Balt. Sun's Top 10 FAs

[UK1679666180]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.connolly11sep11,1,6794225.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball

 

6. Rafael Furcal, shortstop, Atlanta Braves: Absolutely the best middle infielder available. He has tremendous range, a great arm, excellent base-stealing ability and surprising pop. And he doesn't turn 28 until October. The Braves are afraid he'll be too rich for them.

Prediction: The Chicago Cubs need him at shortstop and atop their order.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Notice how we don't seem to be in the running for Giles or Burnett (according to that paper, anyway).

 

Fixing all our holes via FA is not feasible. IMO, one or two players should definitely be had from the FA market, even if we have to overpay ($/production).

 

It's nice to see that thinking about Furcal in Cubbie blue isn't a pipe dream of Cubs' fans. :)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

[UK1679666180]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

 

Who's in CF?

[rawaction]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

 

Who's in CF?

 

Where. Who's at 1st.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

 

Who's in CF?

 

I'd probably use Hairston, Patterson, or another stop gap player like Lofton until Pie is ready to contribute.

[rawaction]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

 

Who's in CF?

 

I'd probably use Hairston, Patterson, or another stop gap player like Lofton until Pie is ready to contribute.

 

Stop bringing up Lofton! :x

 

But I'd rather go with Cedeno at SS if Nomar moves to LF and get Giles to play CF. The OF defense would suck, but who cares?

 

And I think you posted this in the wrong thread.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

 

Who's in CF?

 

I'd probably use Hairston, Patterson, or another stop gap player like Lofton until Pie is ready to contribute.

 

Stop bringing up Lofton! :x

 

But I'd rather go with Cedeno at SS if Nomar moves to LF and get Giles to play CF. The OF defense would suck, but who cares?

 

And I think you posted this in the wrong thread.

 

I'm not one to think that Lofton was the key to our offense in 2003. I just know that we could use a stop gap while waiting on Pie. It doesn't have to be Lofton, but I wouldn't rule him out either. Hairston might be a decent option there.

[littleburr24]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

 

Who's in CF?

 

Where. Who's at 1st.

 

Not to be a pest... but isn't it Why in CF?

[nilodnayr]

BJ Ryan to the Braves? Not too likely that the Braves, who will still have Kolb and may bring back Farns, will spend boku bucks on a closer let alone a bit time FA with the amount of money they will be paying Hampton next year.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

 

Who's in CF?

 

I'd probably use Hairston, Patterson, or another stop gap player like Lofton until Pie is ready to contribute.

 

Murton has a weak arm and shouldn't even sniff RF.

[YearofDaCubs]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

We would be stacked.

[Jazz]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

We would be stacked.

 

I really dont like that outfield defense

Id like to go after Giles, or find a real good defensive CF in a trade if thats wat the plan of action would be,

[Wheelimus]

I like that lineup, but lets not write off Giles just to get Murton in there. In theory (as in, Dusty gets a brain transplant off season), you could bring Murton along as the 4th outfielder. There's going to be plenty of starts available in that outfield for a 4th guy. Make Murton your first right handed bat off of the bench in games he doesn't play.

 

To facilitate this, I ask Murton to play center field in winter ball this year. Yes, I know, he doesn't have a rocket for an arm. But surely a winter of playing center field at a high level would leave him able to play that spot adequately. We're talking a maximum of maybe 10 to 15 starts there all year.

 

If you get Murton 15 starts on average (as, he might spell Nomar more than Giles) at each outfield spot, and make him the DH in all AL interleague games, that's a good 50 starts next year plus pinch hitting all the time.

 

And of course, in my scenario we probably have Corey or Hairston fighting for the CF job, and you tell Murton to really bust his butt learning CF in winter ball, because it isn't going to be real hard to outplay those two unless Corey bounces back.

[Balsa]

Interesting article, but I doubt that Matt Lawton is an 'interesting' addition. He's been just god-awful for the Yankees. He's already getting booed there.

[abuck1220]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

We would be stacked.

 

stacked? i don't know that murton will be that much better than burnitz in his first full season. then you'd basically be comparing the cubs' carousel of lf against furcal, and furcal would have an edge (though not a huge one) there.

 

i don't want furcal.

[NewUserName]

I still think the money the Cubs may spend on Frucal may not be wise. I think Cedeno could give us most of what Frucal would give us and probably be as good in a couple of years at alot less money. Also though I wouldnt be against bringing back Nomar, its alot easier to say change a position than to do it. I know he has handled 3rd better than expected. Its just alot bigger difference between ss and 3rd than ss and LF.

 

I also dont understand why everyone wants Murton to this that and the other thing. A guy who could hit 15 hrs 35 doubles and have a OBP in the upper 300s would be a great LF. I am not sure he will do this but he has surly earned the opportunity to find out. My bet is he will be this good in a couple of years if given the opportunity.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

BJ Ryan to the Braves? Not too likely that the Braves, who will still have Kolb and may bring back Farns, will spend boku bucks on a closer let alone a bit time FA with the amount of money they will be paying Hampton next year.

Kolb has been absolutely horrible this year.

[CubfaninCA]

What team will make a big bid for Furcal?? Neither NY team will. Boston, Philly, Baltimore and Anaheim won't. The Dodgers probably doesn't. Perhaps St. Louis, Seattle or Houston do.

 

Maybe Furcal's price tag won't be too high given that most of the big market teams have good shortstops. Of course, this could be like the Cubs trying to outbid Detroit for Ordonez too. :(

[TheDude]

I still think the money the Cubs may spend on Frucal may not be wise. I think Cedeno could give us most of what Frucal would give us and probably be as good in a couple of years at alot less money.

The problem is, that has been said about so many young guys in the past, for any team. I have no problem gambling on young guys, especially when blocked by aging guys who don't need to be blocking, but Furcal is young and proven, while Cedeno is just young.

 

A few years ago, before Patterson got hurt and Beltran had 1.5 years left on his contract as a Royal, I was a huge advocate of trying to get Beltran, with Patterson and an arm from the farm as the centerpieces in the deal. Most said exactly what you just said, "we don't need Beltran, because Patterson will be cheaper longterm and just as productive".

 

Anyway, my thinking is this: if you can acquire a guy in his prime, at 25-29, who is already proven at the big leagues, then you get him, even at the expense of an even younger guy waiting in the wings. The team has the money - so minimize the risk and go with the (more) sure thing.

[nilodnayr]

BJ Ryan to the Braves? Not too likely that the Braves, who will still have Kolb and may bring back Farns, will spend boku bucks on a closer let alone a bit time FA with the amount of money they will be paying Hampton next year.

Kolb has been absolutely horrible this year.

 

Ohh Im well aware, but he has had success in the past and obviously they liked him enough to trade some decent talent for him. I bet they will bring back farns anyway, but Id have to say Kolb has a much better chance of being their closer than Ryan. The team that couldnt spend anything last offseason already has more money tied up next year than they do now (or nearly as much), something tells me they wont be making a big FA acquisition.

[Magnetic Curses]

i think the baltimore sun is unaware of just how much money we have to spend. and again, the yankees will sign every free agent available, when they become available. this simply does not happen.

[hardcorecubfan]

How good could our team be if we signed Furcal for short, kept Walker at second, and convinced Nomar to move to left.

 

What would this line-up look like?

 

Furcal SS

Walker 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Nomar LF

Barrett C

Murton RF

 

That doesn't look like a bad line-up to me.

 

Who's in CF?

boy, is that a stupid question macias of course :lol:

[Larry Horse]

Wow, that's an ugly list.

[HoopsCubs]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.connolly11sep11,1,6794225.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball

 

6. Rafael Furcal, shortstop, Atlanta Braves: Absolutely the best middle infielder available. He has tremendous range, a great arm, excellent base-stealing ability and surprising pop. And he doesn't turn 28 until October. The Braves are afraid he'll be too rich for them.

Prediction: The Chicago Cubs need him at shortstop and atop their order.

 

Juan Encarnacion is ranked 10th best free agent??!!

 

Now, if that isn't a stinging indictment of how weak this free agent class is, then I don't know what is.