Backtobanks

The Tribune reported that the Twins are looking at Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza, or Nomar for DH next year.

I think out of all these positions, CF is the only one that doesn't have any players the Cubs would be interested in in free agency. Giles and Furcal should be top starters, there are a handful of innings eaters avaliable and the market is always rich in relievers. The only position I'd be weary of adding in free agency is RP, because they're so inconsistant. For example, two years ago Howry was signed as a minor league free agent, now he's looking for a 3-year deal. The reason might be that we have players that are out of options, rule 5 players that we might lose anyway, and extra players clogging the roster (Patterson, Walker, etc.) if certain players are acquired.

So much for signing Furcal by Monday.

Ichiro would get about 80 bunt hits on the Wrigley turf.

If Furcal wants more than 4 years/$36 million, don't forget the other option besides Nomar. Move Cedeno back to SS and trade for Castillo, M. Giles, etc. to play 2B. Also, trading for Lugo to play SS at about half of Furcal's price might be an option. Getting Pierre and using Castillo or M. Giles solidifies the defense up the middle and gives us a #1 & #2 in the lineup. Call his bluff JH.

I could see the Sox including Garland in a trade for Helton or Delgado, but never to their crosstown rivals.

Pie for Pierre ---- No way. The Cubs need to remember what happened in the Lou Brock trade. The only possibility of trading Pie should be to acquire a young, established, and cheap star.

How about Pete Rose? He kept getting those hits until he was about 40.

The New York Post is reporting that Ichiro may want to be traded because he doesn't see a winning team in the near future in Seattle. Ichiro would certainly look good playing CF and batting at the top of the order for the Cubs.

I questioned that after the Perez signing. With all of these middle infielders (Walker, Perez, Cedeno, Hairston, and rumors of going after Furcal), I would think 2 are leaving. Assuming Walker is leaving and Hairston's ability to back up CF, that leaves Cedeno or Perez to go someplace.

Where are the rumors that they're shopping Z. I thought this was thrown out there by one of us.

I root against the White Sox and have for 50 years, but when you look at results Ozzie deserved it and Kenny Williams should have won Exec. of the Year. They were in 1st place all year and ended up with 99 wins with a team that wasn't favored to win the Division.

No rumblings. Just throwing it out there if we can't get Giles. There are more good pitchers available in free agency than good bats. If trading Zambrano meant getting Abreu, and then the Cubs turned around and signed Burnett, I think that would be okay. I'm worried about Zambrano's health. Zambrano is 2 years away from free agency - if he signs 1-year deals (Boras is his agent) the Cubs will pay him $5-6M in 2006 and $8-10M in 2007. For that same amount, you can probably get Burnett signed for the first 2 years of a 4-year deal. The Cubs had a chance to trade Lieber and a prospect for Rolen during Spring Training a few years ago. They didn't do the deal. 4 months later, Lieber is having TJ surgery, and Rolen went to St. Louis. If the Phillies offered Abreu and some cash for Zambrano, I'd do it. I'll reiterate - Brian Giles is my first focus. No way I trade Zambrano for Abreu. With Wood & Burnett as your #2 and #3 pitchers you had better keep 7 starters.

That combo won't happen unless there are injuries involved. If Furcal isn't signed, there will be a trade for a SS or 2B. Players such as Lugo, M. Giles, Castillo, Soriano, etc. are available.

It is nice to read a rational post without ranting about what an idiot JH is. I am a big supporter of JH and I do think he has a plan in place, but the signing of Perez is a little hard to understand. I do think Floyd would be a good pickup for RF. I think there is a big deal or two out there because of all of the spare parts he seems to be accumulating. With those spare parts, Rule 5 players, tons of money, and prospects, he ought to build a team that can contend.

I predict Ronnie Cedeno will be the starting SS for the Cubs ..............in 2017, when he signs a $40 million dollar/4 year contract as a 37 year old. The Cubs will be willing to spend the money because of his 7 All-Star appearances and 8 Gold Gloves.

You think the Cubs can make those two deals and not have Walker be part of them? Especially now that we have more middle IF than pitchers.

Let's take a look at the situations here: Sign Furcal, keep Walker Neifi is redundant with Cedeno already around, bad move. Sign Nomar, keep Walker Same thing, you don't need two players for the same job, and you don't need to be signing one to a two year deal when the other is much younger, cheaper, and in all likelihood better. Sign Furcal/Nomar, trade Walker Now we have Cedeno and Neifi both vying for 2B. Uh-oh. Bad move. Sign no one, keep Walker Same thing, except at SS. Can't have those tailing throws messing things up. Sign Furcal/Nomar, keep Walker, trade Cedeno This is the only situation where Neifi isn't excessive, or at high-risk to be the everyday starter. How likely is this situation, and what are the odds keeping Neifi and trading Cedeno improves the team? This is a terrible, terrible move. I'm just wondering whether Cedeno is going to be used in a trade. With Cedeno, Walker, Perez, Hairston, and Furcal (?) as middle infielders, I would think that 2 of them have to go. Obviously, Walker is gone. I would think Hairston's ability to back up CF would keep him on the team. So, I was wondering about Cedeno as part of a package for Castillo. I still think Cedeno is going to be a good IF for a lot of years, but you have to wonder about the signing of Perez. As some people suggested (hoped), maybe some team wants Perez and wanted a 2-year contract.

If we can get him cheap, go for it. If he acts like a jerk, as of now we still have Patterson and Hairston to play CF. Sign Furcal and get an impact player for RF (Giles ??) you have a very good lineup with depth and plenty of players as trade bait (Walker, Patterson, Rusch/Williams, any Rule 5 players left, prospects).

I agree that if we can get Mench cheap (for Rule 5 players), then I would go for it. Not only does he give you another option in the OF and a pinch hitter with power, but adds to the depth of our trade bait. You put him in with Walker, Patterson, Rusch/Williams, and prospects or Rule 5 players and you ought to fill in one or two holes that could be left after the free agents sign.

They really run the gamut on the OFs mentioned. Young, old, high OBP, low OBP, over the hill, lots of potential, etc.

I've said that every time I read one of these posts. The Cubs have enough holes without making a new hole to plug one of them. The Cubs have a ton of money to spend and lots of spare parts (Walker, Patterson, Rusch, Williams, Mitre, Welly, etc.) to fill the holes without trading Zambrano, Prior, Lee, Ramirez, or Pie.

Did I miss something in this deal or are the Cubs getting Abreu and giving up only $2 million? I'll go for that deal any day.

I like the 3rd deal listed above. It would solve CF, RF, aand leadoff if we don't get Furcal. Also, it solve the problem of "what to do about Patterson?"

Ben Maller (http://www.benmaller.com) speculates where the elite free agents will end up: Konerko- White Sox 5 yrs. $65 million Giles - Cards 3 years $27 million (We can offer more than that) Furcal - Cubs 4 years $36 million Damon - Red Sox 4 years $42.5 million (They can have him at that price) Burnett - Blue Jays 4 years $50 million ( See Damon) Wagner - Phils 3 years $30 million Ryan - Yanks 4 years $30 million Additional comment: He says that the Yanks could sign Eyre, Sauerbeck, Dotel, & Howry for less than Ryan.