HoopsCubs

I would definitely be excited at the thought of acquiring Kent, but as others have pointed out here, it has to be done as part of an overall strategy. Lots of holes, but lots of cash - Hendry has no excuses this offseason.

Speaking of Abreu, check out the scathing remarks about Bobby made by SI's Tom Verducci recently. I didn't realize how low is 2nd half power numbers have been. What's going on with him? http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/102-09302005-548673.html Hoops Don't know if it's playiing on his mind, but his fiance, former Miss Venezuela Alicia Machado, got caught doing the nasty with another guy on tape this summer. The steamy sex video has been all over the place. It was a major sex scandal. he was due to wed her in December. I would imagine that's gotta affect a guy's job performance. That scandal was revealed pretty early in the year. Abreu went on an absolute tear after that news and the cancellation of his wedding was already out. I think something else happened.

Ronnie, I looked at this way. These are the current 2006 commitments: Derrek Lee-$8.7M Aramis Ramirez-$10.5M Michael Barrett-$4.3M Mark Prior-$3.0M Greg Maddux-$9.0M Kerry Wood-$12.0M Henry Blanco-$1.5M Glendon Rusch-$2.0M (player option) Jeromy Burnitz-$500K (buyout) 8 players - $51.5M You figure Carlos Zambrano is not going anywhere, so add him in for $5M. So, 9 players and 56.5M Assuming $100M payroll (safe assumption), the Cubs would have $44M to spend. Major decisions: CF, RF, SS, SP, Closer, Setup team options: Walker, Burnitz, Williamson free agents: Dempster, Garciaparra, Perez arbitration eligible: Patterson, Hairston, Macias

See Hoops' post, they may not be able to afford it. Can anyone see a Todd Walker + good pitching prospect for Brad Radke deal going down?

Speaking of Abreu, check out the scathing remarks about Bobby made by SI's Tom Verducci recently. I didn't realize how low is 2nd half power numbers have been. What's going on with him? http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/102-09302005-548673.html Hoops

Yes, true. But I am advocating all aspects of the team and organization and strategy should be renewed. Let's shift from "tools" focus to "sabermetrics" focus. Let's change the focus from being a poor performer at 5 different positions on the field to being a great performer at 1 single position. Let's change how we talk to the press from platitudes and non-commital words to expressing how you really feel and committing to a plan. Let's change the structure of suggesting someone play Winter Ball to telling someone he will play Winter ball, or else. Heck, let's change the brands of sunflower seeds and chewing tobacco used in the dugout from old to new.

Raw, Why can't he just say something demonstrative like: "I haven't got my final number, but our payroll should be sufficient enough to field a team that will be battling to be the best in the NL." Isn't "battling to be the best in the NL" a synonym for "very competitive"? Is it? Okay, then come up with something better. My point is "very competitive" is setting the bar short (even if it's just perception). We want our GM to say, we must do everything we can with the resources we have to be the best team in the NL." Those are the words I want to hear: "best team" as opposed to BS like "very competitive."

My take on the article was that he was suggesting OBP was far more important than speed, if you could only get one trait. Rafael Furcal and Ryan Freel were good at both OBP and in the stolen base department, but it's hard to find both traits. I did some quick research on 4 other NL lead-off hitters: Jose Reyes and Juan Pierre had a combined total of 104 stolen bases, but both had OBPs lower than .320. Brady Clark and David Eckstein had a combined total of only 20 stolen bases, but both had OBPs nearing .370. Whose offenses do you think did better - Mets and Marlins or Brewers and Cardinals? I think that was Mr. Miles point. A slow guy on 1B is better than having a fast guy sitting in the dugout after making an out. Hoops

Raw, Why can't he just say something demonstrative like: "I haven't got my final number, but our payroll should be sufficient enough to field a team that will be battling to be the best in the NL."

I would just make 3 separate trades: (1) If we're taking on $28M worth of contracts over a 2 year duration off Florida's hands, then we should be able to get away with giving up just medium prospects - Leicester/Wellemeyer/Mitre type + Walker. (2) Trade Lowell to LA for Odalis Perez. (3) (optional) Trade Perez to Baltimore (or anybody in the AL). Hoops

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sportsstory.asp?id=100223 Are you listening Mr. Hendry and Mr. Baker? You tell them Mr. Miles: "Speed without OBP is useless." Just classic. Such a simple sentence, yet so powerful and matter-of-fact! Hey, when does Mr. Miles come back and chat with us? Hoops

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub30.html And we deserve a GM who sets the bar much higher than this! "Hendry hasn't been given an approved budget for 2006. But the expectations are that it will be near the $100 million spent this year. Technically, $87 million of that was spent on players on the club and another $12.6 million went to Baltimore to get rid of Sammy Sosa. "I haven't got my final number, but I feel our payroll will be sufficient enough to field a very competitive team,'' Hendry said." Hoops

Please check this out when you get a chance. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-marlins30sep30,0,5522343.story?coll=sfla-sports-front "Castillo, who made his last start on Sept. 18 due to a hamstring injury, will likely win his third consecutive Gold Glove. He is signed through next season, but the Marlins might not hesitate to trade him if they can attach Mike Lowell's contract (two years, $18 million). Castillo's salary jumps a modest $500,000 to $5 million in 2006, but he is all but certain to trigger a fourth-year guarantee. Castillo needs 400 plate appearances next season to vest a $5.75 million option for 2007." Is there a team Hendry can flip Lowell over to? LA Dodgers? Boston Red Sox? Philadelphia Phillies (if they trade David Bell to KC)? It might require picking up some of Lowell's contract, but this might be the offseason to do it given the nice cash situation Hendry will have. Castillo could be the lead-off hitter we've been looking for. Hoops

Speaking of Minnesota, I laugh to myself everytime I think about this: the Twins actually non-tendered David Ortiz after the 2002 season. I guess hindsight is 20/20, but how stupid was that move? Big Papi...

This is also written by Sullivan, so who knows. So maybe the Cubs might be in the hunt for Burnett. Not thrilled with Morris, and something tells me he might pull a "Steve Kline", so I would stay away from Crybaby Morris. I'm probably in the minority, but I want nothing to do with AJ Burnett. And it has nothing to do with his critical comments of Marlin management. I look at it simply from performance: from Aug. 24 to Sept. 25, he lost all 6 decisions he had, which included a 4 game stretch where he gave up 18 earned runs in 18 innings. I don't want Hendry shelling out big money to a non-big money pitcher. I'd be all over Millwood. In his last 6 starts, he's given up 8 earned runs in his last 40 innings. That's getting it done. A rotation of Zambrano, Prior, Maddux, Wood and Millwood would be amazing with either Jerome Williams or Rich Hill there in case of injury to Wood.

BBB, Regardless of whether Patterson has value or not, I think the cord needs to be cut for the renewal of the team. The Cubs simply must move on. He's been an awful player this year and is a constant reminder of all the missed opportunities. Plus, I get the sense Derrek Lee has become the leader of this team, and I have been told by a close source that Lee has been privately very critical of Corey. Lee may wield some influence with Hendry's decisions especially with his own contract coming up soon. I think Lofton and Hairston can be a decent platoon for short term.

:x Kent would have been a huge difference maker for us in the last 3 years. Hendry missed him twice. Then again, you all already know that.

Excellent question. My answer is that it depends on how much the big bat costs. Here's the Twins problem. Their payroll in 2005 was $57M. Nothing has been suggested to indicate that it will be higher next year, so we must assume that it will be around $57M. The Twins already have committed close to $49M to 11 players (including Radke, Hunter, Stewart, Santana, Nathan, Silva, Romero, Castro, Redmond, Mauer and Rincon). That only leaves them $8M for 14 additional players. And, Lohse, Rivas, LeCroy and Punto look to be arbitration eligible plus there's a 500K buyout on Joe Mays if they don't pick up his $8.5M option. Looking at that, it makes complete sense why Torii Hunter's name has been speculated as being shopped this offseason. I completely understand why beat writers have asked Radke if he's planning to retire. Today, I read that JC Romero could probably be available. There is just no cash flow here.

I think Preston Wilson will be the Cubs CF if the Cubs also get Furcal to play SS and lead-off. By the way, 2 other players, who I wouldn't rule out as Hendry trade possibilities: Dave Roberts of San Diego and Craig Counsell of Arizona. Hoops

If you look at each team's committed contracts for 2006, and assume each team's 2006 payroll will be +/- 5% of 2005 payroll, it should shock nobody that Jim Hendry and Omar Minaya will have the most money to spend among all NL clubs this offseason. And I think Hendry will actually have a tad more available than Minaya. Therefore, salary per year should not be an issue for Hendry in terms of signing Giles. I think what it will come down to is the duration of contract. I can't see Hendry going above 3 guaranteed years, but I suspect the Mets, Dodgers and Cardinals could go with 4. Hoops If Boston trades Manny, can see them getting in there, and if he wants to win real bad, he may go to Anaheim for a discount. They can move Anderson to DH and put Giles in LF. Probably true about Boston. That's why I limited my comments just to NL teams. Boston and New York Yankees can out-spend the Cubs. I'm not so sure about Anaheim. They do free up $21M by letting Salmon, Washburn and Byrd walk, but half of that will go into raises for Vlad, Anderson, Colon, Cabrera, Escobar, Kennedy, Finley and Erstad.

The only team I see being a player is the Dodgers of those 3. Mets, they'll have to trade either Cameron, Floyd, or Beltran. Dodgers w/Werth's disappointment could enter the picture. SD will be in it as well. Cardinals-similar to the Cubs depends on how they feel about Walker as well as Sanders. Personally, I think both will be back. I'm almost certain Hendry and Minaya will have a conversation about Cliff Floyd and/or Mike Cameron this offseason. It may be a short one, but they'll talk. Both players are signed through 2006.

If you look at each team's committed contracts for 2006, and assume each team's 2006 payroll will be +/- 5% of 2005 payroll, it should shock nobody that Jim Hendry and Omar Minaya will have the most money to spend among all NL clubs this offseason. And I think Hendry will actually have a tad more available than Minaya. Therefore, salary per year should not be an issue for Hendry in terms of signing Giles. I think what it will come down to is the duration of contract. I can't see Hendry going above 3 guaranteed years, but I suspect the Mets, Dodgers and Cardinals could go with 4. Hoops

I'd rather re-sign Bill Mueller and move him to 2B.

I think he would accept something that offers a low minimum $2-4m, if the incentives were realistic, based on playing time, and could bring the deal up to $10-11m. I think a 600 PA Nomar would be a great Nomar, and justify a $11m paycheck (what he could have gotten this year with incentives. You can't give an incentive for batting .300, or any other stats based achievement. Okay, what about something along these lines:] 2 Million base + .5 million for 100 PA 1 Million for 200 PA 2 Million for 300 PA 4 Million for 400 PA 6 Million for 500 PA 8 Million for 600 PA 9 Million for 650+ PA If he maxed out and had 650 PA then he would have his 11 million dollar contract that he could have had last year(this year, i guess). I would be content with something like that, personally. I am under the firm belief that if he gets 600 PA he will be worth every penny. That being said, if we can get him for the five million +3 of incentives, I'd do that so fast it'd make heads spin. Why give him any incentives until he really hits a quality number of plate appearances? I certainly wouldn't reward him for having 100, 200, 300 or even 400 PAs. Give him a $3M base and start the incentive at 500 PAs - say $5M, and then give him $20K for each PA above 500. So, if he ends up at 700 PAs, he gets $3M+$5M+(200 x 20K)=$12M.

What if Rafael Furcal turns out to be Jeff Blauser? :twisted: Okay, all kidding aside, I think paying the guy $32M over 4 years is plain risky. I'd rather go with Nomar or Cedeno. I'm pretty convinced that Hendry will get Lofton this offseason, and we'll see a Lofton/Hairston platoon in CF until young Mr. Pie is ready.