Jump Forward (12/08)

[Backtobanks]

The Cubs have won the WS and Mark Cuban now owns the Cubs. Everybody is happy, but Cuban wants to make a big splash for 2009. What transaction do you think is possible? The top 2 possibilities that I could think of are going after Sabathia and trading for Carlos Beltran. I would think re-signing Dempster and Wood are pretty safe bets, so I didn't consider those moves.

[rawaction]

Cubs trade Felix Pie, Josh Vitters, Carlos Marmol, Rich Hill, and CASH to the Florida Marlins for Hanley Ramirez and Kevin Gregg.

[UMFan83]

The Cubs have won the WS and Mark Cuban now owns the Cubs. Everybody is happy, but Cuban wants to make a big splash for 2009. What transaction do you think is possible? The top 2 possibilities that I could think of are going after Sabathia and trading for Carlos Beltran. I would think re-signing Dempster and Wood are pretty safe bets, so I didn't consider those moves.

 

If the Cubs won the World Series, I would not expect the Cubs to make major moves.

 

Cubs started the season at $118M

 

Zambrano gets a 2.75M raise

Ramirez gets a 1.65M raise

Soriano gets a 3M raise

Lilly gets a 5M raise

Fukudome gets a 5.5M raise

Marquis gets a 3.5M raise

DeRosa gets a 750K raise

Harden will get a 3.5M raise if option is picked up

Gaudin will probably get a 1M raise in arbitration

 

Thats 25.65M in salary added right there

 

Dempster is a FA and if the Cubs try to resign him, he's going to make significantly more than the 5.5M he made this year. Kerry Wood after a All Star mostly successful year as closer will want significantly more money than the 1.75 (+ incentives) he received this year.

 

Howry (4M) is off the books, Edmonds (insignificant) is off the books, Lieber (3.5M) is off the books, Reed Johnson (1.3M) is off the books, Ward (1.2M is off the books)

 

Blanco has a 3M option (made 2.8M in 08)

 

That's 20.05M lost off the books

 

 

 

The rest of the team is making under 1M and mostly under arbitration and won't get more than 300-500k in raises (I think)

 

Meaning our payroll will roughly be at 123.60M for 17 players. You are then missing a reliever (can be filled in minors), number 3 starter (can resign Dempster for 10M or fill in minors), a closer (can use Marmol, fill in reliever spot in minors or resign Wood for lets say 5M guaranteed + incentives), a CF (both sides of the platoon), a LH bench player (Hoffpauir can fill this role), a backup catcher (can be found cheaply most likely) and a long reliever (not significant to speculate, but probably minors)

 

Lets say the Cubs resign Dempster and Wood and fill the rest of the needs internally. That brings the payroll to roughly 140M, a raise of 22M just to reach status quo. Then throw into consideration the fact that the team's ownership will change hands during the offseason, I would think its completely unrealistic to suggest that the ballclub is improved with anything other then a possible trade.

Edited August 10, 2008 by UMFan83

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I don't think we'll re-sign Dempster and add another SP. It's possible, but I don't see payroll going up that much.

 

I think if we win it all, they will make all efforts to keep the core of the team together for a repeat run.

 

If a splash is made, Sabathia or Sheets both could be the one.

[imb]

I don't think we'll re-sign Dempster and add another SP. It's possible, but I don't see payroll going up that much.

 

I think if we win it all, they will make all efforts to keep the core of the team together for a repeat run.

 

If a splash is made, Sabathia or Sheets both could be the one.

 

it's possible that dempster might sign a backloaded deal, as well, and take marquis' money when he leaves after 09.

[Skyballer]

My biggest hope is the resigning of Dempster and picking up the option on Harden. I think Harden, Z, Demp is a super rotation no matter who your 4,5 are.

 

Can you imagine the rotation for a whole season:

 

Harden

Zambrano

Dempster

any 2 of (Marshall, Hill, Lilly, Marquis) Maybe shark or Gaudin

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If the Cubs re-sign Dempster, they'll have 5 contracted starters with Z, Harden, Dempster, Lilly, and Marquis, in addition to Marshall, Hill, Gaudin, and Samardzija being capable as well. There's no way they'd add another starter.

[Skyballer]

If the Cubs re-sign Dempster, they'll have 5 contracted starters with Z, Harden, Dempster, Lilly, and Marquis, in addition to Marshall, Hill, Gaudin, and Samardzija being capable as well. There's no way they'd add another starter.

I do not think they need to do much big splashing this season, as long as Dempster and Harden are Cubs i don't care, I really don't think that Kerry Wood is all that important to resign, though I would definitely prefer it.

[Hosak8]

The Cubs have won the WS and Mark Cuban now owns the Cubs. Everybody is happy, but Cuban wants to make a big splash for 2009. What transaction do you think is possible? The top 2 possibilities that I could think of are going after Sabathia and trading for Carlos Beltran. I would think re-signing Dempster and Wood are pretty safe bets, so I didn't consider those moves.

 

If the Cubs won the World Series, I would not expect the Cubs to make major moves.

 

Cubs started the season at $118M

 

Zambrano gets a 2.75M raise

Ramirez gets a 1.65M raise

Soriano gets a 3M raise

Lilly gets a 5M raise

Fukudome gets a 5.5M raise

Marquis gets a 3.5M raise

DeRosa gets a 750K raise

Harden will get a 3.5M raise if option is picked up

Gaudin will probably get a 1M raise in arbitration

 

Thats 25.65M in salary added right there

 

Dempster is a FA and if the Cubs try to resign him, he's going to make significantly more than the 5.5M he made this year. Kerry Wood after a All Star mostly successful year as closer will want significantly more money than the 1.75 (+ incentives) he received this year.

 

Howry (4M) is off the books, Edmonds (insignificant) is off the books, Lieber (3.5M) is off the books, Reed Johnson (1.3M) is off the books, Ward (1.2M is off the books)

 

Blanco has a 3M option (made 2.8M in 08)

 

That's 20.05M lost off the books

 

 

 

The rest of the team is making under 1M and mostly under arbitration and won't get more than 300-500k in raises (I think)

 

Meaning our payroll will roughly be at 123.60M for 17 players. You are then missing a reliever (can be filled in minors), number 3 starter (can resign Dempster for 10M or fill in minors), a closer (can use Marmol, fill in reliever spot in minors or resign Wood for lets say 5M guaranteed + incentives), a CF (both sides of the platoon), a LH bench player (Hoffpauir can fill this role), a backup catcher (can be found cheaply most likely) and a long reliever (not significant to speculate, but probably minors)

 

Lets say the Cubs resign Dempster and Wood and fill the rest of the needs internally. That brings the payroll to roughly 140M, a raise of 22M just to reach status quo. Then throw into consideration the fact that the team's ownership will change hands during the offseason, I would think its completely unrealistic to suggest that the ballclub is improved with anything other then a possible trade.

 

If the option is Dempster for 10M or Sabathia for 18M, I'll take Sabathia. (Granted, we'll need to see just how badly the Brewers abuse him the rest of the way.) Not that I don't like Dempster, but if you can get a Cy Young caliber lefty, you do it.

 

Zambrano, Sabathia, Harden, and Lilly as your top 4? Dang.

[MSG T]

The Cubs have won the WS and Mark Cuban now owns the Cubs. Everybody is happy, but Cuban wants to make a big splash for 2009. What transaction do you think is possible? The top 2 possibilities that I could think of are going after Sabathia and trading for Carlos Beltran. I would think re-signing Dempster and Wood are pretty safe bets, so I didn't consider those moves.

 

If the Cubs won the World Series, I would not expect the Cubs to make major moves.

 

Cubs started the season at $118M

 

Zambrano gets a 2.75M raise

Ramirez gets a 1.65M raise

Soriano gets a 3M raise

Lilly gets a 5M raise

Fukudome gets a 5.5M raise

Marquis gets a 3.5M raise

DeRosa gets a 750K raise

Harden will get a 3.5M raise if option is picked up

Gaudin will probably get a 1M raise in arbitration

 

Thats 25.65M in salary added right there

 

Dempster is a FA and if the Cubs try to resign him, he's going to make significantly more than the 5.5M he made this year. Kerry Wood after a All Star mostly successful year as closer will want significantly more money than the 1.75 (+ incentives) he received this year.

 

Howry (4M) is off the books, Edmonds (insignificant) is off the books, Lieber (3.5M) is off the books, Reed Johnson (1.3M) is off the books, Ward (1.2M is off the books)

 

Blanco has a 3M option (made 2.8M in 08)

 

That's 20.05M lost off the books

 

 

 

The rest of the team is making under 1M and mostly under arbitration and won't get more than 300-500k in raises (I think)

 

Meaning our payroll will roughly be at 123.60M for 17 players. You are then missing a reliever (can be filled in minors), number 3 starter (can resign Dempster for 10M or fill in minors), a closer (can use Marmol, fill in reliever spot in minors or resign Wood for lets say 5M guaranteed + incentives), a CF (both sides of the platoon), a LH bench player (Hoffpauir can fill this role), a backup catcher (can be found cheaply most likely) and a long reliever (not significant to speculate, but probably minors)

 

Lets say the Cubs resign Dempster and Wood and fill the rest of the needs internally. That brings the payroll to roughly 140M, a raise of 22M just to reach status quo. Then throw into consideration the fact that the team's ownership will change hands during the offseason, I would think its completely unrealistic to suggest that the ballclub is improved with anything other then a possible trade.

 

If the option is Dempster for 10M or Sabathia for 18M, I'll take Sabathia. (Granted, we'll need to see just how badly the Brewers abuse him the rest of the way.) Not that I don't like Dempster, but if you can get a Cy Young caliber lefty, you do it.

 

Zambrano, Sabathia, Harden, and Lilly as your top 4? Dang.

 

 

Just a thought, if they did this, by not resigning Demp( currently at 7-7.5 mil) and trading Marquis to someone who'd pick up his whole salary(even if it meant getting back very little), that would make up around 3/4 of the money needed( for next year anyway) to get Sabathia. The payroll for the rotation would go up 3-4 mil, and Z/Sabathia/Harden/Lilly/Marshall(Hill/Shark/Gaudin/whoever)>Z/Harden/Demp/Lilly/Marquis. That's worth it, even if it means just giving Marquis away.

 

OK, now someone convince me that is even remotely possible. I can't think of a realistic rotation that's anywhere near that sexy. With the current lineup( minus Johnson/Edmonds and adding Pie) and that rotation, they'd be tough to beat. Again.

[Backtobanks]

Some of you missed my original point: IF Cuban wanted to make a splash in the offseason, what move (or moves) do you think he could make? I agree that re-signing Dempster, Wood, and Harden to a team that just won the WS would probably be enough, but those wouldn't satisfy Cuban's ego. BTW, since some of you are bringing up budget concerns, I could see the Cubs trading Lilly (especially if they sign Sabathia) to the Yankees and Marquis to anyone who will take him.

[JimSorgi]

Yu Darvish...but I'm not sure if he'll be posted this year.

[Cynosure]

Yu Darvish...but I'm not sure if he'll be posted this year.

 

/drool

[Vanilla Ice]

Can Baldelli play CF? He might be interesting. He got called up and is playing RF today for the Rays.

[Hosak8]

Some of you missed my original point: IF Cuban wanted to make a splash in the offseason, what move (or moves) do you think he could make? I agree that re-signing Dempster, Wood, and Harden to a team that just won the WS would probably be enough, but those wouldn't satisfy Cuban's ego. BTW, since some of you are bringing up budget concerns, I could see the Cubs trading Lilly (especially if they sign Sabathia) to the Yankees and Marquis to anyone who will take him.

 

Dealing Lilly and Marquis and replacing them with Sabathia would be fine by me.

 

Cot's shows an intriguing list of free agents, one of whom is Carl Crawford. He has an option (not specified whether it is team or player), but I would love to see him in CF next year.

[GhostRunner]

The last issue of TSN suggested that - if a new owner wanted to make splash - they may opt to let Wood walk and get into the sweepstakes for Francisco Rodriguez. It's pure speculation on TSN's part, of course.

 

It would likely take at least 4 years, 50 mil to sign him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd rather keep Wood than go after Rodriguez. KRod is good, but I hate to pay a premium for closers, especially when that premium is going to be as much as Rodriguez will get.

[shnsajax]

I'd rather keep Wood than go after Rodriguez. KRod is good, but I hate to pay a premium for closers, especially when that premium is going to be as much as Rodriguez will get.

 

Double post

Edited August 10, 2008 by shnsajax

[Cynosure]

K Rod is going to get over 12 mil.

 

We could keep Wood for much less then that and then also get a home discount.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The only thing Rodriguez has on Wood right now is age, Wood has been better pretty much across the board this year, and even with his blister troubles he's right with him in terms of workload.

[shnsajax]

I'd rather keep Wood than go after Rodriguez. KRod is good, but I hate to pay a premium for closers, especially when that premium is going to be as much as Rodriguez will get.

 

Wood and Marmol combined cost less. Save the money and upgrade elsewhere.

 

If Teixeira leaves the Angels look to move Lee to them or maybe Seattle. Then look to upgrade with Holliday or Mourneu.

[nilodnayr]

The last issue of TSN suggested that - if a new owner wanted to make splash - they may opt to let Wood walk and get into the sweepstakes for Francisco Rodriguez. It's pure speculation on TSN's part, of course.

 

It would likely take at least 4 years, 50 mil to sign him.

 

I think Cuban would be too smart (ie sabermetric) to invest that much money in a closer, especially one that isn't elite anymore.

[Backtobanks]

K Rod is going to get over 12 mil.

 

We could keep Wood for much less then that and then also get a home discount.

 

I think Wood will be re-signed because of his loyalty to the Cubs.

[jiml60]

I think most of us will still be on a bender in December.

[Cynosure]

K Rod is going to get over 12 mil.

 

We could keep Wood for much less then that and then also get a home discount.

 

I think Wood will be re-signed because of his loyalty to the Cubs.

 

Exactly... plus would is no where near K Rod... Wood will probably get 4-5 Mil only.