How much is ownership change going to affect the offseason?

[UMFan83]

We all have the theory that the Cubs are not going to be spending much if any money in the offseason. And we all know with the backloaded contracts the Cubs have, their payroll is going to go up about $20 million even if they did nothing. So the question I have is, is this theory correct? Is there any realistic way to imagine the Cubs going out and spending yet again to get the pieces they need to get better?

 

Are there examples of ownership changes in the past that both the new owners and the old owners had an agreement to spend X amount of dollars to build the team while ownership was in the process of changing hands?

 

I am just curious because I think that people are being unrealistic if they are talking someone like ARod. I think a role player or two (possibly a fill in if Pie doesn't pan out) is all we can really expect without making a trade, but I wanted to see if there was any precident for this.

[Brian]

like to see what Bruce knows on this situation

[Rooksports]

Wouldn't it really have to be bottom line, who the new owner is?

 

If be some grace of God, it turns out to be Cuban, how could you not think that ARod would be on the radar if he opts out?

 

Otherwise, if not him....you would have to think that the investment they already have with all the contracts might have to be enough. Put a piece here and there, but in no way can you think that they'll be another spending spree.

 

And if you think about it....what are you trying to piece together? Catcher? Soto is sloted with Blanco at backup.

 

Right handed outfielder? Do you not give Murton the chance to win the spot? Don't we have Patterson in the minors, Fox, etc that can also at least fill that spot?

 

Pitching of course.....that might be the focus of the offseason.

[Backtobanks]

Wouldn't it really have to be bottom line, who the new owner is?

 

If be some grace of God, it turns out to be Cuban, how could you not think that ARod would be on the radar if he opts out?

 

Otherwise, if not him....you would have to think that the investment they already have with all the contracts might have to be enough. Put a piece here and there, but in no way can you think that they'll be another spending spree.

 

And if you think about it....what are you trying to piece together? Catcher? Soto is sloted with Blanco at backup.

 

Right handed outfielder? Do you not give Murton the chance to win the spot? Don't we have Patterson in the minors, Fox, etc that can also at least fill that spot?

 

Pitching of course.....that might be the focus of the offseason.

 

As much as I would love to have ARod, I can't believe the Cubs would really be players in the ARod sweepstakes regardless of who the new owner might be (okay, maybe Cuban might go after him, but I don't think Cuban will be the new owner). I don't think they need any more pitching, but they do need to figure out what to do on offense. I think the key is going to be finding out if Pie can hit major league pitching well enough to play everyday. Obviously, he looked terrible in very limited at bats. I think Murton can be the everyday RF, but will he be given that chance? Another important issue that needs to be addressed is convincing Soriano to bat in the middle of the lineup. A deal for Renteria would solidify the lineup.

[shnsajax]

Wouldn't it really have to be bottom line, who the new owner is?

 

If be some grace of God, it turns out to be Cuban, how could you not think that ARod would be on the radar if he opts out?

 

Otherwise, if not him....you would have to think that the investment they already have with all the contracts might have to be enough. Put a piece here and there, but in no way can you think that they'll be another spending spree.

 

And if you think about it....what are you trying to piece together? Catcher? Soto is sloted with Blanco at backup.

 

Right handed outfielder? Do you not give Murton the chance to win the spot? Don't we have Patterson in the minors, Fox, etc that can also at least fill that spot?

 

Pitching of course.....that might be the focus of the offseason.

 

As much as I would love to have ARod, I can't believe the Cubs would really be players in the ARod sweepstakes regardless of who the new owner might be (okay, maybe Cuban might go after him, but I don't think Cuban will be the new owner). I don't think they need any more pitching, but they do need to figure out what to do on offense. I think the key is going to be finding out if Pie can hit major league pitching well enough to play everyday. Obviously, he looked terrible in very limited at bats. I think Murton can be the everyday RF, but will he be given that chance? Another important issue that needs to be addressed is convincing Soriano to bat in the middle of the lineup. A deal for Renteria would solidify the lineup.

 

Unless Arod would be willing to take a 1 year deal while waiting for ownership to be decided :-).

[CubinNY]

My highly uninformed opinion is that not much will change next year b/c the new owner will takeover in the winter. I imagine everyone will be retained unless someone really pees in the punchbowl at the Welcome New Owner Party.

 

If big changes are going to be made they likely will be before the 2009 season unless the Cubs completely flop in the first half of 2008.

 

I am really worried about who will own the Cubs. If the owner is "good for baseball" I fear he will be bad for Cub fans, b/c that will mean he's in tight with Rinesdorf and Selig.

 

Which brings me to my next gripe/question. Why should Rinesdorf, Selig, or any owner have a say in who ownes the Chicago National League Ball Club? I mean, from a business standpoint Rinsesdorf is a direct competitor of the Cubs. I think he'd love to see a dip in popularity.

 

Anyway, those are my 2 cents.

[nilodnayr]

Liberty Media bought the braves in Feb and decreased their payroll by a couple million. This is actually a good proxy for the cubs. IIRC there was unknown and such and it really handcuffed the braves in the offseason.

[Prior4CyYoung]

channel 5 news just said it was unlikely tribune would have sold the cubs by the start of next year. Not sure what to make of that but that is the first I have heard of that as a possibility.

[anabiono]

i don't care, i just want to see a bloody world series championship before i die

[Fred Hornkohl]

i don't care, i just want to see a bloody world series championship before i die

 

I really don't care to frame the issue in those terms anymore !!! :wink:

[anabiono]

i don't care, i just want to see a bloody world series championship before i die

 

I really don't care to frame the issue in those terms anymore !!! :wink:

 

doh, whatever nerve i hit fred...remember i am young and have very little tact

 

sorry buddy

 

:o

[Fred Hornkohl]

i don't care, i just want to see a bloody world series championship before i die

 

I really don't care to frame the issue in those terms anymore !!! :wink:

 

doh, whatever nerve i hit fred...remember i am young and have very little tact

 

sorry buddy

 

:o

 

I was thinking during the game, as I looked out over the right field bleachers.... maybe I could rent out the Miller Lite sign and put up a pitcher of me with my grandson and a caption that reads..... "Will he have to wait 100 years, too ?"

[NewUserName]

I think we are assuming things that we dont know.

 

When Mike Illitch bought the Tigers, everyone there assumed that the Tigers would be an overnight success. He would spend big money and the Tigers would win. Of course this didnt happen. Being a winner is baseball is not as easy as saying "lets get Cuban and spend more money" If that was the case than the Baltimore Orioles would be a contender. After several years of not being successful as the owner of the Tigers, Illitch finally brought in a GM with a proven history of building winning teams.

 

I want our new owner whoever it is to succeed. I think the most important thing that whoever the new owner is, they have to build a productive system that is producing good and sometimes great major league players. Yes this may hurt to watch for a few years.

[rynefan]

They did say on the news today (Monday) that they team will likely still be owned by the Trib on opening day, and also, they haven't decided if they will break up the package and sell the pieces.

[Soul]

I think we are assuming things that we dont know.

 

When Mike Illitch bought the Tigers, everyone there assumed that the Tigers would be an overnight success. He would spend big money and the Tigers would win. Of course this didnt happen. Being a winner is baseball is not as easy as saying "lets get Cuban and spend more money" If that was the case than the Baltimore Orioles would be a contender. After several years of not being successful as the owner of the Tigers, Illitch finally brought in a GM with a proven history of building winning teams.

 

I want our new owner whoever it is to succeed. I think the most important thing that whoever the new owner is, they have to build a productive system that is producing good and sometimes great major league players. Yes this may hurt to watch for a few years.

 

We need to get the farm right, I agree.