Finish The Offseason (What would you do if you were GM?)

[nilodnayr]

Isn't anybody going to fire Dusty Baker or is that a given?

Ohh yeah, of course. I hire the braves 3rd base coach, give Vance a 50K signing bonus with the following stipulations. For every 10 starts neifi perez gets, I take 10K away. If Neifi bats other than 7th or 8 in any starts I take away another 10K. For every pitch a starter throw over 120 with more than a 3 run difference in score I take away 500 bucks. Any time the manager says "clog the bases" I get to beat Vance severely. If the cubs make the playoffs Vance gets a 25K bonus. For every round they advance he gets another 10K, and for a world series championship he gets my first born son (as long as he doesnt let him fall on his head, like Addison :D )

[LuvChicagoSports]

ok here goes. I'm gonna try to be somewhat realistic too because Dunn flat out isn't gonna be traded to a NL central team. Cinci may be able to get a lot for him, but at the same time they aren't a bunch of idiots over there.

 

First move- I have been saying all offseason that I would like to see Furcal in a Cubs uniform, but the whole Chipper restructuring would scare me if I was Hendry, so I would put together a package to land a 1 and 2 hitter while filling two holes. I get both Pierre and Castillo from the Marlins. They are clearly cutting payroll and are going to part with players for less than what they could get. Jump in now because you can take advatage of the situation, much like how we got Aramis and Lee. Probably have to send Patterson, Mitre, and a few others, but would likely get to keep Pie for a potentially bigger move down the road, or for our team later. Gives me some flexibility for the future.

 

Second- Since Cedeno was in the plans and there is not a need to get Furcal anymore I turn my attention to signing Brian Giles. While I don't like his age, it seems as if his monetary terms are going to stay relatively under control, and I am willing to take a risk on a guy like him. Lefty OF bat with good obp. and still pretty good power. He would fit in nicely in the middle of the lineup.

 

Third- Get Mark Sweeney. His PROVEN bench bat is something left to be desired from the current Cubs team. He could come in late in the game and provide a potentially big HR or other type of hits. Much like Hollandsworth before Dusty misused him.

 

Fourth- Make one more move to land another SP via trade or FA. Personally I would like Millwood or Lowe as they are inning eaters, and every team needs one. Lowe might cost us Williams and a prospect, but if you look at it, we would have essentially gotten Hawkins for Lowe. I'll make that trade 100 times out of 100. I'd sign Millwood if the price was right, but Lowe would be a great fit with the long grass of Wrigley and improved defense in the middle infield with Cedeno and Castillo.

 

The key to my plan is that it gives the Cubs options if certain things fall through. For instance, we can get Pierre but not Castillo. We go after Furcal still and obtain a RF via trade. Or Marlins don't want to deal with us, so we go after Furcal, Wilkerson, and Huff/Mench. Hendry clearly wants to upgrade the pitching and give us options so another starter fits.

 

1. Pierre-CF

2. Castillo-2b

3. Lee-1b

4. Giles-RF

5. Aramis-3b

6. Barrett-C

7. Murton-LF

8. Cedeno-SS

 

1. Prior

2. Z

3. Lowe

4. Maddux

5. Rusch/Wood (health permitting)

 

Dempster

Eyre

Howry

Williamson

Ohman

Wuertz

Novoa

 

Perez

Blanco

Sweeney

Hairston

someone from the system that earns the spot

 

no crazy out of this world moves, but improved team. Speed and obp improvements at top, with a legitmite impact bat added in Giles. Also, the youngsters with a high ceiling in Murton and Cedeno get a chance and if it doesn't work, you still have some trading pieces left to make more impact moves as the deadline approaches.

[Tim]

I knew I was forgetting something.

 

As a preferred option, I might go for Daisuke Matsuzaka instead of either Burnett or Millwood. He's likely to be cheaper and I think the gyroball will mystify MLB hitters for a year or two.

[muntjack]

Okay, IF i'm the GM, here's what I do: (Warning: it's radical)

 

 

Florida claims Dontrelle and Cabrera are not going anywhere. I make them change their mind.

 

If they're willing to give up a potential multiple-cy young winner for top prspects, then I overwhelm them with more for Miggy (who I believe will eclipse Pujols in the next two years).

 

1. Pie, Hill, Nolasco, Dopirak, Walker, Patterson and Cash for Miguel Cabrera and 2 PTBNL.

 

 

2. Sign Brian Giles for 3 years 36 million

 

 

3.Sign Rafael Furcal for 4 years 40 million

 

 

4.Leave the starting pitching as is. Even with the worst-case scenario, we'll have the best offense in baseball to fall back on. If everyone does stay healthy, we'll win 110+ games and be lethal in the postseason.

 

Furcal SS

Murton LF

Cabrera RF

Lee 1B

Giles CF

Ramirez 3B

Barrett C

Cedeno 2B

 

Zambrano

Prior

Wood

Maddux

Rusch

 

Will it happen....no.

 

Could I pull it off....I think so.