Backtobanks

The good thing is we don't need to sign all, or even most, of the big time FAs that have been discussed. We simply need to sign 1-2 this offseason and then make a couple shrewd signings (Sizemore? Chen? Francis? Headley? Stewart?) or trades and this team is a lot better. With the money coming off the books, the much-heralded front office, the Cubs' history and tradition, and Ricketts' willingness to spend big on improving the team, we should have as good a chance as anybody to bring in a guy like Pujols or Prince or Wilson. The rotation will probably be better with one mid-rotation starter because of Wells and Cashner being healthy (hopefully) all year. There will be lots of competition for Sizemore. Headley and/or Stewart would help assuming they are available. You still have a hard time convincing me that LaHair>Pena and Stewart(possibly)/Baker/Flaherty>ARam. In addition, Jackson in CF is still an unknown. Obviously the moves would be great assuming everything goes right (Jackson lives up to potential, LaHair continues hitting, Headley becomes available, our pitchers remain healthy, Soto gets back to peak performance, etc.). My original point is that without making some serious moves this year, we will still have holes at 1B, 3B, and RF going into 2013.

After reading all of these posts based on getting PuJols/Fielder, Wilson, Kemp (next year), Greinke (or someone like him next year), letting ARam go elsewhere, etc., I'm wondering what plan B is when most of these guys go elsewhere. I'm a fan of Theo and I realize he's not going to win the WS next year, but 2012 is on the surface looking atrocious. I understand his philosophy, but I don't want gradual improvement for 4-5 years. Most of the suggestions posted look like a team that will lose 90-95 games. Also, letting the kids play or using "filler" players for 2012 is going to hurt attendance unless people will come out to possibly catch a glimpse of Theo.

1b, starting rotation. If you really wanted to, you could probably upgrade 2b or CF with a free agent as well. I'm starting to think that 2012 is really going to be ugly unless Theo has some magic trades to make. To me it's looking like Pena or LaHair at 1B, Flaherty/Baker/DeWitt at 3B, Byrd/Colvin in RF, and no Wilson in the rotation.

DeJesus on a 1 year team-friendly deal might not be too bad. LH, can play all 3 OF positions. Coming off of a bad year, but career numbers are decent.

Dierkes checks in with his predictions. Most interesting: Cubs signing DeJesus, Wood, Pinero. Sizemore to the Marlins, Pena to the Pirates, Ramirez to the Orioles, Beltran to the RS, Wilson to the Nationals, Reyes to the Brewers, Fielder to the Mariners, and Pujols stays with the Cards.

I guess we might have a different opinion on what the Mets could get for him, but with teams like the Tigers, Angels, and Cubs looking for 3B, I can't believe the price isn't going to be pretty high.

I think it's pretty awesome too, but I'll bet none of these "kids" were considered cool when they were in school.

You really think the Mets can't demand McNutt-level prospects? With a poor FA market @ 3B there would be lots of interest which would drive the price up.

From a Padres Blog: A little off topic, but I also wonder aloud if the Padres would work out a trade with the Cubs. They could sweeten the compensation the Padres will be receiving for Hoyer and Jason McLeod leaving. I have done previous pieces profiling specific players, and thought Brett Jackson would fit well in PETCO Park with his five-tool ability. Instead of one or two fringe prospects, the Padres could include Headley for Jackson

It really is. The Cubs have contended in the not too distant past. The Cubs are clearly heading in the right direction, and they have money to spend. People will go to the money unless the situation is a disaster and the Cubs aren't a disaster. Even if we assume all that to be true (and again, I think we are over-stating how we look relative to what others feel about us - as noted earlier in one of these threads, sure, I could see a combination of moves this off-season to make us a good squad, on paper, but viewing things externally, entering the off-season, the Cubs have 1 good starter, 1 good offensive player, 1 good asset to help positionally, and question marks as to whether or not there is legitimate rotation help on the horizon (and I'm still more bullish on McNutt than most, but there are legitimate questions there), along with a system that I really like, but legitimately, is fairly weak as so many of the top pieces are so far away)), it presumes that the Cubs money will somehow trump other organizations. It's possible - Chicago looks as nice a destination as there is out there. Some folks will shy away from Canada, and the Marlins aren't likely capable of making multiple big moves this off-season. Anyhow, I guess I'm throwing cold water on all the excitement, so I'll stop. Seriously, all things considered, what other franchises look much better than the Cubs. Yankees, Red Sox, and maybe the Angels.

Reyes, easily. Prince is fat, but fortunately he doesn't have a history of injury to worry about. As Bob Sanders posted, it's an easy choice picking a fat guy at a position of need over a crippled guy at a position that's filled.

If you want to create goodwill with us older fans, you need to sign Ernie Banks. LOL

With the money the Cubs are ready to spend in the next year or two and the reputation of our front office, I can't see why anybody would not want to come here.

Much more expensive. Too RH. LOL

I suggested a trade (under "Trading Zambrano") - Zambrano + Russell + Byrd/Colvin + Jay Jackson for Swisher + Hughes.

Keep Rudy, but replace Riggins asap.

Zambrano + Russell + Byrd/Colvin + Jay Jackson to the Yankees for Swisher (option picked up) + Hughes. Zambrano - reunited with Rothschild, in a "contract" year with a team that can afford his option if he pitches well, strict manager/team policies to keep him under control, veteran, contending team with fewer young players to blame. Yankees need pitching and get Z, a young, cheap, effective LHRP, and a decent prospect. Byrd could start in RF or Colvin could be solid LH 4th OF/RF. Budget isn't impacted much for 2012 giving them room for FA starter. Depth at catcher still can be used as trade bait to obtain another starter. Cubs get a middle of the order bat on a 1-year deal. Hughes has been disappointing but may benefit from change of scenary. Swisher starts in RF and possible platoon with LaHair at 1B ( if Pujols/Fielder not signed).

The compensation to Boston, San Diego, and Tampa Bay would wipe out our farm system.

Epstein on Chicago Tribune Live made it sound like there was some thought as to retaining Zambrano, re-signing Ramirez, and giving LaHair a good shot at 1B. http://www.csnchicago.com/shows/ctl

Alot of money for alot of years. You assume he'll he dead weight in years 8-10. I believe that's kind of just made up. Plenty of truly great players lasted into their late 30s and even early 40s. You also assume that the contract would serve as a handcuff. Unless he shatters every bone in his body under his new contract I don't buy that. It's an assumption based on general concepts being applied to a talent that isn't general. The real scary thing about Pujols is that he might already be in his late 30s. :lol:

No. I don't see any scenario where Z pitches for us again. Theo wasn't as sure about that on ctl as you are. He said starting pitching is something the cubs need and thzZ does have talent. But said he needed to do a lot of listening. I kept hearing him talk about "buying into the program", "everybody on the same page", "everybody accepting responsibility", "players supporting their team mates", etc. None of that sounds like Carlos Zambrano.

I legitimately believe no one can convince me that it's a bad idea to sign the best bat in the game and a historically great player. THAT idea is asinine to me. To be an elite team we need elite players. As mul21 said - at what cost and for how long? Everybody would love to have Pujols for the next 5-6 years, but if he's going to get 8-10 years, then you have 3-4 years of a dead-weight contract handcuffing your team from making the moves it needs to make.

Unless Theo has some interesting trades on the horizon, losing Ramirez and re-signing Pena doesn't look good for 2012.

2 predictions having Pujols/Fielder signing elsewhere. I thought Theo was going to build a winner.

I think most of us agree that it makes more sense to keep him than to pay him to pitch somewhere else, but I think Zambrano has finally got on management's last nerve.