Could we contend with this team?

[jmajew]

Mench is clearly not the answer to our RF question. But Milton Bradley could be. Why wouldn't you trade for Bradley or sign him if he gets released like has been rumored. Then go out and get Lofton to play center.

 

Furcal

Lofton

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Barret

Murton

Cedeno

 

Couldn't we compete with that team? We only had two problem spots in our lineup last year, 1-2. This would solve that problem. We'd have to score more runs with Furcal and Lofton at the top of the order.

[goonys evil twin]

Then go out and get Lofton to play center.

 

Couldn't we compete with that team? We only had two problem spots in our lineup last year, 1-2. This would solve that problem. We'd have to score more runs with Furcal and Lofton at the top of the order.

 

Unfortunately Lofton doesn't really solve anything. He's a platoon player at best, who had a brief resurgence in a nice hitter's park last year.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Mench is clearly not the answer to our RF question. But Milton Bradley could be. Why wouldn't you trade for Bradley or sign him if he gets released like has been rumored. Then go out and get Lofton to play center.

 

Furcal

Lofton

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Barret

Murton

Cedeno

 

Couldn't we compete with that team? We only had two problem spots in our lineup last year, 1-2. This would solve that problem. We'd have to score more runs with Furcal and Lofton at the top of the order.

 

I only want Lofton if we still have a gaping hole at lead-off. While he isn't a bad option and if he repeats his last year's numbers, he's a good option...but the possibility of a tail off is huge with him. If we sign Furcal, I'd rather have a hitter that brings more to the table than Lofton.

 

Like I said earlier, Mench isn't the best option...but he's clearly better than some. It's also pretty evident he's available.

 

I'd love a dream scenario where we sign Furcal, trade for Bradley and then trade for Castillo instead of Pierre. Imagine this line-up. I might even roll the dice with Patterson then or sign Preston Wilson or Juan Encarnacion.

 

SS Furcal

2b Castillo

1b Lee

3b Ramirez

CF/RF Bradley

LF Murton

CF/RF Patterson or Wilson or Encarnacion

C Barrett

 

I think the 1-6 is good enough to compensate for the weak spot in the seven hole.

[jmajew]

Mench is clearly not the answer to our RF question. But Milton Bradley could be. Why wouldn't you trade for Bradley or sign him if he gets released like has been rumored. Then go out and get Lofton to play center.

 

Furcal

Lofton

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Barret

Murton

Cedeno

 

Couldn't we compete with that team? We only had two problem spots in our lineup last year, 1-2. This would solve that problem. We'd have to score more runs with Furcal and Lofton at the top of the order.

 

I only want Lofton if we still have a gaping hole at lead-off. While he isn't a bad option and if he repeats his last year's numbers, he's a good option...but the possibility of a tail off is huge with him. If we sign Furcal, I'd rather have a hitter that brings more to the table than Lofton.

 

Like I said earlier, Mench isn't the best option...but he's clearly better than some. It's also pretty evident he's available.

 

I'd love a dream scenario where we sign Furcal, trade for Bradley and then trade for Castillo instead of Pierre. Imagine this line-up. I might even roll the dice with Patterson then or sign Preston Wilson or Juan Encarnacion.

 

SS Furcal

2b Castillo

1b Lee

3b Ramirez

CF/RF Bradley

LF Murton

CF/RF Patterson or Wilson or Encarnacion

C Barrett

 

I think the 1-6 is good enough to compensate for the weak spot in the seven hole.

 

Here is a question for ya. If you had to choose between getting Castillo and Furcal who would you choose. Assuming Furcal would cost us 5/50 and Castillo costing us Walker and Hill. Castillo would make about 4 million less per year than Furcal.

[JeffH]

Here is a question for ya. If you had to choose between getting Castillo and Furcal who would you choose. Assuming Furcal would cost us 5/50 and Castillo costing us Walker and Hill. Castillo would make about 4 million less per year than Furcal.

 

Furcal.

[goonys evil twin]

Here is a question for ya. If you had to choose between getting Castillo and Furcal who would you choose. Assuming Furcal would cost us 5/50 and Castillo costing us Walker and Hill. Castillo would make about 4 million less per year than Furcal.

 

Furcal.

 

Tough call. I'm assuming Cedeno is playing the other position, whoever they get. Castillo is going to out OBP Furcal, with less power and SB. The difference is Castillo costs less money but more talent in the trade, while Furcal costs a lot of cash. But, the Cubs would probably be pressured to extend Castillo, which could backfire. Normally I'd take the free agent, because it only costs money, and not talent. However, the Cubs have a 40 man crunch so trades aren't bad, and I think the offensive impact of either guy is similar.

 

I think I'd take Castillo, with Cedeno at SS, leaving a ton of money available for pitching and OF help.

[Keener98]

Also, with the above line-up you aren't adding much salary. Bradley likely won't make more than 5 million. Furcal is the only big additon salary wise. Mench will be a 3 million player.

 

The remaining roster would likley be:

SP's: Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Maddux, Rusch.

Bullpen: Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Novoa, Ohman and one of the remaining minor leaguers.

Bench: Neifi, Blanco + ?, ?, ?

 

By going with that line-up, there's likely 10-15 million left under budget. That money could be used to add a starter or spent on bench and bullpen.

 

I think the above is very plausible. I'd prefer Giles, but I'd take a long look at doing the above.

 

Vance, did I miss something or what but where is Jerome Williams? Id much rather have him as our #5 than Rusch. I dont think you had him traded in your original scenerio so I was just wondering.

[CubfaninCA]

Here is a question for ya. If you had to choose between getting Castillo and Furcal who would you choose. Assuming Furcal would cost us 5/50 and Castillo costing us Walker and Hill. Castillo would make about 4 million less per year than Furcal.

 

Furcal.

 

When's Eric Patterson due up?? Is Cedeno really a long-term solution? I think I take Furcal considering the trade off's and that he's younger.

[marc_foust]

I am not so sure I would like to trade Walker unless we have aquired a power bat for the OF. Adding Furcal and a stopgap OF (Mench, Burnitz, Preston Wilson, Lofton) does not make me comfortable enough to trade away one of our best hitters for bullpen help. Unless we aquire a big bat like Giles, Dunn, etc I think we may want to consider keeping Walker around, unless we have a 300+ hitting second basemen to replace him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Mench is clearly not the answer to our RF question. But Milton Bradley could be. Why wouldn't you trade for Bradley or sign him if he gets released like has been rumored. Then go out and get Lofton to play center.

 

Furcal

Lofton

Lee

Ramirez

Bradley

Barret

Murton

Cedeno

 

Couldn't we compete with that team? We only had two problem spots in our lineup last year, 1-2. This would solve that problem. We'd have to score more runs with Furcal and Lofton at the top of the order.

 

I only want Lofton if we still have a gaping hole at lead-off. While he isn't a bad option and if he repeats his last year's numbers, he's a good option...but the possibility of a tail off is huge with him. If we sign Furcal, I'd rather have a hitter that brings more to the table than Lofton.

 

Like I said earlier, Mench isn't the best option...but he's clearly better than some. It's also pretty evident he's available.

 

I'd love a dream scenario where we sign Furcal, trade for Bradley and then trade for Castillo instead of Pierre. Imagine this line-up. I might even roll the dice with Patterson then or sign Preston Wilson or Juan Encarnacion.

 

SS Furcal

2b Castillo

1b Lee

3b Ramirez

CF/RF Bradley

LF Murton

CF/RF Patterson or Wilson or Encarnacion

C Barrett

 

I think the 1-6 is good enough to compensate for the weak spot in the seven hole.

 

Here is a question for ya. If you had to choose between getting Castillo and Furcal who would you choose. Assuming Furcal would cost us 5/50 and Castillo costing us Walker and Hill. Castillo would make about 4 million less per year than Furcal.

 

That's a tough question. If I knew the Furcal money would be spent to acquire a big bat, ala Giles...Castillo in a no-brainer. But without that assurance, I'd rather have Walker and Furcal in the line-up.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Also, with the above line-up you aren't adding much salary. Bradley likely won't make more than 5 million. Furcal is the only big additon salary wise. Mench will be a 3 million player.

 

The remaining roster would likley be:

SP's: Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Maddux, Rusch.

Bullpen: Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Novoa, Ohman and one of the remaining minor leaguers.

Bench: Neifi, Blanco + ?, ?, ?

 

By going with that line-up, there's likely 10-15 million left under budget. That money could be used to add a starter or spent on bench and bullpen.

 

I think the above is very plausible. I'd prefer Giles, but I'd take a long look at doing the above.

 

Vance, did I miss something or what but where is Jerome Williams? Id much rather have him as our #5 than Rusch. I dont think you had him traded in your original scenerio so I was just wondering.

 

I also would rather have Williams as a number five. My guess is Williams is either in AAA waiting for an injury to the rotation or has been used in a trade. With the way our roster has shaken out so far, if I'm the GM I'm shopping Williams in a deal for a bat.

[YearofDaCubs]

Milton Bradley would be really good for us on the field and he can play any OF position. My feeling is Hendry won't go for it though. I hope he does though because at the very least he will be a huge upgrade in CF.

[Andy]

Also, with the above line-up you aren't adding much salary. Bradley likely won't make more than 5 million. Furcal is the only big additon salary wise. Mench will be a 3 million player.

 

The remaining roster would likley be:

SP's: Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Maddux, Rusch.

Bullpen: Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Novoa, Ohman and one of the remaining minor leaguers.

Bench: Neifi, Blanco + ?, ?, ?

 

By going with that line-up, there's likely 10-15 million left under budget. That money could be used to add a starter or spent on bench and bullpen.

 

I think the above is very plausible. I'd prefer Giles, but I'd take a long look at doing the above.

 

Vance, did I miss something or what but where is Jerome Williams? Id much rather have him as our #5 than Rusch. I dont think you had him traded in your original scenerio so I was just wondering.

 

I also would rather have Williams as a number five. My guess is Williams is either in AAA waiting for an injury to the rotation or has been used in a trade. With the way our roster has shaken out so far, if I'm the GM I'm shopping Williams in a deal for a bat.

If we ship out Williams, we'd better get a good bat out of the deal. I don't want to watch him become another Willis or Moyer.

[Keener98]

Also, with the above line-up you aren't adding much salary. Bradley likely won't make more than 5 million. Furcal is the only big additon salary wise. Mench will be a 3 million player.

 

The remaining roster would likley be:

SP's: Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Maddux, Rusch.

Bullpen: Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Novoa, Ohman and one of the remaining minor leaguers.

Bench: Neifi, Blanco + ?, ?, ?

 

By going with that line-up, there's likely 10-15 million left under budget. That money could be used to add a starter or spent on bench and bullpen.

 

I think the above is very plausible. I'd prefer Giles, but I'd take a long look at doing the above.

 

Vance, did I miss something or what but where is Jerome Williams? Id much rather have him as our #5 than Rusch. I dont think you had him traded in your original scenerio so I was just wondering.

 

I also would rather have Williams as a number five. My guess is Williams is either in AAA waiting for an injury to the rotation or has been used in a trade. With the way our roster has shaken out so far, if I'm the GM I'm shopping Williams in a deal for a bat.

If we ship out Williams, we'd better get a good bat out of the deal. I don't want to watch him become another Willis or Moyer.

 

Exactly!! Williams has a ton of potential and if we trade him it better be for a potent bat and not just some minor person.