Proposed 2006 Cubs...

[cybercub]

SS Rafael Furcal $ 9.0M (FA)

2B Luis Castillo $ 5.0M (Trade)

1B Derek Lee $ 8.0M

3B Aramis Ramirez $10.5M

CF Milton Bradley $ 3.8M (Trade)

LF Matt Murton $ .3M

RF Austin Kearns $ 1.5M (Trade)

C Michael Barrett $ 4.0M

-------

$42.1M

 

Bench

 

1B/COF Mark Sweeney $1.5M (FA)

2B/SS Ronnie Cedeno $0.3M

C Henry Blanco $1.5M

OF/2B Jerry Hairston Jr. $2.7M

2B/3B Bill Mueller $2.5M (FA)

-------

$8.5M

 

Starting Rotation

 

RHP Kerry Wood $11.0M

RHP Mark Prior $ 4.0M

RHP Carlos Zambrano $ 5.0M

RHP Kevin Millwood $ 9.0M (FA)

AJ Burnett or

LHP Jarod Washburn

RHP Greg Maddux $ 9.0M

----------

$38.0M

 

Bullpen

 

RHP Ryan Dempster $4.0M

RHP Bobby Howry $3.0M (FA)

RHP Scott Williamson $2.0M

LHP Glendon Rusch $2.8M

LHP Will Ohman $1.0M

RHP Michael Wuertz

RHP Todd Wellemeyer

Roberto Novoa

-----------

$12.8M

 

Trading Chips

 

2B Todd Walker

OF Corey Patterson

RHP Sergio Mitre

RHP Todd Wellemeyer or Roberto Novoa

LHP Rich Hill

RHP Jerome Williams

 

Plus a surplus of potential at the minor league level.

 

I feel like Castillo could be had in the right deal (Walker plus some pitching). The Dodgers would likely take Patterson and Mitre for Bradley, and the Reds would probably take Hill and a lower level prospect for Kearns.

 

In my opinion, making these moves would make the Cubs better offensively AND defensively.

 

As far as the bench goes, Cedeno backs up Furcal and Castillo. Hairston can play any outfield position and second base. Blanco platoons with Barrett. Sweeney would be "pinch-hitter extrordinaire" also backing up first base and both corner outfield positions. The trick will be finding someone who can back up Ramirez at third base. Bill Mueller would be my 1st choice. He was well-liked in Chicago and has played for Dusty before. I don't know if he would accept a bench role though.

 

On to the starters. I think the Cubs SHOULD go out and get another frontline starting pitcher. There are several quality starters availible via FA this offseason and with the Cubs' pitchers injury history, the more pitching, the better. From what I've read in previous threads, AJ Burnett would like to play at Wrigley Field. Kevin Millwood is a viable option and Jarod Washburn would probably come cheaper than Burnett or Millwood.

 

Now for the bullpen. If the Cubs are to have any hope of contention in 2006, the bullpen MUST perform better. Demptster has proven he can close games. Williamson will be better in 2006. Bobby Howry would be a great addition to the pen. Strong, durable and has experience closing. Glendon Rusch would be the long-man or spot starter, and Mike Wuertz, Will Ohman, Todd Wellemeyer or Roberto Novoa would round it out.

 

Obviously, some of the salary figures I have suggested are somewhat inaccurate, but they will likely be close enough for the sake of argument.

[David]

Welcome to the forum!

 

Your ideas are well thought out and that would look like a pretty good team. Of course, I'd prefer Giles over Kearns (who wouldn't?)...but Kearns is definitely a guy Hendry likes.

[Brian]

i would go to war with that team... now can Hendry get that done?

[BigbadB]

Welcome to NSBB. Nice first post. I'd settle for that line up, though Brian Giles is #1 on my radar.

[HoopsCubs]

I'd be a little concerned having Bradley as the #5 hitter. Getting Castillo would be a huge plus - I like it!

[JeffH]

I'd be a little concerned having Bradley as the #5 hitter.

 

I love the early part of the offseason when unrealistic expectations are running high!

[Proven Veteran]

I'd like Russell Branyan backing up ARam.

[RynoRules]

I like that team. I am not a big fan of Kearns b/c of the lack of a track record, but he certainly has enjoyed hitting in Wrigley in the past. He' s the key to that lineup, IMO.

 

Welcome to the forum.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'd be a little concerned having Bradley as the #5 hitter.

 

I love the early part of the offseason when unrealistic expectations are running high!

 

You think it's unrealistic to want an OPS over .840 and a IsoP of .200 out of a 5 hole guy?

[TheDude]

I don't think there will be nearly that many changes involving bigger names in the daily lineup.

 

I expect really only 2 large acquisitions - RF and SS. I expect Cedeno and Murton to get shots at the starting roles at 2B and LF. It makes sense for the Cubs to pursue an upgrade in CF, but not a long-term upgrade, so I expect a stop-gap like Lofton.

 

However, I think you are very close with your assessment of the starting rotation, bullpen, and trading chips.

[St.Paul Cub]

I like it. I also think Giles would be a good signing, but his possible pricetag at his age does cause me to worry a bit.

[UMFan83]

Do you think Bill Meuller would come back as a backup for 2.5 million? If so, I'd love that bench.

[CuseCubFan69]

Do you think Bill Meuller would come back as a backup for 2.5 million? If so, I'd love that bench.

 

If he could also play first that would be wonderful and best of all it gets rid of the gremlin.

[cybercub]

Aquiring Bradley will make Baker earn his money. It would be about time. Bradley is an enormous talent who can't seem to keep his emotions in check. Remind anyone of a certain Cubs starting pitcher? Bradley can also be used in both other outfield spots with above average defense at either. If the Dodgers are intent on unloading Bradley, the Cubs should be first in line.

 

As far as Giles vs. Kearns, thats a no-brainer but we have to think realistically. The Cubs are not likely to land Giles AND Furcal. So you get what you can and hope everyone stays healthy.

 

Saving money by not signing Giles could also allow more financial flexibility to upgrade the bench and the pitching staff.

[JeffH]

You think it's unrealistic to want an OPS over .840 and a IsoP of .200 out of a 5 hole guy?

 

A bit, considering NL average for a #5 hitter in 2005 was:

 

.271/.340/.454

 

Yes, I know - we want to be contenders, so we should want better than average. Well, we ought to be considerably better than average at #3 and #4. Plus, we're supposedly a plus-plus pitching team (or we aspire to be).

 

Regardless, I'd like Giles and Bradley, so Milt could hit #6.

[da bears]

Aquiring Bradley will make Baker earn his money. It would be about time. Bradley is an enormous talent who can't seem to keep his emotions in check. Remind anyone of a certain Cubs starting pitcher? Bradley can also be used in both other outfield spots with above average defense at either. If the Dodgers are intent on unloading Bradley, the Cubs should be first in line.

 

As far as Giles vs. Kearns, thats a no-brainer but we have to think realistically. The Cubs are not likely to land Giles AND Furcal. So you get what you can and hope everyone stays healthy.

 

Saving money by not signing Giles could also allow more financial flexibility to upgrade the bench and the pitching staff.

 

I have to say I agree with most of what you posted.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You think it's unrealistic to want an OPS over .840 and a IsoP of .200 out of a 5 hole guy?

 

A bit, considering NL average for a #5 hitter in 2005 was:

 

.271/.340/.454

 

Yes, I know - we want to be contenders, so we should want better than average. Well, we ought to be considerably better than average at #3 and #4. Plus, we're supposedly a plus-plus pitching team (or we aspire to be).

 

Regardless, I'd like Giles and Bradley, so Milt could hit #6.

 

My personal fave is getting both Giles brothers and Bradley.

 

Giles

Bradley

Lee

Giles

Ramirez

Barrett

Murton

Nomar/Cedeno/trade target

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's my team:

 

2b Luis Castillo

SS Rafael Furcal

1b Derrek Lee

3b Aramis Ramirez

CF Milton Bradley

RF Jose Guillen

LF Matt Murton

C Michael Barrett

 

SP Mark Prior

SP Carlos Zambrano

SP Kerry Wood

SP Greg Maddux

SP Derek Lowe

 

Bullpen

CL- Ryan Dempster

Octavio Dotel

Glendon Rusch

Roberto Novoa

Michael Wuertz

Will Ohman

Scott Williamson

 

Bench

Jerry Hairston IF/OF

Ronny Cedeno IF

Henry Blanco C

Adam Greenberg OF

Russell Branyan IF/OF

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Here's my team:

CF Milton Bradley

RF Jose Guillen

 

Those guys should keep dusty busy :wink:

[MPrior]

This is only marginally related, so I apologize in advance.

 

First off, I like that team.

 

Secondly, I hear people say all the time that our chances of landing Furcal AND Giles are very small. Well, that's true, but there's an important distinction to make - those chances are small because, statistically, the probability that two events will occur is the product of those two probabilities . So, for example, lets say - and these numbers are completely arbitrary - that our chances of signing Furcal are 1/3, and our chances of signing Giles are 1/10. Our probability of signing them both, then, is 1/30. However - and here's my key point - this difference does not in any way decrease our chances of signing Giles. That is to say, even if we do sign Furcal, our chances of signing Giles would still be 1/10.

 

Of course, there are other concerns, like money, but I think we've determined that the Cubs have enough money that signing Furcal would not financially make signing Giles an impossibility. So unless Hendry decides, for whatever reason, that one big signing is enough, signing Furcal should not make signing Giles any harder than it already is.

 

I guess the only reason I bring this up is that it seems to me that this argument is used often in a way that implies that signing Furcal means no Brian Giles - while this is most certainly not true.

 

Now, do I think we'll be able to sign Brian Giles? No. But it has nothing to do with whether we sign Furcal or not.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's my team:

CF Milton Bradley

RF Jose Guillen

 

Those guys should keep dusty busy :wink:

 

Winning produces chemistry and that team would have no trouble winning.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Here's my team:

CF Milton Bradley

RF Jose Guillen

 

Those guys should keep dusty busy :wink:

 

Winning produces chemistry and that team would have no trouble winning.

 

Oh I agree, just sorta funny. BTW, I think Lowe is considered a whiner to. :lol:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's my team:

CF Milton Bradley

RF Jose Guillen

 

Those guys should keep dusty busy :wink:

 

Winning produces chemistry and that team would have no trouble winning.

 

Oh I agree, just sorta funny. BTW, I think Lowe is considered a whiner to. :lol:

 

Taking on Lowe's contract is the grease to the wheels that gets Bradley and Castillo here.

[jmajew]

I think the Cubs would have a better chance getting Marcus Giles than Furcal. Furcal is more valuable to the Braves than Giles. Couldn't the cubs offer a Walker/Hill package for Giles.

 

If the Cubs do this you play Cedeno at short. Sign Lofton as a stopgap until Pie is ready. Then you look at guys like Jacque Jones, Juan Encarnacion, Brian Giles, Milton Bradley, Reggie Sanders, or Austin Kearns to play RF.

 

Lofton CF

Giles 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

RF

Barrett C

Murton LF

Cedeno SS

 

Then you'd use the other money on a starting pitcher. Like Jarrod Washburn, Matt Morris, or Kevin Millwood. I'm not a fan of Burnett, I see him being another anomaly like Kerry Wood.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I think the Cubs would have a better chance getting Marcus Giles than Furcal. Furcal is more valuable to the Braves than Giles. Couldn't the cubs offer a Walker/Hill package for Giles.

 

I wish you were Schuerholz.