Backtobanks

The next question is: What if ARam leaves AND ARod really isn't going to be traded? Most of the speculation revolves around getting ARod to replace ARam. Maybe they're serious about not trading him.

There's no way I would pay Bonds $14 million in the NL. The AL is the perfect place for him so he can DH and stay healthy. By the way, I have trouble believing there's any collusion against Bonds when we're discussing $14 million per year.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spyanks314954810oct31,0,5248755.story?coll=ny-sports-print Not sure what I would give up for Sheffield but if we found a way to not give up much and find a way to peddle Jones for something of vaule it would be nice to take a gamble that Sheff can return to 30-35 homer glory. Does Sheffield still throw the ball well? I know he's not worse than Jones. Well, if it's the Cubs, good for them for staying firm in the Sheffield talks. I don't particularly want him, but if the team is going to get him, at least they are not caving it to the Yankees demands yet (and that's why the Yankees are waiting, hoping the market improves for him). Cashman has us over a barrel. Okay Bynum and Rusch for Sheffield.

Don, if Ramirez walks, you then have to sign or aquire 2 impact bats to improve. Thjat's going to be next to impossible this winter. As far as being the next Ron Santo in terms of fan support, I'd rather people be indifferent to him and he continue to outproduce every other 3B in team history than be popular. I am in the camp that believes that Ramirez NEEDS to be re-signed, but Hendry could sign Soriano and Carlos Lee and put Soriano at 2B, or sign Soriano and trade for Sheffield. If the Cubs sign Soriano (which I believe they will), there are a number of OF possibilities: Lee, Sheffield, Wells, Burrell, etc. Personally, I would re-sign Ramirez, sign Soriano and try and trade for Vernon Wells or sign Lee. On a semi-related note, I find myself wondering why people are assuming Soriano will be an OF next season. Sure he is a butcher at 2B, but with the lack of impact bats on the market this winter, he's going to play where he wants to. I agree. There are options if Ramirez walks. The hard part is-how would Hendry lure free agents to Chicago to a team now without Ramirez? If he could, here's about what he would have to do: Trade for A-rod Sign Soriano (CF) Sign Durham Sign Platoon Partner Leaving a lineup of Soriano Murton Lee A-Rod Jones/Platoon Partner Barrett Durham Izturis That lineup would be productive enough, and would still leave us some money for pitching (the loss of A-Ram coupled with the payroll increase and the salaries already gone would give us a ton of money to spend). I think the whole process is a great deal easier with re-signing Ramirez, and I certainly hope they do-but I still think there's a possibility, even if it be small, of fielding a good team without him next year. Everybody who claims there are options if ARam walks is forgetting that his replacement is going to cost the Cubs some players in trade. These players could be used to improve the Cubs by playing or being used in another deal to fill one of the other holes on the team. So ARod or Tejada could likely match ARam's production, but the team would be stripped of 3-4 prospects that could fill other holes. The only FA option would be Nomar and that include a huge decrease in power at 3B.

I thought the problem was with the owner and not the manager.

Wouldn't hurt to inquire. Re-sign ARam, put Soriano in CF, Young at SS, and all of a sudden your offense looks a whole lot better. Then you go after the pitching problems.

We mentioned all of the usual suspects when it comes to trades, but I have another name that Hendry ought to look at-----Michael Young. He was in the dog house late last year and would be a tremendous pickup. I'm suggesting Izturis, Marshall, plus ??? for Young. Young and Izturis make about the same money, so money shouldn't be a problem on either side. The Rangers have a few good pitching prospects along with a potent offense, so adding a defensive SS and a left-handed pitcher who appears to be major league ready might do the trick. Any thoughts?

That would be way too smart and logical for the Cubs.

In today's Tribune, Roberts' agent is really talking up the White Sox as the perfect fit for his client. In case he didn't notice, the Cubs are in need of a CF. Maybe he thinks that Roberts, at his age, would have a better shot at winning the World Series with the White Sox.

I repeat my original contention, your team needs to be good enough to get into the playoffs and then hope that one or two players get hot at the right time. One or two hitters OR pitchers can carry a team throughout the playoffs.

Bottom line is that if the Cubs get some decent players, the Cubs would win with Piniella, Bochy, Girardi, or Brenly. I'm a firm believer in good players make good managers. None of those guys, Leyland, La Russa, or Guillen could have won with the 2006 Cubs. Bring in a couple of top FAs and make one impact trade and the Cubs will be in contention in the NL Central.

Bruce, do you think it gets done? Eventually, yes. The agent is doing a little squeezing right now. You're definitely the authority Mr. Miles, but I still feel Aramis is walking away. I think he wants to sign with a consistent playoff-caliber team. I'm not so sure this is all about money. Hoops, He might want a warmer climate and/or a playoff caliber team, but it's always about the money. I'll believe it's not about the money when one of these guys signs for significantly less than what another team offers.

I don't understand why they would sign him and then trade him for next to nothing. I would think the Yankees are expecting a little more than "next to nothing." I think they care much more about where he goes than what they get in return. Letting him become a free agent means there is a chance he could sign with Boston or the Mets. Picking up the option guarantees he won't go to Boston or the Mets. Sounds crazy to make a $13M move based on that, I know, but as one source told me: for George, it's all about the Mets and Red Sox. Yes it said in many of the papers that the Yankees didn't want him to go to Boston, which is where they think he would end up. Okay then, Bynum for Sheffield even up. That's as close to "next to nothing" as I could get.

I don't care how many pitchers you have, you can't win with the Cubs' offense. I agree that the Cubs need a #2 starter and possibly a #4, but they also need at least one impact bat in addition to a platoon player for Jones (if he stays) in addition to re-signing ARam. What the WS shows me is that you need to improve enough to win the division and after that it's just a matter of who gets hot at the right time. Playing in cold weather sites obviously helps the pitching (except for throwing to 1B), but a WS in a warmer climate might have been a pitcher's nightmare.

I don't understand why they would sign him and then trade him for next to nothing. I would think the Yankees are expecting a little more than "next to nothing."

Agreed, the last thing I am worried about is Aramis signing now. Larger, fish are ready to be caught. Let's go get a stud bat and a stud pitcher and play in late October come 07. There aren't any fish much larger than ARam. I'm hoping your indifference is based on the thought that he will re-sign with the Cubs. If he leaves, Hendry has to get 2-3 impact bats and 2 good pitchers. I can't see Hendry being able to accomlish that.

Don't you know that a #4 starter is all that's keeping us from the WS?

I think there are players out there in FA and in the trade talks that can help the Cubs rather than Alou or Sheffield. Granted both of these players CAN be very productive, but I'd like to see some players who are near their prime rather than 3-4 years past their prime. Of course, they will probably go to other teams and hit a ton and then I will have to eat my words, but I would still rather look elsewhere.

The Cubs motto for 2007: Zambrano, Matsuzaka, and Hill then go take a pill.

I would hope he would be a target because he fills the role of an additional power hitter and he fills the CF hole with outstanding defense. Another reason is that the Braves might be good trade partners is because they will want young players, unlike the Yankees. Assuming he only stayed one year, it would be a great way to ease Pie into playing in the majors.

Relax people, it's Scott Boras talking. Nobody listens to those ridiculous numbers he throws out. As for the no-trade contract, I would think Andruw will approve any trade that will get him an extension for a decent amount of money (but not $20 million per).

I look for Girardi to sit out the year as a broadcaster, take the Marlins money, and then take over the Yankees job next year when Torre retires.

While he could be posturing to drive up Burrell's value, this is a change from earlier statements. A GM saying there is a strong possibility that his current left fielder, who is under contract for a couple year, is going to be his left fielder, is hardly a ringing endorsement. If Gillick can get anything of value and relieve himself of most of Burrell's contract, he will be traded asap.

And I feel that people would be more than happy if he let Ramirez walk and added Lee and Soriano, or if the replacement for Ramirez was Tejada or ARod, and he added a Jones like bat as the addition. If he lets Ramirez walks and does nothing, he'll get grilled. But as long as he does something that can be passed off as adding to the roster, he won't get killed. Lots of people want Ramirez gone, not to mention the group that isn't that desperate to see him extended. The only problem with letting ARam go is that the replacement players will all cost you something in trade. Using an example like Tejada, if Hendry trades Hill, Cedeno, and Gallagher, Hendry will hear about the fact that he gave up 3 good young players for equal production. Also, trading these young players means your pool of players to trade to fill the other holes is diminished. Attitude or not, the wisest decision is to add to ARam and not replace him.

BenMaller.com is hinting that a Burrell-Beltre trade might make sense. Both players have a lot of money owed and the Phillies need a 3B and protection for Ryan Howard.