What do you want to see this offseason? (long)

[erik316wttn]

I've actually done a 180 with respect to Jose Macias, who, if used correctly, actually has a lot of value.

 

But that's the thing. Macias is one of "Dusty's boys" and by definition would not be used properly.

 

Sometimes you just have to take the toys away, which is why Hollandsworth (even though he's more valuable off the bench) and Neifi have to be taken away as well.

Edited August 14, 2005 by erik316wttn

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Todd Walkers Stats this year:

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG

71 270 36 80 18 2 7 27 1 .296 .346 .456

 

2005 Salary: $2,500,000

 

 

Alfonso Soriano

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG

110 456 80 131 30 2 28 82 18 .287 .326 .546

 

2005 Salary: $7,500,000

 

Walker leads Soriano in BA and OBP. While Soriano may have more HR and RBI's Soriano also bats in a stronger lineup. Why get rid of a guy with very good OBP just to add a power hitter so we can find another OBP guy in the OF? 2B is one of bright spots with Walker. With this trade we are just creating a whole in the OF instead of actually filling a need. I would advocate keeping Walker at 2B and looking at moving Nomar to LF. With Nomar's numbers I think he could be very similar to what we are looking for.

 

Nomar:

SPLIT G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG

Career 1031 4212 745 1346 294 50 183 716 86 .320 .368 .543

 

 

Nomar's numbers are very similar to Soriano's so we by leaving Walker and moving Nomar that also enables Cedeno to play. Which would fill one of our major holes. Then if we could just add an OF through FA(Giles) or trade (Kearns)

 

 

On a side note a trade for Kearns:

Mitre, Koronka, Holla for Kearns

 

Also, don't forget to note that Soriano plays in a hitter's haven. The Ballpark in Arlington is a wonderful place to play if you're a hitter. Not so much if you're a pitcher.

[Nobody youd want to know]

On a side note a trade for Kearns:

Mitre, Koronka, Holla for Kearns

 

What all the love for Kearns on this board is based on I'll never know. Take away Kearns' first season, where his astronomical BABIP has already been noted ad nauseum, and you have a line of:

.247/.330/.432

 

That's positively... Pattersonian!

 

Murton is already much better, and his salary is less than a third of Kearns'.

[oldcubsfan]

Why would Tampa trade Gomes, other than you want him? Low salary, upside, why would they let him go?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Why would Tampa trade Gomes, other than you want him? Low salary, upside, why would they let him go?

 

They have Crawford, Gathright, Baldelli, Gomes, and soon Delmon Young to play in the OF, not to mention Huff at DH. No place to play him, since management doesn't seem to value him over some of their other options.

[rawaction]

On a side note a trade for Kearns:

Mitre, Koronka, Holla for Kearns

 

What all the love for Kearns on this board is based on I'll never know. Take away Kearns' first season, where his astronomical BABIP has already been noted ad nauseum, and you have a line of:

.247/.330/.432

 

That's positively... Pattersonian!

 

Murton is already much better, and his salary is less than a third of Kearns'.

 

Actually, that's pretty good patience. If you assume a 27-yo hasn't peaked with a .247 BA, then it's a pretty good pickup, provided you don't give up much.

[Geech]

He might be a good pickup for a 4th OF, but I wouldn't want him starting at a corner.

[marc_foust]

I just really think that Kearns fits the ARam/Barrett/Lee mold where a change of scenery to a somewhat contender will spark him to become the kind of player we are looking for. If cheap enough I would like to giver him a look. If it doesnt pan out for a starter it is always good to have a guy with power on the bench.

[Houston_Cub_Fan]

I think this team faces some really tough decisions this offseason, and right now there are few answers.

 

1) We will have a lot of money to spend. But the FA crop is weak. Who can we realistically go after who will change the team drastically over in-house options?

 

2) We have a lot of minor leaguers who are pretty close to needing to play at the ML level on a regular basis. But do we want a youth movement now when we, threoretically, have the pitching and core veterens to make a playoff push? We know we don't have the right manager for a youth movement.

 

3)We have a nice collection of talent already. But are we -or were we ever- as good as we think we are? We talk about our staff in reverent terms but, to date, they are injury-prone underachievers. Our lineup is okay but not overly intimidating. Our bullpen is a laughingstock. Our manager is a boob. Compared to some of the horrific Cubs teams I've watched, we're great. Unfortunately, we have to compare ourselves to a higher standard (the Cards?) and right now, we come up way short.

 

 

 

So our choices are:

Stand pat and hope a healthy season cures all (didn't we do that this year?)

Make trades/ sign FAs for corner OF and bullpen help (not much out there for FAs and trades mean weakening the farm for a team that isn't that close to a WS contender)

Trade vets and stock farm for youth movement (get a new manger and wait another 3-4 years for a real winner.)

 

Like I said, tough choices. None of them seem too promising. But the lesser of three evils is to trade for the positions we need to fill and make a run again next year. We may bankrupt the farm, but we can't be asked to wait much longer.

[erik316wttn]

I think this team faces some really tough decisions this offseason, and right now there are few answers.

 

1) We will have a lot of money to spend. But the FA crop is weak. Who can we realistically go after who will change the team drastically over in-house options?

 

2) We have a lot of minor leaguers who are pretty close to needing to play at the ML level on a regular basis. But do we want a youth movement now when we, threoretically, have the pitching and core veterens to make a playoff push? We know we don't have the right manager for a youth movement.

 

3)We have a nice collection of talent already. But are we -or were we ever- as good as we think we are? We talk about our staff in reverent terms but, to date, they are injury-prone underachievers. Our lineup is okay but not overly intimidating. Our bullpen is a laughingstock. Our manager is a boob. Compared to some of the horrific Cubs teams I've watched, we're great. Unfortunately, we have to compare ourselves to a higher standard (the Cards?) and right now, we come up way short.

 

 

 

So our choices are:

Stand pat and hope a healthy season cures all (didn't we do that this year?)

Make trades/ sign FAs for corner OF and bullpen help (not much out there for FAs and trades mean weakening the farm for a team that isn't that close to a WS contender)

Trade vets and stock farm for youth movement (get a new manger and wait another 3-4 years for a real winner.)

 

Like I said, tough choices. None of them seem too promising. But the lesser of three evils is to trade for the positions we need to fill and make a run again next year. We may bankrupt the farm, but we can't be asked to wait much longer.

 

But what if you do bankrupt the farm and we don't win next year or the year after? Then we're back in a 7-year stretch of the farm being barren and the Cubs finishing in the 2nd division.

[HoopsCubs]

(1) Sign Kevin Millwood

(2) Sign AJ Burnett

(3) Re-sign Matt Lawton

(4) Re-sign Nomar Garciaparra

(5) Re-sign Ryan Dempster

(6) Trade for Ken Griffey, Jr. - send Corey Patterson and a prospect

(7) Trade for either Jeff Kent or Alfonso Soriano - send Kerry Wood (an extension might offset his no trade clause) and a prospect

 

Lineup:

 

Lawton

Garciaparra

Lee

Griffey

Kent or Ramirez

Ramirez or Soriano

Barrett

Murton

Pitcher

 

Rotation:

 

Prior

Zambrano

Burnett

Maddux

Millwood

[Electron Blue]

(1) Sign Kevin Millwood

(2) Sign AJ Burnett

(3) Re-sign Matt Lawton

(4) Re-sign Nomar Garciaparra

(5) Re-sign Ryan Dempster

(6) Trade for Ken Griffey, Jr. - send Corey Patterson and a prospect

(7) Trade for either Jeff Kent or Alfonso Soriano - send Kerry Wood (an extension might offset his no trade clause) and a prospect

 

Lineup:

 

Lawton

Garciaparra

Lee

Griffey

Kent or Ramirez

Ramirez or Soriano

Barrett

Murton

Pitcher

 

Rotation:

 

Prior

Zambrano

Burnett

Maddux

Millwood

 

Wouldn't that just about be the most impactful offseason the Cubs have *ever* had? In other words, it seems too good to be true.

[mul21]

(1) Sign Kevin Millwood

(2) Sign AJ Burnett

(3) Re-sign Matt Lawton

(4) Re-sign Nomar Garciaparra

(5) Re-sign Ryan Dempster

(6) Trade for Ken Griffey, Jr. - send Corey Patterson and a prospect

(7) Trade for either Jeff Kent or Alfonso Soriano - send Kerry Wood (an extension might offset his no trade clause) and a prospect

 

Lineup:

 

Lawton

Garciaparra

Lee

Griffey

Kent or Ramirez

Ramirez or Soriano

Barrett

Murton

Pitcher

 

Rotation:

 

Prior

Zambrano

Burnett

Maddux

Millwood

 

I like all those ideas with the exception of Griffey and Kent Soriano. If they stay with walker at 2nd and leave CPatt in CF it's still a solid lineup and you then have

 

Lawton RF

Walker 2B

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Nomar SS

Patterson CF

Murton LF

Barrett C

 

And the aformentioned pitching. Looks like a lineup that has a good mix of OBP and power, but the defense may be a question mark.

[sporrer17]

You do realize, that's an exact replica of this current team, only minus Burnitz and adding in Murton.

 

We at least need one big addition somewhere to this team.

[Geech]

I'd like to see something like:

 

Lawton

Giles

Lee

Aramis

Nomar

Walker

Patterson

Barrett

[marc_foust]

I wouldnt mind seeing:

 

Lawton

Walker

Lee

Aramis

Giles

Nomar

Patterson

Barrett

 

Hairston

Cedeno

Blanco

Hollandsworth

Murton

Blum

 

 

Prior

Z

Burnett

Wood

Maddux

 

 

Aardsma

Williamson

Dempster

Wuertz

Novoa

Ohman

 

 

All that has to happen is to sign Burnett and Giles and resign Lawton and Nomar. If we can use Rusch, Neifi, Williams, Macias, Mitre, Grieve, etc to add either a starter if(when) we dont get Burnett or an outfielder if(when) we dont get Giles. I really think that we should be able to get at least one of the two to come to chicago. Also if we add an experienced arm to the pen that could help to. But we should be able to add either a starter, OF, or bullpen guy to help out through FA. I really think we may have to trade to find a number 3/4 starter. Prior and Z number one and two, Maddux five, and Wood either at 3 or Williams/Hill at 4. Blum would be a nice bench guy but with all the other needs we will probably need to settle with the bench because we have to fill other needs.

[Nobody youd want to know]

(1) Sign Kevin Millwood

(2) Sign AJ Burnett

(3) Re-sign Matt Lawton

(4) Re-sign Nomar Garciaparra

(5) Re-sign Ryan Dempster

(6) Trade for Ken Griffey, Jr. - send Corey Patterson and a prospect

(7) Trade for either Jeff Kent or Alfonso Soriano - send Kerry Wood (an extension might offset his no trade clause) and a prospect

 

Question: is there enough money to sign both Burnett and Millwood next year? Not trying to be a smart@ss, I really don't know what next years' finances look like.

 

If so, I highly endorse their signing (tho I'd rather see Penny instead of Burnett).

 

Now, doing so means we're admitting our highly touted minor-league arms aren't as good as advertised, but I'm willing to do that.

 

In fact, I'd go so far as to say a staff of Prior/Z/Penny/Millwood/Maddux almost guarantees us at least a Wild Card berth next year. One need look no further than those yahoos on Chicago's south side to see the value of a strong, stable rotation.

[OldHappyCubFan]

I find it funny how people only throw in Giles into their lineup, and think that gives us a chance to win a WS.

 

Stupid idea. IF we suffer just one injury, its a setback. Thats why I endorse HoopsCubs ideas.

 

We need 2-3 changes on this team.

 

 

1 pitching change.

 

2 outfield changes.

 

Boom.

[erik316wttn]

(1) Sign Kevin Millwood

(2) Sign AJ Burnett

(3) Re-sign Matt Lawton

(4) Re-sign Nomar Garciaparra

(5) Re-sign Ryan Dempster

(6) Trade for Ken Griffey, Jr. - send Corey Patterson and a prospect

(7) Trade for either Jeff Kent or Alfonso Soriano - send Kerry Wood (an extension might offset his no trade clause) and a prospect

 

Question: is there enough money to sign both Burnett and Millwood next year? Not trying to be a smart@ss, I really don't know what next years' finances look like.

 

If so, I highly endorse their signing (tho I'd rather see Penny instead of Burnett).

 

Now, doing so means we're admitting our highly touted minor-league arms aren't as good as advertised, but I'm willing to do that.

 

In fact, I'd go so far as to say a staff of Prior/Z/Penny/Millwood/Maddux almost guarantees us at least a Wild Card berth next year. One need look no further than those yahoos on Chicago's south side to see the value of a strong, stable rotation.

 

Well, for one thing, the Sammy money will be off the books. And IF (that's a big if, though) Maddux retires, that's another $9 million, so at least $21 million there in total.

 

Nomar is making 8 million this year, I think. If he takes $4 million, theres $25 to play with ($16 million if Maddux stays).

 

We'll have some wiggle room this offseason. I think I'm missing some money somewhere as well. I'm sure one of the more intelligent people will correct me where I omitted someone or made an incorrect contract statement.

[erik316wttn]

I find it funny how people only throw in Giles into their lineup, and think that gives us a chance to win a WS.

 

Stupid idea. IF we suffer just one injury, its a setback. Thats why I endorse HoopsCubs ideas.

 

We need 2-3 changes on this team.

 

 

1 pitching change.

 

2 outfield changes.

 

Boom.

 

I like Hoops' ideas except for 2 things.

 

1) I don't think Wood is going anywhere, even if you give him an extention. I don't think teams want to take that risk.

 

2) My man-love for Walker doesn't want to see anyone else at 2nd next year. Soriano K's way too much and Kent is old.

[HoopsCubs]

Question: is there enough money to sign both Burnett and Millwood next year? Not trying to be a smart@ss, I really don't know what next years' finances look like.

 

If so, I highly endorse their signing (tho I'd rather see Penny instead of Burnett).

 

Now, doing so means we're admitting our highly touted minor-league arms aren't as good as advertised, but I'm willing to do that.

 

In fact, I'd go so far as to say a staff of Prior/Z/Penny/Millwood/Maddux almost guarantees us at least a Wild Card berth next year. One need look no further than those yahoos on Chicago's south side to see the value of a strong, stable rotation.

 

It's a good question. My estimate is that there is probably finances to do 5 of the 7 moves. All 7 would probably require a payroll in the $115M range. As for Penny, he signed a 3 year extension with LA in June, so he's not available. Similar to what Kenny Williams did this year, Hendry needs to give the Cubs a new look and go in a different direction.

 

Hoops

[rawaction]

Question: is there enough money to sign both Burnett and Millwood next year? Not trying to be a smart@ss, I really don't know what next years' finances look like.

 

If so, I highly endorse their signing (tho I'd rather see Penny instead of Burnett).

 

Now, doing so means we're admitting our highly touted minor-league arms aren't as good as advertised, but I'm willing to do that.

 

In fact, I'd go so far as to say a staff of Prior/Z/Penny/Millwood/Maddux almost guarantees us at least a Wild Card berth next year. One need look no further than those yahoos on Chicago's south side to see the value of a strong, stable rotation.

 

It's a good question. My estimate is that there is probably finances to do 5 of the 7 moves. All 7 would probably require a payroll in the $115M range. As for Penny, he signed a 3 year extension with LA in June, so he's not available. Similar to what Kenny Williams did this year, Hendry needs to give the Cubs a new look and go in a different direction.

 

Hoops

 

The Cubs are not in a situation where a new look will help improve them that much. There is still plenty of relatively young ML talent here. Wood, Ramirez, Zambrano, Prior, Ohman, Novoa, Patterson, Barrett, Murton, Cedeno.....and that's just at the ML level. Add the guys who will/should be fair bargains next year, Walker, Dempster, Williamson, Lee, Nomar, and you have over 1/2 a team there.

 

Lawton's .370 career OBP for a full season would be a different direction. Giles .400 OBP would be a huge addition. Keep the current IF and Patterson. Adding the 2 corner OFs would make for a huge jump in production over Burnitz/Holla/Dubois. Giving ABs to Cedeno, Fontenot, Murton over Macias and Perez would help too.

[SAMMYWHO]

(1) Sign Kevin Millwood

(2) Sign AJ Burnett

(3) Re-sign Matt Lawton

(4) Re-sign Nomar Garciaparra

(5) Re-sign Ryan Dempster

(6) Trade for Ken Griffey, Jr. - send Corey Patterson and a prospect

(7) Trade for either Jeff Kent or Alfonso Soriano - send Kerry Wood (an extension might offset his no trade clause) and a prospect

 

Question: is there enough money to sign both Burnett and Millwood next year? Not trying to be a smart@ss, I really don't know what next years' finances look like.

 

If so, I highly endorse their signing (tho I'd rather see Penny instead of Burnett).

 

Now, doing so means we're admitting our highly touted minor-league arms aren't as good as advertised, but I'm willing to do that.

 

In fact, I'd go so far as to say a staff of Prior/Z/Penny/Millwood/Maddux almost guarantees us at least a Wild Card berth next year. One need look no further than those yahoos on Chicago's south side to see the value of a strong, stable rotation.

 

Well, for one thing, the Sammy money will be off the books. And IF (that's a big if, though) Maddux retires, that's another $9 million, so at least $21 million there in total.

 

Nomar is making 8 million this year, I think. If he takes $4 million, theres $25 to play with ($16 million if Maddux stays).

 

We'll have some wiggle room this offseason. I think I'm missing some money somewhere as well. I'm sure one of the more intelligent people will correct me where I omitted someone or made an incorrect contract statement.

 

Remlinger's 4 mil and Hawkins 4 or 4.5 mil would be gone also

[marc_foust]

As much as I love the idea of signing Burnett and Giles in the offseason, I really dont see either happening. There are always teams that offer ungodly amounts to marginal FA's in a weak class. With this years weak class I really see those two getting a huge contract somewhere and I would really prefer not to be that team. Like last year with Drew and Beltran. I really think we need to resign Lawton and Nomar because of the weak market. We will probably have to find a corner OF through trades. With so many teams coming close to the playoffs this year there may not be a lot of firesales this winter. Having so many holes to fill could make this offseason very difficult. We may have to give up alot to fill our needs. We may have to go with the bullpen as is. If we decide to keep Wood in the pen we should be ok going with a pen of Wood, Demp, Williamson, Wuertz, Novoa, Ohman. The main need is a corner OF followed closely by a starting pitcher. The big decisions that need to made are what to do with Nomar, Dempster, Wood, and Lawton. Do we resign the three then we need to decide what to do with Wood, pen/starter. That leaves the starters as Prior, Z, Maddux, Williams, and maybe Wood. If not Wood then we fill in house with Rusch, Mitre, Hill, Welly etc or try to trade for a number 3/4 starter. Will a rotation of Prior, Z, Williams, Hill, Maddux get the job done? Is Nomar worth bringing back next year? Do we feel comfortable with Lawton in the OF? What do we do with Wood? That makes for a lot of questions in the offseason. And unfortunatly I dont see a lot of outside answers unless we are looking at a Preston Wilson type player. The market for players like Giles and Matsui should be very high with such a weak class.

 

Checklist for the Offseason:

Resign Dempster

Decide on Nomar

Decide on Lawton

Make a choice on Wood

Deal for a corner OF

Find a 3/4 starter depending on Wood

Sure up Pen

 

Hendry has to make some moves this winter because this team as constructed right now is not a playoff team. I feel it is close but there a few missing pieces.

[Nobody youd want to know]

I have no confidence in Dempster. Take last night's game as an example: Wood comes into the game in the 8th and I KNOW nobody's going to touch him. THAT'S what you want in a closer.

 

Then Dusty trots Dempster out there, and I start sweating. He got the save, but he just as easily might have walked 2 or 3, if the Astro hitters had any plate discipline. And the flyout to CF was a screamer that, 10 feet to the right, would have been a double easy.

 

When Dempster misses with his fastball, at least lately, he misses high in the zone, and a good hitter's going to sit on that and hit it a million miles.

 

Think of it this way: would you rather have Wood as a starter for part of a season, or have him for the whole year as a positively lights-out closer? I'd take him as a closer--something the Cubs have been desperate for--anyday.