Little Slide Rooter

I think it was more of a straw that broke the camels back thing than just that offense. Considering that it's the last year of his contract and then the 8 mil buyout option, I personally think it would be foolish to trade him for nothing, as if he's ever going to pitch like the ace he paid to be, next year would be it. He's got a lot riding on 2012.

Dopirak had one year when he just raked, and I don't mean Jusint Bour/Richard Jones raked, I mean proper top prospect raked. I forget if it was high or low A.

And none of them are as young or healthy as Jeff Baker. Yes, but there's a solid chance they'd be better, and for a 1 year deal, I'd be willing to take the chance.

Still have to wonder whether Hendry had been aware of the Angels desperation for an outfielder he could have moved Soriano. At least he's somewhat productive.

Yeah, every now and then you hear about it with recently signed international players, but this is the first I've heard of it with an established big leaguer.

This should be in general baseball discussions but it isn't.

It's possible that we could get someone like Mark DeRosa, Mike Cameron, or Andruw Jones on a 1 year 1 mil type contract.

Probably more of a backup plan than leverage.

The problem is, it's unlikely already that we'll compete next year if we keep the current team intact and add Fielder and Wilson. If you start downgrading CF, LF, and the rotation, it becomes even more unlikely to compete. I don't see the rotation downgrade. You're basically switiching Z for Wilson, and hoping for Cashner and Wells to be healthy. It's an upgrade over what we had this year. As for the OF, I think you mean RF. Time will tell if Jackson will be a downgrade over Byrd in CF, and Sorianos likely still in LF.

GFIB

I'm thinking in terms of not giving up on next season. If you can trade Soriano and get any measure of salary relief, do it. However, trading Z and only getting minimal salary relief or trading Byrd at all is very counterproductive. If people hate the idea of a Flaherty/Baker platoon at third where offense across the league is almost non-existant, wait til they think about a Reed/Colvin platoon in right where offense actually exists. The backloading might work, only if payroll is bumped up a little. I think we have something in the area of $30-40 million coming off the books after arbitration this offseason (largely depending on how Pena's extra $5 mil is counted), so to bring back Aramis and add both Fielder and Wilson you'd probably have to do something like this: Aramis: 2 years - 8/17 (25 mil total) Fielder: 8 years - 18/22/23/24/25/28/30/30 (200 mil total) Wilson: 5 years - 10/18/22/25/25 (100 mil total) That's adding $36 mil next year, which would fall inside of that range that I've seen estimated to this point. You'd have to fill literally everything else internally and might have to bump payroll up a bit, but it might be doable. If there is a way to have all three on the team next year, I'm all for that. I'm just uncomfortable assuming a bump in payroll when Ricketts may not authorize one. That's why I've been assuming we can only have 2 of the 3 on the team. I wouldn't say "give up" next season, but we'd be building toward 2013 and beyond. Anyone who doesn't figure into those plans should be moved. This is why I keep saying try to trade Marlon Byrd although he's relatively cheap and productive, and probably better than whoever would replace him. I'd take that Reed/Colvin or LaHair platoon for now, and upgrade next year or mid season if we're contending. Maybe we could get something like what we got for DeRosa for him. Sean Marshall is another guy we could move. He's a great, cheap set up guy, but with guys like Shark, Carpenter, Dolis, and Beliveau, we have options.

I'm sure of you go to some little soul food joint down south, or even a Chicago neighborhood that your prefer not enter into, it would be a ton better than any of those, but if your talking chain, KFCs original recipe is the standard. There was a place in Evanston on Ridge called "The Chicken Shack" that was amazing. No idea if it's still there though. They had something called chicken bits, that I'd prefer not know exactly what they were, but they were amazing.

The Braves last 3 games are vs. the Phillies, while the Cards have 1 more with the Mets and then the Cubs and Astros. Braves better hope that the Phils can lock up the 10oth win befoe they play them and just let the kids play the last 3 games. The Brewers only have the Marlins and Pirates, but they're all away games. I doubt they have much to worry about, but I'd sure love to see them fold. As much as I don't want the Cards to get in, Cards/Brewers in the NLCS would be interesting, though I don't see the Cards taking out the Phils, and The Brewers might have trouble with the D Backs.

At least Bryan LaHair hasn't proven that he can't hit big league pitching yet.

Maybe a fast food seafood chain logo.

If by giving Aramis $16 million you can't afford that elite talent, then yes it certainly does decrease your odds of acquiring those players. I'm working under the assumption that the Cubs don't raise payroll this year. If that's the case, they cannot afford Aramis, Wilson, and Fielder. Therefore, if you bring Aramis back, you cannot sign one of Fielder/Wilson. You can though. Do a bit of backloading. Try to trade Soriano and/or Zambrano for as much salary relief as possible. If you can't move Soriano, move Byrd for full relief of his salary. Remember how much money is coming off the books in the next 2 years. Fukudome, Bradley/Silva, Zambrano, Dempster, Grabow, Byrd, and then finally Soriano. Assuming our rotation starts with Wilson, Garza, Cashner once Z and Dempster are gone, in time we sign or trade for another middle of the rotation type starter and hope we can bring up a #5 through the system. If our offensive core is Fielder, Ramirez, Castro, Jackson, and Soto. In 2013, we go out and get an outfielder. Doesn't have to be Matt Kemp who could end up with a 200Mil deal.

http://shop.customscooters.com/images/razorparts/on_off_button.jpg For the love of Jah please...There's only so much going nowhere conversation can entertain in a night....There's two paragraphs there that answers your question that doesn't mention a word of CJ Wilson. If it doesn't satisfy you say so so I can file it with my Department of Care. At the very least pretend you're doing something more than just being annoying. Those two paragraphs were swell (though don't necessarily back up the idea that he doesn't have "untapped potential"), but then you capped it off as if someone was suggesting pursuing Price as opposed to Wilson. The closest to that is WSR's nonsensical monster trade spitballing. Those two paragraphs also make the eyes part more glaring, too. There are other options to CJ Wilson, who will be the prized pig to any team looking for starting pitching. Yes, we can afford him, but so do others. The only way you can guarantee him is if you do a Sorianoesque blow everyone else out of the water contract offer. Otherwise, there are options available through trade. James Shields is already rumored to be available. Brandon Morrow is another guy who there has always been talk of him having ace stuff, though it has yet to translate. Any of these guys will be costly, but we need an upgrade in the rotation. I wouldn't call my trade proposal nonsensical. Soriano could be attractive to them if they don't have to pay much. Soto too, assuming we're comfortable with the Castillo/Clevenger tandem. Marshalls a great releiver, and we have guys who can hopefuly take his place. Barney and Colvin would basically be throw ins to sweeten the deal to try to work Upton into it, though they might prefer a few prospects to them. Maybe it's giving up a lot, but that front end starting pitcher is what we really need.

Unless I'm missing something, I don't believe Ramirez even has the right to decline. That is what makes it a "team" option. I think his comments are just assuming that the team won't pick his option up and, since there is no GM in place, he knows that it is unlikely that any negotiations will take place prior to the free agency filing date. Its a team option, but Aramis has the right to decline it, thus it's basically a mutual option.

read it as this. Thought things were getting interesting.

Since this seems to be the general offseason target thread for now, I'll just throw this out there: Soriano+as much of the money owed to him as necessary, Soto, Marshall(hopefully between Shark, Carpenter, Dolis, and Beliveau we can fill his void), Barney, and Colvin for James Shields and BJ Upton. Laugh away if you will.

Yeah, but so were CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, and Victor Martinez. I think that Sizemore could be had for a package revolving around Z as long as were paying a huge chunk of Zs bill. The Indians definitely have their share of holes, so a deal could be very strikeable. Z isn't an ace, and probably never will be but he'd be a great 3-4 guy in most big league rotations as long as he can keep his head on straight. Maybe a smaller market team would do him good. As long as the Cubs are wiling to pick up 75-90% of the bill somebody should bit and give us something of some degree of value in return.

When theyre down 7-1? What would be the point in that other than just being spiteful pricks?

Garzas looking nasty today.

Ack, take it down, take it down.