Are the Cubs contenders the next 2-3 years?

[soccer10k]

They need a catcher, SS, CF, LF/RF, and probably a 2nd baseman. Not all of them have to be all-stars. But at least they should be able to get on base at a decent clip.

 

C - Soto deserves a legitimate shot.

SS - Theriot's line of .290/.352/.376/.728 would be seventh out of twelve SS in the NL which is fine if you have other hitters in the order.

CF - Pie, like Soto, deserves a legitimate shot.

LF/RF - Ditto for Murton. There's no reason to believe he can't repeat his .809 OPS from 06 if given consistent playing time.

2B - DeRosa.

 

Obviously, if these guys underperform then the Cubs will be in need of another bat. But if Murton and Soto can produce the lineup will be fine.

 

EDIT: Just playing a devil's advocate here.

[Bote McBoteface]

Is there any actual truth behind this Crawford talk? What would be Tampa's incentive to trade one of the best young outfielders? Is he coming up on a big contract soon, or is this just a pipe dream?

[jersey cubs fan]

They need a catcher, SS, CF, LF/RF, and probably a 2nd baseman. Not all of them have to be all-stars. But at least they should be able to get on base at a decent clip.

 

C - Soto deserves a legitimate shot.

SS - Theriot's line of .290/.352/.376/.728 would be seventh out of twelve SS in the NL which is fine if you have other hitters in the order.

CF - Pie, like Soto, deserves a legitimate shot.

LF/RF - Ditto for Murton. There's no reason to believe he can't repeat his .809 OPS from 06 if given consistent playing time.

2B - DeRosa.

 

Obviously, if these guys underperform then the Cubs will be in need of another bat. But if Murton and Soto can produce the lineup will be fine.

 

EDIT: Just playing a devil's advocate here.

 

Yes, guys deserve shots. But the fact is, they need something close to guaranteed production in at least one of those spots. Ideally they would have played Murton all year and would know a heck of a lot more about what he might bring next year.

[frostwyrm]

The only reason this team is over .500 is because of the soft schedule due to the horribleness of the NL Central. The Cubs are no better than mediocre now. We also have $90M committed to 7 players in 2009, so we'll need to see what the new owner wants to spend before we can even begin to talk about contending longterm.

[RynoRules]

 

 

Did anyone in here really say "makings of a dynasty"?

 

 

I sincerely believe they have all the ingredients right now for a dynasty. They just need to gel a teensy bit more.

 

I dont know if Id use the word dynasty, but we definitely have the type of team that will be in contention for years to come. We have the core of our team signed long term. The Brewers coukd be a threat for a while, but once their guys start coming up for free agency, and the Yanks, Mets, Angels, and Red Sox start throwing obscene contracts at them, the Brewers wont be able to match them. The Cardnals are going to ultimately have to realise that if thy want to win, they'll have to sever ties with the Albatross Brothers(Edmonds and Rolen) and go after some real talent.

 

So, yes.

 

OK, so one person used the term and now this whole thread is "out of control"? Most of the analysis in here has been pretty tepid if you ask me. Almost everyone agrees they need at least one more position player and perhaps two. I am surprised no one else thinks they could use another starting pitcher.

[soccer10k]

They need a catcher, SS, CF, LF/RF, and probably a 2nd baseman. Not all of them have to be all-stars. But at least they should be able to get on base at a decent clip.

 

C - Soto deserves a legitimate shot.

SS - Theriot's line of .290/.352/.376/.728 would be seventh out of twelve SS in the NL which is fine if you have other hitters in the order.

CF - Pie, like Soto, deserves a legitimate shot.

LF/RF - Ditto for Murton. There's no reason to believe he can't repeat his .809 OPS from 06 if given consistent playing time.

2B - DeRosa.

 

Obviously, if these guys underperform then the Cubs will be in need of another bat. But if Murton and Soto can produce the lineup will be fine.

 

EDIT: Just playing a devil's advocate here.

 

Yes, guys deserve shots. But the fact is, they need something close to guaranteed production in at least one of those spots. Ideally they would have played Murton all year and would know a heck of a lot more about what he might bring next year.

 

I agree. CubinNY made it sound like the Cubs had complete scrubs at those positions who had no business starting.

 

It would be good to see an upgrade at one of those, though.

[TheDude]

Is there any actual truth behind this Crawford talk? What would be Tampa's incentive to trade one of the best young outfielders? Is he coming up on a big contract soon, or is this just a pipe dream?

 

Pure speculation. However, TB can't Crawford soon, and the organization's best move is to deal him sooner to improve the value of the return package.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is there any actual truth behind this Crawford talk? What would be Tampa's incentive to trade one of the best young outfielders? Is he coming up on a big contract soon, or is this just a pipe dream?

 

Pure speculation. However, TB can't Crawford soon, and the organization's best move is to deal him sooner to improve the value of the return package.

 

What's this mean?

 

FYI, Crawford is signed to a very team friendly contract and under team control through 2010. In '08, he's only owed $5.25m, making him very affordable. The $8.25m option in '09 might inspire a trade by then, but since the acquiring team would be able to keep him for just $10m in 2010, I'm guessing they'll hold out on a trade.

[nolanwood]

I'd offer every prospect the Marlins wanted in exchange for Miggy.

[CubinNY]

They need a catcher, SS, CF, LF/RF, and probably a 2nd baseman. Not all of them have to be all-stars. But at least they should be able to get on base at a decent clip.

 

C - Soto deserves a legitimate shot.

SS - Theriot's line of .290/.352/.376/.728 would be seventh out of twelve SS in the NL which is fine if you have other hitters in the order.

CF - Pie, like Soto, deserves a legitimate shot.

LF/RF - Ditto for Murton. There's no reason to believe he can't repeat his .809 OPS from 06 if given consistent playing time.

2B - DeRosa.

 

Obviously, if these guys underperform then the Cubs will be in need of another bat. But if Murton and Soto can produce the lineup will be fine.

 

EDIT: Just playing a devil's advocate here.

 

Yes, guys deserve shots. But the fact is, they need something close to guaranteed production in at least one of those spots. Ideally they would have played Murton all year and would know a heck of a lot more about what he might bring next year.

 

I agree. CubinNY made it sound like the Cubs had complete scrubs at those positions who had no business starting.

 

It would be good to see an upgrade at one of those, though.

 

I don't know where you get the idea that I think the Cubs have scrubs at every position I mentioned, but to each his own. 7th out of 12 is not good production no matter what position we are talking about, but we are talking about SS.

 

Nobody knows what the Cubs will get out of Soto.

 

I am one of Murton's biggest supporters and was lambasted for suggesting he wouldn't get playing time during the preseason. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing that the Cubs have done with Murton to date suggest that they plan on giving him regular playing time. Nothing.

 

DeRosa is fine I suppose.

 

I guess it's all good if one is planning on creating a medicore team and spending a lot of money to do so.

[jmajew]

The problem in adding a big bat is that there aren't really any top offensive outfielders with the defensive profile to play RF likely to be available.

 

The best idea would probably be to move Soriano to RF and then look into Dunn or Burrell for LF.

 

If RF is the big bat acquisition, then Pie plays CF everyday. With Pie's range, the RF doesn't need anything better than average or even slightly sub-average defense.

 

 

I think possibly he meant the OF's are all CF's (Hunter, Jones, etc.), correct?

 

Kind of. Even via trade, try to find someone that you think would be a big offensive upgrade in RF who wouldn't make you cringe every time a ball is hit his way.

 

I've done a fifty-yard dash through MLB and there aren't any guys like that.

 

I suppose you could sign one of the veteran CFs and play Pie or Jones in RF, but that doesn't appeal to me.

 

Dunn-Pie-Soriano

Burrell-Pie-Soriano

 

Sounds like you're strictly talking FAs, otherwise you're then saying there isn't a RF upgrade in all baseball. I'm advocating the Cubs deal from farm strength (pitching) to get an OF (either CF or RF), then plug Murton or Pie in the remaining spot. Or include Murton in the deal and plug Pie RF if the target is a CF.

 

There are quite a few options out there, and they don't have to be over the hill. A team stocked with young OF (say TB), but short on pitching might be willing to deal, even if the Cubs have to overpay a bit. Hell, I'd offer Hill and target Crawford, for example, then run Soriano, Pie, and Crawford as the fastest OF in baseball (with 60+ HR expectation).

 

I'm all for going for Crawford. He would without a doubt be an upgrade. I just don't know how you would set up a lineup with him and Soriano. To me they seem to be very similar players.

 

My preference is to trade for Burrell who will only be 31 next year. I'm pretty sure a deal of Murton and Marshall could net us Burrell. Then we would have an ideal lineup of Theriot, Soriano, DLEE, Burrell, Ramirez, DeRosa, Soto/Kendall, Pie.

 

In my mind the mistake we made this offseason was signing Soriano over Carlos Lee. I would have much preferred a lineup of Theriot, DeRosa, DLEE, CLEE, Ramirez, Floyd, Jones, Kendall over a lineup of Soriano, Theriot, DLEE, Ramirez, DeRosa, Floyd, Jones, Kendall. But hindsight is 20/20.

 

really not an issue... if you have a good player and a similar player is available, go get him: then you'll have two good players :) But seriously, lineup construction is not a big deal, at least not to the degree that it should affect out interest in Crawford.

 

Hell, look at Pierre. JH went hard after him because he went after players based on what he expected a lineup to look like.

 

As I said I am all for getting Crawford and I don't think we should be hesitant about trading for him. Crawford over the past 3 years has been at his best in over 600 ABs when he bats second. A lineup of Soriano, Crawford, DLEE, Ramirez, DeRosa, Soto, Theriot, Pie would be one of the best in baseball. A great balance of speed and power.

 

Also I knew how I would set up the lineup. I just have a serous man crush on Theriot and I want to see him at the top of the order for years to come.