Jazz

That trade still doesn't fill out our rotation I'm not saying that the trade is going to be the rest of his offseason, im saying its an optimistic avenue that Hendry could pursue if he is creative enough. He'd probably end up signing Marquis (if he already hasn't).

The offseason far for the cubs has been one of dollar amounds. Large ones. So far they have been racking up years, and millions of dollars to go with them. Whether or not those players that come with those contracts get us to the promised land remains to be seen. The Offseason so far: Nov 9 - Signed Wade Miller to 1 year/1 million dollar contract Nov 12 - Extended Aramis Ramirez to 5 year/73 million dollar contract Nov 14 - Signed Mark Derosa to 3 year/13 million dollar contract Nov 15 - Resigned Henry Blanco to 2 year/5.25 million dollar contract Nov 16 - Traded John Aardsma to White Sox for Neal Cotts Nov 20 - Signed Alfonso Soriano to 8 year/136 million dollar contract Dec 6 - Traded Freddie Bynum to Baltimore for PTBNL Dec 6 - Signed Ted Lilly to 4 year/40 million dollar contract Dec 7 - Signed Daryle Ward to 1 year/1.05 million dollar contract Free Agent Targets Missed out on: Daisuke Matsuzaka Jason Schmidt Gil Meche Randy Wolf JD Drew Right now we sit at an estimated a 105 million dollars (pending Lilly's rumored backloaded contract, could be around 2-3 mil less), with around 15 mil left to work with (maybe 20 mil if we are looking to go after Zito, or take on a huge contract like Manny Ramirez). This offseason, for the most part, has been scripted according to reports of what Hendry has said. He said he wouldn't be outbid by anyone for Soriano, he wasn't. He extended Ramirez like he said he wouuld (and slaved over for), and got one of the pitchers he was rumored to be after in Lilly. So if the past (the recent past anyway) is in indicative of the future, here is that path Hendry is looking to go on. 1. Sign cheap option for back end starter (Jason Marquis) or find suitor for Jacque Jones and trade him for a starter (Jennings, Westbrook, etc..) 2. Trade for left handed OF or Sign Cliff Floyd (he might end up doing both) 3. Sign or trade for speedy IF backup 4. Extend Zambrano I don't think much else will happen, but we as cubs fans do have room to optimistic, because of the stupidity of the Los Angeles Dodgers GM Colleti. The Dodgers have been loading up on OF's this offseason, and STILL hope to add another one in Vernon Wells. Right now theyre going to have an ENTIRELY new OF with Wells, Pierre, and Gonzalez,. The weaknesses for the Blue Jays at the moment are power hitting, and bullpen. They hope to acquire Wells to help with the latter, but they still are lacking with the former. This is where the cubs come in. Scott Eyre, Bob Howry, and Michael Wuertz are attractive options for any bullpen defficient team, and the Dodgers should jump at the chance to acquire them. A 3 Team Deal: Toronto Gets: Penny, Jones, Marshall, and Tomko Cubs get: Ethier, and Betemit Dodgers get: Wells, and Eyre Or something along those lines. That would quench Hendry's want for a left handed CF, and a backup IF. Toronto should be happy with that deal as they get the big time SP that they want, and a OF coming off a pretty good year as well as another young SP, and bullpen help. The Dodgers will love this deal. That is the pipedream.

we really needed a power bat off the bench. Hopefulyl its cheap, and Ward delivers.

To me this means if Lilly doesn't sign with anyone by the end of tommorow, he's almost guaranteed to be a Cub.

Sign me up for Jews for Church. He can hate my matzah eating arse all day as long as he puts up some numbers.

I really hope Hendry doesn't go after Jennings, either. He is not very impressive. You could have probably had him for next to nothing last year. He's a great option for the 4th Starter slot. Alot better than hoping guz, marshall, or some other young guy pans out.

I'd bet this gets done in the next 24 hours. Hopefully it doesn't cost us Schmidt. If the cubs had any intention of getting him in the first place, it shouldn't. If the lily deal does get done, I predict some other team scoops up meche shortly after leaving Jennings and Scmidt as our final two avenues for pitchers.

This defense is good enough to the point where that isn't necessarily true. Both of Seattle's TD came off turnovers or because of them.

HOLY COWW!!! Marshall is a beast

link /recalls hendry talking about sosa in 05' im just sayin... do you apply that same rationale when he talks about Izturis? of course not! The man can drive runs in with his glove!

because he can't hit lefties

IBL :)

link /recalls hendry talking about sosa in 05' im just sayin...

hahaha nice

What does this guy have to do to get people to realize he is just a horse? I mean the guy took a fungo bat to the arm and still went out and performed! But I do see, statistically, what you mean how his production could go way down if he lost some of his stuff, but with a pitcher like Z, who doesn't come often through the system, you have to take your chances.

Why not just sign both the Giants Big FA's and call it a day Jim?

That's exactly how I've been feeling about things. An OF of Murton, Jones, and Soriano has alot of upside to be one of the best in the NL. If Murton can improve and still be the patient batter we've all come to love, and Jones and Soriano can come close to their 2006 numbers, than thats a decent hitting outfield. The problem with the offense lies at SS. We cannot have Izturis batting there in this lineup. Please find a suitor for him Jim.

We may or may not be at 95 mil, depending on whether you think the New York Times is a reliable source. Bruce Miles carried the same Soriano contract details in his piece today, and he cited the AP as his source. There is no mention of how Soriano's bonus is spread however, so it could be 17 million in 2007, or 10 million with a million per year over 7 more years thereafter. After this new information, let me amend my previous statement: We may or may not be at 95 mil, depending on whether you think the New York Times, Bruce Miles, and the AP are reliable sources.[/quote ESPN.com has his salary right now at 10 mil for 2007. I think that goes along with the spreading the bonus out evenly throughtout the contract.

hahaha, why'd they even bother putting this in the contract??? Yep, none. Absolutely no chance in the next eight years. None. Zip. No chance. Not even a little. How many other ways can I say this? This is fun! The Cubs have no chance to win....ever! Weeeeee! Not even a slightest sliver of a glimmer of hope of a World Series victory. You look at this album cover and you have to ask yourself how much more black could this be and the answer is none. None more black. Just to reiterate, in case I wasn't clear in my earlier comments, no hope. Glad that's been straightened out. :oops: :oops: :oops: Back to my beer(s) now. spinal tap reference and the cubs in the same sentence. Well i never..

I was really hoping at least 2 of the years would be option years, but hey you can always trade him.

Any chance A-Ram can call his cousin up to whine to the Bosox brass to trade him to Wrigley?

Jacque Jones - 2 years/10 mil Career - 280/.328/.461 2006 - .285/.334/.499 Gary Matthews Jr. - 5 years/50 mil Career - .263/.336/.419 2006 - .313/.371/.495 I think there's a case to be made that he has "some solid trade value". That is why I think it would be crazy to trade him. It is very popular around here to bash him, but in this lineup he can be a very productive player as your fifth or sixth best hitter. Unless you can seriously upgrade, I don't think it is a bad idea to keep him. You're right. I wouldn't mind keeping him. Problem is, the feeling here is that the lineup needs one more productive bat, and by trading Jones away, you free up room to put in another impact bat like Andruw Jones or Pat Burrell. Also Jones has been linked to rumored talk of a Jake Westbrook trade. If you can sign Julio Lugo to be your starting SS, or trade for a SS like Renteria, there probably isnt a need to trade jones.

Jacque Jones - 2 years/10 mil Career - 280/.328/.461 2006 - .285/.334/.499 Gary Matthews Jr. - 5 years/50 mil Career - .263/.336/.419 2006 - .313/.371/.495 I think there's a case to be made that he has "some solid trade value".

Oh man I hope you're right. Zambrano? Schmidt? Hill? Westbrook? Miller (with prior on the background)? Pitchingasm. Honestly, if you get Schmidt, Westbrook, and a decent SS, you probably have a team that could compete with the mets for the best in the NL when healthy.

Tejada & Jones > Wells & Izturis/Cedeno not to mention Wells is a year rental, because his contract demands after 2007 will be insane, especially after the year he is going to have in his contract year.