JeffH

If we get two mid-priced outfielders from the Pierre/Wilkerson/Bradley/Nixon class, we'll still have $10-ish to spend. If we don't get a pricey starting pitcher like Burnett or Zito, where are you going to spend it? Soriano would be as good as anything, assuming they're dead set on trading Walker and the Rangers are in give-him-away mode.

Hendry has made his first trade of the Winter Meetings. He's acquired a bear claw from Brian Cashman for a cruller to be named later. OK, I'm done with the doughnut jokes. I promise.

why are things always different for us? We're the Cubs. Opening day lineup: LF Mabry - CF Wilson - RF Jones - 3B Macias - SS Perez - 2B Hairston - 1B Lee - C Blanco Hairston-Perez-Lee-Jones-Wilson-Mabry-Blanco-Macias Ramirez is hurt and Blanco needs to catch opening day starter Zambrano.

Bruce also reports that Hendry says the doughnuts at the Anatole are top-notch.

Note I am not saying this is a done deal, I'm saying it's obviously in the works. Jim, is that you?

Re-post from another thread: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Cubs have re-signed infielder Jose Macias to a two-year, $4 million contract. "Obviously, we have a real need for a quality, quality veteran middle infielder who has experience at the top of the order. We're tickled to have Jose back," said Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chicago Cubs have acquired centerfielder Juan Pierre from the Florida Marlins in exchange for LHPs Rich Hill, Sean Marshall, Renyel Pinto, and a player to be named later. The player to be named later is believed to be LHP Mark Pawelek. "Obviously, we like Pierre. He can run and is a quality, quality defender. We were attracted to the way he catches the ball. We plan to slot him in the batting order at #2 behind Macias," said Cubs GM Jim Hendry. "We feel that this is a good, old fashioned baseball trade that helps out both sides," said Hendry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chicago Cubs have acquired shortstop Cesar Izturis from the Los Angeles Dodgers for right handed pitcher Kerry Wood. "Obviously, we like Kerry a lot and are very grateful for all he's meant to this franchise, but we felt like we couldn't pass up the opportunity to add a guy like Izturis. He's a quality, quality guy," said Cubs GM Jim Hendry. "Our doctors have given us positive reports on Izturis' elbow and we expect him back in time for the start of the season, with a worst case scenario of a couple weeks into April. We feel like he'll be the missing piece at the top of our lineup," added Hendry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chicago Cubs have signed free agent outfielders Jacque Jones and Preston Wilson to a pair of three-year contracts. Jones will receive a guaranteed $24 million over the three seasons, with incentives that could bring the total value of the deal to $30 million. Wilson will receive a guaranteed $20 million over the three seasons, with incentives that could bring the total value of the deal to $25 million. "Obviously, we had a need in the outfield. We're excited to be able to add two of the top outfielders available in the free agent market. Jacque and Preston both have terrific track records. We expect that they'll give a quality boost to our lineup," said Cubs GM Jim Hendry. "We feel that both guys bring a lot to the table - they can catch the ball and can hit the ball out of the ballpark," added Hendry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cubs not in on AJB A report earlier in the day that the Chicago Cubs had entered the Burnett bidding, having lost out to the Dodgers in an effort to land free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal of the Braves, apparently wasn't true. The Cubs haven't held discussions with Braunecker for nearly two weeks and a source in Seattle said last night that the Mariners have dropped well back in the Burnett sweepstakes. That leaves the Cards and Jays battling it out.

Do Rohlicek and Sing getting picked in the Rule 5 count as Cubs transactions? Very little chance of that.

Make your prediction: How many transactions will the Cubs be involved in during the Winter Meetings (announcing the Mabry signing doesn't count)? I'll say zero.

No one will hear from JeffH for the rest of the thread. I'm here. Burnett throws a little bit harder than Wood now. Burnett has a much better anti-HR profile and is an much more extreme ground ball pitcher. Burnett has similar breaking stuff to Wood. Burnett has a plus changeup; Wood doesn't.

Do the Braves have any motivation to trade Marcus Giles? Supposedly, there was some conflict between him and the front office. Pierre, Giles, and Wilkerson would work.

kerry wood got traded to baltimore?? Wood has better stuff than Burnett? Ha! It's Sunday night, man. Don't you have to go to work tomorrow? You shouldn't be liquored up this late. Burnett's raw stuff may be marginally better than Wood's. You seem to have the gift of hyperbole tonight. No hyperbole. I never said it's way better. It is, however, clearly better.

kerry wood got traded to baltimore?? Wood has better stuff than Burnett? Ha! It's Sunday night, man. Don't you have to go to work tomorrow? You shouldn't be liquored up this late.

Mazzone has done great work with great pitchers. Duncan has done great work with garbage.

Leo Mazzone? Not even close.

The pitcher with the best pure stuff in MLB under baseball's best pitching coach? Brutal.

The Marlins getting Hernandez for LoDuca is a bad sign as far as Pierre is concerned. LoDuca's contractual situation is worse than Pierre's and there were fewer teams interested. If we acquire Pierre, I'm afraid we're going to be horrified at the cost.

Pierre and Wilkerson.

Any interest in Drew? Think Colletti would want to get out from under that?

Here's your worst case scenario: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Cubs have re-signed infielder Jose Macias to a two-year, $4 million contract. "Obviously, we have a real need for a quality, quality veteran middle infielder who has experience at the top of the order. We're tickled to have Jose back," said Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chicago Cubs have acquired centerfielder Juan Pierre from the Florida Marlins in exchange for LHPs Rich Hill, Sean Marshall, Renyel Pinto, and a player to be named later. The player to be named later is believed to be LHP Mark Pawelek. "Obviously, we like Pierre. He can run and is a quality, quality defender. We were attracted to the way he catches the ball. We plan to slot him in the batting order at #2 behind Macias," said Cubs GM Jim Hendry. "We feel that this is a good, old fashioned baseball trade that helps out both sides," said Hendry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chicago Cubs have acquired shortstop Cesar Izturis from the Los Angeles Dodgers for right handed pitcher Kerry Wood. "Obviously, we like Kerry a lot and are very grateful for all he's meant to this franchise, but we felt like we couldn't pass up the opportunity to add a guy like Izturis. He's a quality, quality guy," said Cubs GM Jim Hendry. "Our doctors have given us positive reports on Izturis' elbow and we expect him back in time for the start of the season, with a worst case scenario of a couple weeks into April. We feel like he'll be the missing piece at the top of our lineup," added Hendry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chicago Cubs have signed free agent outfielders Jacque Jones and Preston Wilson to a pair of three-year contracts. Jones will receive a guaranteed $24 million over the three seasons, with incentives that could bring the total value of the deal to $30 million. Wilson will receive a guaranteed $20 million over the three seasons, with incentives that could bring the total value of the deal to $25 million. "Obviously, we had a need in the outfield. We're excited to be able to add two of the top outfielders available in the free agent market. Jacque and Preston both have terrific track records. We expect that they'll give a quality boost to our lineup," said Cubs GM Jim Hendry. "We feel that both guys bring a lot to the table - they can catch the ball and can hit the ball out of the ballpark," added Hendry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 years 6 million, $1 million signing bonus. 2 years 6 million, $1 million signing bonus. Nope.

Neifi needs to be at $3, btw. Nope.

Trading Felix Pie to acquire Adam Dunn would be fine. Trading Felix Pie to acquire Bobby Abreu or Manny Ramirez would be remarkably stupid and Cub-like. Or is that redundant?

Any thoughts on what you think JH will do? He'll trade Pie, Hill, Guzman, and Marshall for Trot Nixon.

What's with Lee batting 5th? The Dusty Dice must be obeyed.