Jeff Kent may request trade.

[CubfaninCA]

Sign Furcal and the Cubs are fine @ the top of the order.

 

Only if Furcal's OBP goes up from his 2005 figures..

 

Who's better and available?

 

Some might say a certain backwards Ramon.

 

The Cubs have top of the order options, like Nomar & Murton. Hendry just needs to acquire guys that force Baker to put someone like Murton in the 2 hole. Also, great obp @ the top of the order isn't essential. Anaheim, Houston, the White Sox and the Cardinals wouldn't be in the playoffs, if it was. (Yes Eckstein's obp is .364, but he had a great Sept. St. Louis had already run away w/ the division by then).

True, there are many ways to skin a cat (or get into the playoffs), but just because high OBP in the lead-off spot isn't essential or the only way to win, doesn't mean that having a lead-off hitter with a high OBP isn't the best and smartest way to go. It is.

 

And it also happens to be one of the Cubs greatest needs.

 

No doubt having a great lead off man would greatly benefit this team, and I'd love to have Damon, but gotta be realistic. There's a very slim chance the Cubs get Damon, and the Yankees won't be trading away Jetah. If Castillo's available, Lowell's probably coming w/ him and it may be difficult to spin him to another team. If ARam wasn't a Cub, I wouldn't mind Lowell. He's had one down year. His ops was good in 03 and 04.

 

Furcal's obp is alright for leadoff, but his speed makes him one of the better leadoff men. Unfortunately, there's no math formula to "prove" how much speed benefits the 2-3-4 hitters. I much prefer Furcal @ SS over Nomar, who's likely to get hurt and who can't field anymore.

Why are the only options for lead off Damon, Castillo or Furcal? Why not Lofton or Walker or even Murton?

 

I agree that Furcal would be great to have at SS for the next 4-5 years and he would be an alright lead off man. I just believe that the Cubs can do better. I believe Cedeno can put up numbers in the neighborhood of what Furcal can. Maybe not in his rookie season, but 1-2 years down the road. I also believe that it may not be possible to sign both Furcal and Brian Giles.

 

There isn't any one single player the Cubs can get who will impact the Cubs ability to score runs more than Brian Giles. Given the Cubs other needs (starter, CF, bullpen, etc.), we may have to choose between Giles and Furcal. For me, its not even close. Its Giles all the way. Going after him first and foremost and going after him aggressively is the better plan. If he shuns the Cubs advances, then the Cubs will have to go to plan B, and I'm not even sure Furcal is the best way to go for plan B, yet.

 

Damon & Jeter are great leadoff options. Furcal's a very good option. Lofton's a good option, but there has to be some concern w/ his age. Walker's a good option, but has zero speed, and barely gets on more than Furcal. Not sure about Murton. Wouldn't mind him batting 2nd.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not a Kent fan. Certainly he's a better hitter than Walker, but he's not a whole lot better. 2B wasn't a position problem for the Cubs. They got subpar performances from several positions, notably RF, CF and LF, as well as SS (they were last in the league at SS before Nomar returned). They were 4th in the NL at 2B, and had Walker played a greater percentage of the games, they would have been higher. Kent just isn't that much of an upgrade to justify the cost. It would be similar to the situation in 2001 when they foolishly went hard after McGriff even though he wasn't a huge improvement over Stairs, and had positions in greater need of an upgrade. If you spend prospects and millions more to get X more production, then you have less prospects and money to spend on positions that need 5*X upgrades.

[mg420]

lets see them get kent to play 2nd & then trade for milton bradley to play center. that would make for an interesting club house next year. seriously, i say keep walker for 06 & forget about kent (& bradley too btw).

[rawaction]

I'm not a Kent fan. Certainly he's a better hitter than Walker, but he's not a whole lot better. 2B wasn't a position problem for the Cubs. They got subpar performances from several positions, notably RF, CF and LF, as well as SS (they were last in the league at SS before Nomar returned). They were 4th in the NL at 2B, and had Walker played a greater percentage of the games, they would have been higher. Kent just isn't that much of an upgrade to justify the cost. It would be similar to the situation in 2001 when they foolishly went hard after McGriff even though he wasn't a huge improvement over Stairs, and had positions in greater need of an upgrade. If you spend prospects and millions more to get X more production, then you have less prospects and money to spend on positions that need 5*X upgrades.

 

Agreed. No reason NOT to have Walker at 2B for the Cubs next year, unless they really don't want him back for reasons I can't even fathom. Even if you can get one of the few 2B better, it will cost the Cubs more unjustified money, and most importantly, cost them players.

[Magnetic Curses]

I'm not a Kent fan. Certainly he's a better hitter than Walker, but he's not a whole lot better. 2B wasn't a position problem for the Cubs. They got subpar performances from several positions, notably RF, CF and LF, as well as SS (they were last in the league at SS before Nomar returned). They were 4th in the NL at 2B, and had Walker played a greater percentage of the games, they would have been higher. Kent just isn't that much of an upgrade to justify the cost. It would be similar to the situation in 2001 when they foolishly went hard after McGriff even though he wasn't a huge improvement over Stairs, and had positions in greater need of an upgrade. If you spend prospects and millions more to get X more production, then you have less prospects and money to spend on positions that need 5*X upgrades.

 

Agreed. No reason NOT to have Walker at 2B for the Cubs next year, unless they really don't want him back for reasons I can't even fathom. Even if you can get one of the few 2B better, it will cost the Cubs more unjustified money, and most importantly, cost them players.

 

agreed, if we're going to trade for someone, it might as well be abreu. a guy who plays a position we actually need to fill.

[HoopsCubs]

No reason NOT to have Walker at 2B for the Cubs next year, unless they really don't want him back for reasons I can't even fathom.

 

Raw, something is definitely going on here that none of us understand. Given his production, his left-handed bat and his cheap option, Walker should be a slam dunk to be back. But he isn't a slam dunk, as evidenced by the fact that neither Dusty or Hendry are embracing him. I'm beginning to wonder if there is some rift in the clubhouse with him involved, or some chemistry concern or some prolonged injury concern. I can't imagine that his average defense alone would cause so much consternation.

 

Hoops

[rawaction]

No reason NOT to have Walker at 2B for the Cubs next year, unless they really don't want him back for reasons I can't even fathom.

 

Raw, something is definitely going on here that none of us understand. Given his production, his left-handed bat and his cheap option, Walker should be a slam dunk to be back. But he isn't a slam dunk, as evidenced by the fact that neither Dusty or Hendry are embracing him. I'm beginning to wonder if there is some rift in the clubhouse with him involved, or some chemistry concern or some prolonged injury concern. I can't imagine that his average defense alone would cause so much consternation.

 

Hoops

 

Yeah, that's what I'm guessing. I think if that is the case then Hendry and Baker need to get over it. There's not a player who's been in the league over 3-years who gives you a better cost/production ratio.

[CubfaninCA]

The Cubs have money to spend, so there's no reason to hold their money tight. If they can upgrade ops by 100 points at one position, they should do so. Wait around on Giles, Abreu, Damon or Burnett, and they could come up empty.

 

CF & RF are holes for lots of teams. Would not be surprised to see Lofton or Pie in CF and Craig Monroe in RF next year. Get ready to be disappointed.

[goonys evil twin]

The Cubs have money to spend, so there's no reason to hold their money tight. If they can upgrade ops by 100 points at one position, they should do so. Wait around on Giles, Abreu, Damon or Burnett, and they could come up empty.

 

CF & RF are holes for lots of teams. Would not be surprised to see Lofton or Pie in CF and Craig Monroe in RF next year. Get ready to be disappointed.

 

Kent isn't even a guaranteed 100 point OPS improvement. He's old, and just getting older. Walker isn't much less of a player. They absolutely positively have to get impact bats in the OF. There's no debate. It's not about waiting around for big names to come their way, and hoping they succeed. They have to get enormous improvements in the OF, or they will not contend. 2B is not a position that needs an upgrade, and minimal upgrade for maximum cost is about as foolish a strategy as a GM could employ.

[CuseCubFan69]

The Cubs have money to spend, so there's no reason to hold their money tight. If they can upgrade ops by 100 points at one position, they should do so. Wait around on Giles, Abreu, Damon or Burnett, and they could come up empty.

 

CF & RF are holes for lots of teams. Would not be surprised to see Lofton or Pie in CF and Craig Monroe in RF next year. Get ready to be disappointed.

 

Kent isn't even a guaranteed 100 point OPS improvement. He's old, and just getting older. Walker isn't much less of a player. They absolutely positively have to get impact bats in the OF. There's no debate. It's not about waiting around for big names to come their way, and hoping they succeed. They have to get enormous improvements in the OF, or they will not contend. 2B is not a position that needs an upgrade, and minimal upgrade for maximum cost is about as foolish a strategy as a GM could employ.

 

I agree with what you are saying unless the Cubs are trading Walker and this is a multi player trade that brings the Cubs an OF that can hit too.

[goonys evil twin]

Unless the Cubs are trading Walker and this is a multi player trade that brings the Cubs an OF that can hit too.

 

It would have to bring back a serious upgrade elsewhere, extremely large in fact, to justify such a series of moves.

[CuseCubFan69]

Unless the Cubs are trading Walker and this is a multi player trade that brings the Cubs an OF that can hit too.

 

It would have to bring back a serious upgrade elsewhere, extremely large in fact, to justify such a series of moves.

 

True. What if it brings Drew and Kent?

[CubfaninCA]

The Cubs have money to spend, so there's no reason to hold their money tight. If they can upgrade ops by 100 points at one position, they should do so. Wait around on Giles, Abreu, Damon or Burnett, and they could come up empty.

 

CF & RF are holes for lots of teams. Would not be surprised to see Lofton or Pie in CF and Craig Monroe in RF next year. Get ready to be disappointed.

 

Kent isn't even a guaranteed 100 point OPS improvement. He's old, and just getting older. Walker isn't much less of a player. They absolutely positively have to get impact bats in the OF. There's no debate. It's not about waiting around for big names to come their way, and hoping they succeed. They have to get enormous improvements in the OF, or they will not contend. 2B is not a position that needs an upgrade, and minimal upgrade for maximum cost is about as foolish a strategy as a GM could employ.

 

Hendry's been around 3 1/2 years now. You've seen what he hasn't done. Hendry needed to sign either Drew or Beltran last year and he didn't. The Cubs most likely won't offer up enough money for Giles or Damon and won't offer up enough prospects for Abreu, Sheffield, Griffey or Dunn. They don't have the money for Manny.. Vlad, Ichiro, Cabrera, A. Jones, Berkman,Edmonds, Matsui aren't going anywhere. After that about the only impact OF bats who may be available are Pat Burrell and Cliff Floyd. Not sure if they can even be considered impact.

 

Altogether, the Cubs better take whatever upgrade's are out there that are Trib friendly.

[goonys evil twin]

After that about the only impact OF bats who may be available are Pat Burrell and Cliff Floyd. Not sure if they can even be considered impact.

 

Altogether, the Cubs better take whatever upgrade's are out there that are Trib friendly.

 

Pat Burrell would provide much more of a positive impact than Kent would.

[mg420]

The Cubs have money to spend, so there's no reason to hold their money tight. If they can upgrade ops by 100 points at one position, they should do so. Wait around on Giles, Abreu, Damon or Burnett, and they could come up empty.

 

CF & RF are holes for lots of teams. Would not be surprised to see Lofton or Pie in CF and Craig Monroe in RF next year. Get ready to be disappointed.

 

Kent isn't even a guaranteed 100 point OPS improvement. He's old, and just getting older. Walker isn't much less of a player. They absolutely positively have to get impact bats in the OF. There's no debate. It's not about waiting around for big names to come their way, and hoping they succeed. They have to get enormous improvements in the OF, or they will not contend. 2B is not a position that needs an upgrade, and minimal upgrade for maximum cost is about as foolish a strategy as a GM could employ.

 

Hendry's been around 3 1/2 years now. You've seen what he hasn't done. Hendry needed to sign either Drew or Beltran last year and he didn't. The Cubs most likely won't offer up enough money for Giles or Damon and won't offer up enough prospects for Abreu, Sheffield, Griffey or Dunn. They don't have the money for Manny.. Vlad, Ichiro, Cabrera, A. Jones, Berkman,Edmonds, Matsui aren't going anywhere. After that about the only impact OF bats who may be available are Pat Burrell and Cliff Floyd. Not sure if they can even be considered impact.

Altogether, the Cubs better take whatever upgrade's are out there that are Trib friendly.

 

i think 34 hr's & 98 rbi's by floyd (.358 ob .505 slug) and 32 hr's & 117 rbi (.389 ob .504 slug) by burrell qualify as "impact" bats. i would take floyd because he hits lefthanded btw.

[LuckyPup]

Unless the Cubs are trading Walker and this is a multi player trade that brings the Cubs an OF that can hit too.

 

It would have to bring back a serious upgrade elsewhere, extremely large in fact, to justify such a series of moves.

 

True. What if it brings Drew and Kent?

ok, that made me drool a bit-

I really don't think we would have the pieces to pry Drew away-but a 3 way may work-say with Florida-Dodgers have some money to spend as well as teh Cubs, plus we both have very strong farms-LA is definitely stronger but....hmmm...

 

Dodgers get: Lowell+Walker+Delgado

Cubs get: Pierre+Kent+Bradley

Marlins get: Combo of hig end prospects/position players..?( CPatt+Brazoban+....

[LuckyPup]

Unless the Cubs are trading Walker and this is a multi player trade that brings the Cubs an OF that can hit too.

 

It would have to bring back a serious upgrade elsewhere, extremely large in fact, to justify such a series of moves.

 

True. What if it brings Drew and Kent?

ok, that made me drool a bit-

I really don't think we would have the pieces to pry Drew away-but a 3 way may work-say with Florida-Dodgers have some money to spend as well as teh Cubs, plus we both have very strong farms-LA is definitely stronger but....hmmm...

 

Dodgers get: Lowell+Walker+Delgado

Cubs get: Pierre+Kent+Bradley

Marlins get: Combo of hig end prospects/position players..?( CPatt+Brazoban+....

yes i realize i just qouted myself...but anyway.

A lineup of :

CF-Pierre

SS-Nomar

1B-Lee

2b-Kent

3b-Ramirez

RF-Bradley

LF-Murton

C-Barrett

 

We would definitely need to sign another starter(Millwood)

[CuseCubFan69]

Unless the Cubs are trading Walker and this is a multi player trade that brings the Cubs an OF that can hit too.

 

It would have to bring back a serious upgrade elsewhere, extremely large in fact, to justify such a series of moves.

 

True. What if it brings Drew and Kent?

ok, that made me drool a bit-

I really don't think we would have the pieces to pry Drew away-but a 3 way may work-say with Florida-Dodgers have some money to spend as well as teh Cubs, plus we both have very strong farms-LA is definitely stronger but....hmmm...

 

Dodgers get: Lowell+Walker+Delgado

Cubs get: Pierre+Kent+Bradley

Marlins get: Combo of hig end prospects/position players..?( CPatt+Brazoban+....

yes i realize i just qouted myself...but anyway.

A lineup of :

CF-Pierre

SS-Nomar

1B-Lee

2b-Kent

3b-Ramirez

RF-Bradley

LF-Murton

C-Barrett

 

We would definitely need to sign another starter(Millwood)

 

Do you really think that the Cubs would take both Kent AND Bradley? Did they kiss and make up?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What about help separating Kent and Bradley?

 

Cubs send: ???

Cubs get: Bradley, Romero

 

Dodgers send: Bradley, Kent

Dodgers get: Hunter, ???? from Cubs

 

Twins send: Hunter, Romero

Twins get: Kent, payroll relief(just under 4 million)