Constructing the 2012 Cubs

[d_money]

So now we are at Dempster (3), Wood (3), Volstad (4), Wells (5). Good god.

 

so who'd we get for garza, fill me in please.

 

I'm getting ahead of myself. It appears a trade is imminent...just forecasting.

[ctcf]

So now we are at Dempster (3), Wood (3), Volstad (4), Wells (5). Good god.

 

so who'd we get for garza, fill me in please.

 

I'm getting ahead of myself. It appears a trade is imminent...just forecasting.

 

A trade is imminent? That's news to me.

[bukie]

So now we are at Dempster (3), Wood (3), Volstad (4), Wells (5). Good god.

 

so who'd we get for garza, fill me in please.

 

I'm getting ahead of myself. It appears a trade is imminent...just forecasting.

 

A trade is imminent? That's news to me.

Yeah, Zambrano. Didn't you hear?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Running update:

 

Soriano/Byrd/DeJesus (Sappelt/Johnson)

 

Stewart/Castro/Barney/LaHair (Baker/DeWitt)

 

Soto (Castillo)

 

Garza/Wood/Dempster/Volstad/Wells

 

Marmol/Samardzija/Russell/Cashner/Corpas/Beliveau/whoever

 

 

I still like starting Sappelt and just dumping Soriano for whatever we can get, Zambrano-style.

[apete6]

Running update:

 

Soriano/Byrd/DeJesus (Sappelt/Johnson)

 

Stewart/Castro/Barney/LaHair (Baker/DeWitt)

 

Soto (Castillo)

 

Garza/Wood/Dempster/Volstad/Wells

 

Marmol/Samardzija/Russell/Cashner/Corpas/Beliveau/whoever

 

 

I still like starting Sappelt and just dumping Soriano for whatever we can get, Zambrano-style.

 

Take away Garza, add someone along the lines of Volstad/Wells for 2012. Add K. Wood to the bullpen and that's probably the team unless they get something for Soriano.

 

Looks like about 70 wins.

[SouthSideRyan]

Running update:

 

Soriano/Byrd/DeJesus (Sappelt/Johnson)

 

Stewart/Castro/Barney/LaHair (Baker/DeWitt)

 

Soto (Castillo)

 

Garza/Wood/Dempster/Volstad/Wells

 

Marmol/Samardzija/Russell/Cashner/Corpas/Beliveau/whoever

 

 

I still like starting Sappelt and just dumping Soriano for whatever we can get, Zambrano-style.

 

Well, I'm going to go jump off a skyscraper

[davell]

Rest of the offseason, now that we're definitively in "rebuild" mode. Trade Garza to Detroit for Turner/Smyly/Crosby, include Dewitt, since they need a utility guy. Trade Byrd to Nats for Deston Hood. Trade Soriano and 45 mill to Orioles for Bridwell. Soriano's 18 mill over next 3 becomes 22.5 over 2. Saving 12 mill by these 3 trades. Payroll at 96 mill. Sign Jeff Francis 1/4. Sign Wood 2/7(appeases meatballs). Sign Cespedes 4/36, 12 mill 1st year. Sign Soler 5/20 8 mill 1st year. Payroll at 123. Spend 7 mill on IFA's. Spend 3-5 mill on backup corner guy, another couple of depth guys for starting pitchers and a bullpen guy(another Corpas type). Projected lineup becomes DeJesus, Barney, Castro, LaHair, Cespedes, Soto, Stewart, and Sappelt. Rotation is Dempster/Francis/Volstad/Wood/Wells. If baseball budget is 150 mill, leaves 15 to spend on draft and IFA period.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Running update:

 

Soriano/Byrd/DeJesus (Sappelt/Johnson)

 

Stewart/Castro/Barney/LaHair (Baker/DeWitt)

 

Soto (Castillo)

 

Garza/Wood/Dempster/Volstad/Wells

 

Marmol/Samardzija/Russell/Cashner/Corpas/Beliveau/whoever

 

 

I still like starting Sappelt and just dumping Soriano for whatever we can get, Zambrano-style.

 

Well, I'm going to go jump off a skyscraper

 

Hope you're healed in time for 2013.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Obviously there are still plenty of moves to come, but here's where I have us right now.

 

Sappelt*/Byrd/DeJesus (Soriano/Johnson)

Stewart/Castro/Barney/LaHair (Dewitt/Baker)

Soto (Castillo)

 

Garza/Wood/Dempster/Maholm/Volstad

 

Marmol/Samardzija/Russell/Castillo/Corpas/Beliveau/Wells

 

The bullpen is the hardest to project, of course. Rizzo and Jackson likely taking over jobs by August.

 

I'm probably underestimating the bullpen problems, but I think that team can project to 76 wins with some upside.

 

(* Yes I'm going to beat that drum all offseason.)

 

 

Edit: Removed projection that Theo would invoke rarely used "takebacks" clause and put Cashner in the bullpen

Edited January 10, 2012 by Hairyducked Idiot

[Guest]

Probably should put Castillo in place of Cashner.

[TruffleShuffle]

i really hope blake dewitt goes away

[Little Slide Rooter]

He does qualify as a still young, once fairly well regarded prospect so Theo and Co. aren't likely to dump him for nothing. Baker's the far more likely bet to go.

[Guest]

Not sure where to put it, but the Cubs appear to be planning on going into spring training using Smardz as a starter

 

Despite the existence of six starting pitchers already on the roster, Hoyer said the Cubs are planning to ask Jeff Samardzija to prepare as a starting pitcher in Spring Training. “I think that’s important not only for the possibility that he could be in the rotation but also for his development,” Hoyer said. “If you prepare as a starter in Spring Training, it helps with your command and with your secondary pitches. We do see Jeff as a guy who can start. With the depth, he may wind up being a quality bullpen arm for us but we are going to prepare him in Spring Training as a starter.” Again, signing Maholm may not be an explicit “precursor” to another move, but something is going to happen. I’m just saying.

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/01/10/jed-hoyer-speaks-on-paul-maholm-kerry-wood-and-the-cubs-pitching-corps/

[davell]

Yeah, we've got 7 right now, if you count Shark. Trade Garza, probably with Turner involved and let him start the year in AAA. Personally, I'm optimistic with Shark beating out Wells. Use Wells as the long guy/6th starter. Assuming we sign Rodrigo Lopez, he's a guy we can yo-yo back and forth from Iowa. Same with Sonnanstine and Coleman as well. Midseason rolls around, trade Dempster most likely and bring Turner up then.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, we've got 7 right now, if you count Shark. Trade Garza, probably with Turner involved and let him start the year in AAA. Personally, I'm optimistic with Shark beating out Wells. Use Wells as the long guy/6th starter. Assuming we sign Rodrigo Lopez, he's a guy we can yo-yo back and forth from Iowa. Same with Sonnanstine and Coleman as well. Midseason rolls around, trade Dempster most likely and bring Turner up then.

 

I think Lopez is more of a "break in case of emergency guy" than somebody you can yo-yo back and forth. And it's going to be a while before I pencil in Samardzija as an actual starter.

[davell]

I'm guessing Theo's wanting anotther high draft pick next season, to where 2012 is kind of a "throw away" year. I figure the idea is to be out of it by the deadline and sell off Soto, Demp, and Marmol at that point, with Soriano gone before then, probably DFA'd, and Garza/Byrd dealt by spring training. With the idea of bringing up Brett, Rizzo, Cespedes(if signed) and maybe a pitcher from the Garza deal as well, around midseason. Maybe have an inseason tryout at closer as well at that point. So it gives us a solid feel for what we've got heading into 2013. Even if we're selling off, I don't see fan apathy setting in, because of all the excitement some of the youngsters will generate. Kind of a good situation for us: We'll still have solid attendance, due to all the youngsters, in my opinion. The one issue though, is we may not be all that bad right now, unless we DO move Garza and Byrd. I could see us as an upper 70's wins type of team, due to the fact, we've gotten depth in our rotation and some upside even, with the lineup. Sell off a little more guys, we're not all that bad right now........

[Backtobanks]

I'm guessing Theo's wanting anotther high draft pick next season, to where 2012 is kind of a "throw away" year. I figure the idea is to be out of it by the deadline and sell off Soto, Demp, and Marmol at that point, with Soriano gone before then, probably DFA'd, and Garza/Byrd dealt by spring training. With the idea of bringing up Brett, Rizzo, Cespedes(if signed) and maybe a pitcher from the Garza deal as well, around midseason. Maybe have an inseason tryout at closer as well at that point. So it gives us a solid feel for what we've got heading into 2013. Even if we're selling off, I don't see fan apathy setting in, because of all the excitement some of the youngsters will generate. Kind of a good situation for us: We'll still have solid attendance, due to all the youngsters, in my opinion. The one issue though, is we may not be all that bad right now, unless we DO move Garza and Byrd. I could see us as an upper 70's wins type of team, due to the fact, we've gotten depth in our rotation and some upside even, with the lineup. Sell off a little more guys, we're not all that bad right now........

 

I understand the upbeat mood by letting the kids play, but I really don't understand any optimism about the 2012 team being "not that bad". The offense is absolutely horrible unless Lahair and Stewart show something. The depth of the rotation is much better, but without Garza or Dempster (trade or injury) it would be really shaky. The defense is probably a wash with an upgrade at 3B, but a downgrade at 1B. As I've posted before, my concern is that many of the future FAs that we're counting on either won't make it to free agency or will be signed by this year's big market non-participants (Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc.).

[Guest]

I'm guessing Theo's wanting anotther high draft pick next season, to where 2012 is kind of a "throw away" year. I figure the idea is to be out of it by the deadline and sell off Soto, Demp, and Marmol at that point, with Soriano gone before then, probably DFA'd, and Garza/Byrd dealt by spring training. With the idea of bringing up Brett, Rizzo, Cespedes(if signed) and maybe a pitcher from the Garza deal as well, around midseason. Maybe have an inseason tryout at closer as well at that point. So it gives us a solid feel for what we've got heading into 2013. Even if we're selling off, I don't see fan apathy setting in, because of all the excitement some of the youngsters will generate. Kind of a good situation for us: We'll still have solid attendance, due to all the youngsters, in my opinion. The one issue though, is we may not be all that bad right now, unless we DO move Garza and Byrd. I could see us as an upper 70's wins type of team, due to the fact, we've gotten depth in our rotation and some upside even, with the lineup. Sell off a little more guys, we're not all that bad right now........

 

I understand the upbeat mood by letting the kids play, but I really don't understand any optimism about the 2012 team being "not that bad". The offense is absolutely horrible unless Lahair and Stewart show something. The depth of the rotation is much better, but without Garza or Dempster (trade or injury) it would be really shaky. The defense is probably a wash with an upgrade at 3B, but a downgrade at 1B. As I've posted before, my concern is that many of the future FAs that we're counting on either won't make it to free agency or will be signed by this year's big market non-participants (Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc.).

 

I think that defensive upgrade at 3B is significantly bigger (and more important) than whatever downgrade there is at 1B.

 

SS (hopefully) can't really get worse. And the outfield will probably be better too.

[davearm2]

I understand the upbeat mood by letting the kids play, but I really don't understand any optimism about the 2012 team being "not that bad". The offense is absolutely horrible unless Lahair and Stewart show something. The depth of the rotation is much better, but without Garza or Dempster (trade or injury) it would be really shaky. The defense is probably a wash with an upgrade at 3B, but a downgrade at 1B. As I've posted before, my concern is that many of the future FAs that we're counting on either won't make it to free agency or will be signed by this year's big market non-participants (Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc.).

I wouldn't worry too much. I think Theo and co. are setting themselves up to acquire their superstars via trade, a la Adrian Gonzalez. They're accumulating quite a bit of prospect inventory.

[Guest]

I understand the upbeat mood by letting the kids play, but I really don't understand any optimism about the 2012 team being "not that bad". The offense is absolutely horrible unless Lahair and Stewart show something. The depth of the rotation is much better, but without Garza or Dempster (trade or injury) it would be really shaky. The defense is probably a wash with an upgrade at 3B, but a downgrade at 1B. As I've posted before, my concern is that many of the future FAs that we're counting on either won't make it to free agency or will be signed by this year's big market non-participants (Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc.).

I wouldn't worry too much. I think Theo and co. are setting themselves up to acquire their superstars via trade, a la Adrian Gonzalez. They're accumulating quite a bit of prospect inventory.

 

I wonder if Theo's man crush on King Felix will ever materialize into anything for us.

[Guest]

I understand the upbeat mood by letting the kids play, but I really don't understand any optimism about the 2012 team being "not that bad". The offense is absolutely horrible unless Lahair and Stewart show something. The depth of the rotation is much better, but without Garza or Dempster (trade or injury) it would be really shaky. The defense is probably a wash with an upgrade at 3B, but a downgrade at 1B. As I've posted before, my concern is that many of the future FAs that we're counting on either won't make it to free agency or will be signed by this year's big market non-participants (Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc.).

I wouldn't worry too much. I think Theo and co. are setting themselves up to acquire their superstars via trade, a la Adrian Gonzalez. They're accumulating quite a bit of prospect inventory.

 

I wonder if Theo's man crush on King Felix will ever materialize into anything for us.

They'll have to acquire a lot better "inventory" then they are currently collecting for that to happen. I'm not exactly sure how they will acquire the inventory either.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

They'll have to acquire a lot better "inventory" then they are currently collecting for that to happen. I'm not exactly sure how they will acquire the inventory either.

 

Well, they robbed the Reds blind for Sean Marshall. That was a good start.

 

But mostly through good drafting. All the other stuff is great, but this front office was brought in for their supposedly superior ability to find and develop amateur talent.

[Guest]

They'll have to acquire a lot better "inventory" then they are currently collecting for that to happen. I'm not exactly sure how they will acquire the inventory either.

 

Well, they robbed the Reds blind for Sean Marshall. That was a good start.

 

But mostly through good drafting. All the other stuff is great, but this front office was brought in for their supposedly superior ability to find and develop amateur talent.

A lot of their draft advantage has been neutralized by the new CBA, but I don't think that's why they were brought to the Cubs. IMO, Theo and Co. were brought to the Cubs because he is the smartest kid in the class. I really believe he'll find a way to make it happen. But he's starting in a position of real weakness in terms of talent and the Cubs are going to have to spend money (and piles of it) on FAs if they are going to be a perennial contender. There's really no way around it, especially with the new CBA.

[Backtobanks]

I understand the upbeat mood by letting the kids play, but I really don't understand any optimism about the 2012 team being "not that bad". The offense is absolutely horrible unless Lahair and Stewart show something. The depth of the rotation is much better, but without Garza or Dempster (trade or injury) it would be really shaky. The defense is probably a wash with an upgrade at 3B, but a downgrade at 1B. As I've posted before, my concern is that many of the future FAs that we're counting on either won't make it to free agency or will be signed by this year's big market non-participants (Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc.).

I wouldn't worry too much. I think Theo and co. are setting themselves up to acquire their superstars via trade, a la Adrian Gonzalez. They're accumulating quite a bit of prospect inventory.

 

They are accumulating a lot of prospect inventory, but you have to allow some time for the prospects to prove their worth before you can trade them for something of value. My other concern that this is going to take 5-6 years instead of 2-3. I'm excited about having "the smartest kid in class" running things, but some of the euphoria around here seems to think that all the other GMs are going to stay out of sight while Theo drafts the best players, signs the best FAs, and makes all one-sided trades for available superstars.

[KingCubsFan]

I understand the upbeat mood by letting the kids play, but I really don't understand any optimism about the 2012 team being "not that bad". The offense is absolutely horrible unless Lahair and Stewart show something. The depth of the rotation is much better, but without Garza or Dempster (trade or injury) it would be really shaky. The defense is probably a wash with an upgrade at 3B, but a downgrade at 1B. As I've posted before, my concern is that many of the future FAs that we're counting on either won't make it to free agency or will be signed by this year's big market non-participants (Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, etc.).

I wouldn't worry too much. I think Theo and co. are setting themselves up to acquire their superstars via trade, a la Adrian Gonzalez. They're accumulating quite a bit of prospect inventory.

 

I wonder if Theo's man crush on King Felix will ever materialize into anything for us.

They'll have to acquire a lot better "inventory" then they are currently collecting for that to happen. I'm not exactly sure how they will acquire the inventory either.

They're about to have 3 straight high draft picks in Baez, 2012 draftee and 2013 draftee. And they've already talked about building the best scouting infrastructure in baseball. Even though the CBA was certainly a setback, it was a setback for every other team as well, and I still think we have an advantage given the mindset of our front office. It hurts teams like the Rays and Pirates more than us. Heck, if we trade Garza for Turner and another prospect, and turn around and sign Cespedes and Soler, they've built a top 10 farm system in a matter of months through a few trades and signings.