Backtobanks

I've never been a Dunn fan and I say no to Dunn unless the Cubs could get him very cheap (which isn't going to happen).

Iztuirz could fill the roles Shapiro is looking for to improve his infield defense at second base or shortstop. It's a lot easier to hide a guy like Izzy in your lineup with the benfit of the DH in AL lineups. The Indians were second last season in the AL in runs scored. If Hafner plays more 1B next season and Indians find some outifled/DH help this offense will l become even more lethal . There's fews team that can afford to have Izzy in there lineup it's the Indians. The Indians other offseason needs are outfield and a closer. Cordero's option has been picked up.Dotel had a 10.80 area last season and struggled to regain velocity. A nice gamble for some teams but with Larry Dolan giving the Shapiro a nice boost in payroll he'll expect more. They might see Dempsters struggles as being magnified by his erractic use this offseason and a vaule at 4.5 million considering that 37 year old Bob Wickman just got a 6.5 million one year deal. Jones who if reports are true might want out might make a attractive option for a replacement for Blake who would be sent the Cubs in this deal and might welcome a chance to return to the AL central. Dempster/Izturis/Jones/ 2 million in cash in Exchange for Casey Blake/Trevor Crowe/ Young arm Year Team Lg Age Org. Level Pos G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO HBP IBB SH SF DP AVG OBP SLG OPS 2003 Arizona NCAA 19 NCAA 53 187 34 59 14 2 2 35 13 4 9 32 1 1 3 3 .316 .345 .444 789 2004 Arizona NCAA 20 NCAA 58 203 53 71 13 9 5 33 26 1 21 39 2 1 0 7 .350 .416 .576 992 cws-as, as 2005 Arizona NCAA 21 NCAA 60 263 83 106 25 15 9 54 27 6 36 30 4 0 3 4 .403 .477 .715 1192 mvp, as, amer Mahoning V NYPL 21 Cle A- of 12 51 9 13 2 1 1 6 4 3 6 8 1 0 0 0 0 .255 .345 .392 737 Lake Cty SAL 21 Cle A of 44 178 18 46 8 2 0 23 7 5 18 25 1 1 0 2 4 .258 .327 .326 653 Akron East 21 Cle AA of 3 10 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 .100 .100 .100 200 2006 Lake Cty SAL 22 Cle A of 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 000 Kinston Caro 22 Cle A+ of 60 219 51 72 15 2 4 31 29 6 48 46 2 0 1 3 6 .329 .449 .470 919 Akron East 22 Cle AA of 39 154 20 36 7 2 1 13 16 6 20 24 0 1 0 2 6 .234 .318 .325 643 Minor League Totals - 2 Season(s) 160 617 99 168 32 7 6 73 56 20 92 107 4 2 1 7 16 .272 .367 .376 743 Trevor Crowe is a former first round pick and #10 on Baseball America's Indians prospect. A guy that projects to be good top of the order hitter that will allow the Cubs in the future to slot Pie further down in the oder Casey Blake 3.75 million Blake makes for an expensive utility guy. 1B/3B/RF/LF/PH/DH AVG .282 | HR 19 | RBI 68 | OBP .356 | SLG .479 If he can give the Cubs similar production in limited time next season he will be worth it. 4.5 Jones /4.5 Dempster/ Izzy 4.25/ 13.25 M - 5.75 = 7.50 in freed up payroll. It looks like Rusch will retire and the Cubs will have another 3.25 million. Sign Wood to a one year 3 million dollar deal with incentives and Sign Miller to a 2 Million dollar with a mutal option for a second year. The extra six million along with depatures of Pierre ,the midseason deals Maddux/Williamson/Walker/Nefi/Mabry and Wood's contract off the books and the payroll expected to be at least 100 million Hendry can make a push. Signing Schmidt and Soranio will be a major step in the right direction. With the options of exploring Carlos Lee, Edmonds, A.Jones/M.Ramiez/ Arod/Tejeda Hendry might have the youngs arms and cash to explore signing or trading for another big bat. Sounds good to me. I couldn't get much out of the stats you presented for Crowe, but getting rid of Jones, Dempster, and Izturis together makes it a simple case of addition by subtraction.

I'm not so sure about that. I think the Yanks will move AROD. I can't imagine how bad next year will be for him. The fans are going boo him beyond belief next year. If he's not traded it'll be a very long year for him... To all of you Piniella bashers, It's a shame Hendry didn't quickly sign Piniella and then he could go to the Yankees with ARod as our compensation.

Exactly. If they are gonna spend all that money, get 4 #1 starters. You can assemble the best offensive lineup in baseball, but on any given night they can get shut down by good pitching, its that simple. Offseason Headline: Yankees sign Zito, Scmidt, and Matsuzaka

It is questionable whether either one would accept a one year deal (Sheffield certainly should), but they would both expect a lot of money.

I think I've read a few articles questioning whether ARod could play SS again because he has bulked up since moving to 3B and might not have the range needed for SS.

You had me until the 8th spot. I keep forgetting he's still with the team. Unfortunately he is.

You MUST be on the Ganja! What in the world do the Yankme's want Scott more for? Marlin's make out like made. If the Yankees get Cabrera and add Scott Moore to the Marlins, then I can see the Cubs getting Arod by giving up Murton, Pie, and Moore. Sure I could see that. Throw in one of the pitching prospects to give Florida more reason to do it. I'd love to have Arod, but the new regime seems to want to win while developing for the future. Giving up Pie, Murton, and Moore means many more years of looking for free agent positional players without developing your own.

He's just playing coy and is getting ready to sign Dave Duncan to manage.[/quote] Hopefully he would bring his kid with him.

Free Agents: 1. Schmidt 2. Matsuzaka 3. Soriano 4. Craig Wilson 5. Zito Trade Prospects: 1. Cabrera 2. ARod 3. Andruw Jones 4. Crawford 5. Drew

Hendry might need a little time to hire a manager, but assuming all of the speculation (Girardi, Brenly, Piniella) is correct he could at least start interviewing these three. If he's interested in others they can be interviewed later.

It might win a championship if the five starters average 22 wins and .05 ERA because that lineup is pitiful.

I understand the gist of your post, but you have to realize that Florida has no fan base and no big-city media to deal with. If they took 2 hours or 2 years to hire a manager, would anyone care? If they hired Gonzalez or Showalter, would anyone care? Either Girardi or Brenly would be a good choice. And Jim would not face critisism because "on the whole". Cubs fans like both those guys. I'm not sure where pressure of a fan base comes in on this arguement. I simply stated Florida knew who they want, and went out and got a GOOD GUY in 1 days time. There is no excuse not to go ahead and sign either Brenely or Girardi. There is no excuse to take a MONTH to get your manager signed when there is so much more to do. It just shows this orginazation's lack of desire. It is important to go out and get a manager and get ramirez re-signed before the world series is even over. My point boils down to. I like the way Florida does it, and I wish the Cubs could show the same drive to go out and just "get it done". I agree that either would be okay with me, but you know Chicago fans (and NSBB posters) and the media will analyze and criticize whichever move he makes for the next 2-3 years (unless the manager wins a WS).

I understand the gist of your post, but you have to realize that Florida has no fan base and no big-city media to deal with. If they took 2 hours or 2 years to hire a manager, would anyone care? If they hired Gonzalez or Showalter, would anyone care?

He did promise to do an extensive search for a new manager, but assuming the speculation is true about Girardi, Piniella, and Brenly, he could at least start interviewing them. If he has someone else in mind that he has to wait for, so be it, but go ahead and start the interviews with the available candidates.

We all know that pitching is the name of the game, but the Cubs' offense wouldn't win many games unless the pitching staff throws 80 shutouts. I do think one FA starter (Zito or Schmidt) with Miller re-signed might get by. Zambrano, Zito/Schmidt, Hill, Prior, Marshall/Mateo/Guzman would be okay, but we need a Soriano/Andruw Jones along with Craig Wilson to platoon with JJones before we can say the offense is okay.

The funny thing about all three is they are all a bit similar. If that's the case go for the one that's going to cost the less. If Girardi wants to get back at the Marlins, he can sign for next to nothing and the Marlins would have to pay the difference.

I can see the headlines now: Baker signs with the Rangers Wood signs with the Rangers Prior traded to the Rangers First two spring training games, Wood taken out with a sore arm after throwing 240 pitches and Prior removed with stiffness in his elbow after throwing 197 pitches. Both players are day to day.

McDonough in the Trib seemed to emphasize that the new manager ought to understand the uniqueness of the city, the fans, and the Cubs. To me that sounds like Girardi should have the inside track with Brenly 2nd and Piniella third. Of course, he also stated that the decision would be Hendry's.

I think all of the speculation (Piniella, Girardi, and Brenly) is probably accurate, so I don't see any reason to wait until November.

I do think certain players bring more to a team than just statistics. In Lee's case, it changes the dynamics of the lineup with your 3rd hitter out of the lineup. If you move someone up to bat third, you nake a hole somewhere else. Another perfect example is in a bullpen, where some pitchers can be set up men but not closers and vice versa. Also, there are some players who cannot be "the man" (ARAM?), but are outstanding players as the 2nd or 3rd best hitters on a team. I do believe in stats, but there are some "intangibles" that affect a team's play too.

Signing Zambrano to a new contract is a priority, but not quite the #1 priority on Hendry's mind. He needs to pick a manager and to re-sign ARam first. Zambrano's not going anywhere for awhile.

Unfortunately, I think the choice will be someone like Piniella. Hendry knows that he needs to get this team back to contention (83-85 wins) next year and going with a young manager who seems to have some "issues" isn't the answer. It would be nice to hire someone like Girardi and show some improvement next year with 2008 as the goal, but the new regime needs to make an impression next year.

I like the way you think.

I am amazed at how many people seem to think on this board that Dusty will be re-signed. There is zero chance of that happening especially now that MacPhail has resigned. The Cubs are trying to show fans that losing won't be tolerated and bringing back Dusty would certainly be a reversal of changing leadership at the top.