You are the new GM of the Cubs

[LuvChicagoSports]

I'm not sure if this is the right area for this topic, but it's speculative or wishful transactions.

 

Let's say that Ricketts fires Hendry day 1 on the job and hires you as the GM. You are given a budget of $145 million. What are your ***REALISTIC*** plans for this offseason.

[javy knows my name]

I like how with this post you've already excluded all possible Banktobanks contributions

[laurens]

Do absolutely nothing because nearly all of that 145 million is already spent.

[inari]

I'm just really happy to have gotten the job, to be honest. I'll probably just take an offseason to reflect on my achievement.

[JeffH]

First up on the agenda? Perform some Aaron surgery.

 

Release Aaron Miles (assuming he's untradeable). Decline to tender Aaron Heilman a contract.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

So I'm the new GM of the Cubs and I have a 145 million dollar budget. What are my realistic plans for the offseason? That's easy...

 

Two chicks at the same time.

[Cubswin11]

What's the payroll at with committed contracts for next year?

[Backtobanks]

Drop Miles, re-sign Grabow (2yrs./$5 million)and Johnson (1yr./$4 million) and Hill (<$1million), don't offer Heilman a contract, offer lowest amount possible in arbitration to Harden (hoping he will leave and we get draft picks).

 

Trade Fox + Marshall/Gorzelanny + pitching prospect for Hawpe.

Trade Bradley for Rowand + $3 million (2010) and $6 million (2012) - Cubs stay the same in 2010 and 2011, but add $6 million in 2012 payroll.

 

Payroll for 2010 started at $119,958 million

 

Additions: Grabow $2.5, Johnson $4, Hawpe $7 - $8, Hill < $1 = app. $15 million

Subtractions: Fox <$1, Marshall/Gorzelanny < $1, Prospect < $1 = app. $2 million

 

Net: app. +$13 million in 2010 putting payroll at $133 million. The remaining $12 million goes to automatic raises to younger players under team's control.

 

The OF's would be switched according to pitching matchups (not strictly a platoon situation):

3 Year Production (2006 -2008):

Hawpe vs. RH - .301/.404/.548/.952

Rowand vs LH - .278/.335/.484/.829

Soriano vs LH - .300/.374/.604/.978

Fukudome vs RH - .262/.372/.417/.789

Johnson vs LH - .327/.405/.464/.869

Edited October 13, 2009 by Backtobanks

[UMFan83]

What's the payroll at with committed contracts for next year?

 

*Cubswin11 is immediately fired as GM of the Cubs*

[TruffleShuffle]

Trade Fox + Marshall/Gorzelanny + pitching prospect for Hawpe.

 

that had better be a really good pitching prospect.

[SouthSideRyan]

Trade Fox + Marshall/Gorzelanny + pitching prospect for Hawpe.

 

that had better be a really good pitching prospect.

 

Just tweak with prospects and/or money

[OleMissCub]

The Rockies wouldn't have a need right now for someone like Fox or the pitchers for that matter. They are uber-stacked at OF right now (which is why they'd likely part ways with Hawpe) and they are stacked at SP (especially with Francis coming back next year).

[Little Slide Rooter]

Keep Milton Bradley around...for now

 

Offer Harden arbitration at 10-11 mil, If he accepts, super. If not, take the picks and let Gorz, Marshall, Shark, and Diamond battle it out for the 5th starter job

 

Spend the entire off season trying to move Aaron Miles.v If there are no takers, let him go unless he dazzes during spring training

 

Let Gregg, Reed Johnson, and Grabow go.

 

Opening day roster is

 

1B Lee

2B Baker

SS Theriot

3B Ramirez

LF Soriano

CF Fukudome

RF Bradley

C Soto

Bench Fontenot

Bench Fox

Bench Hoffpauir

Bench Fuld

Bench Blanco

Bench Hill

SP Zambrano

SP Lilly

SP Dempster

SP Wells

SP Harden/Gorz/Marshall/Shark/Diamond(darkhorse)

RP Guz

RP Gaub

RP Marshall

RP Gorz

RP Stevens/Berg

Closer Marmol

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Okay IE, you've eaten long and short versions of this post. Stupid work computer. Short version redux:

 

-Offer Harden arbitration, try to bring him back for 2-3 years

 

-Tell Heilman to get lost. Tell Miles he's a participant in the Most Dangerous Game

 

-Don't offer Gregg or Grabow arbitration, but consider Grabow if market for him heats up

 

Trade targets:

 

Alex Gordon

BJ Upton

Carl Crawford

Jose Reyes

Hermida(secondary to the above, also non-tender candidate)

RELIEVERS - focus on those coming off down years, good stuff, low HR rates, arby eligible/too expensive for current team (e.g. Crain, Balfour, Capps, Rafael Perez, Juan Cruz

 

Think about trading away: Lilly, Theriot, MARMOL, Lee(least likely)

 

Free Agents that could be undervalued: Scutaro (Type A scare people away?), N. Johnson, Zaun, Baldelli, Cameron, Crisp, M. Gonzalez, R. Soriano, C.E. Valverde

 

 

Add as much talent as you can, priority to the trade targets. Those are the best bet for large jumps in performance that will take the team from wildcard/division contender, to 90+ win HFA contender.

[Outshined_One]

Trade Fox + Marshall/Gorzelanny + pitching prospect for Hawpe.

 

that had better be a really good pitching prospect.

 

Just tweak with prospects and/or money

 

That'd require a lot of prospects and/or money.

[Backtobanks]

The Rockies wouldn't have a need right now for someone like Fox or the pitchers for that matter. They are uber-stacked at OF right now (which is why they'd likely part ways with Hawpe) and they are stacked at SP (especially with Francis coming back next year).

 

Fox would replace Atkins as sub 3B/1B/RH pinch hitter. Marshall or Gorzelanny could start or relieve.

[Backtobanks]

Trade Fox + Marshall/Gorzelanny + pitching prospect for Hawpe.

 

that had better be a really good pitching prospect.

 

Just tweak with prospects and/or money

 

That'd require a lot of prospects and/or money.

 

Then trade Fox plus prospect for Luke Scott.

Scott vs RH (2006-2008) .281/.365/.537/.902 and probably $3-$4 million cheaper than Hawpe.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Trade Fox + Marshall/Gorzelanny + pitching prospect for Hawpe.

 

that had better be a really good pitching prospect.

 

Just tweak with prospects and/or money

 

That'd require a lot of prospects and/or money.

 

Maybe Fontenot, Fox, Samrdzjia if hed waive his NTC, if not Marshall, and HJ Lee. Maybe throw Aaron Miles if their willing to throw in taking Aaron Miles.

 

However, I really dont see why the Rockies with their outfield log jam would really want Fox, whose essentially a DH/5th outfielder

 

Or, if we could go the way of the 3 way deal

 

Cubs get Hawpe

Padres get Milton Bradley(the cash exchange will have to work its way out), 1 of Fox/Hoffpauir/Fuld, Samrdzjia(more likely to wive his NTC for a pitcher friendly park and a good shot at the rotation)

Rockies get Chris Young

 

I know, it makes more sense for the Rockies to just trade Hawpe to the Pads for Young.

[Banedon]

So I'm the new GM of the Cubs and I have a 145 million dollar budget. What are my realistic plans for the offseason? That's easy...

 

Two chicks at the same time.

 

Oops. He forgot part of the hypothetical. As part of getting this GM job, you now look exactly like Jim Hendry.

[soapy]

I've been thinking more lately that one of the first things I'd do is see what the market is for Marmol (already mentioned by TT). Particularly, can a significant SS or 2B upgrade be found for a cheap closer like Marmol? I don't have time to look into this at work right now, but presumably I'd have a little more time to do so if I was GM of the Cubs.

[biittner77]

Day 1. Have a meeting with Milton Bradley and mend fences. Entertain offers but don't give him away.

 

Offer Arby to Harden. Begin talks with the Orioles in case he accepts. If Harden shocks the world and accepts arby and gets $10 million plus then trade him in May to Baltimore who is looking for a veteran to anchor their starting rotation.

[wvcbxl]

... re-sign ... Hill (<$1million),...

 

:?

Which Hill are you referring to?

[Pushfrog98]

So I'm the new GM of the Cubs and I have a 145 million dollar budget. What are my realistic plans for the offseason? That's easy...

 

Two chicks at the same time.

 

Oops. He forgot part of the hypothetical. As part of getting this GM job, you now look exactly like Jim Hendry.

You're gonna need a yankees budget for that one.

[Backtobanks]

... re-sign ... Hill (<$1million),...

 

:?

Which Hill are you referring to?

Koyie.

[jersey cubs fan]

So I'm the new GM of the Cubs and I have a 145 million dollar budget. What are my realistic plans for the offseason? That's easy...

 

Two chicks at the same time.

 

Oops. He forgot part of the hypothetical. As part of getting this GM job, you now look exactly like Jim Hendry.

 

The kind of chicks that would double down on him would need $145 million.