A New Era

They haven't traded anybody of value yet. Listening to offers is different than trading. True, but I was just comparing in my mind the new front office compared to Jim Hendry. I know they haven't traded anybody of value yet. But I have confidence they are going to beable to build the Cubs much better than Hendry ever did. I'm not saying you trade value as soon as you get it. I'm just happy they realize that never parting with anybody, trading prospects while they still have value, not just doing a yearly overpaid veteran bandaide free agency splurge. These are the types of things I feel Theo and Hoyer will do much better than Jim Hendry. They've already done much better in just their short time. They got 2 extra draft picks by offering arb to guys the knew probably wouldn't be back. I don't think I can remember Hendry ever offering anyone arbitration.

As would I, I dont want him traded unless it IS for a haul, that is the point. However but I feel Garza really is an outstanding pitcher and that he will actually be better this year. So saving him for the trade deadline if you cannot "hit the jackpot" right now, is ok with me. Obviously I have alot of faith in Garza. I think he will continue to be an Ace, and he's worth an Ace's bounty in prospects.

If we do end up keeping Garza and we are out of it at the trade deadline, he still would be a very attractive trade to many teams looking to add that strong peice as they go into the playoffs. He'd still have another year of service too. I guess the way I feel depends on how theo and co are buidling this team over the next year, if they go more toward the side of rebuilding, they would obviously try to trade Garza again at the deadline, hoepfully to get even more for him from a team willing to spend prospects for that shot at a WS. Boy it sure is nice knowing we have guys in charge that understand value, and are not affraid to trade that value when it is at it's prime, if it helps the team improve it's assets overall as a whole.

Just curious about something that's only loosely related. These guys can get cortisone shots from their doctor, or no? Or is even local injections for injuries banned? I'm suffering from tendonitis of the right shoulder and I am on a 10 day prednisone treatment. Am I out of luck? I mean is that gonna ban me from baseballz? :bye:

A get your point. But the cardinals lost their #1 starter at the begining of the season yet they still won the world series. I guess my point is, it doesn't matter how bad they look. Pesky stupid st. louis is still gonna surprise. We should test the whole damn city of st. louis for steroids. I mean the whole damn physical city and ban it from sports.

I think I tend to agree with Davell's approach. And it might be more what Theo and company move toward. Theo has talked specifically about a team needing as many assets as possible. Ofcourse you could switch Arizona with Texas for the Garza trade partner. Point is though. The "tread water" in 2012 might be the best approach long term. If you can get some really good top 10 prospects for Garza, in addition to the 2 extra early picks from the Ramirez and Pena arb, spend big money on Soler while you still can, and add a few buy low guys with POSSIBLE big potential like Stewart. (I cap'd that word so no one confuses me thinking he's an immediate all-star). . Then in one year, Theo and company have greatly increased this teams assets. Is signing someone like Fielder to a huge contract an immediate satisfaction? yes. And I still wouldn't be unhappy if they did. It's just that, this team needs assets and they need them bad. I think the direction of 2012 will hinge greatly on if they trade Garza or not. Do they keep him, and spend what little assets they have to add another pitcher to compete next year? Or do they trade Garza now when his value is probably at his absolute highest and sacrafice just a little bit of short term, for an almost immediate fix to this teams terrible lacking of assets.

I remember Theo from the winter meetings talking about how things aren't seen as big or small sometimes, when you first sign them. Then he goes on to talk about Ortiz, Millar, etc. . I think Theo honestly thinks, or atleast wants, Stewart to be his "Ortiz of the Cubs". How likely that will happen who knows, they obviously scouted the guy. Maybe he'll be targeting a few other guys like this and hopes one of them is lightning in a bottle.

Wow came in here just expecting speculation. Time to change the title I'd say!

I don't remember where I saw it, here or at BN. But there was a video before Pujols signed that was a pre-emptive "I'll remember you" song to Pujols clips. I think it was officially from someone at ESPN or something. Has anyone seen it?

Yeah I noticed him immediately.

I think it's safe to say it's location. That place is dinky for the price he paid. But it's probably reallllllly expensive to live that close to Wrigely.

Already did that, Dejesus. Leadoff, then more Left Handed, guys who can catch the ball, then all we need is some speed and grit, and we are gtg!

And that he's in his 40s, still playing baseball, and looks like he's 18.

I don't think so, thank you. Good article. Does a great job of summing up things I kinda THINK I know, but says it so intelligently in ways I could never express so specifically. I really wasn't quite sure if Theo and co. would move Soriano. But I don't know, lately I get the feeling they will try to eat most of the contract and make him more appealing to a small market AL team. With the things I have learned about Theo and Hoyer, how highly the view defense as part of a players game. I think they will trade Soriano. If Soriano was an average defender, I think they'd just keep him in LF. But I think they really want to improve the defense on this team. For that reason, Soriano is probably a goner.

I'm just curious. Marlins have been in the rumor mill for all of the big money free agents. I know they built a big new fancy park. But where did they get all the money? How did the turn into a big market team all of a sudden?

Here's how I'd like it to shape out. Lineup order RF Dejesus SS Castro 1B Fielder LF Willingham or trade for good D good power guy 3B Headley CF Jackson 2B Trade or FA C Soto or Castillo (Cast if Soto can bring decent pitching) I'd like to keep Garza, just go out and get a legit #2 guy with trade chips, marmol, soto, mcnutt, lake, are among the chips I'd use. Marshall or Wood battling for closer. We've got a good pen. With a Fielder signing and bringing in a good #2 there is no reason the Cubs can't have an exciting team while at the same time not losing too many assets.

Interesting, I have an idea though. Why don't they sign Pujols or Fielder to significantly improve things in year 1? I'm so much on board the Fielder train, at this point if they don't sign him, I'll be "dissapoint".

Yeah that's something we have alot of. I don't think Hoyer and Ep will do it unless they really took a good look at him and really feel that he is going to take the next step.

I wanted to comment on this article. It was a good read Rob. This first move has me excited, a solid all around player that plays good defense, patient at bats, and was a great "buy low" low risk reward. They bought low on a guy coming off a thumb injury and he's very likely to improve back to his 2009-2010 #'s. I think by the time most of the seaons plays out, he will be greatly outproducing his contract and Cubs fans will love him. I wanted to comment on this part of the article specifically. Which do you want most? First I'd like to disagree with the trade Byrd bit. How would it be more long term planning and trading Soriano be a win now? I actually view it the other way around, and I would much prefer trading Byrd. Sori's gonna get you jack squat in a trade. And Byrd could get you something interesting in a trade. Plus keeping Sori around he's still a nice power threat. If we can land Fielder, having Sori's bat 6th in the line-up makes it all the better of a line-up. Unless you see a good power guy in LF they could get, I'd rather trade an asset (byrd) make room for a promising young guy, and keep Sori's bat in the line-up. Sori LF, Jackson CF, Dejesus RF is a nice outfield. Then go get Fielder and add an interesting young bat at 3B and that would be my wish for the line-up.

the opposite was true of derosa. coming off a career year, which he basically duplicated Ah I see. So that was one case where Hendry's tendancy to sign everyone coming off a career year actually worked out. I seem to remember some people here weren't too high on him (didn't expect a repeat). But Derosa changed minds around here quickly, I think Dejesus could do the same thing. By the way did you know we have 2 Dejesus's on the team now? Starlin's middle name is Dejesus, according to BR atleast.

I'm interested as to why people think Headley is a better target than Stewart? Headly hits alot of doubles but Stewarts got higher ops and slg. Atleast from a leyman's perspective Stewerts #'s look more exciting. Is it that poeple feel Steart is done because of his year last year? Park Factor? I did notice Headly's OPS+ is higher. I'm just not much of a stat reader. Could use a little laymen's explaination on the pros of Headly vs. Stewart. Would appreciate a quick run down. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/headlch01.shtml http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stewaia01.shtml Is it a case where Headley has a been a bit more consistant and is more of a safer bet to be a solid 3B offesively and defensively. Whereas Stewart is a riskier gamble, with the chance that he could be better than Headley?

Like it. It reminds me of the Desrosa signing (or was it a trade). A down year, but generally good #'s for the carreer. Patient batter, good defender, hits alot of doubles. He's not a typical HR guy in RF. But I think he'll put up respectable #'s in RF and play great defense. I think this is the first of many great moves to get the Cubs quality guys to compete right away. I feel they are probably genuinely interested in Fielder. I think if you let Brett man CF, trade Soriano and get another buy low guy at LF with great defense. That shores up your defense in the outfield. Then sign Fielder giving you that big bat in the line-up. Use some trading chips to get a quality 3B and starting pitcher. You've got a radically different team from last year, and one I think I can enjoy watching next year.

OR WE COULD DO THIS AND SIGN IMPACT FREE AGENTS LIKE EVERY OTHER SUCCESSFUL BIG MARKET FRANCHISE Oh now that's an idea I can get behind. It woulda had more "umph" if you capitalized only AND.

So you don't mind overpaying Fielder so you can be sarcastic about him a few years from now too? My main fear of Feilder is that he could completely fall off due to his weight. I'm not completly against him either, I just has some major fears of his weight. I'm not saying Teixiera has a bad deal. I'm using him as an example of how you typically have to overpay for marquee FA signings. The Red Sox got a hell of a deal for A-Gon, and the cold heard reality is that players that good usually don't lock themselves into deals that favorable for a team that didn't bring them up. He's an outlier, and the Red Sox lucked out. If we have to overpay I'd chose Fielder. I just wish someone was available that wasn't a) way too old for an 8+ year contract or B) has weight issues and isn't a + on defense. It's too bad you couldn't combine Fielders age and bat, with Pojuls body and D. :) I would overpay even more for the right "makeup".

Wait, what? If that's "unfair" then it's "unfair" for him or any of us to talk about any hypothetical FA signing. You're asking him to look up possible FA's over the next 4 or 5 years and list specifically guys who he wants to target, while all you have to say is "Let's add fielder or Pojuls". You are asking him to do a bunch of research just to disagree with you when you do not. Yes it's unfair. Why don't you research a list of 5 years of free agents then tell HIM why Fielder is better than all of the names you come up with? Because I'm not necessarily arguing the bold part. Because I'm not presenting anywhere near the same type of narrow parameters towards the Cubs and FA going forward as he is. I want the Cubs to spend money and have brought up numerous players I want or wanted the Cubs to spend money on in the coming years and I disagree wholeheartedly with his Chicken Little mentality towards free agent spending for a team with the resources of the Cubs. He's the one repeatedly naysaying the idea of spending so I want him to clarify just who exactly he thinks a big money team like the Cubs should be spending their money on in the next 3 years as opposed to someone like Fielder or Pujols. He doesn't have to do this, but I know I, and others probably are as well, curious as to who he'd pick since he's offered little more than "I'd have no problem signing someone like Tex or A-Gon to the deals they got." OK, great. Who is on the horizon that also gets the lofty davearm2 seal of approval when it comes to big ticket FA spending? Oh ok. I understand. My ideal guy would be someone who you are not overpaying immensely for. I realize you have to overpay in free agency. I just have a feeling that the 2nd half of Albert's contract will be overpaying to such a large extent that only the Yankee's could absorb it. My answer as to "who". Would simply be "Not Pojuls". :)