Build the 2010 Cubs

[Little Slide Rooter]

I get a sick feeling that Lee and/or Fukudome and/or Lilly will be traded in the offseason. I really hope not. Id really like to see what this group as a whole can do next year, again, just add a closer like Valverde, Soriano, or even Billy Wagner if we could get him for a Trevor Hoffman-esque 1 year contract.

 

I'd be all for trading Lilly if it meant the Cubs could keep Harden.

 

I love Lilly but Harden is younger and better.

 

As for the other two, they both are having good seasons but nobody on this team is untouchable.

 

I'd love for Hendry to find a way to get Soriano off the team, even if it means eating some of that albatross.

 

Obviously, but thats much easier said than done. Even if Soriano gets better, the team would be much better off without that contract. That 90 million could go a long way.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I wonder if Gordon could even play a mediocre 2B for 2 years and succeed Ramirez at 3B.

Don't we expect/hope that Vitters will be ready to take over 3B in 2 years?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I wonder if Gordon could even play a mediocre 2B for 2 years and succeed Ramirez at 3B.

Don't we expect/hope that Vitters will be ready to take over 3B in 2 years?

 

There are no guarantees. Plus, Gordon was a high pick just like Vitters who stormed through the minor leagues, and already has some mild Major League success.

[Keener98]

I get a sick feeling that Lee and/or Fukudome and/or Lilly will be traded in the offseason. I really hope not. Id really like to see what this group as a whole can do next year, again, just add a closer like Valverde, Soriano, or even Billy Wagner if we could get him for a Trevor Hoffman-esque 1 year contract.

 

I'd be all for trading Lilly if it meant the Cubs could keep Harden.

 

I love Lilly but Harden is younger and better.

 

As for the other two, they both are having good seasons but nobody on this team is untouchable.

 

I'd love for Hendry to find a way to get Soriano off the team, even if it means eating some of that albatross.

 

lilly is the best pitcher on this team...the problem with harden is that whatever is wrong with his shoulder hasn't healed...he needs surgery...which should have been done during the offseason

 

Where in the world are you getting this Harden shoulder crap? Since the All Star Break hes 3-1,has a 1.64ERA, striking out over a batter an inning,and has a BAA of .136. He had a no hitter going into the 6th inning of a start vs Philly, and a 1 hitter in his last start. Hes allowed 2 runs or less in 10 of his last 12 starts. There is noway in hell hes doing that while being hurt.

 

Rich Harden is the best pitcher on this team.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I get a sick feeling that Lee and/or Fukudome and/or Lilly will be traded in the offseason. I really hope not. Id really like to see what this group as a whole can do next year, again, just add a closer like Valverde, Soriano, or even Billy Wagner if we could get him for a Trevor Hoffman-esque 1 year contract.

 

I'd be all for trading Lilly if it meant the Cubs could keep Harden.

 

I love Lilly but Harden is younger and better.

 

As for the other two, they both are having good seasons but nobody on this team is untouchable.

 

I'd love for Hendry to find a way to get Soriano off the team, even if it means eating some of that albatross.

 

lilly is the best pitcher on this team...the problem with harden is that whatever is wrong with his shoulder hasn't healed...he needs surgery...which should have been done during the offseason

 

Where in the world are you getting this Harden shoulder crap? Since the All Star Break hes 3-1,has a 1.64ERA, striking out over a batter an inning,and has a BAA of .136. He had a no hitter going into the 6th inning of a start vs Philly, and a 1 hitter in his last start. Hes allowed 2 runs or less in 10 of his last 12 starts. There is noway in hell hes doing that while being hurt.

 

Rich Harden is the best pitcher on this team.

 

Starting pitchers

Brandon Backe (32)

Miguel Batista (39)

Josh Beckett (30) - $12MM club option with a $2MM buyout

Erik Bedard (31)

Kris Benson (34)

Daniel Cabrera (29)

Chris Capuano (31)

Bartolo Colon (37)

Jose Contreras (38)

Doug Davis (34)

Justin Duchscherer (32)

Adam Eaton (32)

Shawn Estes (37)

Josh Fogg (33)

Freddy Garcia (34)

Jon Garland (30) - $10MM mutual option with $2.5MM or $1MM buyout

Tom Glavine (44)

Mike Hampton (37)

Rich Harden (28)

Mark Hendrickson (36)

Livan Hernandez (35)

Tim Hudson (34) - $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout

Jason Jennings (31)

Jason Johnson (36)

Randy Johnson (46)

John Lackey (31)

Cliff Lee (31) - $8MM club option with a $1MM buyout

Braden Looper (35) - option

Rodrigo Lopez (34)

Jason Marquis (31)

Kevin Millwood (35) - Rangers can decline $12MM salary for '10 unless he reaches 180 innings in '09

Brian Moehler (38) - mutual option

Brett Myers (29)

Vicente Padilla (32) - $12MM club option with a $1.75MM buyout

Chan Ho Park (37)

John Parrish (32)

Carl Pavano (34)

Brad Penny (32)

Odalis Perez (33)

Andy Pettitte (38)

Joel Pineiro (31)

Sidney Ponson (33)

Mark Prior (28)

Horacio Ramirez (30)

Jason Schmidt (37)

John Smoltz (43)

Tim Wakefield (43) - perpetual $4MM club option

Jarrod Washburn (35)

Brandon Webb (31) - $8.5MM club option with a $500K+ buyout

Todd Wellemeyer (31)

Kip Wells (33)

Randy Wolf (33)

 

If you look at this list of 2010 FA starters, assuming that Lee, Becket and Webbs team options are picked up, which is more than likely, Harden, Bedard, and Lacky are without a shadow of a doubt the cream of the crop, and a lot of teams are going to want them. It may be very hard to hang on Harden even if they try to. Chances are someones going to risk a 3 year deal for him, and I cant see the Cubs matching that.

[muntjack]

I agree that resigning Harden should be a priority. Frankly I wouldn't be opposed to gutting the team otherwise, as the window is closing and we could fill up the farm in deals for Lee, Fukudome, ARam, Lilly, Dempster, even Theriot . Obviously all is contingent on the waiving of no-trade clauses, but would they want to stay if the Cubs were gutting it?

 

Getting some top, major-league-ready prospects back in those deals would allow us to still compete next year while cutting the budget considerably.

 

A rotation of

 

 

Harden

Zambrano

Wells

Marshall

Gorzellany/Cashner/acquired prospect

is still more than serviceable.

 

A bullpen with

 

Guzman

Marmol

Grabow

Parker

Gaub

Berg

 

could be very strong

 

We'd have to piece together the offense with our acquired prospects/pieces but we'd be keeping Soto, Fox and Soriano (no choice) to augment what we get. Assuming we can't work out a worthwhile deal for all of the guys above (say we keep ARam or Fukudome), we could still have a decent middle of the order, a good pitching staff and a more robust farm system with hopefully some top-end major league ready talent. While we might not be Series favorites next year, we would be markedly younger and could keep the window open for the forseeable future.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I agree that resigning Harden should be a priority. Frankly I wouldn't be opposed to gutting the team otherwise, as the window is closing and we could fill up the farm in deals for Lee, Fukudome, ARam, Lilly, Dempster, even Theriot . Obviously all is contingent on the waiving of no-trade clauses, but would they want to stay if the Cubs were gutting it?

 

Getting some top, major-league-ready prospects back in those deals would allow us to still compete next year while cutting the budget considerably.

 

A rotation of

 

 

Harden

Zambrano

Wells

Marshall

Gorzellany/Cashner/acquired prospect

is still more than serviceable.

 

A bullpen with

 

Guzman

Marmol

Grabow

Parker

Gaub

Berg

 

could be very strong

 

We'd have to piece together the offense with our acquired prospects/pieces but we'd be keeping Soto, Fox and Soriano (no choice) to augment what we get. Assuming we can't work out a worthwhile deal for all of the guys above (say we keep ARam or Fukudome), we could still have a decent middle of the order, a good pitching staff and a more robust farm system with hopefully some top-end major league ready talent. While we might not be Series favorites next year, we would be markedly younger and could keep the window open for the forseeable future.

 

So were rebuilding around Soriano, Soto, and Fox and a a"serviceable" rotation? I think I'll take a pass on that.

[muntjack]

No, we're rebuilding around the prospects we acquire from dealing our all-star caliber players and a pitching staff that is MORE than serviceable.

 

What do you think a fair price in prospects is for Lee? Ramirez?

 

What about Fukudome, who is one good night away from having the best OPS of any CF in baseball?

 

I'd think we could get some top 50 talent for sure.

 

All I'm saying is, we have the ability to make trades, get younger and keep the window open while still contending next year and that's WITHOUT adding payroll. If Ricketts is tight in the pocketbook, then he's gonna have to get creative to make it work.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I really have no interest in rebuilding, and Id rather give this group 1 more go and hope they can stay healthy.

 

Now I know this is just a pipe dream, and highly doubtful, but if the Twins decide they cant lock in Mauer long term and decide to trade him rather than lose him, assuming wed have the money to sign him long term, would a package of Geovany Soto, Josh Vitters, Jeff Samardzjia, and Sean Marshall be enough to make it happen?

[Vanilla Ice]

Sign Duchscherer

[A-Cal]

I get a sick feeling that Lee and/or Fukudome and/or Lilly will be traded in the offseason. I really hope not. Id really like to see what this group as a whole can do next year, again, just add a closer like Valverde, Soriano, or even Billy Wagner if we could get him for a Trevor Hoffman-esque 1 year contract.

 

I'd be all for trading Lilly if it meant the Cubs could keep Harden.

 

I love Lilly but Harden is younger and better.

 

As for the other two, they both are having good seasons but nobody on this team is untouchable.

 

I'd love for Hendry to find a way to get Soriano off the team, even if it means eating some of that albatross.

 

lilly is the best pitcher on this team...the problem with harden is that whatever is wrong with his shoulder hasn't healed...he needs surgery...which should have been done during the offseason

 

Where in the world are you getting this Harden shoulder crap? Since the All Star Break hes 3-1,has a 1.64ERA, striking out over a batter an inning,and has a BAA of .136. He had a no hitter going into the 6th inning of a start vs Philly, and a 1 hitter in his last start. Hes allowed 2 runs or less in 10 of his last 12 starts. There is noway in hell hes doing that while being hurt.

 

Rich Harden is the best pitcher on this team.

 

best pitcher when on? mmm...sure...consistent? NO WAY...you have to hand that to lilly

 

by the way here is a link to refresh some memories unless harden has all the sudden dosed himself with a miracle cure...

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2009/01/19/rich-harden-has-a-tear-in-his-shoulder-joint-the-earth-is-round/

 

you want to take a chance on that?

 

count me out