If no Furcal...

[Jehrico]

How about bringing Nomar back to play 2nd? I would think that would be easier on his body, and he'd be an upgrade defensively (I would think) to Todd Walker, without dropping any offense. Start RonnyC at SS. I could go for that middle infield, but the big question mark is, can Nomar handle playing 2nd without hurting himself?

 

What do you think?

[mlarner]

Would he consider coming back? I know before the end of last season he made it seem like he really wanted to come back (and even offered to play OF, I think) but as he doesn't even seem to be on Hendry's radar screen this offseason I wonder if he'd be very responsive as Hendry's back-up option? For a guy that was all-everything just a couple of years ago that might be hard on the ego. Of course, I haven't heard of too much interest for him from other teams either, so who knows.

[Drew Doughty]

Actually, I thought he declined the OF and that's why we didn't re-sign him immediately? I might be wrong though.

[erik316wttn]

I don't think Nomar is coming back at all, unfortunately. Not for lack of him wanting to be here, but for lack of management wanting him here.

[Blueheart05]

How about bringing Nomar back to play 2nd? I would think that would be easier on his body, and he'd be an upgrade defensively (I would think) to Todd Walker, without dropping any offense. Start RonnyC at SS. I could go for that middle infield, but the big question mark is, can Nomar handle playing 2nd without hurting himself?

 

What do you think?

 

It's a good question especially in light of the new developments but I don't want Nomar back. I still think the Cubs need to concern themselves with guys who are both good offensive and defensive players. Nomar (and Todd Walker) are liabilites. I'd like to get a SS and let Cedeno play second. Or perhaps swing a deal for Castillo and play Ronnie at SS.

[BigbadB]

How about bringing Nomar back to play 2nd? I would think that would be easier on his body, and he'd be an upgrade defensively (I would think) to Todd Walker, without dropping any offense. Start RonnyC at SS. I could go for that middle infield, but the big question mark is, can Nomar handle playing 2nd without hurting himself?

 

What do you think?

 

It's a good question especially in light of the new developments but I don't want Nomar back. I still think the Cubs need to concern themselves with guys who are both good offensive and defensive players. Nomar (and Todd Walker) are liabilites. I'd like to get a SS and let Cedeno play second. Or perhaps swing a deal for Castillo and play Ronnie at SS.

 

How do you know Cedeno will be good offensively? The sample size isn't big enough for me. If he is horrible offensively, would it have been a good trade off to give up Walker's bat for Cedeno's defense?

 

Nomar would have loved to come back. Management basically booted him out the door. As others have mentioned here in past Nomar threads, he's probably not a good fit for 2nd base considering his arm angle and pivot throws.

 

I did want to see the Cubs bring Nomar back. But, that ship has sailed. The article I read right after the season ended basically stated that Nomar and Mia loved Chicago, and he wanted to return to the Cubs. Loved the fans. He would have been open to a position change. Whatever would help the team. Nomar's cost would likely have been half of what Furcal will cost, and for 1 year rather than 5.

 

I understand the need to improve defensively. As long as you don't lose anything offensively in improving defense, I'm fine with that. This team was worse offensively last year than they were defensively.

[Careless]

I've never been as convinced that the cubs will sign a significant free agent as I am with furcal. This sort of thing just doesn't interest me this offseason, I'm just convinced that hendry will win the bidding war at all costs.

[Careless]

oh (since I can't edit now)

nomar will go to the yankees to be a DH or something. Then they'll trade for the other matsui as a utility man and, after a couple injuries, trot out the first ever 4 SS infield.

[CubsWin]

How about bringing Nomar back to play 2nd? I would think that would be easier on his body, and he'd be an upgrade defensively (I would think) to Todd Walker, without dropping any offense. Start RonnyC at SS. I could go for that middle infield, but the big question mark is, can Nomar handle playing 2nd without hurting himself?

 

What do you think?

 

It's a good question especially in light of the new developments but I don't want Nomar back. I still think the Cubs need to concern themselves with guys who are both good offensive and defensive players. Nomar (and Todd Walker) are liabilites. I'd like to get a SS and let Cedeno play second. Or perhaps swing a deal for Castillo and play Ronnie at SS.

 

How do you know Cedeno will be good offensively? The sample size isn't big enough for me. If he is horrible offensively, would it have been a good trade off to give up Walker's bat for Cedeno's defense?

I agree that his major league sample size isn't large enough. But when you combine it with what he did at AAA while just 22 years old and the kinds of numbers he put up at AA while 21, the sample size is pretty big. Is there a chance that he won't put up good numbers in the majors next season? Sure, there's a chance. But I believe the chances are greater that he will put up at least decent numbers (.270/.330/.385) with excellent defense. And that isn't even considering the chances of him putting up numbers like he did last season. He will be 23 this season. He is going to continue to improve. He will be cheap and likely pretty darn good for a long time. You gotta start playing him sometime, and I think the sample size shows he is a gamble worth taking.

[CubsWin]

How about bringing Nomar back to play 2nd? I would think that would be easier on his body, and he'd be an upgrade defensively (I would think) to Todd Walker, without dropping any offense. Start RonnyC at SS. I could go for that middle infield, but the big question mark is, can Nomar handle playing 2nd without hurting himself?

 

What do you think?

I would do what I could to acquire Luis Castillo to play 2B instead of Nomar. The Marlins firesale may not be over and he could be had. Castillo can lead-off and would fill that position just like Furcal could. He would be less expensive than Furcal, but the Cubs would have to give up players to get him. Castillo just won another Gold Glove, IIRC, so the middle infield defense would be improved while giving up some SLG but gaining OBP at the 2B position over last season. And if anyone here thinks that Cedeno can't improve upon the numbers Neifi put up last season, I liked to hear their argument.

[WrigleyinEngland]

If no furcal i get rubber arm in CF and look to trade for a corner OF. I then screw everyone else over by either signing both millwood and burnett or signing one of them and trading for zito. if i lose out on furcal i say its all about the pitching.

[fearthecubs]

if i lose out on furcal i say its all about the pitching.

 

Yes.

[WrigleyinEngland]

My main worry is that if we don't fill more needs through FA we will not have enough talent to aquire what we need. We adressed the bullpen and with furcal you lock up SS and a leadoff hitter. That would leave the 2 OF spots a sp and a bench guy to get through trade. If you lose Furcal you add the leadoff to the list and suddenly it all becomes a big ask. Especially in the current state of play with Hendry not taking offers on Hill, Pie, Murton and cedeno.

[fearthecubs]

My main worry is that if we don't fill more needs through FA we will not have enough talent to aquire what we need. We adressed the bullpen and with furcal you lock up SS and a leadoff hitter. That would leave the 2 OF spots a sp and a bench guy to get through trade. If you lose Furcal you add the leadoff to the list and suddenly it all becomes a big ask. Especially in the current state of play with Hendry not taking offers on Hill, Pie, Murton and cedeno.

 

Look for the Cubs to get heavily involved in Burnett if we fail to acquire Furcal, IMO.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Rotoworld says Hendry's Plan B is to trade Jerome Williams, Todd Walker, c-patt and a prospect (Pinto?) to Texas for Kevin Mench and Alfonso Soriano. Ugh. Won't it be fun to watch Soriano match Patterson's sub-300 OBP and 150+ K's out of the leadoff spot??

 

Derrek Lee is slitting his wrists as we speak. Or calling his agent telling him not to return Jim Hendry's calls. One or the other.

[XZero771679666304]

If I were Hendry I would get involved in the Luis Castillo talks immediately. Perhaps he could get Castillo and Pierre.

[fearthecubs]

Rotoworld says Hendry's Plan B is to trade Jerome Williams, Todd Walker, c-patt and a prospect (Pinto?) to Texas for Kevin Mench and Alfonso Soriano. Ugh. Won't it be fun to watch Soriano match Patterson's sub-300 OBP and 150+ K's out of the leadoff spot??

 

Derrek Lee is slitting his wrists as we speak. Or calling his agent telling him not to return Jim Hendry's calls. One or the other.

 

I don't think the situation is *quite* that dire. I will agree though that obtaining Soriano would be a simply idiotic transaction. We were tops in BA/SLG, bottom in OBP - Soriano does not remedy the ailment.

[Careless]

My main worry is that if we don't fill more needs through FA we will not have enough talent to aquire what we need. We adressed the bullpen and with furcal you lock up SS and a leadoff hitter. That would leave the 2 OF spots a sp and a bench guy to get through trade. If you lose Furcal you add the leadoff to the list and suddenly it all becomes a big ask. Especially in the current state of play with Hendry not taking offers on Hill, Pie, Murton and cedeno.

You do realize that we have 6 starting pitchers on the roster plus rule 5 people?

[Lefty]

Where's the love for Jerome Williams?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Where's the love for Jerome Williams?

 

*** WARNING: What you are about to read is an extremely bad joke, but one I just had to make. ***

 

I left my heart in San Fransisco...

 

Sorry, I had to do it!

[gflore34]

Rotoworld says Hendry's Plan B is to trade Jerome Williams, Todd Walker, c-patt and a prospect (Pinto?) to Texas for Kevin Mench and Alfonso Soriano. Ugh. Won't it be fun to watch Soriano match Patterson's sub-300 OBP and 150+ K's out of the leadoff spot??

 

Derrek Lee is slitting his wrists as we speak. Or calling his agent telling him not to return Jim Hendry's calls. One or the other.

 

I don't think the situation is *quite* that dire. I will agree though that obtaining Soriano would be a simply idiotic transaction. We were tops in BA/SLG, bottom in OBP - Soriano does not remedy the ailment.

 

I don't believe Mench would be too bad of an acquisition, he makes contact, and he hasn't peaked. Soriano, on the other hand, brings absolute nothing, defensively he's on par with Walker maybe, worse, let the Rangers keep him.

[Guest]

Rotoworld says Hendry's Plan B is to trade Jerome Williams, Todd Walker, c-patt and a prospect (Pinto?) to Texas for Kevin Mench and Alfonso Soriano. Ugh. Won't it be fun to watch Soriano match Patterson's sub-300 OBP and 150+ K's out of the leadoff spot??

 

Derrek Lee is slitting his wrists as we speak. Or calling his agent telling him not to return Jim Hendry's calls. One or the other.

 

That better not be Plan B for a lead-off hitter. Jeez, I'm OK with Soriano... I'm OK with that trade but he better not be plan B for hitting in the top 5 positions of the lineup. :evil:

[YearofDaCubs]

I think Hendry has put all his eggs in the Furcal basket. If we indeed do not sign Furcal we might be in trouble. We will rely on trades and for the most part overpay for any player we want to trade for. The offseason just got even more interesting.

[goonys evil twin]

That better not be Plan B for a lead-off hitter. Jeez, I'm OK with Soriano... I'm OK with that trade but he better not be plan B for hitting in the top 5 positions of the lineup. :evil:

 

That's my problem. I'm fine with Soriano as the 6th hitter on this team. The trade is a little silly, considering Mench is no more than a platoon player. But Soriano can't be anywhere near the top of the order, or considered the solution for all OBP problems. He'll get on less than Walker, and this would lead to a possible MI that combines for no better than a .300-.310 OBP, something that should be unacceptable.

[YearofDaCubs]

That better not be Plan B for a lead-off hitter. Jeez, I'm OK with Soriano... I'm OK with that trade but he better not be plan B for hitting in the top 5 positions of the lineup. :evil:

 

That's my problem. I'm fine with Soriano as the 6th hitter on this team. The trade is a little silly, considering Mench is no more than a platoon player. But Soriano can't be anywhere near the top of the order, or considered the solution for all OBP problems. He'll get on less than Walker, and this would lead to a possible MI that combines for no better than a .300-.310 OBP, something that should be unacceptable.

Believe it or not with all things considered I rather have Walker on this team over Soriano.