Backtobanks

Rosenthal from Foxsports wrote a column saying that Dempster will test the market, so it looks like the Cubs won't be getting any early-signing, home-town discount.

Fontenot is the perfect example of an undervaled player. As for selling high, he would be a throw-in in a package deal.

2 year deal, low base with high incentives.

I'm not as excited about Burnett as everyone else seems to be, especially for the crazy money teams are lined up to pay him. Assuming Dempster's year wasn't a total fluke, Dempster will be $3-$4 million cheaper per year for 1-2 less years.

I agree that I would like to see an OF who still is young enough to help the team for a few years. McLouth, Hermida, Beltran, etc. rather than Maggs, Abreu, etc.

Does he think hes writing an article for a video game audience? Seriously, that might be the most [expletive] trade proposal that has been published...thats quite an accomplishment. I posted this "rumor" under the "Derrek Lee being traded" thread earlier this morning. That thread had discussion about how idiotic Rogers (and Sullivan) are with their "rumors", so I thought it was the appropriate place for this discussion. Gonzalez - 26 yrs old .279/.361/.510 with 36 HRs and 119 RBI making $875,000. Lee- 33 yrs old .291/.361/.462 with 20 HRs and 90 RBI making $13,250,000. The Cubs would have to add something (Pie?) to Lee just to get Gonzalez. Imagine what they would have to add to the package to get Gonzalez AND Peavy. Rogers is an idiot.

Now "The Idiot" (aka Phil Rogers) is suggesting that Lee might go to San Diego in a package for Peavy plus Adrian Gonzalez. I'm sure San Diego's rebuilding plans included sending their 26-year-old 1B making $875,000 who had a line of .279, 36 HRs, 119 RBI, .361, .510 for a 33-year-old 1B making $13,000,000 who had a line of .291, 20 HRs, 90 RBI, .361, .462. I would love to see the rest of the package the Cubs would have to include to make that deal. Rogers must have been drunk when he wrote this piece.

Trading Lee doesn't give us a lot of options unless we know what we get back. Signing Texiera won't be easy with 5-6 teams offering insane money.

I'd settle for a 1 year contract. The new owner shouldn't be saddled with a drunken sailor on shore leave. Hendry has spent an incredible sum of money to "stay competitive within division". It's a good thing you aren't Hendry's agent. By all accounts, Hendry built the best team in the NL (possibly the best team in both leagues) and you complain that he spent an incredible sum of money to "stay competitive within their division". Well the last time I looked the Yankees, Mets, Angels, White Sox, and Red Sox are all sitting at home after spending an incredible sum of money too and I don't see the outrage aimed at their GMs.

Personally, I would rather go after Hermida or McLouth than people like Ibanez or Abreu. If we're looking for a blockbuster, go after Beltran.

Yeah I read that and the first thought I had was, "Yes, Phil the Cubs would trade Derrek Lee just to get Micah Hoffpauir into the lineup. NM Tex is available, no, no, Micah would be the 1st baseman if the Cubs dealt Lee." Rogers is a tool, and I get dumber reading his articles. Phil and Paul are different people But both of them are idiots.

Yeah, I'd rather part with Dempster than Wood. It's easier to replace a bullpen arm than a starter. Also, I don't understand all of the posters who think Dempster's year was a fluke. It's not a guarantee that he will be as effective in 2009 as he was in 2008, but he was our most consistent starter last year. Dempster was a highly regarded prospect as a starter before becoming a reliever.

In today's Tribune, Paul Sullivan stated that Lee can be traded if he waives his NTC because the Cubs have Micah Hoffpauir to replace him. What an idiot. #-o

Rogers thought they might do a sign-and-trade deal like basketball.

There's nobody on earth that says Manny can't hit, it's just the lazy, disgruntled part gets in the way. For the short spurts of time that Manny is motivated and paying attention, he is probably the best hitter in baseball. It's keeping him interested and motivated for more than two weeks at a time that is the problem, especially with a guaranteed $20 million contract per year for 3-6 years.

It's not going to happen. As others have stated, the Players' Union would require that he get most of the money, so it wouldn't be worth it to the Cubs. Moving him to CF and platooning him with Johnson would lower the expectations. Of course that's assuming the Cubs can find a power-hitting corner OF. If the Cubs could acquire a power-hitting CF (Beltran?), then Fukudome's lower numbers would be okay in RF. I do expect him to rebound next season, but I do think his original projections were beyond what we should expect.

First, it's speculation by Rogers of all people. He knows nothing and his "rumors" are weeks behind any legitimate site. Secondly, do you think the Cubs would commit the money and years to accommodate an aging superstar who acts like a spoiled 7-year-old? Finally, do you think there's anyone crazy enough to take on Soriano's contract without sending us an equally ridiculous contract?

If winning a WS is the standard for being a good GM, then every GM is bad except one each year. Look at the top payrolls (Yanks, Red Sox, Angels, Cubs, Mets, White Sox, etc.) and you see all losers this year. While I'm frustrated about 1st round playoff losses, would we feel any better if they lost in the 1st round 3 games to 2? Would it be any better to lose in the NLCS?

I agree that Wood will resign with the Cubs. As for Dempster, I think it will take an overwhelming offer for him to leave the Cubs. I can't see that happening with names like Sabathia, Burnett, Lowe, and Peavy out there.

Yep, awful news that the 1st Cubs GM to bring the team to consistent respectability would get an extension. Worst. News. Ever. Not saying I agree with everything he does or even his overall philosophy, but, hey, we could have Ed Wade or Ned Colletti. Hmmmm....consistent respectability. That's quite a standard of success. Hendry has basically been given an open checkbook since he started and the Cubs have one playoff series win to show for it. If "consistent respectability" is what Cub fans are looking for then I guess Hendry has done a great job. "Consistent respectability" is a lot better than watching the Cubs of the 50's and 60's go through 20 years of 4th and 5th (and lower) place finishes. To be honest, a GM can only put together a team that is strong "on paper", the performance is basically up to the players, coaches, and manager. According to the "experts", Hendry put together the best team "on paper" in the NL (and maybe in all of baseball). The players slumped at the wrong time (or choked) and the Cubs lost 3 in a row, but it doesn't diminish the fact that Hendry assembled a 97-win team.

A letter to the Tribune today suggested that the Cubs trade Soriano to the Red Sox. He thought Soriano would possibly waive his NTC because the Sox have a ton of money and he would probably hit 40+ HRs in Fenway. He could replace Ortiz as DH or be a real asset in LF with his arm. In exchange, the Cubs would get either Bay or Drew and Crisp/young pitcher. Don't know if it is possible, but this is what the off season is for - speculation, rumors, and fantasy.

2 mentions of the Cubs in MLBtraderumors: Jacob Jackson at Athletics Nation predicts destinations for his top 12 free agents. My Top 50 will come out after the World Series. I disagree with a few of Jacob's picks - Derek Lowe and Jason Giambi re-signing and the Cubs signing Adam Dunn. If you read the link, this blogger thinks the Cubs will offer an obscene amount of money to get Dunn. According to Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Yankees have had preliminary discussions with the Padres about Jake Peavy (hat tip to River Ave. Blues). Peavy was apparently a hot topic at the Yankees' organizational meetings. Peavy's agent hinted he might accept a trade to the Yankees, but he does prefer the NL. Peavy's preferred cities are Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and St. Louis. Despite that, Graziano says the Mets have interest. The Padres are aggressively shopping Peavy, seeking two young pitchers and a near MLB-ready center fielder. I would think the Cubs ought to be able to fill the requirement of "two young pitchers and a near MLB-ready CF." Pie and Marshall plus more young pitching seems to be what is being asked for.

Then later in the article.. Makes me wonder if he would take Randy Bush, leaving the Cubs without a worthwhile GM. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-081016-chicago-cubs-jim-hendry,0,582070.story Yeah I think there would be interest for Hendry then some think. I know many have not like some of his moves in the past, but even the best GM's make subpar moves.When it comes down to it Hendry has made alot more good moves then bad. Then when you consider he's put a competitive team on the field 5 of 6 years(05 team could have contended for playoff spot without all the injuries) he's been the GM, and has 3 division titles in 6 years. His resume is actually pretty solid, and I can see the Mariners, Blue Jays and a few other teams interested. But I would be surprised if Hendry isn't back, he seems to like it here, and the team is happy with him. I don't see his style working well with a mid-sized market team like Seattle. Hendry makes good moves, but he also throws a lot of money at his problems as well. I can't see him having the flexibility to do that in Seattle, a market that has let very good players leave due to money. And if they do give him some money to spend, are they going to give him more money to spend when he makes mistakes on some of his big money acquisitions? I don't think it's fair to predict what he would do in another market when his "style" is based on one job with a big-market team. He might be very flexible if put in a different situation. That's like saying Brian Cashman could never be successful with another team.

Yea, we shouldn't bring up the fact that pitchers like Gibson (on an elevated mound) had an ERA of 1.12 for the whole year while great power hitters had 30 HRs as opposed to now when some mediocre hitters hit 35-40 HRs and good pitchers have an ERA of 4.20. :-k

If you're talking about home field advantage, look at the short right field fence in Yankee Stadium where Ruth hit a ton of his homers. Look at County Stadium in Milwaukee where Aaron hit a bunch of his homers. All any player can do is excel at his position given the conditions of the time. Santo excelled at 3B in a pitcher-dominated era in a hitter-friendly ballpark and there's no doubt he belongs in the HOF.