davell

Of course, Rondo was out tonight. #trollfail No, reading comprehension fail on your part, if anything. If Rondo had played, obviously the mighty Celtics would have won, thus showing the world he's the MVP. The lowly Bulls win with or without their supposed MVP. So you're agreeing with me. Yes, yes I am. Rondo is the greatest player to ever play anything. On a serious note, SSR, do you think you guys trade any of the big 3?

Of course, Rondo was out tonight. #trollfail No, reading comprehension fail on your part, if anything. If Rondo had played, obviously the mighty Celtics would have won, thus showing the world he's the MVP. The lowly Bulls win with or without their supposed MVP.

Clearly, the MVP is Rondo, as the Celtics proved tonight by losing at home without him to the juggernaut Suns.

So, what's everyone's early opinion on 6 overall? I doubt Appel falls that far, short of injury, so he's probably not an option. Giolito would be awesome, but I doubt he's there either. I do NOT want Marrero, not enough upside. Buxton? Upside galore, personally I don't prefer another OFer, especially if we sign Soler between now and then. For me, I guess Gausman or Zunino are my guys for now. Hoping another pitcher or 2 really amps up there value, so we can assure ourselves of getting a possible "ace" type.

Matsui, Damon, Vlad, Manny, Cody Ross, Burrell, Ibanez, Kotchman, and D-Lee. All available. All will have to accept one year deals. Is Alfonso Soriano actually worth trading for over signing one of these guys? Sure, he may be slightly better than some of these guys. But, enough to take on an extra 2 years for? Not to mention the fact there are TEN names listed here and probably 3 or 4 teams at most, attempting to sign a starter at this point. Only way Soriano isn't our starting LF in April is either a) he's hurt b) Campana, Sappelt, or Cespedes beats him out or c) he's DFA'd

I'm glad we got the pick, although it sucks for Pena to not get a multiyear deal. Still, we've got 4 top 60ish picks now.

There's too many DH types out there still, that are as good as Soriano and will only require one year deals. That said, I think cutting him now is better than waiting another season. We have to pay his entire salary within 18 months, if we cut him(or trade him) but it gets his contract off the books a year quicker. If he's cut, his salary becomes 27 mill each of the next 2 seasons, instead of 18 for 3. Considering we aren't spending a ton this year, it makes sense to take that kind of hit now, as opposed to waiting.

Saw a blurb on PSD that says Zunino is someone both Wilken and McLeod are very high on. Not from Marlin, but a guy that has some info at times.

I want Garza traded. But, the success percentage of prospects, even as good of ones as Turner, is still very low. So, unless we can get at least close to what we gave up for him(2 top 100 guys, another top 10 prospect from a system and 2 fringe guys), I certainly see why we may hold onto him.

That's definitely steep, but workable, if they're willing to deal him. He's been there 2 seasons already, so they shouldn't expect for the same return. Plus, he probably looked better in Denver than he has down there as well. I wish like hell someone could decipher the cap well enough to let us know where exactly we are and what guys like Marshall or Holmes would count against it.

Leo Nunez for Fausto Carmona: The first PTBNL for PTBNL deal in history!

If Miami was going with full regime change I could see it happening, but with Ireland staying on as GM I just don't think they will be looking to deal Marshall away so easily after the acquisition. You remember what they gave up for him? Was it a 2nd?

we now have our 9th guy!!!!!!!

If you franchise a player, don't you HAVE to get at least a 1st rounder back in return? Not swapping either, an actual 1st?

Yeah, Santonio wouldn't cost much, in terms of picks. Hell, they could release him. I really want us to explore what it'd take to get Marshall though.

By the way, here's the list of FA WR's that are at least interesting. Mike Wallace Dwayne Bowe Vincent Jackson Wes Welker Stevie Johnson Brandon Lloyd Marques Colston Desean Jackson Mario Manningham Reggie Wayne Pierre Garcon Laurent Robinson Wallace ain't going anywhere. I figure KC franchises Bowe. Walterfootball says right now it appears as if SD keeps V-Jax. My honest guess is the Pats let Welker walk. He'll command a bigtime deal from someone and he's 31. I figure Stevie hits the open market. Lloyd has said he's following Josh McDaniels, so my guess is he's Welker's cheaper replacement? Colston will hit the open market, but is he just a system guy? I could see him taking less just to stick with Brees. They're saying the right things as far as keeping Desean in Philly too, but I think he'll at least see the open market. Manningham? I kind of like him actually. i don't think they'll be able to afford him, so he'll be available. Not sure I like him as a #1, but he'd definitely be the best guy we've got by a mile. Pairing him up with Finley could be devastating. Wayne is too old, but will probably be who we go after. Garcon hasn't done enough to make me think he can be a #1, so I'm out on him. Laurent Robinson? Nah, maybe as 2nd guy. If all were available,(not counting Wallace) my order of preference is Bowe V-Jax Johnson Manningham Desean Welker Colston Lloyd Wayne Garcon Robinson But, for me, there's a dropoff after V-Jax, another after Desean, and another after Colston. Anyone else, I'd rather spend a 1st/2nd rounder on than pay them.

Or he wants to be dealt to a contender possibly. Although, this could backfire and keep the offers lower than what we'd eventually accept. Of course, I guess to maximize a return, we COULD send money in the deal. I doubt we'd do it on a guy that we shouldn't have to though.

That's what I meant. If we DO franchise him, would a team be willing to give us at least a 1st for him? He's one of the best backs in the league, but RB's have become less valuable than ever.

Oops, Garza's asking arb number is 12.5, not 10.225, per Levine. Hell, does this complicate trading him? To me, the answer's still no, because since it's either/or, he's not winning his case.

I don't really care about the notion that he deserves it. It's a salary cap world and teams pay for the mistakes they make in handing out too much money for past performance. I don't care about the supposed lockerroom talk, that's Lovie's area and he handles it well. The Bears have had Briggs, Urlacher, Forte and others talking about holdouts and contracts for the better part of a decade and it's not the distraction people portray it as. And a franchise tag eats up cap space in one year, a longterm extension can easily eat up a lot more dead space in the 2 years it takes you to realize a guy has lost it and then cut him. Exactly. It sucks for Forte, and I love the guy....but he has every sign of flaming out during his next contract. Franchising him and letting him walk may be the best for the team and maybe for him. He'll earn more money in 1 year than he will in any other 1 year for the rest of his career. And he'll probably get more from another team than he would from the Bears. I hate to say this, but I think we've probably got a 1 or 2 year window to truly take advantage of our defense. To me, the extra 7-8 mill of cap space you have by extending Forte is much more important than his cap number in year 3 or 4 of this deal. Because I expect us to be slightly down at that time. On the other hand, with the cap space we currently have, we could build a true SB contender next year for a 1 or 2 year run, provided we draft halfway decently as well. If not for this, I would agree that franchising him is the best thing to do. That said, I'm not saying give him Chris Johnson money either. Give him a 3-4 year extension. If it's more than that, the only way I'd condone it is if the cap hit isn't much when he's likely cut during year 4 anyway. He wants Chris Johnson money. The Bears offered a hefty extension, but he's not interested in that. Regardless, there's no benefit to giving him a 3-4 year extension at big money. If he signs an extension this will probably be his last contract, and you should make it as long as possible. That said, the goal should be to transform from a team that occasionally contends thanks to a defense that steps up into a team that wins every year thanks to their QB. QBs determine consistent winners. If the defense has a 2 year window then the offense better be top notch before that window closes. Hey, can't argue with anything you said there. Didn't realize he wanted CJ money either. Hell, part of me wonders now what kind of trade value he's got?

I don't really care about the notion that he deserves it. It's a salary cap world and teams pay for the mistakes they make in handing out too much money for past performance. I don't care about the supposed lockerroom talk, that's Lovie's area and he handles it well. The Bears have had Briggs, Urlacher, Forte and others talking about holdouts and contracts for the better part of a decade and it's not the distraction people portray it as. And a franchise tag eats up cap space in one year, a longterm extension can easily eat up a lot more dead space in the 2 years it takes you to realize a guy has lost it and then cut him. Exactly. It sucks for Forte, and I love the guy....but he has every sign of flaming out during his next contract. Franchising him and letting him walk may be the best for the team and maybe for him. He'll earn more money in 1 year than he will in any other 1 year for the rest of his career. And he'll probably get more from another team than he would from the Bears. I hate to say this, but I think we've probably got a 1 or 2 year window to truly take advantage of our defense. To me, the extra 7-8 mill of cap space you have by extending Forte is much more important than his cap number in year 3 or 4 of this deal. Because I expect us to be slightly down at that time. On the other hand, with the cap space we currently have, we could build a true SB contender next year for a 1 or 2 year run, provided we draft halfway decently as well. If not for this, I would agree that franchising him is the best thing to do. That said, I'm not saying give him Chris Johnson money either. Give him a 3-4 year extension. If it's more than that, the only way I'd condone it is if the cap hit isn't much when he's likely cut during year 4 anyway.

I don't believe Olney whatsoever. Everyone assumes he'll get around 9 in arbitration. Which is exactly where he'll wind up. I doubt the Cubs and his agent tried too hard on anything, because it's probably 50/50 as to whether we extend him or trade him. 2 years of Garza is enough to procure a good package of talent. Whether his next team extends him or not. Because he's a guy they can offer arb to and get comp picks for even if they lose him.

A couple of reasons I want Forte to get a longterm deal: 1) he deserves it 2) he's very well liked in the lockerroom and I don't want it becoming a distraction of any kind 3) if you franchise him, it eats up a lot more cap room than if you give him a longterm deal

I mentioned AA, but have heard both AA and High A.

Offseason needs, according Walterfootball, in order: WR, LT, CB, Interior O Line, TE, RB, SS, LB Depth, DE, Backup QB