You are the new GM of the Cubs

[jersey cubs fan]

Why in God's name would anyone still want to sign DeRosa?

 

It's maddening. I swear people would still want to sign him if his wrist just snapped completely.

 

Um, because he's one full season removed from a career year, and wrist injuries heal?

 

Yes, he'll be 35 next year, but he's better than Fontenot, and the middle infield FA market isn't that deep.

 

He's not the cure-all, but he falls under the category of "better than what we have now, and affordable."

 

He's a season removed from a career year, and you are using that as a good thing? He followed that career year with more of his typical career mediocrity. And the fact that injuries heal is meaningless, while the fact that he is 35 is not.

[JohnMorrison]

Resignings :

 

 

Harden- 1 year 10 mil with 2 vesting options ( 13 mil in 2011 and 14 mil in 2012). 2011 option vest if he reaches 185 IP in 2010 and 2012 option vest if he reaches 185 IP in 2011. Deal could be worth 2 years 23 mil or 3 years 37 mil.

 

 

Reed Johnson- 1 year 2.3 mil

 

 

Hill - 1 year - 900 K

 

 

Grabow- 3 years- 15 mil

 

 

 

Free agent signings :

 

 

Rafael Soriano- 3 years 27 mil.

 

Jerry Hairston - 2 years 5 mil

Weathers- 1 year 4 mil

 

 

DFA - Aaron Miles

 

 

 

Trades:

 

 

CHC gets Granderson- Zobrist

 

Det gets- Lilly- Bradley- Cashner and 12 mil in cash ( 5 mil in 2010 and 7 mil in 2011 to pay Bradley's deal.

 

Rays get- Marmol

 

 

 

 

Lineup:

 

 

Granderson CF

Fukudome- RF

Lee 1B

Ramirez- 3B

Zobrist- 2B

Soriano- LF

Soto - C

Theriot - SS

Pitcher

 

 

 

Rotation :

 

Zambrano

Dempster

Harden

Wells

Gorzelanny

 

 

 

Bullpen:

 

 

Soriano

Weathers

Guzman

Caridad

Stevens

Grabow

Marshall

 

 

Bench :

 

Hoffpauir

Johnson

Hairston

Hill

Fox

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non Tendered - Heilman

 

 

Payroll 145 mil including the arbitration elegible players like Theriot and Zobrist + Miles and Bradley's cash the cubs would eat.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

A Fontenot/Baker platoon blows away DeRosa.

 

EDIT: 3/15 is a really, really, really bad deal to give to Grabow(who is not good), and I don't think the Rays will be too keen on giving up Zobrist for Marmol.

[sweetpeteman]

A Fontenot/Baker platoon blows away DeRosa.

 

EDIT: 3/15 is a really, really, really bad deal to give to Grabow(who is not good), and I don't think the Rays will be too keen on giving up Zobrist for Marmol.

 

 

I don't think Lilly, Bradley, Cashner & cash is going to get Granderson from Detroit, even though he really fell off this year.

[Backtobanks]

Resignings :

 

 

Harden- 1 year 10 mil with 2 vesting options ( 13 mil in 2011 and 14 mil in 2012). 2011 option vest if he reaches 185 IP in 2010 and 2012 option vest if he reaches 185 IP in 2011. Deal could be worth 2 years 23 mil or 3 years 37 mil.

 

 

Reed Johnson- 1 year 2.3 mil

 

 

Hill - 1 year - 900 K

 

 

Grabow- 3 years- 15 mil

 

 

 

Free agent signings :

 

 

Rafael Soriano- 3 years 27 mil.

 

Jerry Hairston - 2 years 5 mil

Weathers- 1 year 4 mil

 

 

DFA - Aaron Miles

 

 

 

Trades:

 

 

CHC gets Granderson- Zobrist

 

Det gets- Lilly- Bradley- Cashner and 12 mil in cash ( 5 mil in 2010 and 7 mil in 2011 to pay Bradley's deal.

 

Rays get- Marmol

 

 

 

 

Lineup:

 

 

Granderson CF

Fukudome- RF

Lee 1B

Ramirez- 3B

Zobrist- 2B

Soriano- LF

Soto - C

Theriot - SS

Pitcher

 

 

 

Rotation :

 

Zambrano

Dempster

Harden

Wells

Gorzelanny

 

 

 

Bullpen:

 

 

Soriano

Weathers

Guzman

Caridad

Stevens

Grabow

Marshall

 

 

Bench :

 

Hoffpauir

Johnson

Hairston

Hill

Fox

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non Tendered - Heilman

 

 

Payroll 145 mil including the arbitration elegible players like Theriot and Zobrist + Miles and Bradley's cash the cubs would eat.

 

Without knowing whether the multi-year contracts are split evenly ($15 million = $5, $5, $5) or backloaded, my estimates have your payroll at around $155 million. The starting payroll for 2010 is $119,958,000.

[javy knows my name]

I don't like Erik's plan to make our team older.

 

That's all

[erik316wttn]

I don't like Erik's plan to make our team older.

 

That's all

 

So then what's your brilliant plan, Mr. Beane?

 

I didn't bother to do trade research, and I'm pretty bad at putting trades together, anyway. I was just going off of the FA market.

 

The fact is, we're handcuffed with a lot of contracts that will be hard to move. The only place we can really improve this offense with an impact player is up the middle. So unless we get someone via trade, Tejada looks like the best option, with moving Theriot to 2B.

 

I'm not really that thrilled about it, either. But the thread is REALISTIC proposals. And knowing Jim Hendry, this is realistic. Yes, we could do better than Tejada as our #1 offensive FA accquistion, but you can blame Hendry for giving out no-trade clauses like they're candy (preventing us from moving Lee), giving a horrible contract to Soriano, overpaying for Fukudome, and sucking what little value was left out of Bradley by publicly announcing his intentions to trade him this offseason, so we'll probably have to eat a ton on that contract. Ramirez and Soto aren't going anywhere, so that leaves SS and 2B to improve the offense, and the pickings are slim.

[A-Cal]

it would be hilarious to watch soriano's little brother granderson man the lead off spot next season

 

christ...come up with better ideas people!

[dew1679666265]

(preventing us from moving Lee)

 

Actually, even without the no trade clause, Lee would be able to veto any trade attempt because of 10/5 rights (10 years in the league, 5 years with the same team). I'm not sure if the 10/5 rights kicked in last offseason (when there was interest in trading him), but they definitely have been there since last season started.

[Halman]

it would be hilarious to watch soriano's little brother granderson man the lead off spot next season

 

christ...come up with better ideas people!

 

Almost as good the sabr inclined getting all hot and bothered over this season's Adam Dunn in Brad Hawpe.

[Cubswin11]

With Hudson being benched since the last month or so of the season by the Dodgers, you gotta wonder how much his value has diminished. Maybe we could get him for a 1yr. deal for about $5 mil. I wouldn't mind signing him and letting him take the majority of the starts at 2B and letting Baker be the "super-sub." Also with Scutaro being a likely Type-A he could be an interesting pick up if teams get scared off by having to give up a draft pick, move Scutaro to SS, Theriot to 2B (where he rightfully belongs) and once again you have Baker to be the "super-sub." Edited October 16, 2009 by Cubswin11

[imb]

Why in God's name would anyone still want to sign DeRosa?

 

It's maddening. I swear people would still want to sign him if his wrist just snapped completely.

 

Um, because he's one full season removed from a career year, and wrist injuries heal?

 

Yes, he'll be 35 next year, but he's better than Fontenot, and the middle infield FA market isn't that deep.

 

He's not the cure-all, but he falls under the category of "better than what we have now, and affordable."

 

this is idiotic, we've all seen what happens when players come back from wrist injuries, and derosa wasn't too hot to begin with.

[Clem Fandango]

His power didn't seem to get zapped after his wrist injury. Had 3 less homers in 3 less games than he did in Cleveland... but when he switched over to St. Louis it seemed like he sorta forgot how to hit all together. Whether he was just in the stages of a decline or feeling the ailing effect of the wrist injury, it doesn't make bringing him back to be a starter all that appealing. Maybe back in a bench utility role sure, and at the right price, but as our starter I'm not too terribly thrilled with the idea.

 

What about Akinori Iwamura for 2B? With the emergence of Zobrist and Bartlett, surely the Rays won't pick up his $4.25MM option to have him be a backup? He's no power threat by any means, but he hits for a modest average and a solid OBP and is passable at 2B with the glove. If they do pick up the option, I would assume they would be open to trading for him?

 

Just spitballing ideas. He's the only appealing potential FA 2B on the market who isn't a Type A in my opinion.

[Sammy Sofa]

Why in God's name would anyone still want to sign DeRosa?

 

It's maddening. I swear people would still want to sign him if his wrist just snapped completely.

 

Um, because he's one full season removed from a career year, and wrist injuries heal?

 

Yes, he'll be 35 next year, but he's better than Fontenot, and the middle infield FA market isn't that deep.

 

He's not the cure-all, but he falls under the category of "better than what we have now, and affordable."

 

this is idiotic, we've all seen what happens when players come back from wrist injuries, and derosa wasn't too hot to begin with.

 

BUT HE'S ONLY ONE YEAR AWAY FROM A CAREER YEAR.

 

Do the Cubs still have Baker next season?

[BCVM22]

Do the Cubs still have Baker next season?

 

Yes, and he's arbitration-eligible.

[jersey cubs fan]

it would be hilarious to watch soriano's little brother granderson man the lead off spot next season

 

christ...come up with better ideas people!

 

How is Granderson a little Soriano?

[Clem Fandango]

it would be hilarious to watch soriano's little brother granderson man the lead off spot next season

 

christ...come up with better ideas people!

 

How is Granderson a little Soriano?

 

His numbers this year were very Soriano like... at least, Texas-era Soriano. But I think those numbers are clearly an aberration, though they were still pretty impressive for a center fielder. Either way, if Soriano were more like Granderson I don't think people would be any happier. Granderson is great. I don't know what A-Cal is talking about.

[A-Cal]

it would be hilarious to watch soriano's little brother granderson man the lead off spot next season

 

christ...come up with better ideas people!

 

How is Granderson a little Soriano?

 

His numbers this year were very Soriano like... at least, Texas-era Soriano. But I think those numbers are clearly an aberration, though they were still pretty impressive for a center fielder. Either way, if Soriano were more like Granderson I don't think people would be any happier. Granderson is great. I don't know what A-Cal is talking about.

 

 

here's to hoping he pulls his head out of his ass next season...i guess i am just bitter because he was on one of my fantasy squads this season and i couldn't trade him and every time i benched him...HR...

 

:sorry:

[Guest]

Yeah, I'm spamming my own site here, but here's my initial take:

http://www.312sports.com/cubs-blog-entries/51-latest-news/162-letter-to-jim-hendry

[Clem Fandango]

Yeah, I'm spamming my own site here, but here's my initial take:

http://www.312sports.com/cubs-blog-entries/51-latest-news/162-letter-to-jim-hendry

 

Well put, Tim. Nice write up!

[NCCubFan]

Yeah, I'm spamming my own site here,

You do know that spamming is grounds for being banned, don't you? :twisted:

[Guest]

Yeah, I'm spamming my own site here,

You do know that spamming is grounds for being banned, don't you? :twisted:

Give it a shot. Founder can't be banned. :)

[Backtobanks]

From MLBTR:

 

Rockies Not Looking To Trade Brad Hawpe

By Tim Dierkes [October 19 at 6:54am CST]

The Rockies are not looking to trade right fielder Brad Hawpe, according to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies. Ringolsby talked to Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd, who said, "We have no desire to move [Hawpe] at all."

 

The Rockies are not under pressure to unload Hawpe's contract, which pays $7.5MM in 2010 with a $10MM club option for '11 ($500K buyout). Cot's Baseball Contracts notes that Hawpe can void the option if traded. Ringolsby says the Rockies would trade Hawpe only if they "received a solid return, such as the Matt Holliday trade last off-season."

 

O'Dowd had to stomp out Hawpe rumors in June also. At that time, he told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post:

 

"I don't know where any of that came from. I don't foresee us doing anything with him. That's something you would only do strategically, for the big picture. That would be something for the offseason, if at all."

 

Hawpe, 30, has a strong offensive track record over the past four seasons, but his defense has been detrimental. Over the past few weeks we've seen and contributed to speculation that Hawpe could be a fit for the Cubs, Mets, and Red Sox.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Mugged By Fluffy]

I have such a sour taste in my mouth over these guys and have over the years watched these free agent built teams of the Cubs fail that I would go the extreme-trade everyone that I can for prospects and rebuild. It would upset the fans, but years down the line it would be worth it.

 

Stuck with Soriano and Fukudome, but if I can talk guys like Z and Lee into being traded to good teams, I'd do it. If Dempster, Lilly don't have trade clauses--they would go too. Theriot gets traded and I keep cheapo Miles and Fontenot around. Ramirez has an option for 2011 that he can decline if the Cubs continue to languish, so I would trade him with his permission since he would be declining his option anyways. Soto stays, Grabow stays, Samardjia stays,Harden gets arbitration and we keep him. Bradley gets dumped for someone else's junk. Johnson, Blanco, Marmol,Fox,Hoffpauer and Fuld also stay. Keep Gregg since you cant get anything for him anyways.

 

The team sucks bad for three years, but gets say---9 good prospects out of these trades. Simultaneously build up the farm system, get a new scouting director and development coaches....and hopefully in three years you've got a young and hungry nucleus of good kids, and with tweaking and free agent signings along with high draft picks the team can be good for the next 10 years.

 

I know it's farfetched and big market teams don't operate this way, but it would be nice to see consistent long term winning out of the Cubs. A Twinslike plan would eventually get them there......the only difference is that once they are on the verge of winning I'd actually go out and get players(like Philly and the Dodgers did) to put them over the top.

[Sammy Sofa]

I have such a sour taste in my mouth over these guys and have over the years watched these free agent built teams of the Cubs fail that I would go the extreme-trade everyone that I can for prospects and rebuild. It would upset the fans, but years down the line it would be worth it.

 

Stuck with Soriano and Fukudome, but if I can talk guys like Z and Lee into being traded to good teams, I'd do it. If Dempster, Lilly don't have trade clauses--they would go too. Theriot gets traded and I keep cheapo Miles and Fontenot around. Ramirez has an option for 2011 that he can decline if the Cubs continue to languish, so I would trade him with his permission since he would be declining his option anyways. Soto stays, Grabow stays, Samardjia stays,Harden gets arbitration and we keep him. Bradley gets dumped for someone else's junk. Johnson, Blanco, Marmol,Fox,Hoffpauer and Fuld also stay. Keep Gregg since you cant get anything for him anyways.

 

The team sucks bad for three years, but gets say---9 good prospects out of these trades. Simultaneously build up the farm system, get a new scouting director and development coaches....and hopefully in three years you've got a young and hungry nucleus of good kids, and with tweaking and free agent signings along with high draft picks the team can be good for the next 10 years.

 

I know it's farfetched and big market teams don't operate this way, but it would be nice to see consistent long term winning out of the Cubs. A Twinslike plan would eventually get them there......the only difference is that once they are on the verge of winning I'd actually go out and get players(like Philly and the Dodgers did) to put them over the top.

 

This seems like a massive overreaction. You'd think the Cubs lost 100 games reading something like this.

 

The Cubs can't trade Gregg because he's not theirs to trade. Johnson is also not theirs to "keep," nor is Grabow.

 

Miles is not cheap.