Backtobanks

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sp/v/mlb/players_l/20080402/6154.jpg?x=65&y=85&xc=1&yc=1&wc=164&hc=215&q=100&sig=LCwAE1TFB2scz.nmPVAI3w-- You think Soriano is worth 18 million a year? I don't think you'll find many people here who believe Soriano is worth $18 million a year, especially as he gets older. IMHO, nobody is worth $18 million.

People complain about paying Bradley because of health concerns, but let's sign Hudson (who has health concerns). :-k

Bonds, ARod, Clemens, and McGwire won't make the HOF. That is certainly something to be gained. Obviously, the HOF is going to somehow acknowledge the players during the "Steroid Era". If the top 2 HR hitters (assuming ARod passes Bonds) and one of the greatest RH pitchers of all time aren't acknowledged in the HOF, it certainly lessens the point of a HOF. Already excluded is the all-time hits leader. What if names like Pujols, Ramirez, Howard, etc. eventually get leaked? I would think the HOF is going to have to emphasize the differences between the eras in baseball (dead ball era, pre-integration era, post-integration era, steroid era, etc.) and deal with the changes in society.

Maybe as of right now, but longevity is key. He needs to stay injury-free. How do we know that Pujols is clean? The real tragedy about all of this is you can't believe any player's stats.

From Foxsports: Yanks need to dump A-Rod? Now that A-Rod's pursuit looks as counterfeit as Bonds', they should do what's best for the organization: Cut him loose - no matter the cost. As difficult as it is to imagine eating $270 million, the Bombers will be making a statement, not just for the Yankee brand but for baseball as a whole. They will be applauded for it. The Yankees operate under two basic tenets: The relentless pursuit of championships and the fierce protection of their brand. If they are going to remain true to both, then they have no choice but to sever ties with Rodriguez. -- NY Daily News Yeah, I can see the Yankees cutting their best player and owing him $270 million. What happens when the other 103 players' names get leaked?

My main point is, had we waited instead of rushing to sign Miles, we might have been able to wait out a Hudson or a Durham and gotten significantly better production for the price. Hudson at $5 million for one season is incredibly more valuable than Miles at $4.5 for two seasons. It's most definitely a risk, but Miles' production isn't that difficult to find off the trash heap. All of this coulda, shoulda, woulda talk is based on hindsight. If all of the GMs knew that the asking prices would drop this much, no one would have been signed. I saw on one site that Abreu might have to settle for $3 million/1 year deal. If Hendry had waited until now to sign Dempster, Bradley, and Miles to lesser contracts he probably would be short a SP, RF, and utility IF going into spring training. I can just imagine all of the bashing Hendry would have been getting for being cheap and waiting too long. As I've posted before, people just need to complain about any transaction he makes or doesn't make. I've never said he should have waited on Dempster and Bradley. He got pretty good deals there and I'm mostly happy with them. The problem I have with the timing of the Miles signing is that he's not particularly special. What does he do that is extremely difficult to find? He hits singles 28% of the time and gets on base at a very barely decent pace. There was no reason to hurry into signing him - especially with better options still out there. What would we have lost that we couldn't replace if Miles had signed elsewhere? Maybe you are talking about the Miles signing and not Dempster and Bradley, but I've seen other posters who said we should have waited on Dempster and signed him at a lower price (we actually would have probably lost him). They posted that we overpaid on Bradley and could have signed someone else (Abreu, Dunn, etc.) at a bargain price. Obviously, Hendry (and Lou) think Miles is what they need and the paid the going rate at the time for him.

My main point is, had we waited instead of rushing to sign Miles, we might have been able to wait out a Hudson or a Durham and gotten significantly better production for the price. Hudson at $5 million for one season is incredibly more valuable than Miles at $4.5 for two seasons. It's most definitely a risk, but Miles' production isn't that difficult to find off the trash heap. All of this coulda, shoulda, woulda talk is based on hindsight. If all of the GMs knew that the asking prices would drop this much, no one would have been signed. I saw on one site that Abreu might have to settle for $3 million/1 year deal. If Hendry had waited until now to sign Dempster, Bradley, and Miles to lesser contracts he probably would be short a SP, RF, and utility IF going into spring training. I can just imagine all of the bashing Hendry would have been getting for being cheap and waiting too long. As I've posted before, people just need to complain about any transaction he makes or doesn't make.

Murton always struck me as a decent LF if given the opportunity. He will not produce "typical" corner OF power, but in the right situation he could play everyday. I think he's capable of .285-.295/.345-.360/.400-.450/.750-.810 with 15-20 HRs with regular playing time. The key would be to find a low-budget, low-expectation (Pirates, Royals, etc.) team or a team that had power in other places to compensate. He's not Manny Ramirez, but he could have a decent career.

Cruz would be great, but he would cost us a draft pick (that'swhy he hasn't been signed already). Aurilia or Nomar would make the most sense, but at a bargain deal. Another idea (but won't happen) is Ohman.

The 4th highest salary in MLB belongs to: Bud Selig @ $17.4 million Unbelievable.

I doubt you'll find many people who argued both sides. It's just that one side was more vocal then, and the correct side was more vocal after the trade. I've been in favor of keeping Marquis for a while. Before last season I was saying we shouldn't dump him for peanuts. Yeah, he is awesome. Not awesome, but a decent enough #5 starter. Good enough to not throw away for scraps. I am sure that Hendry didn't think about that. If only he had called a few teams to see if they would give him more than scraps. What an idiot. Marquis was traded to save money and open a spot for Peavy. I know the rumors say the deal is dead, but I still think Peavy could end up on the Cubs no later than the trade deadline. I'm sure a lot depends on the health of Harden and the success of our #5 starters, but the bottom line is: 1. The Padres still can't afford Peavy. 2. Peavy has a NTC and only wants to go to the Cubs. 3. The Cubs have the resources (in players and money) to be able to acquire Peavy after all of the financial aspects of the sale are settled.

How do you know this is the case? Or is it educated guesswork on the basis of media reports, which may or may not be reliable? Lou has a very short lease with young players that don't produce immediately (noted by observation). As soon as a young player doesn't produce, he is banished forever (i.e. Pie, Wuertz, Murton, etc.). Since Gathright and Pie are basically the same player and Pie has always been supported by Hendry, it pretty obvious that Lou wanted Gathright. Most managers (including Lou) turn to veterans when things get tough, which is why Kendall was acquired and received a lot of playing time. Hendry is noted for not being subtle about the players he wants (i.e. Heilman).

Seconded Yea, Wigginton at $3 mil a year is far better than Miles at $2.5 mil a year. Plus, given our platoon situation at second and the likelihood of Bradley getting hurt in right (and Wigginton being moderately passable there, I believe), he would have gotten pretty decent playing time as well. The only problem is that you're ignoring the timing of the signings. Wigginton wouldn't have signed for $3 million earlier, but now he's getting desperate. Abreu may end up signing for $7 or $8 million (for 1 year), but he was looking for something like $36 million over 3 years earlier. Why did we have to make the move when we did? The season hasn't started yet - it would seem shrewd to wait out the players in order to get a better player at a similar price. In your scenario, Hendry got worried nobody would be available and jumped on Miles too early. Had he waited, we've seen a player of Wigginton's caliber was available much later, and at a similar price, as Miles. I can fully see the playing time issue as I'm sure the O's will give him more than we can, but that's about the only argument I can understand. Hindsight is 20/20. 1. Miles was offered nearly the same contract by the Cardinals. 2. Bradley would have signed and been off the market. 3. Dempster would have been signed and off the market. 4. There was no guarantee that Wigginton would be available (or that he would sign with the Cubs) as late as February. Most of what I posted above would have likely happened, which would have left the Cubs without a RF, SP, and sub MI. I suppose if none of that happened, the Cubs could have saved quite a bit of money, but was it worth the risk involved in waiting?

Are we really going to lean toward the idea that Lou is horrible? Sure he's not perfect, but he's had more success as Cubs manager than anyone I can remember. He dumps young guys he doesn't like. That may upset me some, but I also know that he's given some young/minors guys a chance that previous managers like Dusty never would have (Theriot, Fontenot to name a couple). An argument can be made that Lou saved Hendry's job, even. Maybe that's why he allows him more input (maybe more than he should). Thank you for making my point. Lou is wonderful because of the success that he's had, but Hendry is terrible because we lose in the playoffs. Who was the GM that assembled these successful Cub teams? As for Lou having more success as Cubs manager than anyone you can remember, how about Hendry has had more success as Cubs GM than anyone you can remember. Neither is perfect, but Hendry gets all the blame for things that go wrong while Lou gets all the credit when things go right. Also, how did Lou save Hendry's job? You must mean that he saved his job by taking the best team in the NL to the playoffs. I dont have a problem with lou, but isnt your logic that its not hendrys fault because hes just doing what lou wants? Well thats circular logic because hendry is the reason lous there. If its lou's team then its only because hendry brought him in and handed it over to him. You don't understand my point. I'm not blaming anyone, but I'm tired of posters blaming Hendry when things go wrong without seeing that Hendry and Lou are working together in making decisions. As I posted before, Hendry is to blame and Lou escapes blame for whatever bad happens, while Lou gets credit (and not Hendry) for the good that happens. When the Cubs win the NL Central (with 97 wins), Hendry is blamed for the team not going deeper in the playoffs. Lou is given credit for winning 2 consecutive NL Central titles, but Hendry is hardly mentioned. Many of the roster decisions (Kendall, Gathright, Pie, Wuertz, etc.) were requested by Lou.

I just posted in another thread the fact that you're ignoring the timing of the signings. Back when the Cubs signed Bradley, Abreu would have demanded at least the same money ($30 million over 3 years). These free agents are now realizing that they're not going to get the contracts they thought they were going to get and they had better settle for something rather than nothing.

Seconded Yea, Wigginton at $3 mil a year is far better than Miles at $2.5 mil a year. Plus, given our platoon situation at second and the likelihood of Bradley getting hurt in right (and Wigginton being moderately passable there, I believe), he would have gotten pretty decent playing time as well. The only problem is that you're ignoring the timing of the signings. Wigginton wouldn't have signed for $3 million earlier, but now he's getting desperate. Abreu may end up signing for $7 or $8 million (for 1 year), but he was looking for something like $36 million over 3 years earlier.

Are we really going to lean toward the idea that Lou is horrible? Sure he's not perfect, but he's had more success as Cubs manager than anyone I can remember. He dumps young guys he doesn't like. That may upset me some, but I also know that he's given some young/minors guys a chance that previous managers like Dusty never would have (Theriot, Fontenot to name a couple). An argument can be made that Lou saved Hendry's job, even. Maybe that's why he allows him more input (maybe more than he should). Thank you for making my point. Lou is wonderful because of the success that he's had, but Hendry is terrible because we lose in the playoffs. Who was the GM that assembled these successful Cub teams? As for Lou having more success as Cubs manager than anyone you can remember, how about Hendry has had more success as Cubs GM than anyone you can remember. Neither is perfect, but Hendry gets all the blame for things that go wrong while Lou gets all the credit when things go right. Also, how did Lou save Hendry's job? You must mean that he saved his job by taking the best team in the NL to the playoffs.

If this is true, it's the most damning thing possible for Hendry. What's the point of having him if he abdicates his job? I've supported Hendry over the years, but I do acknowledge some of his faults: 1. Overpaying fringe players. 2. Zeroing in on certain players to the point of obsession. 3. Allowing his manager(s) too much power in decision-making. Piniella is a very good manager, but he has very little patience with young players. Wuertz, Pie, Cedeno, and Hill may not ever amount to anything, but the way Lou handled all of them certainly didn't help their careers or their trade value. Of course, Hendry gets blamed for their reduced trade value and not Teflon-Lou.

For those of you who love bashing Hendry, I hope you realize that the 2009 Cubs are strictly Piniella's team. Pie, Hill, Wuertz, and Cedeno are gone because Lou lost faith in them and wanted veterans to replace them. As I've posted before, Lou loves young players as long as they produce immediately and if they don't they're banished forever and replaced by veterans. Hopefully the Cubs will win in 2009, but point the finger at the right person if they don't.

I disagree about the lineup. We're downgrading at second and center, but upgrading in RF. If Miles doesn't replicate his career season and repeats what he's done most of his career, second could be a significant downgrade. I'd love Wigginton as well at this point, but I haven't heard a thing about him. Wigginton would be a great addition, but he's too expensive and probably would prefer to land a job where he might get more playing time. Whether we like it or not, Aurilia does the same for less.

We gave up Pie and Hill, both of whom were two minutes from being released, and we didn't get Brian Roberts. We should have added Sam Fuld to the package and they might have added Markakis as a throw-in.

-Not vastly overpay for a guy who can't stay on the field. -Not overpay for Aaron Miles. -Actually get something in return for DeRosa -Not overpay for Aaron Heilman -Not overpay for Kevin Gregg -Not fail to offer Wood arbitration and lose a first round pick -Not obsess over "getting more left handed" and end up signing a bunch of crappy hitters -because of it -Not give Ryan Dempster a ridiculous contract -Not turn a solid bench into an atrocious bench Any of those would have been nice If Wood accepted arbitration then Hendry would have vastly overpaid for a player who can't stay on the field. (#1 and #6) Aaron Miles was offered $600 K less by the Cards, so apparently he was at market value. Dempster was given a contract based on a great season (just like many other FA pitchers) and would have been signed by another team thus making a big hole in the rotation. Overpaying for Gregg? That's yet to be seen. Overpaying for Heilman? Reyes and Santana for Heilman is overpaying, Cedeno and Olson is questionable because Cedeno and Olson were of no use to the Cubs in 2009. The DeRosa deal got quantity over quality (granted), but I still think it added the depth to go after Peavy (we'll see). As for becoming more left-handed, he signed 2 switch hitters to replace a righty and a lefty. Oops, I forgot the gigantic move coming - signing an old lefty backup catcher for an old righty backup catcher. Finally, I will agree that the new bench sucks.

Yeah because it's a sure thing that Cedeno will be the All Star SS and Olson will win 20 games while Pie will lead the AL in hitting.

There was discussion about Lou not wanting to go into the season with only one backup IF. I would like to see Hairston included in a Peavy deal as our new jack-of-all-trades.

I don't see how Hendry has earned the right to be given the benefit of the doubt this offseason. Also, whether ot nor he makes other moves doesn't really excuse some of the other dumb things he's done. Getting as little as he did for DeRosa is basd. Giving Miles the contract he did is bad. Giving Bradley what he didis bad. Trading Cedeno and Olson for Heilman is bad. Those are bad moves, regardless of what follows them. What he got for DeRosa was pitching prospects which presumably will lead to Peavy. Who knows how the contracts to Miles and Bradley will work out? Waiting for their prices to go down might have resulted in them signing with another team and then posters would jump all over Hendry for not signing them. On the surface, the Cedeno + Olsen for Heilman deal doesn't look great, but Olson's strongest traits were that he had an option left and it was rumored that the Padres wanted him in a Peavy deal. He has been a terrible major league pitcher. I'm not defending any of the moves Hendry has made, but none of us are fully aware of what's happening financially with the Cubs and other clubs and what kinds of discussions are going on with other GMs. That's why I said we need to wait and see what the final roster looks like. Why are you presuming the guys they got from Cleveland are going in a Peavy trade? Stephens is one of the rumored names in a Peavy deal, but if none of them go to SD they still add to the minor league depth to replace pitching prospects that would be in the deal.