Will Lee and Ramirez be back in 2011?

[Guest]

Would the cubs sign him to 3, though, with Vitters working his way through the system?

 

Yes. And it'd be foolish of them not to for Vitters' sake, if they really want Ramirez.

 

You don't hold spots open for prospects, especially prospects who haven't seen a AA pitch yet.

 

Not directed at anyone in particular, but it's funny how every time the big league club's fortunes take a dip, people start latching onto prospects and writing out lineups five years in advance. How's that Kelton/Montanez/Choi infield working for us?

 

How dare you forget Bobby Hill? Of course, at that time, we have very little else to hope for, so that's all we had left to be excited about. Or so we thought.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

How dare you forget Bobby Hill? Of course, at that time, we have very little else to hope for, so that's all we had left to be excited about. Or so we thought.

 

To be fair, the Ben Christiansen/Jae Kuk Ryu(sp?)/Francis Beltran/Sergio Mitre/Todd Wellenmeyer rotation did a bit better.

 

(I'm pulling these from memory, so they may not have all been from the same time period).

[A New Era]

I vote to let Lee walk and thank him for his excellent Cub Career

 

While that's a viable option as far as what to do with Lee, who then plays first base in 2011 [and beyond]?

 

1B is an easy position to fill with good offensive players.

[Ski]

I think that FA list should tell you there's a pretty good chance Lee does not walk. I'm guessing two-year extension.

 

Ramirez will parlay his player option into a three-year option at slightly lower money.

This is what I'm curious about. Has there been any talk or articles about whether or not Aramis will excercise his $15 million option? Would he make that much in the open market?

[Sammy Sofa]

I think that FA list should tell you there's a pretty good chance Lee does not walk. I'm guessing two-year extension.

 

Ramirez will parlay his player option into a three-year option at slightly lower money.

This is what I'm curious about. Has there been any talk or articles about whether or not Aramis will excercise his $15 million option? Would he make that much in the open market?

 

I think there's a good chance he would, especially from AL teams looking for a DH. I could see both the Yankees and Red Sox being very interested in him for that role.

 

I am in no way willing to let Aramis go simply because the Cubs have Vitters. Vitters is pretty [expletive] far from being a sure thing. I would be more than willing, however, to let Aramis go as part of a larger rebuilding process. It's simply being realistic to look at the Cubs shot at winning the WS with their current core as near being closed, if it's not already. I love Aramis as a Cub, but it's just smarter to not spend the money to bring him back given his age and his injury history and since he could net you a very nice return if you can trade him if an understanding is reached that he'd opt out and the Cubs will be looking elsewhere.

[KaiserCesar]

I'd say try to hold onto Ramirez at all costs, but let Lee walk. Sure, whatever replacement you bring in is going to be a downgrade from Lee's 2009, but Lee's 2011 is going to be a downgrade from Lee's 2009. That being said, he may also give a hometown discount in a shorter-term deal and could be an option in that way. Otherwise, you can look short-term with a stop gap and hope Vitters develops. The chances that both Vitters and Ramirez will be able to play 3rd in a few years aren't the greatest anyway, and one could probably move to 1st if needed. A little outside the box, but a good year out of Nady or Tracy could position those guys as the stopgap solution. With the way the FA market has been, though, I don't see Lee commanding that much money (which is why Ramirez's best option is to exercise the option) so he could come at pretty good value and may ultimately end up being the best decision. A lot depends on how 2010 plays out for prospects and for some of the veterans that were brought in this offseason.

[SpongeWorthy]

Maybe following Lee's departure Hendry or whoever is the GM can pull of a deal for Adrian Gonzalez. A sign and trade deal for him would be one of the best routes to go IMO.

 

While it would be great to land Gonzalez, the cost is simply not going to be worth it. He has 2 years left on his deal now, which means he will have 1 year left if/when Lee walks. Unless you can be assured of locking him up for the next 8 to 10 years, the talent you would have to give up to get him would be astounding. Gonzalez is dirt cheap this year and next. Anyone who trades for him will be giving up the farm.

 

The guy who traded Peavy and everyone prior to Peavy is gone. They have new ownership and a new GM who isn't going to just dump people for the sake of dumping them. Gonzalez is cheap enough that San Diego has no reason to trade him. Besides being from San Diego and a minority in a town that would love to increase their minority ticket sales, he's a classy individual that the town clings to now that just about everyone else is gone. He is one of their last hopes to put butts in seats in an economically unfriendly climate.

 

I wouldn't say they got rid of Peavy for nothing. The trade is looking pretty darn good right now for the Padres.

 

I would give up a lot for Gonzalez too. He'd absolutely mash away at Wrigley and away from Petco and the NL West in general.

[NewUserName]

I think the Cubs will extend/resign Lee. I also think it will be a horrible contract. 3/4 years 11million a season

[Guest]

I wouldn't say they got rid of Peavy for nothing. The trade is looking pretty darn good right now for the Padres.

 

I would give up a lot for Gonzalez too. He'd absolutely mash away at Wrigley and away from Petco and the NL West in general.

 

Figure of speech. If you asked me if I would trade Peavy for the packages that the White Sox gave up or for the rumored packages the Cubs were offering, I would not.

 

You would give up a lot for potentially one year of Adrian Gonzalez, since he becomes a highest bidder free agent at the end of his remaining one year deal? I'm not as bold as you.

[SpongeWorthy]

I wouldn't say they got rid of Peavy for nothing. The trade is looking pretty darn good right now for the Padres.

 

I would give up a lot for Gonzalez too. He'd absolutely mash away at Wrigley and away from Petco and the NL West in general.

 

Figure of speech. If you asked me if I would trade Peavy for the packages that the White Sox gave up or for the rumored packages the Cubs were offering, I would not.

 

You would give up a lot for potentially one year of Adrian Gonzalez, since he becomes a highest bidder free agent at the end of his remaining one year deal? I'm not as bold as you.

 

I bet Hoyer is doing cartwheels over the payroll flexibility and good, young arms the Padres got for Peavy.

 

As for Gonzalez, I remember someone mentioned here last year in one of the game threads in a series where Gonzalez was absolutely murdering us: "He's the left handed Pujols."

 

I don't think it's that far off if he's in the NL Central. If you take away his home splits at Petco and the 150ish PAs against the Dodgers and Giants where he was pretty average he's arguably the best hitter in baseball. He's worth a gamble.

[Cubswin11]

I wouldn't say they got rid of Peavy for nothing. The trade is looking pretty darn good right now for the Padres.

 

I would give up a lot for Gonzalez too. He'd absolutely mash away at Wrigley and away from Petco and the NL West in general.

 

Figure of speech. If you asked me if I would trade Peavy for the packages that the White Sox gave up or for the rumored packages the Cubs were offering, I would not.

 

You would give up a lot for potentially one year of Adrian Gonzalez, since he becomes a highest bidder free agent at the end of his remaining one year deal? I'm not as bold as you.

I'd be willing to give up any of our prospects outside of Castro for him, assuming we could get a long term deal worked out.

[KaiserCesar]

I wouldn't say they got rid of Peavy for nothing. The trade is looking pretty darn good right now for the Padres.

 

I would give up a lot for Gonzalez too. He'd absolutely mash away at Wrigley and away from Petco and the NL West in general.

 

Figure of speech. If you asked me if I would trade Peavy for the packages that the White Sox gave up or for the rumored packages the Cubs were offering, I would not.

 

You would give up a lot for potentially one year of Adrian Gonzalez, since he becomes a highest bidder free agent at the end of his remaining one year deal? I'm not as bold as you.

I'd be willing to give up any of our prospects outside of Castro for him, assuming we could get a long term deal worked out.

 

There's some word that the price could be high enough to include Gordon Beckham

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/12985283/white-sox-camp-tour-peavy-fitting-in-making-own-pitch

 

"That's really what we need, a big left-handed hitter," one Sox person said. "They're saying Kenny would give anything to get him, maybe even [Gordon] Beckham."

 

If they are willing to give that up, no one is going to top that offer.

[A-Cal]

I wouldn't give up anything for A-Gon. He isn't the miracle child the cubs need. And the Sox possibly giving up Beckham???

 

Stupid, IMO.

[NewUserName]

I think if the Sox were really willing to trade Beckham for A Gon, this trade would happen pretty quick. My guess is that the Sox believe their pitching will keep them in contention. If they look like a real chance to be a Series contender this year at the deadline, then they may do something like trade Beckham for A Gon.

[dew1679666265]

I wouldn't give up anything for A-Gon. He isn't the miracle child the cubs need. And the Sox possibly giving up Beckham???

 

Stupid, IMO.

 

He had a .958 OPS last year and an .869 career OPS in one of the biggest pitchers parks in the majors. He's also only about to turn 28 and an average fielder (according to UZR/150).

 

What's not to like about Gonzalez?

[Sammy Sofa]

I wouldn't give up anything for A-Gon. He isn't the miracle child the cubs need. And the Sox possibly giving up Beckham???

 

Stupid, IMO.

 

I'm sorry, but your standards are insanely high if you think there are many other hitters in baseball right now who are better than Adrian Gonzalez.

 

With Lee in the system as a SS prospect, I wouldn't mind if the Cubs did ponder the idea of involving Castro as part of a deal for Gonzalez, if they were also intending to open up the wallets and pay what it would take to keep him here for the forseeable future.

Edited March 2, 2010 by Sammy Sofa

[woodchip2153]

article from THT about Lee's value

[biittner77]

article from THT about Lee's value

 

summary: he'll get between 7-13 million over 2-3 years depending on how well he does this year.

 

I'm guessing Hendry will give him 2year/ $21 million

[C.C.]

article from THT about Lee's value

 

summary: he'll get between 7-13 million over 2-3 years depending on how well he does this year.

 

I'm guessing Hendry will give him 2year/ $21 million

 

 

With a player option for the 3rd year.

[Clem Fandango]

Is Carlos Pena's defense laughable? His bat would be nice to have for a year or two but no one seems to be interested in him. I'm guessing his defense is terrible?

 

Also, I would really really really like it if they can get Ramirez to waive his NTC, assuming the Cubs are out of it and aren't contending. It would then be nice to see if he would agree to his extension with a team he's traded to, giving the Cubs a top notch 3B they can trade to a team who will have control over him for two more years.

 

That's a big if though, but it would be nice. Ramirez would make a hell of a bargaining chip to help replenish our farm system a bit more... though knowing Hendry he'd trade him for a lefty outfielder and a reliever or 5.

[Radar3454]

any chance of Soriano playing 1B and not being a horrible defensive player?

[Backtobanks]

any chance of Soriano playing 1B and not being a horrible defensive player?

 

 

All the runners would be safe because he would hop (off the bag) on every throw. :-))

[Butterscup1679666578]

Both will be gone.

[mhuber92211]

Lee being Right handed adds to this equation and would allow for Hendry to get a LH Bat from a typically LH position. Overbay here we come

[Guest]

Lee being Right handed adds to this equation and would allow for Hendry to get a LH Bat from a typically LH position. Overbay here we come

 

I agree with you on the lefty bat thing, but I'd probably guess Carlos Pena.