The $100M 2006 Cubs - includes Giles, Furcal, Wagner, Zito

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I'm not really interested in Furcal or Wagner. I'd rather play Cedeño and sign BJ Ryan (if at all possible, otherwise, I'd re-sign Dempster). I wouldn't want to rush Pie to the big leagues and I don't think the Cubs could acquire Zito for so little. I like Giles and Riske.

[RynoRules]

I'm not really interested in Furcal or Wagner. I'd rather play Cedeño and sign BJ Ryan (if at all possible, otherwise, I'd re-sign Dempster). I wouldn't want to rush Pie to the big leagues and I don't think the Cubs could acquire Zito for so little. I like Giles and Riske.

 

I agree on both accounts, but that's b/c I agree with Hoops that Pie should get his shot in 06'. How many times have we seen guys like him make the jump from AA and set the world on fire?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not really interested in Furcal or Wagner. I'd rather play Cedeño and sign BJ Ryan (if at all possible, otherwise, I'd re-sign Dempster). I wouldn't want to rush Pie to the big leagues and I don't think the Cubs could acquire Zito for so little. I like Giles and Riske.

 

I agree on both accounts, but that's b/c I agree with Hoops that Pie should get his shot in 06'. How many times have we seen guys like him make the jump from AA and set the world on fire?

 

Pie's patience and plate discipline at AA were worse than Corey's and we saw how rushing him to the majors worked. There are certain talented players who can and should make the jump. Pie isn't one of them. Felix has all the skills needed to become an elite player, but he isn't ready for that just yet. Added to that is he hasn't played even at AA since June. He needs more time.

 

I would say we don't see guys "like him" make that jump and set the world on fire, because guys with plate discipline "like him" usually get eaten up by major league pitching.

[YearofDaCubs]

As much as I hate to say it Neifi and Macias aren't going anywhere. They are going to be on this team next year no matter how much we hate it. :(

:(

[CP_414]

edit: double post - see page three for all the fun! Edited August 27, 2005 by Ronnie Woo Woo

[CP_414]

Worked on this in the Philly airport last night.

 

Starting line-up:

 

1. SS-Rafael Furcal-$8.0M-free agent signing 4 years/$32M

2. LF-Matt Murton-$350K-less than 3 years of service

3. 1B-Derrek Lee-$8.7M-under contract-extension for 4 years/$44M starting in 2006

4. RF-Brian Giles-$10.0M-free agent signing 3 years/$30M

5. 3B-Aramis Ramirez-$10.5M-under contract

6. 2B-Todd Walker-$2.5M-option picked up

7. C-Michael Barrett-$4.3M-under contract

8. CF-Felix Pie-$350K-less than 3 years of service

 

Rotation:

 

9. Carlos Zambrano-$5.0M-1 year salary to avoid arbitration

10. Mark Prior-$2.75M-under contract

11. Barry Zito-$7.2M-under contract-Traded by A's for Corey Patterson, Jerry Hairston and Rich Hill (Cubs also get a prospect)

12. Greg Maddux-$9.0M-option vests

13. Kerry Wood-$12.0M-under contract-Jerome Williams at $350K is the back-up

 

Bullpen:

 

14. Billy Wagner-$8.0M-free agent signing 3 years/$24M

15. David Riske-$2.5M-Traded by Indians for Sergio Mitre and Todd Wellemeyer

16. Scott Williamson-$2.0M-option picked up

17. David Aardsma-$350K-less than 3 years of service

18. Will Ohman-$350K-less than 3 years of service

19. Roberto Novoa-$350K-less than 3 years of service

20. Michael Wuertz-$350K-less than 3 years of service

 

Bench:

 

21. C-Henry Blanco-$1.5M-under contract

22. OF-Adam Greenburg-$350K-less than 3 years of service

23. OF-Rob Mackowiak-$1.5M-Pittsburgh non-tenders

24. 2B/SS-Ronny Cedeno-$350K--less than 3 years of service

25. 1B/3B-Russell Branyan-$1.25M-Milwaukee non-tenders

 

Buyout:

 

Jeromy Burnitz-$500K

 

 

Trades (for a prospect):

 

Glendon Rusch-if he picks up his $2M player option

 

Non-tender:

 

Jose Macias

 

Wave goodbye to free agents:

 

Todd Hollandsworth

Neifi Perez

Ryan Dempster

Matt Lawton

Nomar Garciaparra

 

If you add up the salaries, you'll see it's exactly $100M in 2006. The big acquisitions are Furcal, Giles and Wagner through free agency, and Zito and Riske through trade. After 2006, the Cubs will say goodbye

to Kerry Wood (buyout $3M), Greg Maddux and Scott Williamson. The $20M they save on those 3 players can be used to give raises to Zambrano, Prior, Zito, Lee and Walker. And, Angel Guzman, Jerome Williams or Ricky Nolasco can join the rotation.

 

 

Get your hole puncher ready and start poking. Ready Set. Go.

 

 

Enjoy!

Hoops

 

I would be very pleased with that 06 team. The D-Rays have a 5 million dollar option on Julio Lugo that they are expected to decline. What would it take to get him (they still hold his rights if they decline the option)? He would save the Cubs $3 million if they went with him instead of Furcal. Lugo is hitting .291/.352./.385 with 32 steals this season. The risk is that his obp will fall back into the .330s where it was in the rest of his career (except for his rookie year with Houston). He also had character issues in the past.

 

If we can't get Zito, sign Milwood to a multi-year deal paying $6 million in 2006. Trade Burnitz this season and avoid paying the buyout. That should leave $4.5 million under your $100 million payroll, money that could be well spent on buyout for a certain skipper!

 

Lugo

Walker

Lee

Giles

Aramis

Murton

Barrett

Pie

 

Prior, Z, Wood, Milwood, Maddux and most importantly NO DUSTY.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Lugo is an intriguing option if the Rays were willing to part with him. Maybe we could create a larger deal and pry away Huff as well. Placing Huff in LF and having Lugo for SS would fill two needs.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Lugo is an intriguing option if the Rays were willing to part with him. Maybe we could create a larger deal and pry away Huff as well. Placing Huff in LF and having Lugo for SS would fill two needs.

 

Take Gomes instead.

[CP_414]

Lugo is an intriguing option if the Rays were willing to part with him. Maybe we could create a larger deal and pry away Huff as well. Placing Huff in LF and having Lugo for SS would fill two needs.

 

I was thinking the same thing, but I would rather have Giles than Huff. I know Huff is younger, but Giles OBP is hard to pass up. Now if we can go a few million over $100...

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Lugo is an intriguing option if the Rays were willing to part with him. Maybe we could create a larger deal and pry away Huff as well. Placing Huff in LF and having Lugo for SS would fill two needs.

 

I was thinking the same thing, but I would rather have Giles than Huff. I know Huff is younger, but Giles OBP is hard to pass up. Now if we can go a few million over $100...

 

There's nothing saying we couldn't have both. I'll try to work out the logistics on such a scenario at a later time. Assuming we make a trade for Lugo and Huff, giving up Nolasco, Sing, and another minor league pitcher. We'd have Lugo at 5 million and Huff at what 6.4-7 million? We could still afford to offer Giles 8 million to play right.

[CP_414]

Lugo is an intriguing option if the Rays were willing to part with him. Maybe we could create a larger deal and pry away Huff as well. Placing Huff in LF and having Lugo for SS would fill two needs.

 

I was thinking the same thing, but I would rather have Giles than Huff. I know Huff is younger, but Giles OBP is hard to pass up. Now if we can go a few million over $100...

 

There's nothing saying we couldn't have both. I'll try to work out the logistics on such a scenario at a later time. Assuming we make a trade for Lugo and Huff, giving up Nolasco, Sing, and another minor league pitcher. We'd have Lugo at 5 million and Huff at what 6.4-7 million? We could still afford to offer Giles 8 million to play right.

 

 

Nolasco, Sing, Hill, and Fontenot for Lugo and Huff...Sign Giles to a 3 year 30 million dollar deal...sign Milwood to a 6-7 million dollar deal...resign Dempter at $4 Million, and add 2 quality set up guys at about $2 million each. That team would be at or under $100 million.

 

Question marks would be the bullpen and CF. Both of those though have the potential to be good though depending on the young relief pitchers (Aardsma, Guzman?) and Pie.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Lugo is an intriguing option if the Rays were willing to part with him. Maybe we could create a larger deal and pry away Huff as well. Placing Huff in LF and having Lugo for SS would fill two needs.

 

I was thinking the same thing, but I would rather have Giles than Huff. I know Huff is younger, but Giles OBP is hard to pass up. Now if we can go a few million over $100...

 

There's nothing saying we couldn't have both. I'll try to work out the logistics on such a scenario at a later time. Assuming we make a trade for Lugo and Huff, giving up Nolasco, Sing, and another minor league pitcher. We'd have Lugo at 5 million and Huff at what 6.4-7 million? We could still afford to offer Giles 8 million to play right.

 

 

Nolasco, Sing, Hill, and Fontenot for Lugo and Huff...Sign Giles to a 3 year 30 million dollar deal...sign Milwood to a 6-7 million dollar deal...resign Dempter at $4 Million, and add 2 quality set up guys at about $2 million each. That team would be at or under $100 million.

 

Question marks would be the bullpen and CF. Both of those though have the potential to be good though depending on the young relief pitchers (Aardsma, Guzman?) and Pie.

 

I think that package is overpaying for Huff and Lugo (two players the Devil Rays may not even be able to afford). There's no way I include both Nolasco and Hill in the deal.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Lugo is an intriguing option if the Rays were willing to part with him. Maybe we could create a larger deal and pry away Huff as well. Placing Huff in LF and having Lugo for SS would fill two needs.

 

I was thinking the same thing, but I would rather have Giles than Huff. I know Huff is younger, but Giles OBP is hard to pass up. Now if we can go a few million over $100...

 

There's nothing saying we couldn't have both. I'll try to work out the logistics on such a scenario at a later time. Assuming we make a trade for Lugo and Huff, giving up Nolasco, Sing, and another minor league pitcher. We'd have Lugo at 5 million and Huff at what 6.4-7 million? We could still afford to offer Giles 8 million to play right.

 

 

Nolasco, Sing, Hill, and Fontenot for Lugo and Huff...Sign Giles to a 3 year 30 million dollar deal...sign Milwood to a 6-7 million dollar deal...resign Dempter at $4 Million, and add 2 quality set up guys at about $2 million each. That team would be at or under $100 million.

 

Question marks would be the bullpen and CF. Both of those though have the potential to be good though depending on the young relief pitchers (Aardsma, Guzman?) and Pie.

It will take alot more than that to get Lugo & Huff. Lamar(TB's GM) is out to fleece other GM's every chance he gets. That's why GM's don't like working with Lamar. He will want one of either Pie,Zambrano or Prior.

[YearofDaCubs]

Well, I cant say that I blame Lamar. Every other team looks to fleece the Devil Rays thinking that they will trade with them just because they always have the worst record.

[CP_414]

HaHa...Funny that there were 2 replys saying the exact opposite things. Maybe since one person thinks it's too much to give up and one says it's not enough we have found a fair middle point.

 

 

edited because I can't type.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I'm not really interested in Furcal or Wagner. I'd rather play Cedeño and sign BJ Ryan (if at all possible, otherwise, I'd re-sign Dempster). I wouldn't want to rush Pie to the big leagues and I don't think the Cubs could acquire Zito for so little. I like Giles and Riske.

 

I agree on both accounts, but that's b/c I agree with Hoops that Pie should get his shot in 06'. How many times have we seen guys like him make the jump from AA and set the world on fire?

 

Pie's patience and plate discipline at AA were worse than Corey's and we saw how rushing him to the majors worked. There are certain talented players who can and should make the jump. Pie isn't one of them. Felix has all the skills needed to become an elite player, but he isn't ready for that just yet. Added to that is he hasn't played even at AA since June. He needs more time.

 

I would say we don't see guys "like him" make that jump and set the world on fire, because guys with plate discipline "like him" usually get eaten up by major league pitching.

 

To add to that - young guys who've made a successful jump from AA like Miguel Cabrera and Andruw Jones had much better plate discipline. They were ready to skip AAA, Felix is not.

[NorthsideAvenger]

All this transaction talk if fine and dandy, but want mean a darn thing, if Baker is still managing this team. Baker is a manger---coughs----excuse me, Baker is a babysitter, who allows the inmates run the aslyum. Baker would turn the "Murderer's Row" of the 20s into a flying piece of burning---well you get my point.

 

I know what has been said in the papers, but if Baker is still managing in 06, then we are realisticially out of the 2006 playoff race, no matter who we get.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

All this transaction talk if fine and dandy, but want mean a darn thing, if Baker is still managing this team. Baker is a manger---coughs----excuse me, Baker is a babysitter, who allows the inmates run the aslyum. Baker would turn the "Murderer's Row" of the 20s into a flying piece of burning---well you get my point.

 

I know what has been said in the papers, but if Baker is still managing in 06, then we are realisticially out of the 2006 playoff race, no matter who we get.

 

I dislike Baker as much as the next guy, but hyperbole aside it isn't true. I hope Baker gets canned, and will be dissapointed if he's not...but we can contend with him. We did last year. We did in 2003. Baker kept his Barry Bonds-led Giants right there as well.

 

So, to say we are out of the playoff race no matter what next year if Baker is at the helm is just posturing and has little truth to it whatsoever.

[CubfaninCA]

Offering Giles 3 and 30 could get him in Chicago. The SoCal teams may not be willing to offer as much. However, I'm doubtful the Cubs can get Zito. I'd like to see the Cubs move Wood. I mean he's probably gone after 06 anyway, and a team like Boston would probably extend him another year. They have money to throw around for a pitcher.

[YearofDaCubs]

Have you guys seen Giles numbers the past 2 years? I think he only has 68 rbis this year? HR and RBI wise he is inline with Burnitz. Of course his AVG and OBP is better (.421 OBP)but do you guys think hes worth 10mil?

[cbbryan]

Have you guys seen Giles numbers the past 2 years? I think he only has 68 rbis this year? HR and RBI wise he is inline with Burnitz. Of course his AVG and OBP is better (.421 OBP)but do you guys think hes worth 10mil?

 

I think Wrigley would be alot better park then out in SD. I think he's alot better player then Burnitz. Burnitz has put up ok numbers, but I don't think he's a 7 million/yr guy........which is what his option is for next year.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Have you guys seen Giles numbers the past 2 years? I think he only has 68 rbis this year? HR and RBI wise he is inline with Burnitz. Of course his AVG and OBP is better (.421 OBP)but do you guys think hes worth 10mil?

 

Who cares how many HR and RBI he has if he's producing in ways not influenced by the team? He's slugging over .560 away from Petco, and as you mention he gets on base at an outstanding clip. He's worth it, just not for more than 3 years because of his age.

[CubfaninCA]

Giles would be perfect in front of Lee and Ramirez.

 

I'd take Lofton for a 1 year stop gap in cf. Hopefully, they'd bring back Hairston tho for insurance. Trade Wood & Patterson for Manny. Get Manny & Giles, and they can just bring back Neifi @ ss or play Cedeno @ ss. If Neifi's @ ss, at least they'd have a solid glove on the left side of the infield.

[ltb]

they can just bring back Neifi @ ss or play Cedeno @ ss. If Neifi's @ ss, at least they'd have a solid glove on the left side of the infield.

 

cedeno is also solid defensively.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Have you guys seen Giles numbers the past 2 years? I think he only has 68 rbis this year? HR and RBI wise he is inline with Burnitz. Of course his AVG and OBP is better (.421 OBP)but do you guys think hes worth 10mil?

 

RBI numbers are indicative of the offense surrounding him, his HR numbers have dipped because of the stadium he's playing half his games in. Things should improve in the power department if he played 81 games at Wrigley (look at his road SLG that CPatt20 provided). He won't be the greatest FA acquisition (he is declining, he is getting old), but 3/$30M would be fair for Giles and I would like to see him as a Cub for that much.