Backtobanks

Is there anyone that Todd Walker isn't being traded for?

I love Sammy, but I'm not crazy enough to agree to give him $1 million to sit on the bench. Let's take that $1 million and add it to the "Furcal Fund" or "Giles Fund".

Also, M. Giles might be available, if Furcal re-signs with the Braves and there have been rumors about Castillo.

I think Sosa's future is in Japan. He could go over there and make a lot of money, hit a lot of homers, and be idolized. He's not going to do any of those three things in the majors anymore. I really don't think Sammy's ego could take sitting on the bench and pinch hitting once a week.

Does anyone really think Sarge would have any idea of who Hendry is after?

Cliff Floyd is the perfect fit for RF assuming he stays healthy. That has always been the question mark about him. The stats you provided show what he's capable of doing as long as he stays healthy.

Thome, to me, is a perfect player for the AL. He can be an excellent 1B, but with his back problems the future is more likely part time 1B/part time DH.

I think having Wilkerson would be fantastic, but do you think they are looking at him as a CF or as a RF? Furcal Murton Lee Giles/Abreu etc Ramirez Wilkerson Barett Cedeno Wow. Wilkerson doesn't have the production numbers to play RF. Bradley or Wilkerson have great numbers for a CF, but would be below average in production for RF.

I agree with you, I just don't see what Hendry is sseing in this guy. To put him on the same "untradeable" level as Pie is ridiculous. Having said that, I hope Hill learns a third pitch and proves me wrong.

That would be good I haven't been a big Pierre fan. I've been pretty interested in picking him up as a salary dump, while paying little. If Cubs also acquire Furcal, and trade for Pierre and he bats second, he might lose all his SB value; how often will he try to steal in front of Lee and Aram? When there was talk of Pierre for Corey, I was enthused about that, because Corey at $2.5 is way expensive for a guy who isn't going to start. He's an expendable guy, so if Corey is a central piece, add in a Mitre and you've maybe got a deal, awesome. But with "young arms" plural, it depends on the arms. Now we aren't just talking about unloading Corey's lousy contract. Thinking it's going to be Wellemeyer/Novoa types, guys we don't want anyway, is wishful thinking. Nolasco and Marshall, that's a different equation. Nolasco and Hill, that's a different equation. I see Corey, Mitre, Wellemeyer, and Novoa as guys who are expendable. Corey's salary is too high and he's pretty worthless if you've acquired an every-day CF. Mitre and Wellemeyer are out of options, and don't seem qualified to make the team, so they'll need to be exposed to waivers come March. Even if they do make the team, they seem unlikely to be productive players. So giving up guys like that, great; that's sacrificing nothing, really. But if it's two out of the Hill, Nolasco, Marshall, Guzman, Mateo pool, that's a different and much more serious cost. I would hold on to Novoa if possible. I thought he did a pretty good job last year. Of course if a big time trade depended on including Novoa, then go ahead and do it.

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.