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No thanks!

Well this sucks. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching Baez and Soler this summer. And I was looking forward watching Almora and others come through as well. Damn!

I see what you did there....

All of the talk of these other teams getting in on the action is making me doubt our chances a little more now. I do think that signing Concepcion, who is reportedly one of Soler's closest friends, could end up being a big help for us....at least I really hope. :beg:

Thankfully not many on WCIU, the only games I don't get.

This isn't FA news, but I also don't think it deserves its own thread. Peter Gammons just said on MLB Network that the Cubs are part of a handful of teams that have interest in A.J. Burnett. First off, NO! Second, I really hate when these reporters just throw out rumors sometimes. There is nothing that Theo and Co. have done so far this off season to give even the slightest indication they would have interest in Burnett. Cubs are rebuilding and trimming payroll - not bringing in old and overpaid veterans.

Per Rotoworld:

=D> :D \:D/ :lol: :yahoo:

Nothing really new, but from Cafardo this morning:

I will be thoroughly shocked if LaHair isn't our starting 1B on opening day, and I'm ok with that. Give him a shot - this isn't going to be a contending year most likely anyway. Save the money for pitching in 2012 or for Soler and Cespedes.

Best news about the upcoming season may be how far it allows me to move up the season ticket wait list. \:D/ Also, watching Theo build from the bottom up will be enjoyable.

Why? Most people don't want to pay to watch crappy baseball. Yeah just because Theo is sitting in a suite at Wrigley doesn't mean people will come watch a team that isn't good. I never understood thinking like this either. People only have so much money and time, why can't they spend it on what they wish without having their fan hood and what not being question? Also, I could care less what Cards and White Sox fans think of Cub fans.

Why? Most people don't want to pay to watch crappy baseball. Yeah just because Theo is sitting in a suite at Wrigley doesn't mean people will come watch a team that isn't good.

right now i'd say these are the things that will hold my interest in 2012, even if the cubs aren't contenders: 1. minor leagues. they spent a lot of money last year and hopefully some of the guys in the low minors will break out, plus they may get some good prospects in return for a potential garza trade. 2. ian stewart - can he be at least a league-average 3b? if so then the cubs made a very good trade. it appears he'll get an extended shot at the job. 3. travis wood - can he be at least a league-average starter? again, probably not a really high impact player but if the cubs can look forward to cheap league-average or better production from him, then that's a nice plus. 4. catcher - will soto be healthy and productive? if so, do they try to deal him with the idea of castillo becoming the starter for the next few years? 5. castro - really, he's fun to watch, but i'm hoping his power and patience continue to improve, and i hope he gets better on defense. if his defense doesn't improve then it could be time to start thinking about him as a 3b or 2b while finding a long-term answer at short. 6. can they find a taker for any of the high-salary guys (soriano, zambrano, dempster) that brings salary relief and/or good prospects? the salary relief is obviously soriano; zambrano and (moreso) dempster could bring back prospects if they have a nice first half. 7. bullpen - can marmol build up his trade value? also eager to see if some of the young guys like beliveau can stick in the bigs. 8. nsbb - how short will the game threads get if the cubs are lousy? how quickly will some people give up on epstein/hoyer? will da bum ever be freed? Kind of sad that 2-3 are hoping that players will be at least league average. #-o At least there will still be Old Style at Wrigley and we can watch Theo start building from the bottom up.

Assuming nothing else major happens to the roster (as most expect) before Opening Day I am interested in seeing what kind of impact a roster and manager with little name recognition has on ticket sales. I just don't know if the casual fan will have much interest in this team. If that's the case, and ticket sales drop off, it will be interesting to see if it has an affect on future payroll if attendance falls off more than it did already last year.

That would be a great haul, but don't see it happening. I bet they would make Cubs choose between Turner and Porcello. After that, they'll make between Scarlett Johansson and Kathy Bates. Hmmmmm....lol Completely agree just saying I don't think both will be an option. So yes, easy choice.

That would be a great haul, but don't see it happening. I bet they would make Cubs choose between Turner and Porcello.

Sounds like the Cubs need to get this done. I would gladly stand corrected about Tigers giving up Turner if they moved him. If Cubs could get him as headliner of a deal for Garza they need to make that move ASAP. Turner, one of their lefties (anyone of the key 3 would be fine), and I almost would be fine with a 2 player trade for Garza. Would want a 3rd piece, but at that point, it wouldn't matter to me that much who the 3rd piece was. Ideally, we'd land Castellanos in a deal, but I'm not sure Castellanos gets moved, and I feel like Epstein and Hoyer would prioritize another solid pitching talent. I think Theo and Jed will want at least 2 starting pitching prospects in the deal.

Sounds like the Cubs need to get this done. I would gladly stand corrected about Tigers giving up Turner if they moved him. If Cubs could get him as headliner of a deal for Garza they need to make that move ASAP.

Maybe Theo plans on inviting the other GM's over to get really wasted at his NYE party... :-k

Agree completely. Pitching is critical to winning and we need depth bad. LoMo doesn't help as much as 2-3 solid pitching prospects would.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Ceda I was watching that live. one of the more entertaining ABs of the year. Great, we get to bring back a guy we traded for Kevin Gregg... #-o

Why would Garza not bring back a great return? I have a hard time believing Garza could bring back a top prospect, especially the caliber of Turner. If he had more than two years left before free agency I could see someone like Turner possibly coming back in a deal. He will bring back a good group, I just don't know if we could get the Tiger's #1 prospect for him.

Hopefully Theo and Co. can drum up enough interest from multiple teams and get the Tigers to throw in Turner as Rosenthal mentioned. I don't think Garza can bring that good of a prospect unless one of the teams gets desperate though. As far as the packages teams can offer, I think I would rate the Marlins possible offerings as the least desirable.

I'm a big Prince advocate, but I don't see his body holding up well in the Texas heat every summer. Agree that Texas is the team that scares me the most in terms of our direct competition for Prince. They've got the money, they have a need at 1B, they have a new TV deal, and--to be brutally honest--their front office is likely feeling some pressure to make a splash in light of what their division rival, the Angels, have done over the past week. And I don't think Scott Boras (or anyone else) gives a crap about the Texas heat as long as Prince gets the biggest deal possible, be it from the Rangers or anyone else. Regardless, I bet Texas could sell him on how easy it is for lefties to rake at that park. Boras won't care, but I'm saying, if I'm the Rangers I would be wary of giving out that kind of deal to him.