Jazz

wat i dont understand is that why Hendry isnt jumping all over the chance to get the Top OPS for an OF in the league, especially when prospect wise they wouldnt have to pay that much as we would be taking the bulk of the contract.

well murton proved himself last year that he deserves the starting role from the get-go, and it should be inexsuable for dusty to let anyone else start there coming off the bench. No B/S platoon crap.

and if so is it neccessarily a good one. Im really not liking his targets right now throwing 20 mil over 2 yrs at 2 relievers that could definately flop like remmy and hawkins did, as well as targeting only furcal as the only legit offensive threat on his radar, along the likes of mench, and jaque jones? Where are we headed?

hmm, these workings seem indicative of a FLASH CHAT! maybe :)?

This is very puzzling. Giles is figuring way below our estimates which topped 50 mil in some cases, 3 yrs for 35 mil or even less would be a STEAL, and hendry is out spending that 50 mil we have this offseason away on bob howry and scott eyre, gotta love them cobs.

i only like these 2 deals if: Hendry still has it in mind to sure up the offense. we still have glaring holes at CF, RF, and SS. That being said, with these signing, we could see a number of moves involving our former bullpen pitchers as trading chips to acquire offense/starting pitching. I think a todd walker for a bullpen pitcher like romero has just become redundant, so we could definately use them in one of the many proposed FLA trades for Castillo/Pierre

After 2008 when he's a free agent most likely. He'll probably ask every offseason to be posted until then, and the Lions probably will keep saying no. I imagine hell get quite the contract come that time since hell be 27/28, and entering his prime. till then, any other overseas players we could see make the jump?

anyword on when well see Daitsuke make the jump?

WHere in the heck would you play Thome? He can only play 1st or are you planning on dumping the younger and better Lee after the spectacular year he just had? I think hes saying that Minnesota would acquire Thome, and we would set ourselves up to maybe take on Bobby Abreu ,or Jason Michaels, and a reliever from Minnesota in a deal like that.

Very interesting assessment, since you are very well correct, Hendry loves to sign Role Players (whether they be productive or not), and trade for impact ones. I think Hendry cannot get away with not signing a starting SS though, as we would never see the end to the Neifi Perez Show. With trades, i think that we could se a number of things unfold. Cubs get: Lowe, Bradley, Castillo, Dodgers get: Lowell, and Patterson Marlins get: Nolasco, Walker, Sing, and Hairston Marlins makeout way ahead monetarily, giving them reason enough to trade Castillo as they get a not that significant dropoff in Walker. They also get 2 good prospects in Sing, and Nolasco, as well as a bench staple in Hairston. Dodgers lose Bradley (who they have been quoted as being tradeable for nothing), and get 2 players who can start at 3B, and CF. They also lose Lowe's contract which make things easier to take on Lowell's contract this year. then Cubs get: Dunn, Griffey Jr. and Freel Reds get: Lowe, Murton, Hill, and Mitre The reds shed Griffey's contract, as well as get a decent haul for trading Dunn. 3 MLB ready starters, and an MLB ready LF. Cubs would Sign: Rafael Furcal, Bob Howry, and Mark Sweeney SS Furcal (10M) 2B Castillo (5M) 1B Lee (8.7M) LF Dunn (7M) 3B Ramirez (10.5M) CF Griffey Jr. (12M) RF Bradley (3M) C Barrett (3M) SP1. Prior (4M) SP2. Zambrano (5M) SP3. Wood (11M) SP4. Maddux (9M) SP5. Williams (400k) RP Rusch (3M) RP Williams (400k) RP Wuertz (400k) RP Novoa (300k) RP Ohman (300k) RP Howry (3M) RP Dempster (5M) Reserves C Blanco (1.2M) IF Perez (2.5M) IF Theriot (300k) OF Sweeney (1M) OF Freel (500k) ----------------------- 105Mil The only thing that would be bad about this team would be the amount of long term contracts on it/would be coming Furcal (until 08/09) Lee (could be resigned until 2010, 2011) Dunn (could be resigned until 2009-2011) Ramirez (until 09') Griffey Jr. (until 08') Dempster (until 08') This could heavily conflict with keeping the Zambrano/Prior tandem around longterm. However, if the tribune keeps increasing payroll (which it should as this team should have no problem winning games), then we could see a much bigger payroll by the time zambrano and prior need to be resigned. Maybe 20-30% bigger. Edit: Im not very sure about arb estimates, corrections would be appreciated

I still think that we could see a trade come out of nowhere since Hendry is infamous for such a transaction, one in which we acquire Castillo, and Bradley. SS Furcal 2B Castillo 1B Lee 3B Ramirez CF Bradley RF Jones/Wilson LF Murton C Barrett That is about a good a lineup as i can optimisticly come up with even though dealing with that Hendry wont sign Giles sadly, and that he will pursue speed and defense. I really like Furcal, Castillo, and Lee in the infield though, with ramirez' improving D at 3rd.

I think Howry has a good chance of happening but a trade for Betancourt or someone of that caliber would seem more hendry esque.

all that sounds nice, but id rather not go with the pen you listed and try to squeeze money out of some of the positions youve listed. A little more organized view of what your saying C: Michael Barrett - 3 Mil 1B: Derrek Lee - 8.7 Mil 2B: Todd Walker - 2.5 Mil SS: 3B: Aramis Ramirez - 10.5 Mil LF: Matt Murton - 300k CF: RF: SP: Mark Prior - 3 Mil SP: Kerry Wood - 11 Mil SP: Greg Maddux - 9 Mil SP: Carlos Zambrano - 5.5 Mil SP: Pen RP: Glendon Rusch - 3 Mil RP: Scott Williamson - 500k RP: Michael Wuertz - 400k RP: Robert Novoa - 400k RP: Will Ohman - 400k RP: Rich Hill - 300k RP: Ryan Dempster - 5 Mil Bench C: Henry Blanco - 1.5 Mil IF: Ronny Cedeno - 300k IF: - 1.5 Mil OF: - 1.5 Mil OF: Hairston - 2.5 Mil Total (23 Players) : 70.1 Mil Total Left to Spend: 30-35 Mil So yes, we could field a lineup with 30 mil spread out to those 3 positions, but id rather spend a few more mil on the bullpen by signing a howry type player. Then trade some of our young arms, and trading chips (walker, cedeno, murton, etc..) for a starting pitcher/CF, sign Giles (for w/e it takes), sign furcal, and maybe ice the cake by trading for luis castillo? :) sound good to me.

i like options 3 and 4 because of the reasons you stated. Weird that we have been on this position topic for about 12 pages of thread, lets get to the next topic plz :)

wat happened to this thread?

I also wouldnt be suprised to see if Griffey's contract would be shopped around to teams like the yankees, and angels, without expecting much in return. If the cardinals get into negotiations with the Reds about Dunn, the cubs have to top every offer, even if it means getting both Dunn AND Giles :), just out of blocking the cardinals from acquiring them.

refer to edited post. :)

If furcal is resigned for anything close to 8 mil, then Giles becomes very available IMO. Im guessing if furcal, Hendrys alleged number #1 target, becomes unavailable, he could pursue the same kind of mix of defense, speed, and contact hitting (with OBP that we need no less, but dont tell him that ;)), from Giles. And of course the reprocutions of having Brian look at the cubs more seriously arent that bad either :) Giles for Walker+Williams/Hill? Giles+C. Jones for Walker+Williams/Hill+Patterson The latter i believe the braves would jump on because they come out excepetionally well ahead in the money dept., as they unload Chippers 17 Mil contract + giles potentially 5 mil contract, and only take on about 4.5 back, leaving them +17.5 mil. Also, they find replacements rather quickly with the players they have/acquire. Jones can be replaced with Wilson Betemit, their young 3B whos line last year in 246 AB's was .305/.359/.435, and walker to start at 2nd. the cubs find their starting LF, who can back up 3B, and play some RF i believe. His bat might not be worth his contract, but at 17 mil for 1 more year (with a 15 Mil option in 07 that vests only after 450 PA's), the risk is moderate, for a .400+ OBP. This also makes murton expendable, and could be a very valuable trade chip in acquiring a RF, a CF, or an SP. I would shop murton to every ML team looking for a cheap productive LFer , those would be: Marlins Yankees Athletics Padres Rangers Nationals Dodgers I think there are many oppurtunities among this list to acquire an innings eater, a stopgap CF with good defense, or a Big Bat in RF. I like a murton + williams/hill + Sing/Harvey for Zito deal. How does this sound (speculating): 2B M. Giles (5M) .366 Career OBP CF Lofton (4M?) .373 1B Lee (8.7) .363 3B Ramirez (11M) .329 RF B. Giles (13M?) .413 LF Jones (17M) .401 SS Cedeno (.5M) .356 (in 80 AB's) C Barrett (3M) .320 SP Prior (3M) SP Zambrano (5M) SP Zito (7M) SP Wood (11M) SP Maddux (9M) RP Rusch (3M) RP Van Buren (.3M) RP Williamson (1M) RP Novoa (.5M) RP Ohman (.5M) RP Howry (3.5M?) RP Dempster (5M) Bench C Blanco (1.5) IF Fontenot (.3M) IF Theriot (.3M)/D'Angelo Jimenez? (1.5M) OF Hairston (.5M) OF Sweeney (1.5M) Total = 100M without breaking a sweat :)

I think the question isnt that the ownership variable should change, because any team that is in the top 5 in payroll should be putting togther much better than a below 500 team, it is the managment handling the resources. Macphail IMO, and alot of the people under him, maybe even hendry, baker of course, should be looking for another job. The ownership has given us more than sufficient monetary options, but the unwillingness to go over many of the Prized FA's over the last few years (Tejada, Pudge, Thome, etc..) even though in hindsight, some ot them wouldnt of looked so good right now, at the time they ownership had the money, but would not throw their money at it to make the team better, and instead settled with the Burnitz's, and the like that have becomed a staple in cubdom recently.

i dont think its as much the ownership needing a change, as it is a certain CEO needing the oust. The cubs regime needs a complete change. The philosohpy over the last 2 decades is not wat produces championship teams, and we will continue to see dysfunctional teams until something is done. The resources are there, i think 100+ mil and growing is MORE than enough to get the job done, but with the cubs front office the way it is, im worried the tribune will get fed up with the inability to make the jump to a consistent playoff team, and lower payroll.

its looking more and more like this san diego radio station is the equivalent of our "beloved" Score. The pieces dont seem to fit. Why would Giles accept most likely about 20 mil and a year less than he could make on the open market? Is the hometown discount really that much?

At that cost and his age I would have to say no thanks. I would much rather they throw a lot of minor league talent at someone like the Reds for Dunn or Phillies for Abreu and then sign that player to a long term deal. Nothing against Giles, but it just seems like he is going to be overvalued due to the free agent class he is in. In an isolated sense, I will agree that 5/50 is overpaying. On the other hand, there's no guarantee that Dunn or Abereu are even on the market or that the Cubs have the young players to get a deal done. I personally don't think the Cubs have the players to match up with the Reds, even if they were inclined to trade Dunn. I'm not even sure the Phillies want to trade Abereu. Based on all that, we can't afford to go into 2006 with an outfield of Murton, Preston Wilson, and Jaque Jones. We just have to bite the bullet and pay for Giles. I think that Giles is a gamble that the cubs have to be willing to take in order to be succesfful this offseason. Unless the Hendry can work some magic and land Bradley (who I think is more and more likely to become a Cub by the day), and someone like Dunn or Abreu, Giles is the power bat we desperetly need in RF. There is no excuse for the cubs to get him unless some idiot team like the Nationals throws 5 years at him (which i dont believe will happen). Even worse tho, if a division rival snags him, and Hendry lets it happen under his watch, he doesnt deserve the positin as Cubs GM, regardless of his past "accomplishments"

One of our TJS reliever projects has worked out great so far, id like to see what Dotel could do here to. Give him a 2 year deal, 1.5 mil the first year, 4 mil the 2nd, with a 3rd year team option worth 6 mil.

this is why you hope that some team like Arizona will overpay for neifi (ugh that sounds bad saying that) "forcing" Jim to go after another option :D

yup