Backtobanks

I'm with you 100%. I think the original question is somewhat of a strawman - of course the Cubs will try to win every year, but as far as trades and (especially) FA signings it should be recognized that future years' chances to win are affected just as much as next year's. The Cubs have spent money like a drunken sailor in this off-season so far. I have no problem with them spending money with a sense of urgency to win; it's just agonizing to see how poorly they've spent it. It would have been better to wait for a more talented FA class. And while you're waiting for a more talented FA class, you might realize that one might not come along and you've grown old waiting. I wouldn't be surprised to see more teams signing their stars long-term to big contracts like the Blue Jays did with Wells. At least you know what you're getting for the money.

Most of BenMaller.com is direct quotes from sites all over the U.S.

Assuming they're all healthy and pitching as they have shown they are capable of pitching, then: Zambrano Prior Hill Lilly Marquis/Miller as 5th starter and swingman I still think the #3 starter's job is Hill's to lose after what he did during the 2nd half. The real key is Prior because his health would slot the other pitchers where they should be (middle and bottom of the rotation).

That could be said about a lot of players......Santo, Dawson, Blyleven, etc.

I think every trade offer regarding the Mets involves Milledge and Heilman. I think thats a little much for the Mets to give up, but then again they must have really liked Victor Zambrano too. A "rising star pitcher" to me sounds like Hill. No thanks on that deal. I agree that Milledge and Heilman sounds like way too much for Rios, maybe it should be Milledge or Heilman. I'd love to have him, but not at the equivalent of Milledge and Heilman.

As another poster pointed out, the Sox didn't give up anything of value, so it might be worth the risk.

I just want to get a RH platoon partner for Jacque in CF and call the OF done. Yep. Heck, I'd still put Soriano in CF and get a guy like Craig Wilson to platoon in RF with Jones. I would love to see it, but I don't think Wilson is going tosign on to be a platoon player. I'm sure he will find a job being a starter. With the exception of 2004, Wilson has only ever been a platoon player. He doesn't seem to be drawing much attention. The Yankees have talked to him about coming back as a 1B backup/platoon partner. With Huff, Nixon, Floyd, Klesko, Nevin & Hillenbrand all still available, the market for 1B/corner OFs is soft. The Cubs could offer 300-400 or so ABs between RF and PH. Wilson would also have the opportunity to win the job outright if Jones is dealt or Murton falters. I'd do this in a hearbeat. Soriano's stint in CF can be temporary if he doesn't work out there or doesn't like the position, you shift him to RF once Pie is ready. btw- It'd also be nice to have an emergency catcher on the roster so that Barrett can be the primary RH pinch hitter on days when Blanco starts. He would be great to have, but I just have the feeling he would sign with a small market team with the thought of being a regular. Can you imagine a bench with Wilson, Floyd, and Ward. That would certainly be an upgrade. Oops, almost forgot the two biggest bats on the bench Zambrano and Marquis.

because there there there might be better players next year and we could possibly win in 2008 eventhough the NL central will be crap again in 2007 Then again there might not be. Fill the holes now with the best players available and reload every year with prospects and/or free agents. Put the profits into the team and not into the owners pockets.

Let's win first and then worry about 2009 and Ted Lilly's contract. IMO Hendry does care about the Cubs and it's not his obscene spending. If the Tribune had decided to open their pocketbooks a few years ago, we might be the World Champions now. Yes Hendry is out to save his job, but he is taking orders from above to win now and spend what you need to spend to get a winner.

I would suggest that we wait until they actually play the season before we decide the Cubs aren't even that good. I would love a young good team over an oldish, mediocre, expensive team too, but I'm at the point where I want to see a winner whether they are young, old, cheap, or expensive. As for the "mediocre" label, I would venture to guess that the passionate fans in most baseball cities think their home team is mediocre. On paper, there might be a few teams that stand out, but most of the teams fall into the mediocre category. Let's not forget that a very "mediocre" team is currently the World Champions.

I really don't think the owners of the Cubs (Tribune or whomever) can go very far backwards on the budget. Chicago is a major city and the Cubs have competition from the WS, Bears, and Bulls so keeping their fanbase is going to be an ongoing commitment. Once you make the move to play with the big boys (Yankees, Red Sox, etc.) you can't go back.

I agree, let the Tribune spend some of their money. It's not like they're going to give us fans a break on ticket prices anyhow. The object is to win the Division and the playoffs are a crapshoot. Whoever gets the hot hitter or pitcher goes to the WS. These teams have been making a ton of profits every year and finally some of them (Cubs, Royals, Blue Jays, etc.) have decided to start spending the money. I've been a fan for over 50 years and I agree....win it in 2007 and reload again every year after that.

I just want to get a RH platoon partner for Jacque in CF and call the OF done. Yep. Heck, I'd still put Soriano in CF and get a guy like Craig Wilson to platoon in RF with Jones. I would love to see it, but I don't think Wilson is going tosign on to be a platoon player. I'm sure he will find a job being a starter.

If I'm hired, I will be in charge of sorting through all NSBB posts to evaluate trade proposals and bring them to Hendry's attention.

It was not Holly's fault that Baker and Hendry used him incorrectly. Along with Remlinger, Hawkins, Neifi, etc.

Willy Tavares a.k.a. Angel Pagan. What's the point of trading for him.

I think he's a HOFer too, but it might depend on who else is eligible that year.

I'm available even if the price isn't right. I'm retired and have been a Cub fan over 50 years, so a little extra spending cash, decent seats for the games, and knowing I would have some input in improving the team would do the trick for me.

I can't believe Pie will be starting in CF just because of the "Win in 2007" attitude expressed by the new regime. Trying to win this year would put a lot of pressure on Pie in CF.

Some trade proposals are ridiculous, but then again many are trades that could be considered on both sides. If one team is "down" on a player, he might be acquired for a "lesser" package of players. There are all kinds of variables (attitude, contract status, team needs, scouting reports, etc.) that might figure into a trade. Many of "us" have been accused of overvaluing our prospects, yet I see other teams doing the same thing. I think many of the proposed deals for Church seem to make sense to me, but I'm not the one making the decisions. As much as I would like to have Church as our CF, he's never really been more than a "journeyman" OF. The Nationals seem to overvalue him when it comes to trade talks.

Power challenged? If the Cubs keep Jones, they will have above average power at at least 5 positions. Here are my personal HR predictions: Soriano - 40 DeRosa - 10-15 Lee - 35-40 Ramirez - 35-40 Jones - 25 Barrett - 15-20 Murton - 20 Izturis - 2 That's 182-202 home runs from the starting lineup alone. I actually believe Lee and Sori will hit over 40. And the bench: Ward - 7-10 Pagan - 5-7 Blanco - 3-5 Theriot - 2-3 Cedeno - 1-2 That's 220-229. Figure at least 5-6 from the pitching staff, and you have around 225-235 homers, either number squarely in the top 5 of all MLB teams. Add Floyd and that number will only go up. OBP challenged maybe, but not power challenged, barring injury. Zambrano and Marquis might get 10 between them.

I was one of them. And I'd still rather have Cedeno than Furcal. But I'd rather have Furcal than Cesear, so now I wish they'd got the contract done. It would also mean they wouldn't have signed Soriano and maybe have gone after Drew. It's the freaking butterfly effect. :spin: Furcal had a horrible start (after a surgery, fwiw) but ended up being worth his contract last year. With Furcal, the Cubs may or may not have signed Pierre, certainly wouldn't have traded for Cesar, and might have traded Ronny when his value was at its peak. Oh well. :twisted: People are saying the Dodgers are the favorites in the West and they signed Furcal and Pierre.

i imagine a room full of GMs sitting around listening to theo declare that he's interested in acquiring a closer and is open to possible trade scenarios. hendry puts his hand up, theo ignores him. hendry begins waving his hands like a madman, theo continues ignoring him. hendry finally stands up. "jim, sit down." Today, BenMaller.com is reporting: The Red Sox are still looking to bolster their bullpen and rotation depth, which could lead to offers for free agents such as Chris Reitsma and Runelvys Hernandez. So, even though the players I mentioned aren't closers, they certainly would bolster the Red Sox' bullpen and Dempster might be able to step into the closer's role in an emergency.

Well, this is the quiet (and boring) time of the year. I stated in another post that I think all of Hendry's transactions this offseason has spoiled us into thinking that he needs to do something every 2 days. I think Hendry will find a trade partner for Jones, but he has to have a replacement lined up in case Pie isn't ready. Also, I have trouble believing that there won't be some kind of deal involving Marshall/Marmol/Guzman/Mateo/Ryu. Hopefully Zambrano's extension will come soon and then he will have most of the starters locked in for quite a few years, so I don't think he is going to let the young pitchers I mentioned rot at Iowa for the next 4-5 years. Also, it wouldn't surprize me to see Cedeno packaged with others in a deal. Something will happen, but it may not be until spring training.

And then we would have had about 100 pages on what a jerk Hendry is for letting someone outbid him on Soriano. I'm not happy about the contract, but Hendry (and Piniella) decided he was the man that they needed and he went out and got him. It certainly doesn't look like the money has hindered him from signing other players.