HoopsCubs

As we're getting close to the start of a wild off-season, I thought we could use this thread to continuously track and monitor the Cubs 2007 payroll as players are signed and/or traded. I'd request the moderators to give this "sticky" status, if appropriate: As of November 1, 2006: 13.00M - Derrek Lee 5.33M - Jacque Jones 5.00M - Ryan Dempster 4.40M - Michael Barrett 4.15M - Cesar Izturis 4.00M - Bob Howry 3.50M - Scott Eyre 3.25M - Glendon Rusch 3.00M - buyout for Kerry Wood (I always include buyout payments in next year's payroll because they are typically paid out after November 1, and the baseball payroll calendar is November 1 to October 31). Total: 8 players under contract and $45.63M Hoops

If the Cubs could pull a deal for Burrell, why not deal Jones and a prospect like Mateo or Marmol for Bonderman? Vance, I still think the logical places to deal Jones are to San Diego or Seattle. I think Detroit could be a destination, but it won't be for Bonderman unless the Cubs include someone from the Veal, Pawelek and Gallagher group (my opinion). The Padres have an opening in LF if they don't re-sign Roberts, and I'm sure Seattle would prefer to have Ibanez DH full time. Since San Diego and Seattle are probably not the likely destinations for Soriano, CLee and Bonds, those teams would probably look at Jacque favorably, although both teams seem to be enamored with Luis Gonzalez right now. Another destination could be San Francisco. Although, I think they will end up with either Bonds, Soriano or CLee. If they don't, and Jacque plays well for Bochy in the Japan series, Bochy could ask Sabean to make a trade.

Hendry and Dombrowski supposedly have a good working relationship, so I could see a Detroit/Cubs trade. Your deal certainly gives them quantity, but not necessarily the quality bat they are probably thinking about. I'm guessing Bonderman for Tejada plus other pieces might be attractive to both teams. That deal will allow Detroit to move Guillen to 1B

Actually, the Cubs will have much more than that to spend. If Aramis walks and if you add in the $3M buyout on Wood, the Cubs would currently have 8 players under contract at $45.5M. If the payroll is in the neighborhood of $110M, which has been hinted by many in the press, it gives the Cubs $64.5M to spend. Assume $14.5M goes to Zambrano and Prior in 2007. That still leaves the Cubs with $50M. True, they have holes, but $50M can fill a lot of holes through trade or via free agency.

Do we know that for a fact? Ramirez had no trade protection according to today's papers - maybe he vetoed a trade. I like Aramis. But, you can put me in the group that believes the Cubs will be fine even if he signs with somebody else.

Maybe he already did, and that's why Aramis opted out.

Yes, the Cubs signed Matt Harrington a few weeks ago. Remember him?

I never said he was dead set, but I think he wants to go. As for talking to the Cubs, one major reason: They can't negotiate with any other team until 15 days after the World Series ends. The only team he can talk to is the Cubs. So, they can use this window to "negotiate" with the Cubs in order to leak parameters to would-be suitors.

Bruce, do you think it gets done? Eventually, yes. The agent is doing a little squeezing right now. You're definitely the authority Mr. Miles, but I still feel Aramis is walking away. I think he wants to sign with a consistent playoff-caliber team. I'm not so sure this is all about money. Maybe warm weather too, since both LA teams are interested. I wouldn't blame him if he joined the Dodgers. I think change of scenery is involved here too (maybe ties to your warm weather idea). I just get the sense that Aramis doesn't want to be here anymore. And again, for right or wrong, I get the sense that Hendry really doesn't want to extend the deal beyond the 2 guaranteed years and option year. We'll know something by the 11th - the day Aramis can declare free agency. If he declares free agency on November 11th, I think there is very little chance he will be a Cub in 2007.

Bruce, do you think it gets done? Eventually, yes. The agent is doing a little squeezing right now. You're definitely the authority Mr. Miles, but I still feel Aramis is walking away. I think he wants to sign with a consistent playoff-caliber team. I'm not so sure this is all about money.

I don't understand why they would sign him and then trade him for next to nothing. I would think the Yankees are expecting a little more than "next to nothing." I think they care much more about where he goes than what they get in return. Letting him become a free agent means there is a chance he could sign with Boston or the Mets. Picking up the option guarantees he won't go to Boston or the Mets. Sounds crazy to make a $13M move based on that, I know, but as one source told me: for George, it's all about the Mets and Red Sox.

As much as I love Alou, I would have applauded that move.

If you read the Bill Madden article that Rotoworld alludes to, you will see the Cubs mentioned among 6 teams: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/465014p-391288c.html "Once the Yankees acquired Bobby Abreu from the Phillies at last July's trading deadline, it was clear Sheffield no longer fit in their plans, but by picking up his option, they can now get something for him. And it could be a nice return as at least a half-dozen teams - the Angels, Orioles, Cubs, Giants, Astros and Rangers - are in the market for a power-hitting corner outfielder, and that doesn't include the Red Sox and Mets. The Yankees can now prevent Sheffield going to such rivals, not a possibility had they let him flee."

Agree with you that it was smart not to pick up the $11.5M option - that would have been too much. However, I think Hendry could have signed him to a 2 year $12M deal - similar to what the Giants gave him. My source indicated to me that Alou would have accepted it had Hendry offered it. But Hendry was too wrapped up in the Sammy saga to care about Moises - a move (or lack of) he now regrets from what I am told.

I absolutely agree with you on 2 of those 3. One of those guys, however, I do respect.

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off. I think you are correct in your assessment of the media being anti-Ramirez. And the feelings about Aramis from the members of the media that I have spoken to range from he's unlikable to he's very unlikable to he's just a bad guy (like Sammy). The story goes that Moises really kept Aramis in line (behavior-wise) in 2004 - after Moises departed, Aramis was "left to his own devices." Interpret that as you will - I was given no details. In talking to my sources, I just get the sense that Aramis is not liked in that clubhouse or by management - his lackadaisical attitude has irked a lot of folks on and off the field. There just doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency in keeping him despite his great numbers. So does Hendry sign Moises Alou to a 1 year $6m deal (matching last year's salary) to get 300-400 ABs and babysit Ramirez? The general public absolutely loved Alou. Hendry should never have let him go in the first place! :x Water under the bridge, I know. I don't know how Hendry feels about Moises these days. I know I wouldn't mind seeing Moises at $4M platooning with Jones.

Bruce is the best, no doubt, but there are 2 others in this town, who I respect, and who seem to be in the know on many things.

And I feel that people would be more than happy if he let Ramirez walk and added Lee and Soriano, or if the replacement for Ramirez was Tejada or ARod, and he added a Jones like bat as the addition. If he lets Ramirez walks and does nothing, he'll get grilled. But as long as he does something that can be passed off as adding to the roster, he won't get killed. Lots of people want Ramirez gone, not to mention the group that isn't that desperate to see him extended. Can Ramirez still be traded before he "opts out?" Technically, he's not a free agent yet, right? I'm not sure how the rules work at this particular point in the offseason.

A preliminary guess tells me the majority of the media is anti-Ramirez. And most of them would be more than fine with Hendry letting him walk. And if he replaces Ramirez with ARod or Tejada, or loses Ramirez and gains Lee and Soriano, I'd bet the majority of fans would be fine with that trade off. I think you are correct in your assessment of the media being anti-Ramirez. And the feelings about Aramis from the members of the media that I have spoken to range from he's unlikable to he's very unlikable to he's just a bad guy (like Sammy). The story goes that Moises really kept Aramis in line (behavior-wise) in 2004 - after Moises departed, Aramis was "left to his own devices." Interpret that as you will - I was given no details. In talking to my sources, I just get the sense that Aramis is not liked in that clubhouse or by management - his lackadaisical attitude has irked a lot of folks on and off the field. There just doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency in keeping him despite his great numbers.

If the Dodgers decide not to bring back Gagne, Lofton and Garciaparra, they are going to have a decent amount of money to spend this Winter (~$20M) after factoring in raises. It appears to me that that they have 4 major holes: 2 starters, 1 CF and 1 3B (I'm assuming Loney will be the 1b). If they go cheap at CF and 1 starter (combined $6M) that would leave them $14M - I could see them spending $7M on Greg and $7M on a guy like Iwamura. Hoops

Vs. ARam and ARod. That would be terrific.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20061017TDY23002.htm Guess they will let him go. A source told me over the weekend that Iwamura was one of the players Hendry's scouts looked at during the season. Early in the season? Late in the season? I don't know. The source had no idea what the posting fee might be, but felt the contract would be slightly higher than Hideki Matsui's first contract with the Yankees. Hideki had a 3 year $21M deal, maybe Iwamura gets a 3 year and $25M deal. When Hendry made the comment at the Piniella's press conference that the Cubs were more active in Asian scouting, I think everyone took that specifically to mean Japanese pitching. But it seems to me that Iwamura could be part of the contingency plan Hendry told Kinzer (Aramis's agent) last week. Iwamura and ARod on the left side of the IF vs. ARam and Izturis? Hmmm...

Is that the vibe that your sources are telling you, hoops? No, actually, most of my sources feel he will be extended by the last minute. My gut too tells me otherwise.

He gone.

According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio AM 1000 (heard this morning at 7:20 AM CDT), the Cubs have targeted Julio Lugo as a potential free agent signing (along with Alfonso Soriano). He didn't specify what position Lugo would play if signed. I assume 2B if Izturis is here, or SS if Izturis is dealt. Piniella must have liked him when he had him in Tampa Bay. Hoops