At least think about this B4 u all say no!!!!

[WrigleyinEngland]

What if we could land Furcal and Giles and with a combination of players we swung a deal with Florida for Castillo( i'm sure T walks contract is workable for them). I dont think it will cost a whole lot to get castillo poss throw in JVB or Mitre ( williams if we sign a starting pitcher). Here is the crazy wacky part ( bear with me) We let Corey have one more shot at CF hoping he can start producing lower down the order in a regular spot. His defence will hopefully return without the pressure of leading off and a more stable spot in the lineup. Now my key to this would be re-signing Hairston to face LHP that Corey struggles with and giving Corey more confidence when going to the plate. Not only would this leave more $ to go after SP and help the Bullpen but Hairston could also spell Castillo at 2nd and Murton in LF.

 

So my lineup would be ........

 

1. SS Furcal

2. 2B Castillo

3. RF B giles

4. 1B D Lee

5. 3B Aram

6. LF M Murton

7. CF C Patt

8. C Barrett

 

I want to make it quite clear that i am no Cpatt fann however not only would he be a stop gap until Pie but we could actually help him turn this round rather than writing a talented player off. He could be useful for the team and would see some pitches with Barrett batting behind him. If it goes horribly wrong you have Hairston to play some CF and then look at trades. I'm not saying this cos i feel pitty for the guy this could actually be a way of improving the overall team in the grand scheme of things. Anyway shoot me dead now for suggesting this!!!!!!!!!!

[YearofDaCubs]

I honestly would be happy with that lineup and I also wouldnt care if we had Walker at 2B instead of Castillo. I wouldn't complain either way. I would like CF upgraded but I can live with Corey in the 8th hole.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I have never really been that high on Furcal, but I wouldn't say no to that lineup. I doubt Corey will struggle as badly as he did this past season, but as you said, I don't mind him keeping the spot warm for Pie (assuming the other moves are made).

[WrigleyinEngland]

I'm amazed i thought i'd be hung from the rafters!!!!

[Balsa]

Actually, I like that lineup quite a lot. You really think we'd get castillo that cheap though?

 

If that was the opening roster, I'd be one very happy cubs fan.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm amazed i thought i'd be hung from the rafters!!!!

 

I was looking for some rope and that's why I didn't respond yet. :D

 

I would be fine with that team as long as Hendry upgrades the pitching. I'd love for a player/s in the minors to step up and pitch well to help with costs.

[SeldomSeen]

This is exactly the deal that I thought of when hearing about the alleged interest in Pierre. If I'm not mistaken, Castillo and Pierre are comparable $$$ wise. If Hendry's true motive is to improve the D, then Castillo surely fits the bill. I'm not saying he's a lot better than Walker offensively, especially for the salary, but I'd much rather have him than Soriano. Also, in this case Corey is given the opportunity to show something during the first half, and can be used in a deadline deal if need be. Interesting in a lot of ways.

 

Edit: I was looking at salaries a few days ago with a move like this, and I believe it would also leave money for a Burnett/ Millwood type. I'll see what I can find when I get home tonight. (unless someone else wants to do it before then)

[WrigleyinEngland]

Thats interesting cuse about a pitcher coming up to help. Do you remember last year the Q and A with Oneri Fleita he mentioned about Raul Valdez being the most MLB ready pitcher we had. Of course he then got injured!! I wonder if him or Pinto could at some point provide cheap options this year.

[katway]

Thats interesting cuse about a pitcher coming up to help. Do you remember last year the Q and A with Oneri Fleita he mentioned about Raul Valdez being the most MLB ready pitcher we had. Of course he then got injured!! I wonder if him or Pinto could at some point provide cheap options this year.

 

I also hope Angel Guzman looks good this spring. So far, it looks like he's coming along nicely in the fall league. Would be a nice shot in the arm to finally see some of these highly touted minor league pitchers finally produce for the Cubs.

[SeldomSeen]

Please don't use "shot in the arm" and "Angel Guzman" in the same sentence.

[-X

 

I'm just a little superstitious.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What if we could land Furcal and Giles and with a combination of players we swung a deal with Florida for Castillo( i'm sure T walks contract is workable for them). I dont think it will cost a whole lot to get castillo poss throw in JVB or Mitre ( williams if we sign a starting pitcher). Here is the crazy wacky part ( bear with me) We let Corey have one more shot at CF hoping he can start producing lower down the order in a regular spot. His defence will hopefully return without the pressure of leading off and a more stable spot in the lineup. Now my key to this would be re-signing Hairston to face LHP that Corey struggles with and giving Corey more confidence when going to the plate. Not only would this leave more $ to go after SP and help the Bullpen but Hairston could also spell Castillo at 2nd and Murton in LF.

 

So my lineup would be ........

 

1. SS Furcal

2. 2B Castillo

3. RF B giles

4. 1B D Lee

5. 3B Aram

6. LF M Murton

7. CF C Patt

8. C Barrett

 

I want to make it quite clear that i am no Cpatt fann however not only would he be a stop gap until Pie but we could actually help him turn this round rather than writing a talented player off. He could be useful for the team and would see some pitches with Barrett batting behind him. If it goes horribly wrong you have Hairston to play some CF and then look at trades. I'm not saying this cos i feel pitty for the guy this could actually be a way of improving the overall team in the grand scheme of things. Anyway shoot me dead now for suggesting this!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

I think there are a number of scenarios where Patterson could be passable in CF for 2006 and yours is one of them. In fact, even without getting Castillo...simply adding Furcal and Giles and keeping Walker also strenghtens the line-up enough to keep Patterson around.

 

Keep in mind, that just replacing Giles's numbers for 2005 with Burnitz's numbers for 2005 we would have vaulted to 5th in team OBP and that is with the drag that players such as Neifi and Patterson, etc put on the line-up. Giles alone makes a huge impact. Furcal for a season would help as well. So, just adding those two, with or without Castillo, gives the Cubs the option of trying to let Patterson play out of his funk.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I also hope Angel Guzman looks good this spring. So far, it looks like he's coming along nicely in the fall league. Would be a nice shot in the arm to finally see some of these highly touted minor league pitchers finally produce for the Cubs.

 

As do we all. I had the opportunity to watch him a couple of springs ago, and I'm growing tired of waiting to see him in Wrigley.

[CubinNY]

Why is it everytime I see a trade suggested Mitre's name always comes up as a throw in? If he is so bad why would any team want him?

 

Every trade

 

+ Mitre + some other minor leaguer

 

Now don't get me wrong, I think Mitre could be a pretty good #4 or 5 starter. I just think if the person making the suggestion thinks Mitre is so crappy why would the team the person wants to trade him to want him.

 

Life is not like MVP baseball.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Why is it everytime I see a trade suggested Mitre's name always comes up as a throw in? If he is so bad why would any team want him?

 

Every trade

 

+ Mitre + some other minor leaguer

 

Now don't get me wrong, I think Mitre could be a pretty good #4 or 5 starter. I just think if the person making the suggestion thinks Mitre is so crappy why would the team the person wants to trade him to want him.

 

Life is not like MVP baseball.

 

I think Mitre will be a part of a trade not because he's crappy. I like him, actually, but he's out of options and will have to remain on the 25 man roster or be exposed to waivers. It's obvious that the Cubs have other candidates ahead of him for the rotation and bullpen, so I fully expect him to be part of some trade in some form.

[Backtobanks]

The only problem with your idea of getting Furcal and Giles and keeping Patterson (with Hairston as a sub) is can we get Giles and Furcal. We can afford them, but you never know about personal quirks (playng on West Coast, etc.). There will be a ton of offers for both of them and you have to worry about the length of some of the contract offers (5 years?).

[da bears]

Does anyone have any idea that we actually have shown any interest in Brian Giles? I am all for him, especially if the Cardinals begin bidding for him, but I was just wondering if Hendry or anyone covering the Cubs has let it known that we are at all interested, or is it just everybodies wish to get him?

[UBlink]

Does anyone have any idea that we actually have shown any interest in Brian Giles? I am all for him, especially if the Cardinals begin bidding for him, but I was just wondering if Hendry or anyone covering the Cubs has let it known that we are at all interested, or is it just everybodies wish to get him?

 

I think it's Hendry's position that we'll know when we need to know.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Does anyone have any idea that we actually have shown any interest in Brian Giles? I am all for him, especially if the Cardinals begin bidding for him, but I was just wondering if Hendry or anyone covering the Cubs has let it known that we are at all interested, or is it just everybodies wish to get him?

 

I hope I am wrong, but I don't get the feeling Brian Giles is ALL that interested in joining the Cubs, to be honst. I say...Giles will sign with Anaheim. They got the owner, with deep pockets. They are a contender. They are still consider home for Giles. And he gets to play his more natural LF (with GA moving to full-time DH).

 

Any hope of Giles coming to Chicago, is buried, to be honest. I would love to see him in Chicago, but it ain't happening.

[nilodnayr]

Does anyone have any idea that we actually have shown any interest in Brian Giles? I am all for him, especially if the Cardinals begin bidding for him, but I was just wondering if Hendry or anyone covering the Cubs has let it known that we are at all interested, or is it just everybodies wish to get him?

 

I hope I am wrong, but I don't get the feeling Brian Giles is ALL that interested in joining the Cubs, to be honst. I say...Giles will sign with Anaheim. They got the owner, with deep pockets. They are a contender. They are still consider home for Giles. And he gets to play his more natural LF (with GA moving to full-time DH).

 

Any hope of Giles coming to Chicago, is buried, to be honest. I would love to see him in Chicago, but it ain't happening.

 

I too thought Giles would be going to Anaheim, but now with the Manny to Anaheim buzz it might hold them up long enough for another team to grab him.

[David]

Any hope of Giles coming to Chicago, is buried, to be honest. I would love to see him in Chicago, but it ain't happening.

 

I don't see what recent developments, if any, would lead you to believe this. You should really throw an "IMO" in somewhere so nobody mistakenly takes this to be factual.

 

The Cubs have as good a chance as anyone to get him, at this point, especially if Hendry is being as aggressive as it seems.

 

I know a lot of people (myself included) think Hendry is inept. But there's just no way he isn't going to go hard after the best free agent OF on the market when we basically have an empty outfield (save for Murton, MAYBE).

 

Money talks. Giles will play here if the Cubs pony up the cash.

 

BTW, how many reports were we hearing last year that Beltran didn't like New York and didn't want to play for either team? (Not that we've even heard anything about Giles not wanting to play here)... None of that stuff matters. It will ultimately come down to our offer.