My Thoughts for 2010.

[BCVM22]

I do get the distinct gut feeling that we not only aquire Dan Uggla, but end up well overpaying for him, possibly with a similar package as that I mentioned above.

 

You can say a lot about Hendry, but trades have been the one facet where he's largely done a commendable job. I don't think he's going to give up the top stars of a rapidly rising system to get a mediocre meatball like Dan Uggla. Free agency is where you have to worry about him paying through the noise.

[Tim M]

If I had to guess I say the Cubs dump Bradley on anyone who wants him. With Bradley gone Hendry looks to Tampa Bay who may be looking to trade either Upton or Crawford to make room for Desmond Jennings and salary relief. I think Upton is more likely to be dealt and Hendry makes a play for him. With Upton on board Fukudome moves back to RF. At 2B I think they go after either Iwamura or Figgins in free agency and make Baker the "super-utility guy ".

 

Figgins/Iwamura

Upton

Lee

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soriano

Soto

Theriot

 

Wouldn't surprise me to see something similiar to this in 2010. It gives Lou his much desired speed at the top of the line-up and also makes the Cubs much better defensively. It does leave us again without a lefty masher but I don't see any being available for the Cubs to pursue that make sense.

[Halman]

If I'm going after someone in trade market. I first better get a feeler out asking B.J. Upton if he would be willing to move back to 2B for a year or two.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The optomist in me says that we trade Milton Bradley for prospects and cash

Some sort of platoon of Fox, Hoffpauir, and Colvin man RF

Aquire a middle indfielder like Chone Figgins or Orlando Hudson for a reasonable contract

 

 

The pessimist in me says we give away Milton Bradley for some low level pitching prospects and eat the entire contract

sign Jermaine Dye to a 2/18 deal

sign Placido Polanco or Ronnie Belliard to a 3/20 deal

[Backtobanks]

The optomist in me says that we trade Milton Bradley for prospects and cash

Some sort of platoon of Fox, Hoffpauir, and Colvin man RF

Aquire a middle indfielder like Chone Figgins or Orlando Hudson for a reasonable contract

 

 

The pessimist in me says we give away Milton Bradley for some low level pitching prospects and eat the entire contract

sign Jermaine Dye to a 2/18 deal

sign Placido Polanco or Ronnie Belliard to a 3/20 deal

 

You have to be dreaming (not optimistic) to think we can trade Bradley for prospects and cash. Hopefully Colvin can show something because a contending team can't be running Fox and Hoffpauir out to RF on a regular basis. Acquiring Figgins or Hudson is a possibility, but you can forget the "reasonable contract" part.

[kujay]

Yeah, not knowing whether the payroll will stay as is or swing 30% in either direction kinda makes it pointless to speculate on trades and signings and such.

 

I have a hard time believing it will decline by 30%. Contrary to popular opinion, Wrigley doesn't sell-out every season win or lose, and tv ratings are directly correlated to success. It wasn't hard to sell hope in 99 and throughout much of the early 2000's, as a young emerging team with an expanding payroll, new acquisitions and newfound marginal success got hearts beating. They need to sell tickets this winter, and I'm guessing they will add enough payroll to add one fairly intriguing player.

 

Yeah there's no chance it drops 30%. Even if they wanted to, it'd be tough to pull off with all the guaranteed money and no trade clauses.

 

I would think from a PR standpoint alone Ricketts can't lower payroll. If anything, I'd think he would want to make a splash. I don't know if that's possible, but that would be my inclination if I was the filthy rich dude who just bought the baseball team I love.

[jersey cubs fan]

Fearless prediction for that PR boost:

 

Pay Bradley to play elsewhere, find money for one decent name, and hire Ryne Sandberg either as a bench coach or new manager. You'll get a lot of people excited without actually doing anything productive.

[TruffleShuffle]

I do get the distinct gut feeling that we not only aquire Dan Uggla, but end up well overpaying for him, possibly with a similar package as that I mentioned above.

 

You can say a lot about Hendry, but trades have been the one facet where he's largely done a commendable job. I don't think he's going to give up the top stars of a rapidly rising system to get a mediocre meatball like Dan Uggla. Free agency is where you have to worry about him paying through the noise.

 

even despite being below average defensively, uggla is far from a mediocre meatball. he's been one of the most productive second basemen in baseball the last four years.