Anyone resigned to us landing Furcal??

[WrigleyinEngland]

I know its another Sullivan article but his name is being talked about everywhere in connection with the cubs. Whilst i'm not saying we will land him no question it does seem he is unquestionably no 1 on JH's wish list. ( sigh)

[Sabermetrician]

We could spend just as much money on Giles/Nomar as J.Jones/Furcal and it sounds like the Cubs brass thinks Option 2 is better...

[WrigleyinEngland]

Man i was feeling bad about the Furcal story and then you lay the J Jones name as well??!!!

[E.J.]

Here's the article if anyone wants to read it:

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051102cubs,1,7532197.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

 

Some interesting tidbits:

 

Furcal's other prominent suitor is the New York Mets, who want to convert him to second base to play alongside slick-fielding shortstop Jose Reyes. Furcal is said to be interested, though Kinzer said the Cubs want him as "a shortstop and leadoff man." Any team asking Furcal to switch positions is going to have to come up with more money.

 

If they sign Furcal, the Cubs likely would move Ronny Cedeno to second base and begin shopping Todd Walker, whose $2.5 million option was picked up last week. Furcal's past is somewhat problematic, but the Cubs have investigated and are not backing away.

[David]

Here's the article if anyone wants to read it:

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051102cubs,1,7532197.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

 

Some interesting tidbits:

 

Furcal's other prominent suitor is the New York Mets, who want to convert him to second base to play alongside slick-fielding shortstop Jose Reyes. Furcal is said to be interested, though Kinzer said the Cubs want him as "a shortstop and leadoff man." Any team asking Furcal to switch positions is going to have to come up with more money.

 

If they sign Furcal, the Cubs likely would move Ronny Cedeno to second base and begin shopping Todd Walker, whose $2.5 million option was picked up last week. Furcal's past is somewhat problematic, but the Cubs have investigated and are not backing away.

 

I think/hope that second part is just Sullivan speculating. I doubt he has anything concrete to back that up.

[E.J.]

Here's the article if anyone wants to read it:

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-051102cubs,1,7532197.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

 

Some interesting tidbits:

 

Furcal's other prominent suitor is the New York Mets, who want to convert him to second base to play alongside slick-fielding shortstop Jose Reyes. Furcal is said to be interested, though Kinzer said the Cubs want him as "a shortstop and leadoff man." Any team asking Furcal to switch positions is going to have to come up with more money.

 

If they sign Furcal, the Cubs likely would move Ronny Cedeno to second base and begin shopping Todd Walker, whose $2.5 million option was picked up last week. Furcal's past is somewhat problematic, but the Cubs have investigated and are not backing away.

 

I think/hope that second part is just Sullivan speculating. I doubt he has anything concrete to back that up.

 

It's a Sullivan article, so I'm sure that every word is speculation. The part about teams having to pay more money if they want Furcal to switch positions is interesting to me. Is that Sullivan speculating or is that Furcal's agent saying that?

[David]

Man i was feeling bad about the Furcal story and then you lay the J Jones name as well??!!!

 

The Cubs are after Giles, we've heard that much. And I can't say that I doubt it at all. We need help in the OF and he's the best outfielder available. There's more than enough money available to go after both Giles and Furcal (although I'd rather go the Nomar route).

 

As for Jones, if Jacque Jones is in the Cubs outfield next year, I won't watch a game. And I expect to watch just about every single one. :wink:

 

That's not to say we'll have Giles for sure. I just don't think there's any reason to expect a J. Jones signing.

[David]

BTW... Let's not get ridiculous here... This isn't a Preston Wilson or Juan Encarnacion situation. Those are the type of acquisitions I'd be "resigned" to.

 

Furcal would be a positive addition to the team. I'm just bothered by the fact that we'd be overpaying for him when we could be better off re-signing Nomar for far less money. He's not Orlando Cabrera...(another example of the type of addition I'd be "resigned" to).

 

He's good.. He's just sort of overrated. But I'd take him. He can get on base at a .350 plus clip... From 2003-2005 he stole 100 bases out of 118 attempts (85%), which is well over the break-even point. In other words, his ability to steal is good enough to help an offense rather than hinder it.

 

Again, I'd rather take a chance on Nomar... but Furcal isn't anywhere near the type of player I'd be resigned to the Cubs acquiring.

[frostwyrm]

It's not over. The Mets could easily outbid Hendry. If we do get Furcal I hope Cedeno is traded. Putting him at 2B alongside Furcal would be stupid. At 2B Cedeno's value is greatly diminished because 2B has higher offensive expectations and is a much easier position to fill. He could help the team more as trade bait.

[soapy]

It's not over. The Mets could easily outbid Hendry. If we do get Furcal I hope Cedeno is traded. Putting him at 2B alongside Furcal would be stupid. At 2B Cedeno's value is greatly diminished because 2B has higher offensive expectations and is a much easier position to fill. He could help the team more as trade bait.

 

I'm beginning to think that way as well. At first, I was all for trading Walker and moving Cedeno to 2B is Furcal was signed. However, Hendry should also consider moving Cedeno instead if there is more or equal interest and keep Walker at 2B. He really is superior to Cedeno offensively and $2.5 million is relatively cheap for his production.

 

Basically, stay open to trading Walker OR Cedeno (whoever gets the most in return) plus maybe some pitching for OF help.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

It's not over. The Mets could easily outbid Hendry. If we do get Furcal I hope Cedeno is traded. Putting him at 2B alongside Furcal would be stupid. At 2B Cedeno's value is greatly diminished because 2B has higher offensive expectations and is a much easier position to fill. He could help the team more as trade bait.

or move Walker & give both Cedeno & Furcal time @ 2nd & SS.

[frostwyrm]

It's not over. The Mets could easily outbid Hendry. If we do get Furcal I hope Cedeno is traded. Putting him at 2B alongside Furcal would be stupid. At 2B Cedeno's value is greatly diminished because 2B has higher offensive expectations and is a much easier position to fill. He could help the team more as trade bait.

or move Walker & give both Cedeno & Furcal time @ 2nd & SS.

 

I wouldn't do that either. With the $$ Furcal will be making next year he better be a full-time SS, otherwise he'll be grossly overpaid.

[David]

It's not over. The Mets could easily outbid Hendry. If we do get Furcal I hope Cedeno is traded. Putting him at 2B alongside Furcal would be stupid. At 2B Cedeno's value is greatly diminished because 2B has higher offensive expectations and is a much easier position to fill. He could help the team more as trade bait.

or move Walker & give both Cedeno & Furcal time @ 2nd & SS.

 

What exactly is the benefit of that?

[Backtobanks]

As most of us have stated, signing Furcal is a plus, but he isn't worth $9 million per year for 4 years.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

As most of us have stated, signing Furcal is a plus, but he isn't worth $9 million per year for 4 years.

 

he's only a plus at an appropriate price (ie not 4/40).

[TrueBlueCubFan]

As most of us have stated, signing Furcal is a plus, but he isn't worth $9 million per year for 4 years.

It is market value

[JeffH]

If by "resigned" you mean "excited and hopeful", then yes.

[Balsa]

As most of us have stated, signing Furcal is a plus, but he isn't worth $9 million per year for 4 years.

 

Who said 4 years anyway? I'd be much happier with a 3-year, 30 million contract than a 4-year, 36 million contract.

 

Also, if we do land Furcal, there's no question we'd move Todd Walker in my mind. Cedeno is gonna be cheap for a long time, and with the added expensive contracts of Furcal and hopefully Giles, not to mention someone in the Starting pitching role, Cedeno will be a much better bargain. Plus, he'd be a decent 2 hole hitter as well.

 

Also, this is very exciting. I can't wait until Nov. 11th.

Edited November 3, 2005 by Balsa

[CUBZ99]

A double play combo of Furcal and Cedeno would certainly make for a formidible double play combination and would be a huge step towards Hendry's goal of upgrading defensively.

[BigbadB]

A double play combo of Furcal and Cedeno would certainly make for a formidible double play combination and would be a huge step towards Hendry's goal of upgrading defensively.

 

And if Cedeno ends up being a mediocre offensive player (.260/.320), where does that help them in the grand scheme?

[Balsa]

Also, how do you guys like Hairston for the Utility role? I think he did a great job last year in CF and 2B defensively, and while maybe he wasn't a very good leadoff hitter, he at least is a good defensive substitute.

[CUBZ99]

A double play combo of Furcal and Cedeno would certainly make for a formidible double play combination and would be a huge step towards Hendry's goal of upgrading defensively.

 

And if Cedeno ends up being a mediocre offensive player (.260/.320), where does that help them in the grand scheme?

 

Depends on who Hendry picks up to fill the remaining open spots in the lineup. If Cedeno is hitting .260 in the 8th hole, the Cubs can live with that IMO.

[frostwyrm]

A double play combo of Furcal and Cedeno would certainly make for a formidible double play combination and would be a huge step towards Hendry's goal of upgrading defensively.

 

And if Cedeno ends up being a mediocre offensive player (.260/.320), where does that help them in the grand scheme?

 

That's my question too. You can tolerate .260/.320 from a good defensive SS, but not from a 2B, and Cedeno's defensive talents would be wasted at 2B. I absolutely HATE the idea of moving him there.

[BigbadB]

And because Cedeno has the potential to be a .260/.320 guy just as much as he has the potential to be a .310/.360 guy, I'd rather sign Nomar to a 1 year deal and give Cedeno plenty of chances to prove he should be an everyday starter.

[JeffH]

Also, how do you guys like Hairston for the Utility role?

 

I like him for that role, but not at the $2.5 that he's probably going to get.