Furcal deal almost complete? -- ITI rumor

[CubFanAlways]

ITI has learned from a source close to the Cubs that free agent shortstop Raphael Furcal and the Cubs have all but finalized a deal that will bring the shortstop to Chicago for the next five years, with a mutual option for a sixth year. The source told ITI that the deal could pay Furcal as much as $100 million including the sixth year and "significant performance bonuses" that included winning a batting title, the stolen base title, and a bonus if he plays in 150 games for each of the first three years of his contract.

 

The news that Furcal was coming to the North Side would have easily been enough, but our source also had one more juicy bit of info.

 

The Cubs might make one more deal that could give them arguably the greatest infield in the history of baseball.

 

The rumor goes that the Cubs are close to finalizing a seven player deal with the Texas Rangers that would bring Alfonso Soriano and Kevin Mench to the Cubs in exchange for Jerome Williams, Todd Walker, and three minor leaguers, one of whom is believed to be right hander David Aardsma, and another shortstop Ronny Cedeno. According to our source the two clubs have agreed on which players would be dealt, but what is holding it up is exactly what kind of deal Soriano will want in Chicago.

 

He would likely command a deal similar to Furcal's, and while his addition would solidify the infield, and first four spots in the batting order, there are questions about whether or not the Cubs would be willing to shell out a pair of $100 deals in two weeks to two players.

 

Still, if Jim Hendry were to pull this off, the Cubs would, once again, become the favorite to win the NL Central, and probably the World Series. With the addition of Bobby Howry and Scott Eyre, the bullpen appears to be shored up, and if the Cubs were able to sign Furcal and land Soriano, suddenly Felix Pie, even rushed, in center field doesn't look so bad, since he would likely be hitting eighth, with little to no pressure to produce.

 

The Cubs lineup, even with Pie and fellow youngster Matt Murton in it, would almost certainly be one of the most feared in the NL. Furcal, Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Mench, Murton, Barrett and Pie.

 

Be afraid, be very afraid. The only obvious weakness would appear to be the lack of a left handed bat in the middle of the order, but a quality, older, cheaper, left handed hitting corner outfielder could provide that at least some of the time, and it might not matter. Yes, the starting pitching will remain in question as long as perennially injured Kerry Wood is still penciled into the rotation, and the trading of Williams would nix one of the top options for temp duty during Wood's inevitable time on the shelf, but the opportunity to assemble a lineup like this comes rarely (unless you're the Yankees).

[XZero771679666304]

I found the Link to this story , but it smells like BS to me. 100 million over 6 years? Yikes. Edited November 26, 2005 by XZero77

[fearthecubs]

Don't tell me these things! lalalala

 

Btw, XZ77, I love your avatar.

[Bgbird68]

I hope this isn't true. That's wayyyy too much for Soriano and Mench. How about trade for Lugo, put Cedeno at second and sign Giles?

[fearthecubs]

I hope this isn't true. That's wayyyy too much for Soriano and Mench. How about trade for Lugo, put Cedeno at second and sign Giles?

 

Are you crazy!? 1908

[XZero771679666304]

I hope this isn't true. That's wayyyy too much for Soriano and Mench. How about trade for Lugo, put Cedeno at second and sign Giles?

 

I'm less concerned by the cost of Soriano and Mench than the 100 million for Furcal. I have been a big proponent of his signing, but that's way too much.

 

Unfortunately, it is a scenario I can see happening the more I think about it.

 

1) Hendry would offer Furcal more money than anyone else will to get him in the fold quickly, IMO.

 

2) Speculation has had Walker going to Texas in the past, and Hendry has been after Soriano before.

 

3) Mench would fill an OF hole.

[fearthecubs]

Did you Know?

 

Kevin Mench has the largest head and hat size in MLB. He has his batting helmets made just for him.

[XZero771679666304]

Did you Know?

 

Kevin Mench has the largest head and hat size in MLB. He has his batting helmets made just for him.

 

I did, actually. Size 8 I think.

 

I am just happy someone has a bigger head than me.

[WrigleyinEngland]

Bit of history on this article. To be a premium customer on this site you have to pay$79.99 if this story is BS alot of people will be pissed. Only reason i'm pointing this out is that the editors changed just a few days ago, if this story isn't true not a great start for the new guy.

[fearthecubs]

Bit of history on this article. To be a premium customer on this site you have to pay$79.99 if this story is BS alot of people will be pissed. Only reason i'm pointing this out is that the editors changed just a few days ago, if this story isn't true not a great start for the new guy.

 

I've linked to this website in threads before, they're usually spot-on. Still, I mean, it's the Cobs.

[Balsa]

Oh god this can't be for real.

 

That deal for Fucal is insane. Plus, I can't imagine Hendry dealing Cedeno.

[Schwarber Fan]

ITI has learned from a source close to the Cubs that free agent shortstop Raphael Furcal and the Cubs have all but finalized a deal that will bring the shortstop to Chicago for the next five years, with a mutual option for a sixth year.

 

Spelling his name wrong, that bothers me

[WrigleyinEngland]

The figures being mentioned seem insane to me and i'm no soriano fan but man is that a sick infield pitty that 3 stiffs will be parading the OF. Apolagies 2 forgot about Matt M !!!

[Balsa]

Seriously, 6/100 mil?! That's just ludicrous.

[fearthecubs]

Seriously, 6/100 mil?! That's just ludicrous.

 

With incentives. I'm sure if you get a 2M bonus for NL MVP or something, and he did it five years in a row, hey thats 10M.

[DougDascenzo]

how is Mench's D??

 

can he catch the ball?

 

I hope so because his stats look like the right handed jeromy burnitz

[nolanwood]

wow - as much as I could say I would be happy if that article were true.....there is absolutely no way it is!

[WrigleyinEngland]

chances of him winning batting title and being MVP?? Surely we could offer him all the money in the world for some categories and it would never be attained.

[Balsa]

I keep checking the date to make sure it's not April 1st.

[WrigleyinEngland]

I said a couple of days ago that i felt something major happening. I also said it might be something to make us fall out of our chairs. If these two things happened i would need medical assistance from that fall!!!.

[Illini Iceman]

Sorry, but no way. The report yesterday was that Hendry was looking at 4/$38 million and Furcal's agent is on record as looking for 5?$50 miilion so it is inconceivable that it has now jumped to 6/$100. That is Beltran type money.

The thought of paying a similar deal to Soriano takes this from the ridiculous to the absurd.

Maybe the trade and signing go down but nowhere near these numbers.

[Careless]

that article gets more ludicrous as it goes along. soriano looking for a deal similar to 6-$100?

[DougDascenzo]

someone please hurry up and debunk this ridiculous story...

 

or confirm it

 

without the 2 hundred mil contracts

 

as has been said no way is that part of this story true

[Derwood]

Did you Know?

 

Kevin Mench has the largest head and hat size in MLB. He has his batting helmets made just for him.

 

How can anyone's head be biggerthan Barry Bonds? (literally and figuratively?)

[Schwarber Fan]

ITI seems like too much of a reliable source to not believe.

 

If it was on that BS mlbtraderumors site, I'd wouldn't buy it.