CP_414

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 So here is my plan A for the offseason (as of right now, this will change about 20 times between now and Spring Training). Dempster has signed for 5M Pick up Walker's Option 2.5M Resign Nomar to 5M + incentives that could go up to 9M Sign Bobby Howry to a 2 year deal, paying $2.5M in 2006. (or trade for a similar set up man) Sign Milwood (or trade for a similiar starter) for $10M, or offer him $9M a year for 2 yearss, or $8M a year for 3 years Sign Brian Giles for $11M in 06, 12M in 07 and 08 Sign Kenny Lofton to a 1-year deal for $3M to keep CF warm for Pie That is $40M guarantted. That should leave $4M to fill out the bench/bullpen. I would also look to deal Patterson for a decent loogy, which should be a wash in terms of salary. Edit to include lineup: 1. Lofton 2. Walker 3. Lee 4. A-Ram 5. Giles 6.Nomar 7. Barrett 8. Murton Starters: 1. Prior 2. Z 3. Milwood 4.Wood 5. Maddux Bullpen includes: Dempster --- closer Howry Novoa/Wuertz Ohman Jerome Williams Loogy Bench includes: Blanco Cedeno Grieve Hairston power hitting 1B/3B backup...Branyon? That total payroll is probably about $105M (excluding Nomar's incentives).

Thats good stuff. Thanks for the help. I guess it will be updated shortly with the Dempster signing. The Cubs should be in position to add a couple of $10M+ dollar players this offseason.

Thats good news. Hopefully the average will be about 4M per year.

Because obviously adding more seats means they're going to the world series. Don't be an ass. Obviously we all want the Cubs to make the world series, but some of us actually care about how Wrigley Field looks too. There is more, atleast to me, than going to a baseball game than just seeing a team win or lose. It's an experience that we have in chicago that no other city has (i've been to fenway, I've been to yankee). Wrigley Field is the most unique sports facility in the united states. If they're going to screw with Wrigley, I'm going to be disgusted. Because they sure as hell aren't going to win a world series with jose macias and neifi perez starting everyday Does addimg more seats mean they are a lock for the Series, of course not. However, the more money the Tribune can spend on payroll, the better the chances are. With St. Louis moving into a new ballpark, they will have added revenue streams, and should be able to add to their payroll in the next few seasons. The Cubs need to spend as much as they can, and of course spend wisely. Minor changes to Wrigley Field give the Cubs more revenue streams, that are needed to field a top payroll. Any changes to Wrigley are going to elicit a passionate response, since it is a baseball church. That is to be expected. In reality, the offseason renovations are not going to be intrusive to fans at the game, or watching the Cubs on TV. The Cubs will now increase ticket revenue by adding seats, increase concesion revenue by adding seats, increase revenue through the parking garage, hall of fame, and the batters eye resturaunt. It's not that bad.

If the following statements are all true, how much money does Hendry have to work with this season? 1. The Cubs 2006 Opening Day payroll is $105 million. This seems reasonable, as the 05 payroll (including Sammy) is just about $100M. 2. Jeromy Burnitz, Glendon Rusch, Scott Williamson all have their options declined (or Rush does the declining in his case). 3.Todd Walker's option is picked up. Greg Maddux does not retire. What do the Cubs owe in raises to players that are already under contract? Any help on numbers would be appreciated.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/12557707.htm Burnett would be a good fit with Prior, Z, Wood, and Maddux. Edited to fix the link.

I like Neifi off the bench! I don't! He saved the Cubs after Nomar was injured. Are you being sarcastic?

Wow. If true that could be a HUGE deal for the Sox. I wonder who they would send to the Reds. Then again, this is Bruce Levine we are talking about. He isn't so good with deadlines.

The real Ronnie couldn't spell "WOOOOOO". Sadly, I am not the real Woo-Woo...but I do have all of my teeth.

It has been a sad fall for Sammy. I'm glad the Cubs traded him, I don't like how he acted at the end of last season, but I will always love Sammy. In his decade or so with the Cubs he did what none of us have ever seen from a Cub. Until someone can prove to me that he was juicing, I'll always love Sammy.

Ryne WOOOOOO Sandberg WOOOOOOO.

Any chance they let Ryno play tomorrow?

I want the Cubs to win every game, but I find myself watching the Reds-Pirates game, hoping the Reds win and Cubs fall into a 4th place tie. Is that wrong? I think it is.

#23 Well Deserved Ryno.

1. Cleveland 2. Oakland 3. Philly (I have no idea why I have always liked that team) 4. Braves 5. Anyone but the Cards, White Sox, and Yankees

HaHa...Funny that there were 2 replys saying the exact opposite things. Maybe since one person thinks it's too much to give up and one says it's not enough we have found a fair middle point. edited because I can't type.

I was thinking the same thing, but I would rather have Giles than Huff. I know Huff is younger, but Giles OBP is hard to pass up. Now if we can go a few million over $100... There's nothing saying we couldn't have both. I'll try to work out the logistics on such a scenario at a later time. Assuming we make a trade for Lugo and Huff, giving up Nolasco, Sing, and another minor league pitcher. We'd have Lugo at 5 million and Huff at what 6.4-7 million? We could still afford to offer Giles 8 million to play right. Nolasco, Sing, Hill, and Fontenot for Lugo and Huff...Sign Giles to a 3 year 30 million dollar deal...sign Milwood to a 6-7 million dollar deal...resign Dempter at $4 Million, and add 2 quality set up guys at about $2 million each. That team would be at or under $100 million. Question marks would be the bullpen and CF. Both of those though have the potential to be good though depending on the young relief pitchers (Aardsma, Guzman?) and Pie.

I was thinking the same thing, but I would rather have Giles than Huff. I know Huff is younger, but Giles OBP is hard to pass up. Now if we can go a few million over $100...

I agree with you. I'm just sick of watching Walker takling the baseball @ 2nd. Not to single him out, but Aram,Barrett & Nomar are also avg. to below avg defenders. Hitting is very important to create runs. However, a good defense behind a decent pitching staff is also very important & is a major ingredient in winning championships. Ex. Marlins of 03'. There was not a better defensive IF in MLB. The key here is finding the complete ball player. I just feel, Todd Walker is not it. And you may be right. However, there aren't really any "complete" 2B men out there to be had right now, and Walker is the best option we have. If they do happen to find a "complete" 2B in the offseason, fine, trade Walker. However, they'd be stupid to do anything without an adequate backup. Orlando Hudson is a more complete player than is T. Walker. O. Hudson would be a great fit for the Cubs. He's also a great fit for the Blue Jays.

I would be very pleased with that 06 team. The D-Rays have a 5 million dollar option on Julio Lugo that they are expected to decline. What would it take to get him (they still hold his rights if they decline the option)? He would save the Cubs $3 million if they went with him instead of Furcal. Lugo is hitting .291/.352./.385 with 32 steals this season. The risk is that his obp will fall back into the .330s where it was in the rest of his career (except for his rookie year with Houston). He also had character issues in the past. If we can't get Zito, sign Milwood to a multi-year deal paying $6 million in 2006. Trade Burnitz this season and avoid paying the buyout. That should leave $4.5 million under your $100 million payroll, money that could be well spent on buyout for a certain skipper! Lugo Walker Lee Giles Aramis Murton Barrett Pie Prior, Z, Wood, Milwood, Maddux and most importantly NO DUSTY.

edit: double post - see page three for all the fun!

Is it still legal to sell players? I would rather get $1 million in cash plus the buyout for Burnitz than some mid-level propect. $1.5 is the difference between a Macias and a 2 million dollar bench bat (Branyan or someone with a big bat).

Can't Murton not come up for a few more days? I think there is a rule that says you have to stay down for X amount of days. He'll be back soon.

This year is over, but 2006 isn't. who can they get to come near his numbers at $2.5 million this offseason? He is a productive player with a great contract. Who can't turn a double play according to the Cubs org. Reading between the lines of all of the recent press, the Cubs are trying to get better defensively, that probably means Walker's time with the Cubs is done. Walker's defensive struggles are largely overstated. His bat more than makes up for it. What are the options for a solid defensive 2nd baseman this offseason that fits the Cubs budget? Neify? I'll stick with Walker.

This year is over, but 2006 isn't. who can they get to come near his numbers at $2.5 million this offseason? He is a productive player with a great contract.