Cubs 2006 Guaranteed Contracts and Arbitration Eligible

[Transmogrified Tiger]

To my knowledge, Rusch's option is player only. The Cubs have no say in whether he comes back or not with that option.

[stuy119]

Imagine having Furcal at SS and Walker at 2B. That's a pretty good 1-2 punch. No Furcal, then I would not mind to have Hairston as our starting 2B.

 

Furcal is having a horrible year, .229 BA, .281 OBP, .614 OPS.

Career prior to this year: .347 OBP, .751 OPS.

 

So the question becomes whether or not the Cubs gamble on Furcal returning to form, Nomar fighting his way out of a couple of off years due to injuries, or turn the job over to Neifi/Ronny and let them hack it out.

 

I wonder how much of the personnel decisions will depend on the manager of the team next year and what effect that will have.

[YearofDaCubs]

Imagine having Furcal at SS and Walker at 2B. That's a pretty good 1-2 punch. No Furcal, then I would not mind to have Hairston as our starting 2B.

 

Furcal is having a horrible year, .229 BA, .281 OBP, .614 OPS.

Career prior to this year: .347 OBP, .751 OPS.

I would still take him. All of a sudden he has been heating up.

[Knyption]

Sign Burnett and Gilles

 

make a deep staff

 

sign extensions non zambo and patt

[TheDude]

For my money, the Cubs have a shot at building a well-rounded team next year. The pitching depth stocked with youth. I take all the risk with a staff stocked with youth, except perhaps Maddux and a veteran closer. The team has two solid corner infielders that should fill the 3-hole and 5-hole for years.

 

Therefore, the big money acquisition should be alloted through trade to get a 4-hole left-handed corner outfield stud to plop inbetween the two right-handed corner infielders. A guy worth $10 mil or more. I welcome Dunn if the Cubs can pull it off (like anybody else fits that profile ;)).

 

The next big allotment of money goes to a 2B and SS combo with OBP and defense as top priorities, speed a welcomed 3rd attribute. I welcome Hairston back as an option.

 

This establishes a lineup that is built to either manifacture or power as the situation arises. 3-4-5 are then capable of 100 HRs as a lower threshold expectation.

 

The other corner outfielder can be a mid-tier guy. I don't mind bringing Burnitz back, or someone of his calibur. My preference would be more for contact hitting gaps driver with speed over the mid-power with lower average guy.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Sosa's money definitely counts against 2005, not 2006. The terms of the buyout explicitly stated the money was due immediately (as well as his severance pay) if he were traded. The Trib also mentioned this in their quarterly report when they report the 3¢ per share hit to earnings that Sammy caused.

 

As for other assumptions, I think it highly unlikely that Borowski, Gremlin or Hairston would be brought back. I think it is a big stretch at this point to assume Patterson will be here, I think he gets traded before the end of July.

[rocket]

 

As for other assumptions, I think it highly unlikely that Borowski, Gremlin or Hairston would be brought back. I think it is a big stretch at this point to assume Patterson will be here, I think he gets traded before the end of July.

 

Am I the only one who doesn't think Corey will be traded?

[Geech]

I think it is a big stretch at this point to assume Patterson will be here, I think he gets traded before the end of July.

 

Wanna do one of those premium membership bets?

[burnt out cubbie fan]

 

As for other assumptions, I think it highly unlikely that Borowski, Gremlin or Hairston would be brought back. I think it is a big stretch at this point to assume Patterson will be here, I think he gets traded before the end of July.

 

Am I the only one who doesn't think Corey will be traded?

No you are not.

[ChiCubsFan]

 

As for other assumptions, I think it highly unlikely that Borowski, Gremlin or Hairston would be brought back. I think it is a big stretch at this point to assume Patterson will be here, I think he gets traded before the end of July.

 

Am I the only one who doesn't think Corey will be traded?

 

Not at all...i think the chances of him being traded are VERY small.

[treebird]

no rocket you are not

 

im the only one who still thinks we're trading for dunn though (dont tell me otherwise, its all i have)

[cubweiser03]

Im optimistic the Cubs will resign Nomar and it will be cheap. $5M + incentives. The only big money teams competing for him is the Cubs and Braves. All the big money teams have their shortstops tied up for at least 2-3 years. If he wants more money he will have to go to a small market team. I think the yanks will overpay for burnett, they need young pitching and are getting out from underneath kevin brown. Giles could be a good possibilty for the Cubs to sign him. Heck they might have him or burnitz in left field next year. Dubois looks like a platoon corner OF. Rusch will be back if its less than 4.5M, although someone could give him a multi year deal.

Macias will most definetly be gone.

[SouthSideRyan]

1) An arbitration eligible player will sign an extension that pays him much more than he could have gotten in arbitration.

 

 

That doesn't happen. Those extensions always wind up backloaded, and the Cubs wind up saving a couple hundred thousand on them. That's how it was for Lee, Wood, and Barrett.

[HoopsCubs]

Bump. Might be relevant to talk about this some more and review our previous thoughts/responses in lieu of probable selling.

[YearofDaCubs]

How can Nomar not sign back with us for cheap. I mean the guy got the money from us and probably didnt even have 50 at-bats for us.

[CubfaninCA]

As you begin to think about trades (as either buyers or sellers), it might be beneficial to know what the Cubs guaranteed contract situation and arbitration eligibility situation is for 2006 to get an insight into payroll flexibility. Here's a quick update based on some research I did:

 

The Cubs are presently locked into 8 contracts for 2006 totalling $51.6M:

 

$12.00M - Wood

$ 9.00M - Maddux (I made the assumption that his option would vest)

$10.75M - Ramirez

$ 8.67M - Lee

$ 3.55M - Prior (I made the assumption that he wouldn't qualify to void his deal and go to arbitration)

$ 4.13M - Barrett

$ 2.00M - Rusch (assume bullpen in 2006)

$ 1.50M - Blanco

 

In addition, they will owe buyouts to 2 players totalling $5.0M:

 

$ 0.50M - Burnitz

$ 4.50M - Sosa (per the terms on the deal with Baltimore)

 

The Cubs have 5 players eligible for arbitration, which include Zambrano, Patterson, Borowski, Hairston and Macias. Let's assume that all are locks to be back except Borowski. Those 4 are making $9.2M combined in 2005. Let's be generous and say they get a 50% increase next year, so the total will be $13.7M:

 

$ 5.6M - Zambrano

$ 4.2M - Patterson

$ 2.7M - Hairston (assume utility guy)

$ 1.2M - Macias (assume utility guy)

 

 

So, the Cubs have 12 players, and they have committed $70.3M.

 

Assuming $105M payroll (and 12 pitchers), that gives them $34.7M to spend on 13 players:

 

1 starting pitcher

2 starting corner OFs

1 starting SS

1 starting 2B

1 closer

2 bench players

5 relief pitchers

 

Let's assume Bartosh, Ohman, Wellemeyer and Wuertz are 4 of the relief pitchers and Dubois is one of the starting OFs, each making the league minimum of ~$350K. Also assume that the Cubs re-sign Neifi Perez for a utility role at $1.95M.

 

The Cubs now have $31M to spend on 7 key players:

 

1 starting pitcher

1 starting corner OF

1 starting SS

1 starting 2B

1 closer

1 relief pitcher

1 bench player

 

Now, let the creativity flow in terms of midseason and offseason trades, signings, etc....

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Hoops

 

Pitcher ~ Move Maddux, start Williams & a rookie. Save about $6-7 million, I guess.

 

RF - Get Giles for 3 years and $30 mil. Ideal Trib signee. Not too expensive.

 

Lf - Trade for Dunn.... Perhaps use Patterson in a three way deal to pull it off. Add $4-8 million. (I'm guessing Dunn will make about $8 million next year).

 

SS. Go w/ Cedeno. Let Nomar walk. Some crazy team will offer him $5 million. He can always DH in the AL.

 

2b. Go w/ Hairston.

 

Closer ~ Dempster

[Jazz]

i think we have a little bit more wiggle room than that hoops, a couple mistakes here or there, but nice work.

 

IMO, burnett would be a solid sign for us this winter. Yes we have depth at the position, but you dont pass up and arm like him, especially for how incosistent our guys have been this year.

 

We could also use a big bat at either SS, or OF. I dont like the FA crop, so i think wed have to go to the trade market, either this season, or during the offseason. Maybe land Dunn or Huff this season, maybe even a deal for Abreu during the offseason (highly unlikely, but theres been reports speculating him being traded for an arm) Garciaparra could also be signed back for a similar deal to this one (but for less guaranteed money) Giles is also a possible target, but only for the right deal.

 

Heres how i see the cubs lineup next year projecting

 

2B Walker

SS Garciaparra

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

RF

CF

LF Dubois/Murton

C Barrett

 

SP1. Prior

SP2. Zambrano

SP3. Burnett

SP4. Wood

SP5. Maddux/Williams? (possibility Maddux is moved)

 

RP Aardsma

RP Wellemeyer

RP Bartosh

RP Weurtz

RP Leicester

CL Dempster

 

C Blanco

Util Hairston

IF Perez

IF Cedeno

OF Dubois/Murton

OF Grieve

[neely crenshaw]

imo-rusch will go looking for a place to be a full time starter and want full time starter money. he really needs to capitolize on this success...it may be his last shot a decent pay day. remember clement rolled less success into 24 mil!

neifi will be looking for a place to be a starter

hairston will want to be a starter- somewhere.

if dempster continues to the job as closer...it's his-no reason to sign anyone but if he falters-we must get a proven closer no more bandaids!

let every bench player go..we can't over pay for macias,perez,wilson...there are too many options to overpay bench talent

if we sign nomar--it must be even cheaper, it must not be our only big bat signing and we then better sign a serious back up knowing he may have to play half the season.

i love maddux. i feel we must allow his option to vest. he is valuable on many levels...however, in a perfect world we would be able to trade him to contender.9 mil for #4 is a lot when you have so many other holes. it would also allows us to take a run at burnett.i can't see us being able to sign him with maddux on board unless we trade kerry. it's also pretty tough to pay wood 12 mil for what he has brought the last 2 seasons. if we deal maddux then we also avoid any fall out from his option.

if we get a big time slugger then we could deal with patterson in center, and or dubois/murton in left or cedeno at short and sign another proven of'er.

i think what/who we sign for how long should show hendry what prospects to deal...if we do sign burnett then it makes no sense to hang on to all of our pitching prospects...we would have wood,williams,burnett,prior and z all in the ml rotation(all very young) use a few arms to get OF help.

we sign furcal to a 4 year deal then why keep cedeno?

we sign or trade for 1-2 OFers then why keep all of dubois, murton, patterson, kelton, greenberg...etc

[JeffH]

Hoops, where did you get the $4.13 figure for Barrett?

 

I never saw that breakdown published anywhere.

 

I assume that's $2.8-$3.8-$4.4 with a $1 signing bonus spread out over the three seasons.

[LoneStarCubFan]

I think the 25-man will look something like this come April:

 

Barrett

Lee

Hairston

Garciaparra

Ramirez

Mench

Patterson

Dunn

 

Cedeno

Hollandsworth

Murton

Lenny Harris (don't laugh)

Blanco

 

Prior

Zambrano

Wood

Maddux

Williams

 

Dempster

Wellmeyer

Wuertz

Ohman

Novoa

Overpriced veteran lefty TBA

 

If Patterson doesn't get his act together Pie is in Chicago early next year whether he should be or not.

 

Mench gets picked up in a trade that includes Mitre.

 

Dunn gets picked up in a trade that incldues Hill.

 

Can't think of any good corner IF guys for the bench off the top of my head. Fontenot would be the logical in-house guy but Dusty's head would explode if he had three kids on the bench as pinch hitters. A guy like Harris could make a reappearance.

 

Wellmeyer is the set-up guy.

 

Rothschild does not return.

 

Dick Pole takes over as pitching coach.

[Radar3454]

Few ??'s about Corey - I apologize if they have already been asked.

 

If Corey is in the minors for the rest of the year is he still arbitration eligible?

 

Is he still getting service time while in the minors?

 

I hope he does well and is back up this year but if he continues to struggle can we keep him in the minors next year or would he have to clear waivers?

[JeffH]

Yes.

 

No.

 

He would have to clear waivers.