Big Z will leave

[rocket]

if i were about to sign a contract worth over 100 million i'd probably refer to myself in the third person

[sethuel1]

if i were about to sign a contract worth over 100 million i'd probably refer to myself in the third person

I'd refer to myself as Captain Moneypants.

[nilodnayr]

 

Moreover, I think a package of players like Kendrick, Weaver, and Morales would be doable. Zambrano is a legitimate ace and we've seen guys with significantly less talent get traded for obscene packages. You don't think Zambrano could command a package like Tabata/Hughes/Sanchez from the Yankees, Maybin/Miller/Jurrjens from the Tigers, Pelfrey/Milledge/Gomez from the Mets? Personally, I think teams would be happy to offer up those packages to get what essentially would be a guaranteed playoff ticket in Zambrano.

 

Personally, no I don't think we could get those packages. Its hard to tell though. Who was the last player of Z's stature to be traded the year before he became a FA? Beltran is all I can think of. He netted Mark Teahen, John Buck, Mike Wood, and cash. Not the plentiful bounty in the trade proposals above.

[nilodnayr]

if i were about to sign a contract worth over 100 million i'd probably refer to myself in the third person

I'd refer to myself as Captain Moneypants.

 

I'd give myself a rank higher than Captain. General Motors ruined the title General, and plus I just got an electric bill for $254 (and I live in a freakin one bedroom), so General Electric, or anything with the word electric in it boils my blood. General Mills wins some of that back because food is good, but the damage is done.

 

Colonel Moneypants has a nice ring to it. Colonel Sanders makes good chicken and Colonel Angus is one of the like 3 funny sketches SNL has put out in the last 5 years.

 

You could go the Navy route, but if we are talking about Moneypants, I don't think Seaman or Rear Admiral would work well before it.

[A New Era]

Plus Colonel Sanders was a really loyal to dark helmet.

 

I've got a solution. Sign Zambrano to 7 years $20 million per, but have absolutely NO no trade clause in it. If you've got some guys who step up pitching wise, then you can trade him in a couple of years to someone with a big wallet and alot of prospects. .

[Brian]

Cubs without Carlos would be horrible.

[Guest]

Here's an idea:

 

Signed Z to a 3-4 yr deal worth say...$14 mill per. It keeps the Cubs financially responsible, plus it give the org enough time to see Veal/Pawelek/Guzman/Hill/Gallagher/ blah, blah enough time to know if any of those young pitchers can step up. If half of them step up before 2010, move Z (who should only be like 29-30 in 2010), and have a cheaper rotation. By think both Lilly and Marquis would be in their last yr, or already gone, and Prior is coming off a 4 yr stretch that rivals on Johan Santana.

[Danny82]

Cubs without Carlos would be horrible.

Not necessarily. If they got Weaver and Kendrick in return for him, they could be just as good, and possibly better.

[Danny82]

Here's an idea:

 

Signed Z to a 3-4 yr deal worth say...$14 mill per. It keeps the Cubs financially responsible, plus it give the org enough time to see Veal/Pawelek/Guzman/Hill/Gallagher/ blah, blah enough time to know if any of those young pitchers can step up. If half of them step up before 2010, move Z (who should only be like 29-30 in 2010), and have a cheaper rotation. By think both Lilly and Marquis would be in their last yr, or already gone, and Prior is coming off a 4 yr stretch that rivals on Johan Santana.

But why would Z sign a 3 or 4 year deal for 14M per?

[C.C.]

Here's an idea:

 

Signed Z to a 3-4 yr deal worth say...$14 mill per. It keeps the Cubs financially responsible, plus it give the org enough time to see Veal/Pawelek/Guzman/Hill/Gallagher/ blah, blah enough time to know if any of those young pitchers can step up. If half of them step up before 2010, move Z (who should only be like 29-30 in 2010), and have a cheaper rotation. By think both Lilly and Marquis would be in their last yr, or already gone, and Prior is coming off a 4 yr stretch that rivals on Johan Santana.

But why would Z sign a 3 or 4 year deal for 14M per?

 

That won't happen. With all of Z talk he wants Zito's contract.

[waffle]

Sounds like bye bye to Big Z, which is a shame.

[RynoRules]

I would not sign Z to a 5 plus year deal worth 18 mill per. I don't know if I'd sign any pitcher to that sort of deal, lest his name were Koufax, Drysdale, Gibson, Matthewson, Maddux, Clemens....you get the point.

 

I think Z for ARod (assuming he agrees to an extension) is a good deal for us, but that is just me.

[frostwyrm]

I still think Z will be resigned. He obviously is playing hardball with the negotiations. He's on record as wanting a Zito type deal and he just wants to show he meant what he said. In the end Hendry will have to give Z what he wants. The Cubs are a team built to win within the next 2 years and if Z leaves the whole plan collapses. I'm sure Hendry knows that would cost him his job.

[USSoccer]

Here is where a healthy Mark Prior could help the Cubs, leverage wise.

 

If I were Hendry, I'd see what he's worth right now. If the Angels offer a package including Weaver, I'd deal him. If we're getting offers of prospects that aren't ML ready and/or don't include a pitcher, I'd offer him a 3 year $54m deal with zero NTC's. If he doesn't accept, I play the season out. If we're in the race, keep him. If we suck, he'll be worth a damn fortune at the deadline. Deal him. If we're muddling about in a mediocre division, and Prior is healthy and Gooz is ripping up AAA, I'd deal him.

 

I love Z, but this is going to be Hendry's tipping point as GM. If he plays this right we'll be in good shape. If he screws this up we're in deep trouble.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Here is where a healthy Mark Prior could help the Cubs, leverage wise.

 

If I were Hendry, I'd see what he's worth right now. If the Angels offer a package including Weaver, I'd deal him. If we're getting offers of prospects that aren't ML ready and/or don't include a pitcher, I'd offer him a 3 year $54m deal with zero NTC's. If he doesn't accept, I play the season out. If we're in the race, keep him. If we suck, he'll be worth a damn fortune at the deadline. Deal him. If we're muddling about in a mediocre division, and Prior is healthy and Gooz is ripping up AAA, I'd deal him.

 

I love Z, but this is going to be Hendry's tipping point as GM. If he plays this right we'll be in good shape. If he screws this up we're in deep trouble.

 

How does Hendry not screw this up? Either he trades Z and endures the backlash or pays near FA market value for a guy with legit injury concerns.

 

Why can't Z pull a Carpenter/Oswalt and give us a decent hometown discount? How about a little love for the fans and the org that turned you into what you are as a pitcher?

[USSoccer]

Here is where a healthy Mark Prior could help the Cubs, leverage wise.

 

If I were Hendry, I'd see what he's worth right now. If the Angels offer a package including Weaver, I'd deal him. If we're getting offers of prospects that aren't ML ready and/or don't include a pitcher, I'd offer him a 3 year $54m deal with zero NTC's. If he doesn't accept, I play the season out. If we're in the race, keep him. If we suck, he'll be worth a damn fortune at the deadline. Deal him. If we're muddling about in a mediocre division, and Prior is healthy and Gooz is ripping up AAA, I'd deal him.

 

I love Z, but this is going to be Hendry's tipping point as GM. If he plays this right we'll be in good shape. If he screws this up we're in deep trouble.

 

How does Hendry not screw this up? Either he trades Z and endures the backlash or pays near FA market value for a guy with legit injury concerns.

 

The backlash would be short lived if he dealt him for a package like Weaver and Aybar.

[frostwyrm]

Hendry would have had a lot more leverage in a trade if Z had been shopped in the fall or better yet at last summer's deadline. It's mid-February now and the contenders have their major pieces in place for next season. At this point Z would be a last-minute type of addition. Obviously he would still be attractive but it would have been better for teams to have time to plan around Z.

[Roast]

Oh crap. Please resign him Hendry!

[Backtobanks]

Some interesting points in the discussion. It sure would be nice to see Prior come back completely to reduce the fears of Zambrano leaving. As for waiting until the trade deadline, I can't see the Cubs being out of contention by July in the weak NL Central. I do think Zambrano is playing hardball right now and he might settle for a slight home town discount. He certainly has nothing to lose by playing hardball right now. Just add this to the list of items on the "Hendry can't win" list. He's damned if he signs him and damned if he doesn't.

[Mark Priors Calves]

jimbo will get this done.

[cubbyvirus00]

I could be wrong, but Carlos has stated that he wants to be a Cub for the rest of his career.

 

Jim Hendry failed on Carlos a year or two ago, when he SHOULD of offered him an extension of some sort for less money, instead of waiting until the final year of his contract.

 

This guy is getting paid pennys compared to the other pitches of his caliber. Give him his money and end it.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Here is where a healthy Mark Prior could help the Cubs, leverage wise.

 

If I were Hendry, I'd see what he's worth right now. If the Angels offer a package including Weaver, I'd deal him. If we're getting offers of prospects that aren't ML ready and/or don't include a pitcher, I'd offer him a 3 year $54m deal with zero NTC's. If he doesn't accept, I play the season out. If we're in the race, keep him. If we suck, he'll be worth a damn fortune at the deadline. Deal him. If we're muddling about in a mediocre division, and Prior is healthy and Gooz is ripping up AAA, I'd deal him.

 

I love Z, but this is going to be Hendry's tipping point as GM. If he plays this right we'll be in good shape. If he screws this up we're in deep trouble.

 

How does Hendry not screw this up? Either he trades Z and endures the backlash or pays near FA market value for a guy with legit injury concerns.

 

The backlash would be short lived if he dealt him for a package like Weaver and Aybar.

 

Hey, I'm all for it, but Hendry is going to get roasted in the short term. He might not have a job long enough to see that deal turn out in the Cubs' favor.

 

Dealing Z is the best long term move, IMO, but it seems as though the Cubs are in to win it now, not develop prospects.

[Soul]

jimbo will get this done.

 

He might be maxxed out already. Z wants the kind of money that other teams build their entire rosters on.

 

If Hendry loses Zambrano, the Grim Reaper cometh.

[Fro]

How does Hendry not screw this up? Either he trades Z and endures the backlash or pays near FA market value for a guy with legit injury concerns.

 

Or you let him become a FA and get top draft picks. You're clearly not going to trade him before the deadline at this point, when you've went all-in to win this year.

[radarluv1]

jim thought ahead and got a replacement for Z. his name is jason marquis.