Little Slide Rooter

butler is a nice player, but i'd really like my first baseman to hit for more power than he does. Doesn't he play 3rd as well?

Any chance of shifting Lake to 2B or 3B sooner than later?

That's why I want to move him. I really can't see the 2012 team contending. For this reason, Byrd is the guy with some legit trade value. You really can't? We had an average offense last year, at least one of our main competitors is likely to get much weaker and we have a bunch of money to spend and a smart guy to spend it. Oh, yea, and we basically had a bunch of corpses as starting pitchers 30 times last year. I think they could, if constructed that way, but Theo will be building in the interest of the future. If we could get some prospects for Marlon Byrd, and then acquire a younger guy for RF that's what will likely happen. If not, like Mojo said earlier there's no urgrency to trade him and if nothing else, move him at the deadline. My main point is that I don't think that there will be a lot of big changes, and unless a top starting pitcher becomes availbale through trade, the only addition I'd expect is Fielder and some guys from the farm. Why would trading what few prospects we have for a starter be a better move for the future than signing CJ Wilson and keeping all of our minor leaguers? And I still don't get what we're going to do with all that extra baseball money if we don't spend it on MLB payroll. Spend it when the right fit comes along. CJs been great in his 2 years as a starter, especially in a hitters park but I really don't see him as a 18-20 mil guy. If it comes down to that, I'd just as soon let the Yankees, Red Sox, and Nationals fight it out for him and hope that next year we can get someone like Cain, Lincecum, Hamels, or Danks. I guess it depends on how much they want to spend this offseason. Fielder will easily be 22-25 mil/year. Then add Wilson at say, 15-17 mil, which is the most I'd want to spend on him. The good news is that we don't need to spend any money on the pen. Unless we can get Aaron Hill for cheap, we don't really need to fill anyother holes, so if they want to go in that direction they could sign both Fielder and Wilson. I'm not saying I wouldn't like to see it, I'm just not expecting it.

Same here, because they can always go to "well we don't know where he's at after the injury" or something in that area pertaining to arm strength and the injury. I'd rather see him go all Matt Latos on their asses. Yeah, have several guys that could be potential closers, such as Carpenter, Kurcz, Dolis, Beliveau, and Marshall. Quality starting pitching is far more important and harder to come by. They need to give him a few years in the rotation, and if durability proves to be an issue, then maybe move him to the pen.

That's why I want to move him. I really can't see the 2012 team contending. For this reason, Byrd is the guy with some legit trade value. You really can't? We had an average offense last year, at least one of our main competitors is likely to get much weaker and we have a bunch of money to spend and a smart guy to spend it. Oh, yea, and we basically had a bunch of corpses as starting pitchers 30 times last year. I think they could, if constructed that way, but Theo will be building in the interest of the future. If we could get some prospects for Marlon Byrd, and then acquire a younger guy for RF that's what will likely happen. If not, like Mojo said earlier there's no urgrency to trade him and if nothing else, move him at the deadline. My main point is that I don't think that there will be a lot of big changes, and unless a top starting pitcher becomes availbale through trade, the only addition I'd expect is Fielder and some guys from the farm.

Looks like Truffles still here, but how many dingos and wallabies died at his hands last night?

I tuned this game off in the 5 th when it was 4-3 Rangers, and all I can say now is did this really happen? My only theory is that there are in fact Baseball Gods and they want us to endure The Cardinals miracle season before things start going right for us.

That's why I want to move him. I really can't see the 2012 team contending. For this reason, Byrd is the guy with some legit trade value.

I have no problem with Dempster back on a 1 year, maybe 2, but that's it. we have Garza, Cashner, and Wells as far as pitchers past 2012. I'd very much like to see a legit front end guy added to one of those spots. I have no problem with Dempster fillinf the other for now. Then again, it depends on how guys like McNutt, Struck, and Rhee progress.

If the season started tomorrow, the depth chart would look like this, going off of guys on the 40 ma roster: 1B: Baker, LaHair 2B: Barney, Baker, DeWitt SS: Castro, Barney 3B: DeWitt,LeMahieu, Baker RF: Colvin, LaHair CF: Byrd, Campana LF: Soriano, Colvin, LaHair C: Soto, Clevenger SP: Garza SP: Zambrano SP: Wells SP: Coleman SP: Cashner CL: Marmol RP: Marshall RP: Samardzjia RP: Carpenter RP: Russell RP: Dolis RP: Gaub For starters, we can replaceColeman with Dempster, as I can't imagine him not returning. Replacing Wells is a possiblity as well I can't see Epstein shelling out close to 100 mil for CJ Wilson. Someone like Maholm or a trade makes more sense. Maybe even Samardzjia as there has been talk of. However, I don't think that there will be an urgency to add a new SP unless Zambrano is traded, especially considering the lack of options, and next years potential crop is far more appealing. The pen: Swapping Gaub for Beliveau sounds likely. I also wouldnt be shocked to see Guzman replace Dolis. The corner IF spots look mighty ugly. I'd like to put Fielder at 1B for now. He's more of a cornerstone than a win now guy. Id put the Cubs at 3 years before they get back to where they want to be. Fielders 28 now, and he'll still be in his prime by then. For now, he can help fill some empty seats. Aramis would look nice at 3rd, but I really can't see them both. Not saying it's impossible, but I can't see it. For the time being, I think that DeWitt and LeMahieu could end up platooning. Also, Baker will likely be traded. Add Ryan Flaherty The outfield: Put Brett Jackson in CF. Shift Marlon Byrd to RF. then trade Marlon Byrd. For RF, maybe we could make a trade for someone like Melky Cabrera or perhaps Michaely Taylor or someone like that. I don't see a huge aquisition. This would leave 1 spot left for an OF. Probably either LaHair, Colvin, or Campana, unless they go out and get a righty. I'll stick with Colvin for now. That could be it for the offseason, like it or not. Remember, Theo said he plans to build the team with the future in mind. This being said, the Opening day depth chart could look like. Pretty: no, but we'll need to be patient. 1B: Fielder 2B: Barney, Flaherty, DeWitt SS: Castro, Barney, Flaherty 3B: DeWitt, LeMahieu RF: Cabrera, Flaherty CF: Jackson, Colvin LF: Soriano, Flaherty C: Soto, Clevenger SP: Garza SP: Dempster SP: Zambrano SP: Cashner SP: Wells CL: Marmol RP: Marshall RP: Samardzjia RP: Guzman RP: Carpenter RP: Russell RP: Beliveau

Much more expensive.

Most? I'd say most Cubs fans do. Disagree.

delightful.

I think if The Yankees were ever going to trade for Zambrano it would have been this past summer.

Which one is which? A: Free agent after 2012, 4.8 WAR last 3 years, Best 3 seasons - 4.2, 1.7, 1.6 B: Free agent after 2012, 7.8 WAR last 3 years, Best 3 seasons - 4.4, 3.9, 3.2 Going forward, Cabrera is a better bet to outproduce Byrd with the 7 year age advantage and all. For just next year? I wouldn't say that with any certainty. In any case, Cabrera is potential candidate to be traded since the Royals have a crowded outfield and Lorenzo Cain waiting in the wings. But he won't come cheap. He's an asset they have to capitalize on, and with last year he's a pretty sure-fire bet to get draft compensation. True. Looking at the Royals offense, they seem to have a top prospect at virtually every positon. What they need is pitching, ideally young pitching. McNutt and Cashner and certainly Garza are too much to give up for one year with a question mark. Maybe if we were to put together a package built around young pitchers like Jackson, Carpenter, Dolis, Russell, Coleman, Beliveau, Struck, Simpson, Searle etc. Maybe even Samardjzia or Wells Obviously not all of them, but you know what I mean. Maybe then turn around and flip Byrd somewhere else for a few more young pitchers and cash.

I was thinking a corner spot. I know he doesn't have corner power, but it could develope. Byrd and Soriano. We have enough holes to fill without creating new ones and wasting resources on holes that aren't there. Trade Byrd. Melky has a higher ceiling, and Byrd could bring in a decent package, maybe similar to the Derosa package.

I was thinking a corner spot. I know he doesn't have corner power, but it could develope.

Could he be a decent option through trade assuming we don't have to give up too much? The Royals have Gordon and Franceur at the corners, and Lorenzo Cain could take over for Melky in center if they want to move him rather than extend him. Sure, he hasn't been great, but he seemed to have a breakout last season. Could have been a fluke, but didn't Theo himself say that the start of a players prime is 26? Melky turned 27 2 months ago. He might not have corner outfield power, or even be an upgrade over Byrd, for now anyway but if the price was right I'd definitely be all for giving him a chance.

Just because a song is written about something you like doesn't make it good.

Not happening. Theo said as much today. We've made a huge mistake. LOL. Well, you know Theo and Eddie are buds. Theo was on Waddle and Silvy and said eventually EV will be playing at Wrigley. That song gives me goose bumbs. It gives me an upset stomach.

I definitely could have lived without All The Way, but Vedder has given us enough good music, the majority of it in the 90's that I can't find it in my heart to hate him.

Wasn't this pretty much assumed all along?

[expletive], this has already been the greatest offseason of our lifetime and they havn't even started on the players. Keep em coming Theo.

The Cubs finally have what they've been missing for over 100 years: an intelligent and competant front office.

Back. I remember he said if he didn't get better he'd call it quits.