Cubs decline Blanco's option

[Butterscup1679666578]

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/10/blanco-option-d.html

[WrigleyField 22]

Hmmm, I wonder if they might still bring him back, just at a smaller salary? I honestly don't mind him on our team. If they don't bring him back, does Hill become our back up?

[Outshined_One]

I'll be curious to see if the Cubs decide to stick with someone like Koyie Hill or if they go out and get another one or two year rental. I have a feeling Welington Castillo will be a good backup option for Soto, but that's about a year or two away.

[cubsfan26]

This was a no brainer in my opinion. Blanco is a pretty good back up catcher, but you can't pay a back up catcher 3m. When you have a catcher like Soto who hits and plays defense so well. The Cubs will try to bring Blanco back at 1-1.5m most likely. If he doesn't resign, then we will probably bring in another veteran back up catcher for that price.

[KingCubsFan]

Blanco deserves to be brought back solely based on the influence he has on Soto

[abuck1220]

Blanco deserves to be brought back solely based on the influence he has on Soto

 

oh really.

[WrigleyField 22]

Blanco deserves to be brought back solely based on the influence he has on Soto

 

oh really.

FAIL

 

http://blog.pharmalive.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/o_rly.jpg

PASS

[KingCubsFan]

Blanco deserves to be brought back solely based on the influence he has on Soto

 

oh really.

He still throws out baserunners pretty well, plays good defense, doesn't hit much, so he's basically just like any other backup catcher except Soto seems to look up to him. He's not worth 3 million, but he should be brought back on a smaller deal.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I wouldn't mind bringing him back for about $1M for the year, but that's about it.

[dew1679666265]

the Cubs envision him moving into a managerial job in their farm system when he’s ready to retire.

 

I do like the sound of this.

[B]

the Cubs envision him moving into a managerial job in their farm system when he’s ready to retire.

 

I do like the sound of this.

Would he be the most tatted out manager ever?

[dew1679666265]

the Cubs envision him moving into a managerial job in their farm system when he’s ready to retire.

 

I do like the sound of this.

Would he be the most tatted out manager ever?

 

Until Josh Hamilton decides to start managing.

[SouthSideRyan]

the Cubs envision him moving into a managerial job in their farm system when he’s ready to retire.

 

I do like the sound of this.

Would he be the most tatted out manager ever?

 

Until Josh Hamilton decides to start managing.

 

WESHOULDAKEPTHIMASMANAGER

[dew1679666265]

the Cubs envision him moving into a managerial job in their farm system when he’s ready to retire.

 

I do like the sound of this.

Would he be the most tatted out manager ever?

 

Until Josh Hamilton decides to start managing.

 

WESHOULDAKEPTHIMASMANAGER

 

Yea, since Hendry the idiot traded him away when we clearly had full rights to him, I doubt he'll want to come back as manager. Stupid Hendry, ruining the Cubs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Sarcasm, never fear)

[imb]

the Cubs envision him moving into a managerial job in their farm system when he’s ready to retire.

 

I do like the sound of this.

Would he be the most tatted out manager ever?

 

Until Josh Hamilton decides to start managing.

 

WESHOULDAKEPTHIMASMANAGER

 

i don't understand why the entire board thinks he would be a great manager. all i hear on here all day is what a great manager josh hamilton would be. i feel like i'm *some kurt russell character* on *some kurt russell movie*.

[NCCubFan]

Just wait until the Cubs finally make it back to the World Series, and they lose to a Hamilton-managed team.

[Clem Fandango]

the Cubs envision him moving into a managerial job in their farm system when he’s ready to retire.

 

I do like the sound of this.

Would he be the most tatted out manager ever?

 

Until Josh Hamilton decides to start managing.

 

WESHOULDAKEPTHIMASMANAGER

 

i don't understand why the entire board thinks he would be a great manager. all i hear on here all day is what a great manager josh hamilton would be. i feel like i'm *some kurt russell character* on *some kurt russell movie*.

 

Quiet down Jack Burton, or else there'll be big trouble......

[Jehrico]

This was a no brainer in my opinion. Blanco is a pretty good back up catcher, but you can't pay a back up catcher 3m. When you have a catcher like Soto who hits and plays defense so well. The Cubs will try to bring Blanco back at 1-1.5m most likely. If he doesn't resign, then we will probably bring in another veteran back up catcher for that price.

That's what I hope happens. I wouldn't even mind a 2 year deal at 1.5 mil per. That'll close the gap until Castillo is hopefully ready. Blanco is one of the best backup catchers in the game, I'd like to see him stick around for a little longer. Despite being an excellent backup, he's one of those backups that doesn't inspire the manager to take playing time away from the young kids, so, double bonus.

[SouthSideRyan]

This was a no brainer in my opinion. Blanco is a pretty good back up catcher, but you can't pay a back up catcher 3m. When you have a catcher like Soto who hits and plays defense so well. The Cubs will try to bring Blanco back at 1-1.5m most likely. If he doesn't resign, then we will probably bring in another veteran back up catcher for that price.

That's what I hope happens. I wouldn't even mind a 2 year deal at 1.5 mil per. That'll close the gap until Castillo is hopefully ready. Blanco is one of the best backup catchers in the game, I'd like to see him stick around for a little longer. Despite being an excellent backup, he's one of those backups that doesn't inspire the manager to take playing time away from the young kids, so, double bonus.

 

There's no reason to lock up Blanco for 2 years. If you want him back for 2010, you can sign him to the same 1/1.5 deal you signed him to for '09.

[Jehrico]

This was a no brainer in my opinion. Blanco is a pretty good back up catcher, but you can't pay a back up catcher 3m. When you have a catcher like Soto who hits and plays defense so well. The Cubs will try to bring Blanco back at 1-1.5m most likely. If he doesn't resign, then we will probably bring in another veteran back up catcher for that price.

That's what I hope happens. I wouldn't even mind a 2 year deal at 1.5 mil per. That'll close the gap until Castillo is hopefully ready. Blanco is one of the best backup catchers in the game, I'd like to see him stick around for a little longer. Despite being an excellent backup, he's one of those backups that doesn't inspire the manager to take playing time away from the young kids, so, double bonus.

 

There's no reason to lock up Blanco for 2 years. If you want him back for 2010, you can sign him to the same 1/1.5 deal you signed him to for '09.

Someone else might offer him 2 mil this year (I wouldn't expect it, but it wouldn't surprise me anyways)...the second year would only be if absolutely necessary. It wouldn't be a big deal either way.

[Vanilla Ice]

we could just use hill for a million less.

 

bring him back if we don't plan on upping salary with someone like Tex or Peavy.

 

if we only sign (or trade for) one of those guys, just use four-finger

[YearofDaCubs]

What influence has Blanco had on Soto? Soto figured it out in the minors before coming to the Cubs.

[BCVM22]

What influence has Blanco had on Soto? Soto figured it out in the minors before coming to the Cubs.

 

At every opportunity, Soto's taken time to talk extensively about how Blanco mentored him on the art of catching even when Soto was in the minors.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/awards/pa/rookie/nl;_ylt=Ar5QmQcWHBRpYQ.T_wM0WrLavrYF

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081017&content_id=3627473&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080926&content_id=3554084&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Best of all, Soto does not hesitate to acknowledge who has helped him.

 

"Henry [blanco] has been my mentor since Day 1," Soto said of the Cubs' veteran catcher. "When I was in the Minor Leagues, I would call him about things. To be honest, I wouldn't be here, doing what I've been doing, if it wasn't for him. He's been my baseball bible."

[ChiCubsFan]

What influence has Blanco had on Soto? Soto figured it out in the minors before coming to the Cubs.

 

At every opportunity, Soto's taken time to talk extensively about how Blanco mentored him on the art of catching even when Soto was in the minors.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/awards/pa/rookie/nl;_ylt=Ar5QmQcWHBRpYQ.T_wM0WrLavrYF

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081017&content_id=3627473&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080926&content_id=3554084&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Best of all, Soto does not hesitate to acknowledge who has helped him.

 

"Henry [blanco] has been my mentor since Day 1," Soto said of the Cubs' veteran catcher. "When I was in the Minor Leagues, I would call him about things. To be honest, I wouldn't be here, doing what I've been doing, if it wasn't for him. He's been my baseball bible."

 

Blanco should just mentor everyone in the system. I'm down for a 24 man roster (Blanco can't mentor himself, can he?) and minor league system full of Geovany Sotos.

[Derwood]

sign Blanco as bullpen catcher and he can mentor Soto all day