Sun Times Article on Possible FA Acquisitions

[CubfaninCA]

Angels has .340 and .333 OBP in the top two spots.

Houston had .316 and .323.

CHW had .341 and .335

STL had .369 and .332

 

Cubs had .299 and .317

 

I'd say only Houston of the group you mentioned had BAD OBP in the top two spots in the line up.

 

If the Cubs get a 1-2 that averages out to .350, they should be fine, especially if they have great speed like Furcal & Lofton. The Cub pitching is due to bounce back, but they still need to sign Milwood.

 

But, getting Furcal, Lofton and Millwood hinges entirely upon their desire to come to Chicago and play.

 

Furcal could accept less to stay in Atlanta, where he's a shoe in to compete in the post season every year. Or, he could sign a bigger contract to play for a team that makes the postseason once every decade.

 

Millwood is already being offered a contract to stay in Cleveland. Cleveland has a lot of young talent.

 

Lofton is probably the easiest sign of this group. But, he'll be another year older and he was basically a platoon this year.

 

Nomar and Walker are inhouse and easier signings than any of the above listed guys. Walker can be signed and traded if Nomar is signed and you do lure Furcal. The moment Hendry gives his undivided attention to Furcal, Nomar will look elsewhere. When that happens, Hendry had better get Furcal, otherwise it could be a long offseason and an even longer 2006 baseball season.

 

I don't think the pitching staff wants either back. Nomar has become a butcher in the field. Bruce Miles made it sound as if the pitcher's would much prefer Grudzielanek over Walker.

[CubinNY]

I highly doubt Hendry will let both go w/out one major replacement in place. He seems like a pretty conservative guy, so I doubt he makes a big gamble.

 

And what in Hendry's track record leads you to that conclusion?

 

Letting Alou walk and trading Sammy for peanuts with Dubios and Hollandsworth waiting in the wings? He had to way overbid Pittsburg for the stellar services of Jeromy Burnitz a few weeks before ST.

 

Or was it his masterful job of trading Farnsworth for nothing and Juan Cruz for Andy Pratt?

 

Or perhaps it was his leaving a young enigmatic left handed reliver open to be a rule 5 draft pick.

[BigbadB]

What's an even bigger shame is that Ronnie Cedeno only has 80 major league at bats. He was called up April 22nd. He was sent down when the Cubs signed Enrique Wilson.

 

80 at bats is really not enough to have any idea whether he can hit at the major league level. 80 at bats isn't enough for opposing teams to evaluate what Cedeno's weaknesses are.

 

He could be a bust. I hope not, but after the debacle that was this year, I'm not sure the Cubs should pin their hopes on a guy to be the everyday SS or 2b when he has 80 big league at bats to his name. That's on Dusty and Hendry.

 

Furcal, to me, is a priority this offseason. Giles 1st, Furcal 2nd. But, those priorities still fall behind resigning Nomar and Walker.

 

If you end up with Nomar, Furcal, Walker, Lee and Aramis in your infield, at that time you have a trade chip in Lee, Aramis or Walker. Probably not Lee, but Aramis and Walker could certainly lure a decent OF in the event you can't get Giles. Nomar plays 3b and you still have Cedeno as protection if Nomar gets hurt. If you keep Aramis and trade Walker, you have Nomar to play 2nd and Cedeno to back him up.

[CubfaninCA]

And I tend to agree with you. I'd land Lofton to "solve" lead-off which would allow me more flexibility at SS. Giles would still be my prime target since he fills a greater need and is a better player than Furcal.

 

If they sign Lofton to lead off, doesn't it make sense to just re-sign Nomar? He certainly will come much cheaper than Furcal (at least in base salary). If you sign Nomar instead of Furcal, that may give us the extra flexibility to sign Giles.

 

Nomar- $5,000,000

Lofton- $2,000,000

Giles- $12,000,000 (up to $14,000,000 over three years)

 

If they insist on not picking up Walker's option (terrible idea), its imperative that they move Cedeno to 2nd. Better production than Neifi, higher upside, less money.

 

CF Lofton (2 million)

LF Murton (300k)

1B Lee (8.7 million)

RF Giles (12.5 million)

3B Ramirez (10.5 million)

SS Garciapara (5 millon)

C Barrett (4.3 million)

2B Cedeno (300k)

 

SP Prior (3.0 million)

SP Wood (12.0 million)

SP Zambrano (5.0 million?)

SP Maddux (9.0 million)

SP Burnett (10.0 million)

 

RP Dempster (5.0 million)

RP Howry (2.0 million?)

RP Novoa (1.0 million)

RP Ohman (500k)

RP Hill (300k)

RP Williams (2.0 million?)

 

BN Blanco (1.5 million)

BN Patterson (2.8 million?)

BN Hairston (2.0 million)

BN Fontenot (300k)

BN Cruz Jr. (1.5 million)

BN Hollandsworth (1.0 million)

 

TOTAL: 102,500,000

 

I know some of those figures might be a bit off, but I think its close enough that this team is realistic. What do you think?

 

Jmo, but I doubt the Cubs give any free agent more than $10 million per year. If they do, Millwood's more likely than Giles, as it seems that Hendry prefers pitching over hitting.

[BigbadB]

 

The Cubs are targeting Furcal, because they believe they need to improve defense and find a lead-off hitter.

 

Then if they land Lofton too, they will have two very mediocre number #1 hitters.

 

See, that's what I mean. I want to see some vision from the Cubs front office and all I ever see is a bad case of myopia.

 

So besides Damon, who's a good leadoff man. Jmo but Furcal >> Walker, who some think is fabulous. Altogether, the pickins is pretty thin, and Anaheim, St. Louis, Houston and the White Sox have done alright w/out major obper's in the 1 & 2 spots.

 

And if you have stellar pitching (which each of the teams you mentioned had this year), you can get away with a not so good OBP at the top of the order.

 

The Cubs were supposed to have a good pitching staff. Until Wood can go a full season healthy, Prior can go a full season without getting injured, Maddux learns to keep the ball in the ball park and the bullpen controls leads they inherit, we will need better OBP guys at the top of the order.

 

Imagine how good some of those teams would have been with great pitching and better OBP at the top of the order.

 

But who's out there?? Furcal's .348 obp and great speed makes him above average. Of course, I probably put more value into speed than some.

 

I like Furcal, don't get me wrong. He would be a decent OBP at the top of the order, as well as speed. I'm not saying the Cubs shouldn't entertain bringing him here. My issue is if you let Nomar and Walker take a hike and Furcal elects to stay in Atlanta, you have nothing. Now you have a hole in CF, RF, SS, SP and 2nd with nothing but minor leaguers as trade chips and not much else on the free agent market if Furcal and Giles stay home.

 

I highly doubt Hendry will let both go w/out one major replacement in place. He seems like a pretty conservative guy, so I doubt he makes a big gamble.

 

I think this is the part you are missing entirely. You can't just sit on Walker and Nomar. Once the World Series is over, every player that is a free agent will file. The Cubs will need to make a decision on whether they wish to retain those players services long before Furcal and Lofton and Millwood and Giles become available to discuss a contract with the Cubs.

 

Nomar has said he wants to stay in Chicago. Walker is cheap. They are in house guarantees to return if you want them. Let them walk and go after Furcal instead, you can't go back. You can't lose out on Furcal and simply decide to bring back Nomar. At a certain point, the earliest the Cubs could even talk to Nomar again is May 1st. I'm sure Nomar would prefer to have employment long before then. And why would he want to return when Chicago turned away from him when he was already there?

 

That's why these are gambles that are too risky to make. If the Cubs don't keep Nomar and Walker around, I am extremely worried about how this offseason will play out.

[CubfaninCA]

I highly doubt Hendry will let both go w/out one major replacement in place. He seems like a pretty conservative guy, so I doubt he makes a big gamble.

 

And what in Hendry's track record leads you to that conclusion?

 

Letting Alou walk and trading Sammy for peanuts with Dubios and Hollandsworth waiting in the wings? He had to way overbid Pittsburg for the stellar services of Jeromy Burnitz a few weeks before ST.

 

Or was it his masterful job of trading Farnsworth for nothing and Juan Cruz for Andy Pratt?

 

Or perhaps it was his leaving a young enigmatic left handed reliver open to be a rule 5 draft pick.

 

The Sosa trade was a wash.

 

I didn't like the Burnitz signing like most, but it seems most were content w/ the DuBois/Holla platoon in LF. As I recall, most were content w/ the opening day lineup w/ the exception of RF. If Patterson & DuBois come through, the OF would have been alright.

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

[YearofDaCubs]

I highly doubt Hendry will let both go w/out one major replacement in place. He seems like a pretty conservative guy, so I doubt he makes a big gamble.

 

And what in Hendry's track record leads you to that conclusion?

 

Letting Alou walk and trading Sammy for peanuts with Dubios and Hollandsworth waiting in the wings? He had to way overbid Pittsburg for the stellar services of Jeromy Burnitz a few weeks before ST.

 

Or was it his masterful job of trading Farnsworth for nothing and Juan Cruz for Andy Pratt?

 

Or perhaps it was his leaving a young enigmatic left handed reliver open to be a rule 5 draft pick.

 

The Sosa trade was a wash.

 

I didn't like the Burnitz signing like most, but it seems most were content w/ the DuBois/Holla platoon in LF. As I recall, most were content w/ the opening day lineup w/ the exception of RF. If Patterson & DuBois come through, the OF would have been alright.

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

Hendry's savvy moves or lack thereof more like it. Things are bad right now.

[CubinNY]

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

 

And every year since 2003 the team has gotten worse. Hendry is very savvy.

 

EDIT: In terms of post season and record.

[goonys evil twin]

I didn't like the Burnitz signing like most, but it seems most were content w/ the DuBois/Holla platoon in LF. As I recall, most were content w/ the opening day lineup w/ the exception of RF. If Patterson & DuBois come through, the OF would have been alright.

 

I was not content. That OF had disaster written all over it.

 

Basically, 3 of those guys were no better than 4th OF, and the 4th, Patterson, was still very much questionable (and they foolishly decided to use him in the worst possible spot in the order for his weaknesses to be exposed).

 

I was a Dubois supporter long ago. I would have been fine with him getting a job, if, and only if, the rest of the lineup was solidified and left little in doubt. Once I realized there would be no solid hitting OF on the roster, I hated the idea of putting Dubois out there. Because you just knew that at the first sign of struggle, he'd be dumped by Dusty. Furthermore, he didn't even get a platoon job. Hollandsworth was the clear starter. Jason just got spot starts. And everybody in baseball knows Todd isn't a starter.

[CubfaninCA]

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

 

And every year since 2003 the team has gotten worse. Hendry is very savvy.

 

EDIT: In terms of post season and record.

 

Prior & Wood were healthy in 2003. Most teams couldn't withstand their #1 and #2 going down two years in a row.

[CubinNY]

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

 

And every year since 2003 the team has gotten worse. Hendry is very savvy.

 

EDIT: In terms of post season and record.

 

Prior & Wood were healthy in 2003. Most teams couldn't withstand their #1 and #2 going down two years in a row.

 

Oh for the love of all things good and decent.

 

Injuries are not the reason the Cubs have not gotten better.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

 

And every year since 2003 the team has gotten worse. Hendry is very savvy.

 

EDIT: In terms of post season and record.

 

Prior & Wood were healthy in 2003. Most teams couldn't withstand their #1 and #2 going down two years in a row.

 

Oh for the love of all things good and decent.

 

Injuries are not the reason the Cubs have not gotten better.

 

Yet they are a large part of why they have gotten worse.

[YearofDaCubs]

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

 

And every year since 2003 the team has gotten worse. Hendry is very savvy.

 

EDIT: In terms of post season and record.

 

Prior & Wood were healthy in 2003. Most teams couldn't withstand their #1 and #2 going down two years in a row.

 

Oh for the love of all things good and decent.

 

Injuries are not the reason the Cubs have not gotten better.

 

Agreed. Hendry did a poor job of assembling this team and it doesnt help that we have a moron for a manager.

[CubfaninCA]

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

 

And every year since 2003 the team has gotten worse. Hendry is very savvy.

 

EDIT: In terms of post season and record.

 

Prior & Wood were healthy in 2003. Most teams couldn't withstand their #1 and #2 going down two years in a row.

 

Oh for the love of all things good and decent.

 

Injuries are not the reason the Cubs have not gotten better.

 

Nomar and Walker missing 150 games didn't help matters. If the Cubs bring both back, they're in BIG trouble again. If you foresaw Patterson having a .600 ops year, you should get some type of NSBB prize. A t-shirt or something. :o

[CubinNY]

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

 

And every year since 2003 the team has gotten worse. Hendry is very savvy.

 

EDIT: In terms of post season and record.

 

Prior & Wood were healthy in 2003. Most teams couldn't withstand their #1 and #2 going down two years in a row.

 

Oh for the love of all things good and decent.

 

Injuries are not the reason the Cubs have not gotten better.

 

Nomar and Walker missing 150 games didn't help matters. If the Cubs bring both back, they're in BIG trouble again. If you foresaw Patterson having a .600 ops year, you should get some type of NSBB prize. A t-shirt or something. :o

 

I thought it was Prior and Wood's injuries that ruinded 04 and 05. Now it's Nomar and Walker. I see, triangulation is ever so important when making a point.

[CubfaninCA]

 

When Hendry took over in mid-2002, the offense consisted of 2 aging outfielders, some overhyped prospects, and nothing else. He's added 2 all stars. Signed Walker. Traded for Barrett and got Nomar. Things could be a lot worse, if not for Hendry's savvy moves.

 

And every year since 2003 the team has gotten worse. Hendry is very savvy.

 

EDIT: In terms of post season and record.

 

Prior & Wood were healthy in 2003. Most teams couldn't withstand their #1 and #2 going down two years in a row.

 

Oh for the love of all things good and decent.

 

Injuries are not the reason the Cubs have not gotten better.

 

Nomar and Walker missing 150 games didn't help matters. If the Cubs bring both back, they're in BIG trouble again. If you foresaw Patterson having a .600 ops year, you should get some type of NSBB prize. A t-shirt or something. :o

 

I thought it was Prior and Wood's injuries that ruinded 04 and 05. Now it's Nomar and Walker. I see, triangulation is ever so important when making a point.

 

Triangulation??

 

Prior & Wood are the biggies. JoBo going down in 04 hurt some. Walker and Nomar in 05 hurt a lot too.

[frostwyrm]

I didn't like the Burnitz signing like most, but it seems most were content w/ the DuBois/Holla platoon in LF. As I recall, most were content w/ the opening day lineup w/ the exception of RF. If Patterson & DuBois come through, the OF would have been alright.

 

NO! There was a lot of bitching around here about the Holla/Dubois situation even before opening day. Holla swings lefty, so we all knew he would get the bulk of the starts, and we all knew he had a decade of numbers to prove he wasn't good enough to play that much. Also, it was known that Dusty stated he wanted to use Holla in 130-140 games. I remember very well when Dusty made that statement, and nobody but ZZthorn was happy about it. Where did he go, anyway?

[The Hawk]

Didn't see this posted any where but rotoword is reporting that Furcal is willing to play 2B for the Mets. (New York Daily News).

[CubfaninCA]

What should have been done last offseason:

 

Sign Kent and Eckstein instead of Walker & Nomar.

Trade Sosa and Patterson for Andruw Jones.

Keep Matt Clement.

Trade Hawkins for a RF.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

NO! There was a lot of bitching around here about the Holla/Dubois situation even before opening day. Holla swings lefty, so we all knew he would get the bulk of the starts, and we all knew he had a decade of numbers to prove he wasn't good enough to play that much. Also, it was known that Dusty stated he wanted to use Holla in 130-140 games. I remember very well when Dusty made that statement, and nobody but ZZthorn was happy about it. Where did he go, anyway?

 

ZZ has be yanred.