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I have seen many posts regarding peoples 2007 teams. Most people are trying to bolster the lineup first. I think the number one priority should be pitching. The average team ERA for the 8 teams in the postseason this year is 4.14 while the Cubs ERA this year was 4.74. 24th in all of baseball. The Cubs need to get some solid big league starters who will pitch at least 175 innings if not more and put up an ERA under 4.25. At one point this year we had a rotation full of guys who had never pitched above AA before. Pitching is number one, specifically starting pitching. Look at 2003 we had Prior, Wood, Zambrano, and Clement all putting up good numbers and look where it took us. Hendry need to get starting pitchers this offseason, and at least 2 of them.

This is great news. This group was probably the most worthless group of coahes on earth. There were no fundamentals on the field and half the time when they showed the coaches on TV they looked asleep. By the way who was the coach?

Hey, good to see my avatar getting some love. Bring in Girardi now Jim. It's time for a new era.

Bring In Towers and lets rebuild this damn system, and start drafting, developing, and scouting better.

I like the GIles idea, but we still need to add more power somewhere

Pitchers: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2&articleid=24772 Hitters: http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2 His predictions on who the Cubs get: Aramis Ramirez (Cubs) - Ramirez can and should opt out of the two years and $22.5 million remaining on his deal with the Cubs. However, it may never come to that, as it appears both Ramirez and the club are very interested in continuing the partnership. The 28-year-old could agree to terms on a new deal before he even has to make a decision on the option. On the off chance that nothing can be worked out, expect the Phillies, Angels, Giants and maybe the Red Sox to be involved in the bidding. Prediction: Cubs - five years, $65 million Juan Pierre (Cubs) - The thinking all along has been that the Cubs didn’t trade three pitchers with the intention of keeping Pierre for just one year, and with Felix Pie still not ready, there’s no obvious reason for the club not to make a big offer to Pierre. Other than him simply not being a very good player, of course. Pierre has guaranteed himself a healthy contract with his performance the last couple of months, but he likely peaked as a player a couple of years ago. He’s not going to put many wins on the board while earning $7 million-$8 million per year. Projection: Nationals - four years, $30 million Dave Roberts (Padres) - Even though he’s playing in a worse environment for hitters, Roberts has nearly 50 points of OBP on Pierre this year. He’s also probably at least as good of a defensive center fielder, though since he is 34, that could change any day now. The big negative with Roberts is his lack of durability. He should be platooned, not because he’s a liability against lefties but mostly because it might help keep him healthy. He’d make a lot of sense for the Cubs if Pierre leaves. Also, the Twins might pursue him if they decide to proceed without Torii Hunter. Prediction: Cubs - two years, $11 million Jose Guillen (Nationals) - Guillen likely could have had at least $30 million over four years from the Nationals in the spring, but he wanted $50 million for five and talks were put on hold until after the season. Now he’s unlikely to get anything more than one-year offers while coming off an injury-filled season that came to a conclusion when he underwent Tommy John surgery. That he needed his elbow reconstructed is an especially big concern considering that his arm was his lone strength as an outfielder. Guillen has the potential to be a nice pickup for some team, but no will make a major investment until he proves he’s healthy. Prediction: Cubs - one year, $5 million Miguel Batista (Diamondbacks) - It’s hard to get excited about an NL starter with a 4.46 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP, but Batista has durability and versatility on his side. If he stays in the NL, he’ll likely be a reasonable fourth starter for a few more years. The Diamondbacks should make an effort to re-sign him, and the Cubs, Cardinals, Braves and Giants are possibilities to get involved. Prediction: Cubs - two years, $12 million Interesting picks if this is what Hendry were to do I wouldbe pretty pissed because I still don't think it would put us over the top.

I don't know if you guys saw this but during the Cubs postgame today they had Ron Coomer pick his 2007 team. It looked like this: 1B-Lee 2B-Soriano SS-Izturis 3B-A-ram LF-Hideki Matsui CF-Pierre RF-Jones C-Barrett Not a bad team would put up enough runs to overcome decent pitching.

Alright I know there have been a lot of posts about this so I figured I throw my thoughts out there. First off we have 3 offensive spots to fill this offseason LF,CF, and I think 2B. Ronny and Izturis up the middle is not enough offense. With the money from Maddux, Wood, Pierre, and Nevin the team will have about 30-35 mil. to work with. The first thing I think they should do is sign Mike Cameron for CF. He plays a gold glove CF and has a good arm, he also has been swinging the bat pretty good this year and has above avg. speed. Then since Pierre is gong they need to make a strong push for Lugo. I think Lugo would be the best option and could be our leadoff hitter, but he will probly cost to much Craig Counsell would be a good veteran bat with good speed and D signing him would save us money for our other spots. This would also give Cedeno and E. Patterson another year to mature and develop. Then comes the tricky part spend big money on C. Lee, Soriano, Zito, or spread the money out more. I think the best bet would be to spread it out and get C.FLoyd for LF and sign Schmidt to be our #2 guy. This would fill to holes with good players, their older but its about time we win. Finally sign Lidle or another average guy to be an inning eater for us. This would probly cost closer to 40-43mil. but they have the money to up it back to 100 mil. Lineup: Counsell 2B Izturis SS Lee 1B Floyd LF A-ram 3B Jones RF Cameron CF Barrett C Rotation Zambrano Schimdt Prior Lidle Marmol/Marshall I know this probly won't happen but I think this team could win it. Thoughts?

I wouldnt mind seeing them go after Mike Cameron and signing someone like Lugo or L. Castillo to be our leadoff hitter. Cameron plays a very good CF and his bat looks great this year even playing Petco.

I think that Jim Hendry should see if Omar Vizquel is available. He would be the perfect guy to bat 2nd behind Pierre. Last year he had an AVG. of .285ish an OBP. of .335ish and had 24 SB. He also led the majors in sacrifices, so he moves the runner along. He does not strike out a lot and we all no how good his glove is. I like Walker but he is not as good a 2 hitter as Vizquel. If we got Huff or a decent power bat in RF this move would work real well. I understand that he is old but you could put him at SS and Cedeno at 2nd. I think a trade of Walker and Wllemeyer could get Omar. Maybe throw in another prospect if they want. If we got Visquell and Huff this would be a very good lineup. Thoughts?

Assuming we go with Cedeno and Walker in the infield what would your preference be for RF. I also believe that Abreu is not going anywhere so leave him out. I have seen many names mentioned and here are the people whos names we have heard. I am assuming Huff, Bradley, Wilkerson, Floyd, J. Jones, Sanders, Green, Kearns, Mench, Nixon What of these would you prefer? List your top five out of these ten 1) Floyd 2) Huff 3) Bradley 4) Green 5) Nixon

This is from Jerry Crasnicks recent article Jim Hendry still has some things left on his plate -- like Milton Bradley for the outfield, or maybe a deal for a Kevin Mench or Aubrey Huff. And the Cubs would like to upgrade their defense at second base and maybe move Todd Walker. I think Orlando Hudson of Toronto might be a fit for them. He also said that he is certain the Cubs will move C-pat I think Hudson would be a good fit for our team he could probly be had for maybe Walker and Wellemeyer.

The main point is, he is a good player that could be had for less than the others.

Theres not many other option out there. For the ones that are I would say this is how I would rate how much I want to get them 1) Huff(will cost a lot and may not be as available as ppl think) 2) Green (expensive and probly off Hendrys radar) 3) Nixon (not as good but can play ball and is a hardnose player)

I think that the Cubs should look at getting Trot Nixon. Lets face it Abreu isnt coming. There have been articles that say that Floyd isnt on the market, Ibanez isnt on the market, Wilkerson already got moved, and no interest in Luis Gonzalez. Huff and Shawn Green may be able to be had but the D-Rays want a lot for Huff and Green has a big contract. However with Trot Nixon he is a good left handed hitter who plays good defense and has a very good arm. He will hit 20-25 homers drive in about 75 and have an OBP. of about .370 also look at these numbers Day: .316 Night: .254 Not bad I think he could be had straight up for Patterson and would be a good left handed right fielder.

A taker for Bradley? Dec 8 - The Dodgers and Blue Jays have a deal on the table that would send outfielder Milton Bradley from L.A. to Toronto for pitcher Miguel Batista, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. Earlier this week, the Dodgers had been discussing a deal with the Cubs. Well that stinks guess will go get Huff now.

I think he could possibly be had. He is young swings a good bad and is a tremendous defender. He also has the fun attituse that Jaun Pierre has. Could he be a good fit?

I have heard that the Padres might trade Mark Loretta to the Red Sox. What if? Cubs get Renteria Red Sox get Loretta Padres get Walker I would like to have Renteria bat 2nd and have Cedeno play second base

I would much rather see them go after Weaver than Burnett. Weaver is NEVER hurt and will put up good numbers. He will also be cheaper than Burnett. If the Cubs get Burnett I will be very upset. I have faith in Hendry but if gets Burnett before the other holes are filled I will not be looking forward to '06

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5138596 Interesting

There probly wont be much to talk about until tommorrow afternoon at the meetings. So lets have a thread with our predictions. Make one prediction of a move you think the Cubs will make at this weeks meetings. I predict that the Cubs will have Bobby Abreu in right field.

Now that we missed out on Furcal, I could see Hendry calling up Tampa Bay and trading for Lugo and Aubrey Huff. This would fill two holes. Huff is a good young hitter who would fit well between Lee and A-ram and Lugo is about the same player as Furcal just a couple years older. Furcal not signing maybe a blessing in diguise.

A source in the Red Sox organization mentions that the Cubs have interest in 31 year-old right fielder Trot Nixon. Nixon hasn't had 500 at-bats since 2002, but he's hit well when healthy. Nixon mashes right-handers but struggles mightily with southpaws. The Red Sox are rumored to have interest in Corey Patterson. This is from mlbtraderumors.com so probly wont happen, but I would like this deal. Nixon can be a good left handed bat with high OBP and a good fielder.

They wont flip Lowe to the Phillies if wer get him. If he comes he stays. So he wont be going for Abreu or Dunn

8-9 million a year for Lowe is looking like market price or a little bit lower these days. I think if we flipped him to Philly we would not have to eat any contract because Abreu makes a lot as well