Burnitz as a stopgap in CF?

[nikao]

Doesn't Lofton have a connection to Chicago though? I remember something about him growing up a Cubs fan. Maybe that would count for something.

 

I would certainly support bringing back Kenny Lofton--the Cubs never should have let him go in the first place. But question: why would the Phillies let him go? He's been terrific for them, why wouldn't they bring him back themselves? They have as much money to spend as the Cubs, so money isn't a problem.

 

Just say no to Jose Guillen though, that's a bad idea.

 

I continue to pine after one of Tampa or Cincy's extra OFs. At some point, both those GMs have to suck it up and admit they need pitching--don't they? We make a natural trade partner.

 

Unfortunately, watch out for St Louis. Larry Walker is finished, and Reggie Sanders has been subpar when he hasn't been hurt this year. You know they're going to be actively looking for corner OF help, competing against us for all the obvious names. I would think Houston will be looking for a corner OF too, and they should have the money to spend with Rajah's $18MM off the books. And the Dodgers have nearly as much money to spend as we do.

 

It's going to be a tough off-season, I fear. Hendry will likely have better luck coming up with creative trade ideas than he will plunging into the free agent market.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just say no to Jose Guillen though, that's a bad idea.

 

Why?

[goonys evil twin]

Doesn't Lofton have a connection to Chicago though? I remember something about him growing up a Cubs fan. Maybe that would count for something.

 

He was born in East Chicago, Indiana.

 

I would certainly support bringing back Kenny Lofton--the Cubs never should have let him go in the first place. But question: why would the Phillies let him go? He's been terrific for them, why wouldn't they bring him back themselves? They have as much money to spend as the Cubs, so money isn't a problem.

 

Philly does not have as much money to spend as the Cubs. With Abreu, Thome, Lieberthal (option vested for 06), Burrell, Rollins, Lieber and Wolf, they have a ton of money already committed for 2006. The only significant cash coming off the books is Wagner and Bell. I think Philly, moreso than the Cubs, it as a crossroads. If they do not make the playoffs this year, they could be in for a major overhaul, and they have to spend big on pitching this offseason.

[HoopsCubs]

Doesn't Lofton have a connection to Chicago though? I remember something about him growing up a Cubs fan. Maybe that would count for something.

 

He was born in East Chicago, Indiana.

 

I would certainly support bringing back Kenny Lofton--the Cubs never should have let him go in the first place. But question: why would the Phillies let him go? He's been terrific for them, why wouldn't they bring him back themselves? They have as much money to spend as the Cubs, so money isn't a problem.

 

Philly does not have as much money to spend as the Cubs. With Abreu, Thome, Lieberthal (option vested for 06), Burrell, Rollins, Lieber and Wolf, they have a ton of money already committed for 2006. The only significant cash coming off the books is Wagner and Bell. I think Philly, moreso than the Cubs, it as a crossroads. If they do not make the playoffs this year, they could be in for a major overhaul, and they have to spend big on pitching this offseason.

 

To back up Goony's point, the Phillies are already committed to 11 players and $74M in 2006 (Abreu, Thome, Lieberthal, Burrell, Wolf, Lieber, Bell, Rollins, Lidle, Cormier, Perez). Their payroll was $95M this year, so they do have $21M to spend on 14 players. But here's what's tough: Padilla and Myers are arbitration eligible, so a decision will be require there. Add to that, Wagner, Urbina and Lofton - 3 important players are free agents as well.

 

The Phillies really need to addresss their pitching this offseason, and will probably have to jettison one contract to do it. They should really pay half and move Thome to the AL. If they can't, Burrell could be available (to Hendry).

 

Long and short, the Phillies are not in the best situation. If they want to, the Cubs could easily pry Lofton away from them during free agency.

 

Hoops

[JC]

Burrell could be available (to Hendry).

 

Long and short, the Phillies are not in the best situation.

 

Burrell's fielding still scares the bejesus out of me. But, in the absence of a better option, I'd take him. His OBP has been strong, even in the midst of a bad AVG. year last year.

 

Complete, baseless, idle speculation: Thome seems like a good fit for Boston next year. I wonder if Boston would consider sending Manny to Boston for Thome and Burrell, with Philly spinning Manny off to the Mets for Beltran? Does Beltran have a no-trade clause?

[goonys evil twin]

Just say no to Jose Guillen though, that's a bad idea.

 

Why?

 

I am pretty intrigued by a Guillen possibility. From strictly a baseball standpoint, he's practically a perfect fit for the Jim Hendry style. He's a swing early and swing often kind of guy, but he's moderately successful with that approach. He's been a .290/.350/.490 guy the past few years. That kind of line would be perfectly acceptable for this Cubs team.

 

He is by no means ideal though. He doesn't help much in the approach/OBP department. He's a moron and a troublemaker as well, which is why I doubt Hendry would be interested. However, if he were to somehow get Guillen on the cheap, he could help the team. I would have rather had him than Burnitz this year at similar cost. What would have been nice would have been Guillen in left this season, that could have saved a lot of headaches.

 

Bringing up a previously stated option that I didn't like, I could see Hendry going hard after Preston Wilson and Jose Guillen, filling CF and RF, and allowing him to go with Murton in LF. You wouldn't be getting a ton of production out of any of your OF, but you should get moderate production overall, and for relatively low prices. The Cubs would once again run into the problem of too many 6th/7th hole type hitters, and no ideal leadoff man, but it would be interesting.

[JC]

Having Milton Bradley and Jose Guillen in the same outfield would be exciting, in its own way.

[goonys evil twin]

Burrell could be available (to Hendry).

 

Long and short, the Phillies are not in the best situation.

 

Burrell's fielding still scares the bejesus out of me. But, in the absence of a better option, I'd take him. His OBP has been strong, even in the midst of a bad AVG. year last year.

 

Complete, baseless, idle speculation: Thome seems like a good fit for Boston next year. I wonder if Boston would consider sending Manny to Boston for Thome and Burrell, with Philly spinning Manny off to the Mets for Beltran? Does Beltran have a no-trade clause?

 

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2004_12_27_mlbcontracts_archive.html

 

Carlos Beltran of

7 years/$119M (2005-11)

 

$11M signing bonus ($5M at signing 1/05, $2M 6/15/05, $2M 1/15/06, $2M 1/15/07)

05:$10M, 06:$12M, 07:$12M, 08:$18.5M, 09:$18.5M, 10:$18.5M, 11:$18.5M

signed as a free agent 1/05

$22M deferred to 2012-18 (8 annual installments of $3,142,857 @ 1.7175% interest)

$8.5M deferred annually from 2008-2011

club agreed to not offer arbitration after 2011 season

perks: hotel suite on road, 15-person suite at home games, club agreed to lease ocular enhancer machine (device that throws numbered & multi-colored tennis balls at 150 mph)

 

 

Doesn't look like a no trade, but I know he would have the "veteran who is traded in the middle of a free agent contract" clause that would allow him to renegotiate. Now, he probably wouldn't want to renegotiate, because he might not get anymore money.

 

I wonder what Boston would send to Philly in return for Thome and Burrell. Nixon and ???

 

Both Philly and Boston would be left in great need for pitching after those moves.

[CubfaninCA]

I think I could live with the acquisitions of Lofton and Guillen, if we hang on to Nomar and Walker. It's not splashy, but this line up:

 

Lofton CF

Walker 2B

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3B

Garciaparra SS

Guillen RF

Barrett C

Murton LF

 

would not be too bad. Also, that would leave a lot of cash to pursue help for the rotation or bullpen. I could live with those acquisitions provided we put together a productive bench and bullpen.

 

If the Cubs did go Murton/Lofton for LF/CF, regardless of who they bring in to play RF, I think the Cubs would try to get more power from the infield, which leads me to believe they would trade Walker and a decent pitcher to Texas for Soriano. And if we take CubfaninCa's idea for acquiring Cliff Floyd, this is the lineup I could see:

 

Lofton

Murton

Lee

Floyd

Ramirez

Soriano

Barrett

Cedeno

 

I'm not optimistic the Cubs will keep Garciaparra, although under the right financial circumstances, it is do-able if they choose to.

 

Hoops

 

Seems like Texas is going to demand a hefty return for Soriano. Can see them wanting Jerome Williams. That lineup you have looks real good. However I can see Walker being used to get Floyd. Boston and NY could both use him. NY's top of the order obp is brutal.

[dalgreen]

I still would love to get Helton and put him left.

[CubfaninCA]

Just say no to Jose Guillen though, that's a bad idea.

 

Why?

 

I am pretty intrigued by a Guillen possibility. From strictly a baseball standpoint, he's practically a perfect fit for the Jim Hendry style. He's a swing early and swing often kind of guy, but he's moderately successful with that approach. He's been a .290/.350/.490 guy the past few years. That kind of line would be perfectly acceptable for this Cubs team.

 

He is by no means ideal though. He doesn't help much in the approach/OBP department. He's a moron and a troublemaker as well, which is why I doubt Hendry would be interested. However, if he were to somehow get Guillen on the cheap, he could help the team. I would have rather had him than Burnitz this year at similar cost. What would have been nice would have been Guillen in left this season, that could have saved a lot of headaches.

 

Bringing up a previously stated option that I didn't like, I could see Hendry going hard after Preston Wilson and Jose Guillen, filling CF and RF, and allowing him to go with Murton in LF. You wouldn't be getting a ton of production out of any of your OF, but you should get moderate production overall, and for relatively low prices. The Cubs would once again run into the problem of too many 6th/7th hole type hitters, and no ideal leadoff man, but it would be interesting.

 

Can't see Preston Wilson accepting a 1 year deal. He has some value and can demand more. Most likely Hendry will go after a 1 year stop gap, which makes Lofton, Hunter and Cameron likley options, or they'll just throw Patterson out there again.

[JC]

I still would love to get Helton and put him left.

 

I'm still intrigued by the idea of putting Helton at 1B and getting a stud OFer for Lee.

 

I seem to remember a recent report from Colorado, however, indicating that Helton would not be on the offseason market. Of course, Colorado's temperature probably changes daily with that regard. Or, they are just positioning themselves better for an offseason move of Helton, rather than calling him a liar and threatening to make public a videotape showing him to be a liar.

[HoopsCubs]

Can't see Preston Wilson accepting a 1 year deal. He has some value and can demand more. Most likely Hendry will go after a 1 year stop gap, which makes Lofton, Hunter and Cameron likley options, or they'll just throw Patterson out there again.

 

By the way, in case anybody had forgotten, Paul Sullivan reminded us in today's Chicago Tribune: "[Lofton] shows no signs of slowing down and is a favorite of Baker and Hendry."

[CubfaninCA]

Can't see Preston Wilson accepting a 1 year deal. He has some value and can demand more. Most likely Hendry will go after a 1 year stop gap, which makes Lofton, Hunter and Cameron likley options, or they'll just throw Patterson out there again.

 

By the way, in case anybody had forgotten, Paul Sullivan reminded us in today's Chicago Tribune: "[Lofton] shows no signs of slowing down and is a favorite of Baker and Hendry."

 

Makes lots and lots of sense to sign Lofton. He's from Chicago. Iirc has played for Baker for several years. Is a vet w/ playoff experience. And he's cheap, can fill in for a year, and be an effective Baker-type leadoff man. Lofton & Furcal @ the top of the order could be pretty interesting.

[Warren Brusstar]

Unfortunately, I think there is a strong, strong chance that Jacque Jones will be manning one of the corner OF positions next year.

 

:cry:

[HoopsCubs]

Unfortunately, I think there is a strong, strong chance that Jacque Jones will be manning one of the corner OF positions next year.

 

:cry:

 

Yeah, I thought of that too. Preston Wilson and Jacque Jones are 2 guys Hendry really likes. I've got no problem with Wilson as long as we get a Giles, Dunn, Floyd type player in RF. I really dislike Jones.

[Derwood]

Sign Lofton for 1 year. Re-sign Nomar on the cheap. If you can't get Furcal, re-sign Neifi and bat him 8th. Get a lefty hitting RF.

 

1. Lofton - CF

2. Murton - LF

3. Lee - 1B

4. Ramirez - 3B

5. Giles/Dunn/Floyd/??? - RF

6. Nomar - 2B

7. Barrett - C

8. Neifi - SS

[dalgreen]

Or, they are just positioning themselves better for an offseason move of Helton, rather than calling him a liar and threatening to make public a videotape showing him to be a liar.

 

 

:lmao:

[CubfaninCA]

Furcal, Lofton, Lee, Floyd, ARam, Soriano, Murton & Barrett works for me.

 

Rotation Z, Millwood, Prior, Wood & Maddux..

[goonys evil twin]

Sign Lofton for 1 year. Re-sign Nomar on the cheap. If you can't get Furcal, re-sign Neifi and bat him 8th. Get a lefty hitting RF.

 

1. Lofton - CF

2. Murton - LF

3. Lee - 1B

4. Ramirez - 3B

5. Giles/Dunn/Floyd/??? - RF

6. Nomar - 2B

7. Barrett - C

8. Neifi - SS

 

Why would you rather have Neifi at SS than Walker at 2nd? It makes no sense to purposefully downgrade a position. As crappy as he's been this year, Neifi is capable of much worse.

[Derwood]

Sign Lofton for 1 year. Re-sign Nomar on the cheap. If you can't get Furcal, re-sign Neifi and bat him 8th. Get a lefty hitting RF.

 

1. Lofton - CF

2. Murton - LF

3. Lee - 1B

4. Ramirez - 3B

5. Giles/Dunn/Floyd/??? - RF

6. Nomar - 2B

7. Barrett - C

8. Neifi - SS

 

Why would you rather have Neifi at SS than Walker at 2nd? It makes no sense to purposefully downgrade a position. As crappy as he's been this year, Neifi is capable of much worse.

 

Because I'm realistic enough to know that Baker will demand Neifi back, so I'm going to live with that as a reality. Lofton is a Baker guy too...

[katway]

Sign Lofton for 1 year. Re-sign Nomar on the cheap. If you can't get Furcal, re-sign Neifi and bat him 8th. Get a lefty hitting RF.

 

1. Lofton - CF

2. Murton - LF

3. Lee - 1B

4. Ramirez - 3B

5. Giles/Dunn/Floyd/??? - RF

6. Nomar - 2B

7. Barrett - C

8. Neifi - SS

 

Why would you rather have Neifi at SS than Walker at 2nd? It makes no sense to purposefully downgrade a position. As crappy as he's been this year, Neifi is capable of much worse.

 

I'd opt for Ronny Cedeno at SS

[don_kessinger_was_good]

1-Juan Pierre or Kenny Lofton, CF

2-Rafael Furcal, SS

3-Brian Giles, RF

4-Derrick Lee, 1B

5-Aramis Ramirez, 3B

6-Matt Murton, LF

7-Michael Barrett, C

8-Ronny Cedeno, 2B

 

That's a World Series-caliber daily lineup there, with OBP, speed and defense. Shoot, 6 of the 8 starters could easily steal over 20 bases. The incremental cost would be maybe, MAYBE $20MM. We already have 4 through 8 at roughly $24MM. If you offer Furcal 9MM (Cabrera got 8, Renteria got 10), Giles 11MM (Drew money), Lofton 3MM (cheap option) or Pierre 5MM--you've got your everday lineup set at just under $50MM.

 

The bench guys are cheap. Most of the bullpen guys are cheap. Wood + Prior + Z + Maddux = roughly 29MM. So you'd still have at least $15MM to re-sign Dempster and sign one stud FA reliever like BJ Ryan.

[imb]

DERREK DERREK DERREK

[AAApittsburgh]

DERREK DERREK DERREK

ESPN power rankings says it's spelled Derrick, and they're never wrong.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/powerranking