JoshiQ

This is what I don't get. We are stuck in a horrible position. Our major league team could possibly contend this year, but not the way they are built. And it's not like we are built for a breakout season in 2-3 years when all of our prospects are ready. So why save money unless we are planning more along the lines for 4-5 years from now? I don't see why this team can't have a breakout season within 3 years from now. We'll still have Marshall, Marmol (possibly), Soto and Castro (should be peaking or about to), Wells and Cashner on the ML team. A large number of our top prospects should be coming up or established in the majors by then as well. If we aren't a good to very good team by 2013 then more mistakes have been made personnel wise and/or a decent number of key prospects have flamed out. A catcher and a shortstop. No first baseman in site. You don't win with that second rate offense unless you have elite pitching. And the Cubs aren't close to having elite pitching. Don't forget the two relievers! Two relievers to go along with our pretty good catcher and shortstop. A dynasty in the making.

This is what I don't get. We are stuck in a horrible position. Our major league team could possibly contend this year, but not the way they are built. And it's not like we are built for a breakout season in 2-3 years when all of our prospects are ready. So why save money unless we are planning more along the lines for 4-5 years from now?

Butler would not be the worst option and its possible his HR totals could reach the low to mid 20's. He is young and has a great bat, possbily with hitting him between Ramirez and Soriano (whoever hits 5th) could be beneficial for him. He'd be the perfect project for Jaramillo. He hits a ton of doubles, and is a big guy, so it's not out of the question he could hit around 30 homers. Why on Earth would the Royals want to trade Billy Butler? He's not some ruined failed prospect who needs a change of scenery, he's actually good and he's still well below his prime and he's entering his 1st year of arbitration so he's going to still be affordable for the Royals. They have no reason to trade him The reason they can deal him is because they have Eric Hosmer waiting in the wings. They also have Mike Moustakos on the other side of the diamond coming up at the same time. And TONS of pitching. It makes sense to trade Butler and add something else that they may need in order to make a bonafide run in a few seasons. And they'd get more for Butler now than in the future. Yeah, but what do we have that they need? They aren't going to give us Butler for Colvin and some junk. They already have the corner spots fixed, pitchers galore, and probably moving Myers to the outfield. Not to mention that if they do actually trade Greinke, after also trading DeJesus, there is no way they will trade their last drawing card.

Butler would not be the worst option and its possible his HR totals could reach the low to mid 20's. He is young and has a great bat, possbily with hitting him between Ramirez and Soriano (whoever hits 5th) could be beneficial for him. He'd be the perfect project for Jaramillo. He hits a ton of doubles, and is a big guy, so it's not out of the question he could hit around 30 homers. Why on Earth would the Royals want to trade Billy Butler? He's not some ruined failed prospect who needs a change of scenery, he's actually good and he's still well below his prime and he's entering his 1st year of arbitration so he's going to still be affordable for the Royals. They have no reason to trade him Not to mention they are going to try and contend in 2012. 2012 will probably be the starting year for a lot of their prospects hitting the big time. Buter is a proven commodity and will still be fairly cheap at that point. They will probably want him there as the veteran influence.

Butler is going nowhere until Eric Hosmer is ready. Kila Ka'aihue, however, may be a possibility. He has some monster numbers at AAA, hasn't been given a real shot in the majors, but has been pretty unimpressive in his time up on the major league roster. He is also considered pretty good with the glove.

If anybody actually thinks the Cubs are going to sign Prince Fielder next year, they're nuts. It's probably time to stop looking at 1B as a way to provide major production for the next few years, and try to find it elsewhere. What a waste.

My pipe dream is still Gordon, but as with most pipe dreams, that isn't happening. Alex Gordon, right? 'cause I watch Gordon play a lot, living in KC, and I just don't see it. The Royals are my secondary favorite team, and I really want Gordon to come on and be what he was projected to be, but I don't think it's going to happen. In nearly 1500 ABs he has an OPS+ of 95 and is turning 27 this year. Sure, the Royals totally screwed with him as they give him a shot for 100 AB's, send him to the minors, call him back up, give him 100 ABs, send him back down....but he still has yet to show hardly anything past AAA. His AAA numbers are monsters, and he really is a fun guy to cheer for on a secondary team. But do I want him manning 1B for the Cubs for the next few years? Hell no.

Because management might spend the savings poorly isn't a reason to advocate them signing a bad deal. Much like the DeRosa trade was good even though they made the mistake of signing Aaron Miles because of it, advocating signing Dunn primarily because they might use those savings on Bobby Jenkins and Kevin Millwood isn't correct. I find it hard to believe that there are much better contracts being signed this year. In all of our fantasy worlds, sure, a player will get what he is due. Unless the player comes up through the system it's pretty hard to find a really good deal out there for a valuable player. And no, I don't mean overpay for guys like Soriano. That was horrendous. So will whatever Crawford signs for this year. The same can probably be said for Beltre. But Dunn has been extremely reliable and you know exactly what you're getting. For $14 million it's nearing the max to what I'd pay, but he was definitely the best choice as the market stands today.

Agreed. Throw me on the ban list with N&G. I suppose the argument will be that Dunn won't provide enough value over the mess we put out with to justify the extra money. But when that extra money we save will be spent on 3 year contracts to bullpen pitchers that suck and a bench player that backs up 2B I say it would be better spent to get the extra value out of Dunn. I've seen the Cubs do it too much. We don't want to spend $14 million because it's a few million too much. So instead we get a player that costs $8-9 million and isn't very good, and we spend the remaining six million we saved on a 3 mil/year reliever and maybe a backup catcher.

And if this happens it's why you don't look forward one year to free agency if you're a team like the Cubs. You sign good players, even if they aren't as good as the future FA, if you can.

This is just horrible, horrible news. You will be greatly missed, Ron!

I'd rather have Crawford. To me Crawford is one of those contracts that actually is too steep if it goes 8 years. Dunn for four years just wasn't that bad.

I bet you wanted Soriano a few years ago. That was definitely too steep. Uhh...no. That is mostly who I was referring to. Soriano was a horrible signing and something I hated from the minute it happened.

For once I'd like to spend the "too steep" of a price on a player I want.

He was by far my favorite Cub. I grew up watching him in the '80s and '90s...but I just didn't want him managing the Cubs. So I'll be wishing him good luck wherever he goes, but I'm kind of glad the headache is no longer there as to when he will be the manager.

Huh. I always thought Jersey Cubs Fan was like 19-23. I have no idea why I thought that, and I'm not trying to be insulting here, BTW.

I really don't see Greinke going to Boston or New York. He already has the anxiety issue. Watching him play all year it's pretty obvious he is on some heavy duty medicine. When he's a free agent I think he'll more likely go to a team that's contending, but not such a huge market. Anywhere from the Rangers to the Twins to maybe the Giants.

I was always a huge fan of Murton. I even went so far as to name my cat Murt. Since Murt died a week ago from a tumor this is a nice bit of news.

I was, then I moved from Kansas to Seattle. :-( This confuses me... Seattle is gorgeous and Kansas is, well, Kansas. I've been to Seattle, and it is very nice (especially since I went during the dry season). Kansas, I'll just say I've never been and I plan to keep it that way. Hey, now! Kansas has a bunch of ... cows. Actually, Kansas City, KS is a pretty nice city. But yeah, don't leave KC. Not a whole lot to do in Wichita or Topeka.

Judging from the Yankees forums I've been to, half the people think he will get a 3/45 while others seem to think he deserves a 4/100. I guess the fans of the latter contract idea think that since he's Jeter they shouldn't offend him. If the Yankees go anywhere over 3/45 they are nuts. Even that's too much, but I guess they are kind of forced to sign him.

I can't wait for the Cubs to come to Kauffman Stadium. I haven't watched the Cubs play in person since 2004 at Wrigley.

I think they will move Billy at some point. Since they have a pretty good 1B coming behind him in Hosmer, plus Wil Myers who is probably gonna end up dhing or playing 1B. Why not get something in return for Billy before he gets more expensive? I agree that they will eventually move Butler, but he is under team control until 2013 (I think). Considering the only draws they have right now are Butler, Greinke, and Soria I doubt they get rid of any of them next year. Hosmer will probably take over 1st, but I think Wil Myers will probably end up moving to a corner outfield spot. Butler may be moved, but I can't see it happening until the end of 2011 or maybe even 2012 and by that point the Cubs would have better options through free agency if they don't sign Dunn. Well you could be right, however if they want to maximize their return for Butler, now would be that time while he is still cheap and under team control. I would hope they learned from the Beltran fiasco that waiting until he's about to be a free agent will kill his return. I agree. As a fan of both (more so towards the Cubs) I think this would be a good trade for both teams. I'm not sure who would be moving to the Royals in a trade like this, but I wish they would finally learn to maximize their value. I just don't see it happening.

I think they will move Billy at some point. Since they have a pretty good 1B coming behind him in Hosmer, plus Wil Myers who is probably gonna end up dhing or playing 1B. Why not get something in return for Billy before he gets more expensive? I agree that they will eventually move Butler, but he is under team control until 2013 (I think). Considering the only draws they have right now are Butler, Greinke, and Soria I doubt they get rid of any of them next year. Hosmer will probably take over 1st, but I think Wil Myers will probably end up moving to a corner outfield spot. Butler may be moved, but I can't see it happening until the end of 2011 or maybe even 2012 and by that point the Cubs would have better options through free agency if they don't sign Dunn.

Because you enjoy torture. That must be true since I also cheer for the Chiefs and the Bears, but don't enjoy hockey so I couldn't even get any enjoyment out of the Stanley Cup.

Being around the Kansas City area and following the Royals pretty closely, I'd say there's a very slim chance of them trading Butler. The casual fan would go into an uproar. Kila, on the other hand, could probably be picked up for not a whole lot. He hasn't been performing overly well since being called up this summer. Right now they are playing him at first and putting Butler in the DH spot. I'd love to see him on the Cubs next year if we can't get Dunn as somebody to fill in. I don't think he's been given enough time to get settled in, but the Royals haven't been the best at letting the youngsters play. Why do my two favorite teams have to be the Royals and the Cubs? :(