling/Smoltz/Westbrook (4 random pitchers) >> Zito, Schmidt, Meche, Lilly

[Soul]

I would have preferred a 2 year rebuilding plan, given this year's market.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't think next year's SPs are all that impressive. Too many in that list are at the very end of their careers.

 

Maybe not impressive but I think they are a lot better as a whole then this years.

 

Buerhle/Schilling/Smoltz/Westbrook (4 random pitchers) >> Zito, Schmidt, Meche, Lilly

I'm doubtful that Schilling or Smoltz will pitch beyond 2007.

[Guest]

If I were to go the rebuilding route, instead of waiting until next year's FA class as the key to my rebuilding I would have traded off some of the key assets from this team and gone young.

 

I'd much prefer that route to waiting to see who is available in FA a year from now.

[frostwyrm]

If it were up to me 2007 would have been a retooling period. No way do I give Alfonso Soriano $136M, to play a corner OF spot no less. The Lilly and Marquis deals are nuts too and I don't believe the market will stay this high. Z would already be gone. He's enough of difference maker to put a middle-of the-pack 2007 contender onto the WS short list, so he would've commanded a hefty price. He's an FA after 2007 anyway. All our stable of young SP's would've had a year to show what they've got, and Hill will be better with another year of seasoning.

[Soul]

If it were up to me 2007 would have been a retooling period. No way do I give Alfonso Soriano $136M, to play a corner OF spot no less. The Lilly and Marquis deals are nuts too and I don't believe the market will stay this high. Z would already be gone. He's enough of difference maker to put a middle-of the-pack 2007 contender onto the WS short list, so he would've commanded a hefty price. He's an FA after 2007 anyway. All our stable of young SP's would've had a year to show what they've got, and Hill will be better with another year of seasoning.

 

I suppose miracles can always happen but it's a heck of a way to run a railroad inflating the market only so we can get caught up in it and wind up with a bunch of longer-term mediocre pitching.

 

I might have preferred fixing the hitting/fielding holes this year, and then attempting to trade for pitching or acquire a choice FA through this season and next. That would have given us time to let a few deals simmer through 2 trade deadlines and what not. I think by shooting for the moon Hendry was doomed to wind up with a couple middle-of-the road pitchers. Not that I don't think they'll be an improvement over last year, but we would have had to go further for a championship IMO.

 

Pray for those miracles. Or just pray for Prior to start being Prior again.

[questionmarkgrace]

One of the only reasons I would be tempted to play Pie is because next years crop of outfielders is so deep. If he plays decent enough than stick with him if not make him a platoon partner because he has always hit rightys pretty consistently. Then we can decide whether or not to go after an outfielder while the market is flooded or stick with pie. At the very least you'll get great defense in an outfield that needs a great defender at center.

 

Of course if there was a way to upgrade at ss it would make it a lot easier to play pie.

[CubinNY]

My hope is that the Cubs can stay in contention until late June early July and look to deal some surplus pitching for a decent SS.

 

They are going to have to find OBP somewhere.

[Andy]

Cubs fans are dying every day without ever having seen a championship.

 

The answer is no. Always, always no.

[UMFan83]

Cubs fans are dying every day without ever having seen a championship.

 

The answer is no. Always, always no.

 

So you'd rather the Cubs spend a bunch of money on a mediocre FA crop and tying the team down financially for the next 3 years while not improving nearly enough to compete for a WS title?

[Andy]

Cubs fans are dying every day without ever having seen a championship.

 

The answer is no. Always, always no.

 

So you'd rather the Cubs spend a bunch of money on a mediocre FA crop and tying the team down financially for the next 3 years while not improving nearly enough to compete for a WS title?

When option B is a just-as-mediocre FA crop the following year? Yes.

[nilodnayr]

If I were to go the rebuilding route, instead of waiting until next year's FA class as the key to my rebuilding I would have traded off some of the key assets from this team and gone young.

 

I'd much prefer that route to waiting to see who is available in FA a year from now.

 

Expanding on what Tim mentioned, giving the kids a chance to play would give us a better idea of where we need to upgrade next year. I wouldn't have a problem making some trades in this inflated market either (Eyre, Dempster, Jones, Izturis, Ohman, Barrett). However, Hendry's #1 priority is saving his job. If he went into next year with a rotation of something like Z, Hill, Marquis, Miller, Marshall/Prior/Marmol he'd be destroyed by the media even though that rotation wouldn't be much worse than what we have now.

[Shilzzz]

i don't think it should be a 'don't spend this year, spend next year instead' sort of thing. it should be a matter of making a plan that spans a five to seven year period where contracts are set to come and go while eying talent in the mean time to fill holes, so if a rotation spot opens because kerry wood is moving to the pen, maybe we pick up lilly, maybe not. maybe we pick up soriano, if he and that contract fits into that plan(whether or not he does is not important). and then filling in the other spots with farm system guys where and when we can.

 

this is the problem with the cubs current administration, recognizing talent and how it fits into our idea of what the team will be, rather than making up for mistakes on the run to save jobs. if the first is done properly the second is unnecessary, which is why hendry should not be our clubs general manager.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Somebody mentions this idea every offseason, and every next offseason the free agent class sucks again.

 

Exactly.

 

While the Cubs are opening their wallets on free agents, I really would like it if they continue to revamp the international scouting big time to go along with what Wilken will do.

 

And if you're going to wait on better free agent classes, as Tim said, might as well trade away your tradeable assets and start over.