$100 mil. roster

[rsmoler]

Here's a $100-$105 million roster I'd like to see that I think the Cubs could realistically put together. It features a lot of depth and flexibility that would allow the Cubs to safeguard against injuries and underperformance of youth. Because of his injury history, I don't know that I feel comfortable counting on Garciaparra to fill a regular role, but he'd make some kind of super-sub getting 400-500 at bats filling in at 2nd, 3rd, ss, and left along with pinch hitting. If we wanted to save a couple of million, I'd trade Patterson and add a 12th pitcher (Hill, Wellemeyer, Mitre, Van Buren or Leicester). I'd leave it up to Baker to keep everyone happy.

 

Lee ($8 mil)

Cedeno ($.3 mil)

Furcal ($10 mil.)

Ramirez ($10.5 mil)

Barrett ($4.5 mil)

Murton ($.3 mil)

Lofton ($4 mil)

Burnitz ($7 mil)

 

Garciaparra ($4 mil. in base and $4 mil in incentives)

Walker ($2.5 mil)

Hairston ($1.8 mil.)

Blanco ($1.5 mil.)

Patterson ($2.8 mil.)

Mark Sweeny ($1 mil.)

 

Prior ($3.6 mil.)

Wood ($11 mil.)

Zambrano ($5-7 mil.)

Williams ($1 mil.)

Maddux ($9 mil.)

 

Dempster ($5 mil.)

Rusch ($2 mil.)

Howry ($2 mil.)

Navoa ($.5 mil.)

Ohman ($.5 mil.)

Wuertz ($.5 mil.)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

That's a nice looking third place team. I can't believe that anyone would be in favor of bringing back Burnitz, especially at 7 million dollars!

[katway]

That's a nice looking third place team. I can't believe that anyone would be in favor of bringing back Burnitz, especially at 7 million dollars!

 

We would be bidding against ourselves. #-o

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I can't fathom why you'd want to start Cedeno over Nomar. Especially at 2B.

[rsmoler]

As we found out this year, this whole concept of who starts at a position doesn't really matter. Injuries, performance slumps/hot streaks, and match ups determine playing time as much as anything. Everybody had Nomar as our shortstop at the beginning of the 2005 season, but Neifi ended up our shortstop. Patterson was supposed to be our centerfielder, but Hairston played there a lot of the time. Hawkins was slated to be our closer, but Dempster closed over 30 games. The key is to amass the most talent you can so there are lots of options. The second guy on the depth chart with this team is very strong at almost every position.

 

I agree that Burnitz at $7 mil is a stretch. He's a good right fielder and not a bad guy for the 6th hole in the line-up. If we can get Giles, that would be great, but I'm doubtful he'd come to the Cubs at a reasonable or even slightly unreasonable price. Perhaps the Cubs can get Burnitz to come back for something less than $7 mil. or find someone else. Trades are just so uncertain. Sometimes something falls in your lap (like Lee and Ramirez) but those situations don't happen often.

 

There's no way this team is a third place team. The Cubs were projected to make the playoffs last year with far less talent than this.

 

By the way, does anyone think that Ramirez could be moved to rightfield with Nomar playing third? Ramirez isn't winning and gold gloves at 3rd base and Nomar could be very good there.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

As we found out this year, this whole concept of who starts at a position doesn't really matter. Injuries, performance slumps/hot streaks, and match ups determine playing time as much as anything. Everybody had Nomar as our shortstop at the beginning of the 2005 season, but Neifi ended up our shortstop. Patterson was supposed to be our centerfielder, but Hairston played there a lot of the time. Hawkins was slated to be our closer, but Dempster closed over 30 games. The key is to amass the most talent you can so there are lots of options. The second guy on the depth chart with this team is very strong at almost every position.

 

I agree that Burnitz at $7 mil is a stretch. He's a good right fielder and not a bad guy for the 6th hole in the line-up. If we can get Giles, that would be great, but I'm doubtful he'd come to the Cubs at a reasonable or even slightly unreasonable price. Perhaps the Cubs can get Burnitz to come back for something less than $7 mil. or find someone else. Trades are just so uncertain. Sometimes something falls in your lap (like Lee and Ramirez) but those situations don't happen often.

 

There's no way this team is a third place team. The Cubs were projected to make the playoffs last year with far less talent than this.

 

By the way, does anyone think that Ramirez could be moved to rightfield with Nomar playing third? Ramirez isn't winning and gold gloves at 3rd base and Nomar could be very good there.

 

You can't be serious.... :shock:

[reggiemiller rules]

So you have Furcal at short and nomar on the bench. I dont think there is a chance that Nomar will stay to be a bench player. There are a number of teams that will give him that type of money and let him start.

[rsmoler]

I guess not.

[EricG]

As we found out this year, this whole concept of who starts at a position doesn't really matter. Injuries, performance slumps/hot streaks, and match ups determine playing time as much as anything. Everybody had Nomar as our shortstop at the beginning of the 2005 season, but Neifi ended up our shortstop. Patterson was supposed to be our centerfielder, but Hairston played there a lot of the time. Hawkins was slated to be our closer, but Dempster closed over 30 games. The key is to amass the most talent you can so there are lots of options. The second guy on the depth chart with this team is very strong at almost every position.

 

I agree that Burnitz at $7 mil is a stretch. He's a good right fielder and not a bad guy for the 6th hole in the line-up. If we can get Giles, that would be great, but I'm doubtful he'd come to the Cubs at a reasonable or even slightly unreasonable price. Perhaps the Cubs can get Burnitz to come back for something less than $7 mil. or find someone else. Trades are just so uncertain. Sometimes something falls in your lap (like Lee and Ramirez) but those situations don't happen often.

 

There's no way this team is a third place team. The Cubs were projected to make the playoffs last year with far less talent than this.

 

By the way, does anyone think that Ramirez could be moved to rightfield with Nomar playing third? Ramirez isn't winning and gold gloves at 3rd base and Nomar could be very good there.

 

You can't be serious.... :shock:

how 'bout Nomar at 1B and Lee in LF?

[sethuel1]

As we found out this year, this whole concept of who starts at a position doesn't really matter. Injuries, performance slumps/hot streaks, and match ups determine playing time as much as anything. Everybody had Nomar as our shortstop at the beginning of the 2005 season, but Neifi ended up our shortstop. Patterson was supposed to be our centerfielder, but Hairston played there a lot of the time. Hawkins was slated to be our closer, but Dempster closed over 30 games. The key is to amass the most talent you can so there are lots of options. The second guy on the depth chart with this team is very strong at almost every position.

 

I agree that Burnitz at $7 mil is a stretch. He's a good right fielder and not a bad guy for the 6th hole in the line-up. If we can get Giles, that would be great, but I'm doubtful he'd come to the Cubs at a reasonable or even slightly unreasonable price. Perhaps the Cubs can get Burnitz to come back for something less than $7 mil. or find someone else. Trades are just so uncertain. Sometimes something falls in your lap (like Lee and Ramirez) but those situations don't happen often.

 

There's no way this team is a third place team. The Cubs were projected to make the playoffs last year with far less talent than this.

 

By the way, does anyone think that Ramirez could be moved to rightfield with Nomar playing third? Ramirez isn't winning and gold gloves at 3rd base and Nomar could be very good there.

 

You can't be serious.... :shock:

how 'bout Nomar at 1B and Lee in LF?

 

Barrett at short, Nomar in right, and Burnitz behind the plate?

[Geech]

how 'bout Nomar at 1B and Lee in LF?

 

How about this:

 

Prior, Zambrano, Wood, Maddux and Williams through the infield; cut Lee, Ramirez and Walker; and no starting pitching at all.

 

World Series here we come!

[CubfaninCA]

You're overpaying @ several spots.

 

There's not enough teams bidding on Furcal, so he probably doesn't get $10 million. Maybe $8 million to start off with.

 

Walker and Nomar on the bench??

 

Lofton for $4 million?? Maybe $2.

 

Burnitz can come back for $7 dollars.

 

I like Howry & Rusch in the pen though.

[Andy]

how 'bout Nomar at 1B and Lee in LF?

 

How about this:

 

Prior, Zambrano, Wood, Maddux and Williams through the infield; cut Lee, Ramirez and Walker; and no starting pitching at all.

 

World Series here we come!

Forget that. Eight pitchers, all playing in left field, and Ramirez pitching. We'll have Blanco close. We will NOT be stopped!!!

[goonys evil twin]

I agree that Burnitz at $7 mil is a stretch. He's a good right fielder and not a bad guy for the 6th hole in the line-up.

 

No, no he's not. He's awful.

 

The Cubs' RF position was 15th in OPS in the NL last year.

 

Burnitz sucks and he can't come back. The only possible way you bring him back is if he's a $1.5 million 4th OF.

 

 

 

That roster is terrible.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I agree that Burnitz at $7 mil is a stretch. He's a good right fielder and not a bad guy for the 6th hole in the line-up.

 

No, no he's not. He's awful.

 

The Cubs' RF position was 15th in OPS in the NL last year.

 

Burnitz sucks and he can't come back. The only possible way you bring him back is if he's a $1.5 million 4th OF.

 

 

 

That roster is terrible.

 

Goony expressed the point much better than I did. Thanks, goony.

[DivineBovine]

If you don't sign Furcal and use Nomar/Walker in the middle infield spot, then you save $10 million. Lose Burnitz and his $7 million, and you have $17 million for a premium outfielder.

 

This is exactly why I don't understand the Furcal talk. It doesn't make sense for the team, when the money is so much better spent in the OF. If not through FA, then through trade.