Ramirez declines option

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm going to miss the dude and be annoyed as hell at the Kaplan's of the world that applaud his absence and place value on the "addition by subtraction" theory.

[toonsterwu]

I think A-Ram is definitely gone. I could definitely see the Cubs spending that money on a gamble like Sizemore and a pither like Edwin Jackson/Maholm type. Im not sure the Cubs will be players for CJ Wilson as I think they will make a lot of solid moves grasping at high upside. These are the targets for 3B out of the organization I would like to see. if the Cubs dealt Byrd they could flip some mid prospects and package with a higher prospect for Headley.

 

1. Headley

2. Encarnacion

3. Stewart

4. Baker/Flaherty/DeWitt

 

This does leave the cubs with immense payroll flexibility over the next couple of years. I could be excited for a lineup like this:

 

Jackson

Castro

Headley

Fielder

Soto

Sizemore

Soriano

Kelly Johnson/Aaron Hill/Barney

 

Encarnacion seems to be getting a lot of attention. That said, for guys that focus as much as they do on run prevention, I wonder if Encarnacion's shoddy defense makes them wary. This is assuming that he even reaches FA - doesn't Toronto own a club option on him at an affordable price?

[JeffH]

Has there been any word on whether the Cubs exercised their option on Samardzija?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Has there been any word on whether the Cubs exercised their option on Samardzija?

 

There has not.

 

But I was trying to remember: does the no more than 10% paycut rule apply to his sort of arbitration? Because if it does, the choice is between paying him $3 million and non-tendering him.

[Guest]

Has there been any word on whether the Cubs exercised their option on Samardzija?

I haven't heard anything, but I just sent a message to Bruce Miles. Hopefully he'll get back soon.

[Guest]

He says he hasn't heard either, but it is on his agenda to ask.

[Rob]

Pass on E5.

[OleMissCub]

This news makes me genuinely sad.

[Mark Priors Calves]

If Zambrano, Ramirez, and Wood all aren't on the Cubs in 2012, then that leave zero players from the 2003. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, by the way, its just an end of an era (in more than one way, with Theo now in charge).

[Guest]

If Zambrano, Ramirez, and Wood all aren't on the Cubs in 2012, then that leave zero players from the 2003. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, by the way, its just an end of an era (in more than one way, with Theo now in charge).

 

 

I think Wood probably will be, though.

 

He said he'd rather retire than go elsewhere, and I'm sure Theo would be happy to take him at such a low cost. Then again, Wood might decide he'd rather retire than play for a really low amount again, so we'll see.

[Post Count Padder]

If Zambrano, Ramirez, and Wood all aren't on the Cubs in 2012, then that leave zero players from the 2003. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, by the way, its just an end of an era (in more than one way, with Theo now in charge).

 

 

I think Wood probably will be, though.

 

He said he'd rather retire than go elsewhere, and I'm sure Theo would be happy to take him at such a low cost. Then again, Wood might decide he'd rather retire than play for a really low amount again, so we'll see.

Yeah I think there's a pretty good chance he stays put. I could see him signing a 2 year deal, maybe for like 7 mil, and then calling it a career and hanging with the organization in some other capacity.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Zambrano, Ramirez, and Wood all aren't on the Cubs in 2012, then that leave zero players from the 2003. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, by the way, its just an end of an era (in more than one way, with Theo now in charge).

 

 

I think Wood probably will be, though.

 

He said he'd rather retire than go elsewhere, and I'm sure Theo would be happy to take him at such a low cost. Then again, Wood might decide he'd rather retire than play for a really low amount again, so we'll see.

Yeah I think there's a pretty good chance he stays put. I could see him signing a 2 year deal, maybe for like 7 mil, and then calling it a career and hanging with the organization in some other capacity.

 

2/7 is not in any way shape or form a low amount for what Wood has been bringing to the table.

[Guest]

I think he'll sign another 1 yr deal for 1-2M, then go through the same decision process next offseason.

[Clem Fandango]

I think he'll sign another 1 yr deal for 1-2M, then go through the same decision process next offseason.

 

I think he will, too. He obviously isn't going anywhere else, and his decision to retire or play could change at any moment, so he'd probably be fine with going year-to-year on team friendly deals until he decides to hang it up for good

[Guest]

I think he'll sign another 1 yr deal for 1-2M, then go through the same decision process next offseason.

 

I think he will, too. He obviously isn't going anywhere else, and his decision to retire or play could change at any moment, so he'd probably be fine with going year-to-year on team friendly deals until he decides to hang it up for good

Seeing him as type B on the elias list, though, makes me wonder if Theo will avoid sentiment and nab the pick if Kerry would want to sign somewhere else instead of retiring.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think he'll sign another 1 yr deal for 1-2M, then go through the same decision process next offseason.

 

I think he will, too. He obviously isn't going anywhere else, and his decision to retire or play could change at any moment, so he'd probably be fine with going year-to-year on team friendly deals until he decides to hang it up for good

Seeing him as type B on the elias list, though, makes me wonder if Theo will avoid sentiment and nab the pick if Kerry would want to sign somewhere else instead of retiring.

 

That only works if Kerry signs elsewhere before the arb deadline, which I really doubt.

[USSoccer]

I'm crossing my fingers that this ends up like the last time his contract was up, and he gives us a team friendly 2-3 year deal

[Exile on Waveland]

This is sad . . . but I'm still kind of expecting him back. I'd be pretty reluctant to give him three years though. And I say that as a huge fan (after Wood, my favorite contemporary Cub).

[El Duderino]

I see the angels overpaying for him, unfortunately.

[dew1679666265]

I watched Aramis in the minors when he was a Nashville Sound, was one of the biggest proponents of the trade for him in 2003, and he was my favorite Cub for the past 9 years.

 

Really sad to see him go, but it's probably in the best interest of the team.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I think he'll sign another 1 yr deal for 1-2M, then go through the same decision process next offseason.

 

I think he will, too. He obviously isn't going anywhere else, and his decision to retire or play could change at any moment, so he'd probably be fine with going year-to-year on team friendly deals until he decides to hang it up for good

Seeing him as type B on the elias list, though, makes me wonder if Theo will avoid sentiment and nab the pick if Kerry would want to sign somewhere else instead of retiring.

 

This would be the Theo thing and maybe even smart thing to do. Who's to say he wouldn't like pitching out in Arizona? Doesn't he live out there? Plus Theo don't catch feelings.

[Scotti]

I think he'll sign another 1 yr deal for 1-2M, then go through the same decision process next offseason.

 

I think he will, too. He obviously isn't going anywhere else, and his decision to retire or play could change at any moment, so he'd probably be fine with going year-to-year on team friendly deals until he decides to hang it up for good

Seeing him as type B on the elias list, though, makes me wonder if Theo will avoid sentiment and nab the pick if Kerry would want to sign somewhere else instead of retiring.

 

This would be the Theo thing and maybe even smart thing to do. Who's to say he wouldn't like pitching out in Arizona? Doesn't he live out there? Plus Theo don't catch feelings.

 

Wood lives in Chicago year round. His wife is from the area and they have a child that gets special care from Children's Memorial which is 1-2 miles from Wrigley (straight down Halsted next to DePaul):

 

"Part of Wood's insistence on returning to the Cubs centers around his youngest daughter Charlotte's health issues that are best dealt with at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital. Kerry and Sarah decided last year that they would give up their home in Scottsdale, Ariz., and raise their children in Chicago. The driving force was Charlotte's medical needs."

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/2927/family-first-woods-priority-was-in-chicago

 

 

My guess is that he signs for one year between 2-3 million.

[Brian]

Isn't Kerry on record near the end of the season as saying he'll be back with the Cubs or he'll retire.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I think he'll sign another 1 yr deal for 1-2M, then go through the same decision process next offseason.

 

I think he will, too. He obviously isn't going anywhere else, and his decision to retire or play could change at any moment, so he'd probably be fine with going year-to-year on team friendly deals until he decides to hang it up for good

Seeing him as type B on the elias list, though, makes me wonder if Theo will avoid sentiment and nab the pick if Kerry would want to sign somewhere else instead of retiring.

 

This would be the Theo thing and maybe even smart thing to do. Who's to say he wouldn't like pitching out in Arizona? Doesn't he live out there? Plus Theo don't catch feelings.

 

Wood lives in Chicago year round. His wife is from the area and they have a child that gets special care from Children's Memorial which is 1-2 miles from Wrigley (straight down Halsted next to DePaul):

 

"Part of Wood's insistence on returning to the Cubs centers around his youngest daughter Charlotte's health issues that are best dealt with at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital. Kerry and Sarah decided last year that they would give up their home in Scottsdale, Ariz., and raise their children in Chicago. The driving force was Charlotte's medical needs."

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/2927/family-first-woods-priority-was-in-chicago

 

 

My guess is that he signs for one year between 2-3 million.

 

At the risk of sounding cruel, this sounded like one of those Sarah McLachlan @ 2 am commercials for Kerry Wood's youngest daughter. You could have just said they moved to Chicago...now I just feel depressed.

[Scotti]

They moved to Chicago and their family has never been better...