Neuby

True. However, I still beleive Cpatt is right. Hendry is at his best when he is going out and "getting" someone. And not at his best when he is getting rid of someone. Getting: -Aram & Lofton for B.Hill & JoseK -Nomar & Murton for Agony & 2 Minor League Pitchers Getting Rid: - Sosa for Hairston & Fontenot (plus we payed 12 mil for sammy) - Farnsworth for Novoaa and...uhmm.. - Cruz for Anderson and Pratt There are negatives on both sides, like he got rid of hundley. But he got Macias*. But I think the information points to Hendry being better when he is going after his man. *Not that Macias was "his man" but, still. why would anyone get macias? Hendry got Richard Lewis from Atlanta for Cruz along with Pratt I think Nova can be better than Farnsworth. We also got Moore and a really Toolsy but not much else prospect in Bo Flowers.

I thinking Monday this deal will be announced along with Furcal resigning with Braves or Cubs by no later than Thursday.

There's no reason both can't be done, and in all probability, will be done. We've done the $$ analysis several times in other threads, the $$ are there. I was one of the first to applaud Hendry for solving this long-standing weakness in our bullpen--notice I no longer have the "Fire Hendry" part of my sig? And I still applaud the move. Now, if the offseason ends and he has left RF and CF and leadoff unsolved, THEN we have a serious problem, but I've seen nothing so far this offseason that suggests Hendry doesn't intend on addressing each area, and rather forcefully. We've been at the top of the list in discussions regarding Pierre and Furcal, we are usually mentioned in discussions of Austin Kearns and Kevin Mench and most promisingly, Bobby Abreu. This is progress, no? Give the man a chance, I think he's having a strong offseason so far other than the ridiculous Neifi thing--which we all know is driven by Dusty, anyways. Don im glad to see some else is waiting to see some other chips to fall before readying the pitch forks. Ohman Eyre Williamson Howry Dempster Wuertz/Nova/Guzman/Williams/Hill/JVB/Rusch Zambrano Wood Prior Maddux granted some of those bullpen arms will be dealt or slotted into the fifth spot maybe but I for one am excited to think about what kind of run this staff from top to bottom can put together when heathly. There is still money to spend and a lot of big bats that could be on the move Dunn, Abreu, Ramirez, Giles, Floyd ect. I still find it odd that AJ Burnett name gets tossed around by Hendry a few times and his supposed friendship with Dempster. I am betting on him being on the Cubs staff along with a big bat and Pierre/Lofton/Bradley in center with Furcal at short. Yes I keep telling myself the Cubs payroll will be around 115 million.

it says the Marlins are looking for young pitching and these are five Cubs hurlers that might be had for trade. Not anywhere did it mention the Marlins are getting three of these guys let alone two.

If Pierre is in the fold I'm hoping Hendry goes to back to Nomar and offers him a one year deal at 4.0 million with incentives. Then uses Walker along with Patterson and others to get an impact bat. Use the left over cash on A.J Burnett who I get the feeling with Dempster, Pierre, Lee, Rothschild, Hughes all being with the Cubs will be Hendrys under the radar target after he gets Manny , Dunn, Abreu.

Pierre for Pinto and two minor leaguers in the works.

Mabry is a left hand bat with power and a career 325 OBP , he can play first, third, and outfield. He can play all the postions well and has a strong arm from the outfield. Another added bonus is that he knows the NL central well. He would be a soild sign to are bench Mabry- first,third,outfield Hairston- second, outfield Perez-Infield Blanco-Catcher GreenBerg if he gets rostered along with Sing could compete for spots as backup outfielder.

Seattle Boston- could decide they want prospects , or other players and get Giles to play left field. Yankees Annaheim

I will say this in every thread Giles hasn't signed anywhere yet, now that the Padres seem out we can see where he's serious about playing. Don't rush judgement we don't know the Cubs payroll the new seats, Ticket price hikes, Mlb revenue money and new rooftop could play factors sending the payroll in the 110-115 range instead of the reported 105. Has Dunn been dealt? Abreu? Ramirez?

People aren't upset at having Howry. People are upset at having Howry, Eyre, Neifi, and Rusch instead of Giles, Cedeno, Novoa, and Hill. only problem is no one knows yet that this is the case yet. Giles name has been mentioned with the Cubs this offseason. He hasn't signed anywhere yet. At this point I would rather have Abreau, Manny, Dunn just to name a few that are still out there than Giles and his shoulder. As far as I know Nova is still slotted in the pen next year and Cedeno will be given a starting job at second or short. So in essence you upset that Rich Hill might be traded or start the season off in the starting rotation in the minors?

Looks like JH is striking early and often this offseason.

If last years payroll with Sosa was around 100 million ,assuming they make there natural bump this year the payroll should be around 105 million. Add in a new rooftop , new bleacher seats, ticket hike, mlb revenue money we should be seeing a payroll at 110 million.

awesome read

I dont think it's hate but a matter of what Hendry is doing and what options he is looking at to improve the ball club. Eyre and Howry are nto the top RP free agents available and Hendry is already giving out bloated contracts to them. I for one am surprised Hendry is paying this much for setup men when he has been burned twice in the past with Hawkins and Remlinger. I guess you can make a case that Baker did not properly use Rem and Hawk but at the same time that brings up the question of why is Baker still here? assuming Ryan gets a closer's job and Gordon gets one who is a better set up man on the free agent market than Howry? I like Dotel I still wouldn't be suprized if Hendry got in on Dotel if he was looking for a deal like Dempster and Williamson with more cash up front.

I'm confused why is there so much hate towards Howry and the board rejoiced when we signed Hawkins? Hendry still has cash maybe more than we think and plenty of trade bait. Patterson, Walker, Cedeno,Williams, Rusch, Wuertz,Nova plus all are Rule 5 arms ect . Dempster Williamson Howry Eyre Ohman Wuertz/Nova? that might be the best pen the Cubs have had on paper in years.Hopefully Baker will let it make our starters that much better.

I can barley read let along do math how much extra cash does this make the Cubs assuming all the tickets are sold and the new seats?

so let's get a CubanWGN going and start emailing him at his blocg , getting him to come to northside baseball for a Q&A? . Hey it's the offseason it's not like we have anything better to do.

Such as? And how many ABs did they get in Chicago? The Cubs haven't had any recent call ups that deserved a shot. At least Hendry and Hughes seem to be able to evaluate minor league talent. Too bad they can't evaluate the talent before they draft. if they're so good at evaluating talent, we'd have productive young position players in Wrigley more than once every blue moon. While Hughes has been lampooned on this board, to say he doesn't recognize talent is a joke. While in Montreal as scouting director he was responsible for locating, drafting, or developing Moises Alou, Cliff Floyd, Larry Walker,Carlos Perez, Delino Deshields, Ugueth Urbina, Mark Grudzielanek, and Marquis Grissom. So to say he doesn't know how to evaluate talent is a joke and completely off base. Vance you have to remember that if your not a moneyball guy you don't get any respect what so ever. It's not like Hughes had anything to do with the Marlins first championship either, sure they spent money thats why they won the world series just like this years Yankees. Hughes is widely one of the mest respected talent finders in the bigs just this board loves to get carried away with the Cubs front office and the coaching staff hate.

don't forget Mike Harkey, Damon Berryhill, Lance Dickson, David Kelton, to some more that either lacked talent or injurie troubles.

There has been speculation that Aramis doesn't have the best stretching/conditioning routines that lead to the nagging injuries. I thought I read somewhere that ramirez was going to be working with a new trainer this offseason , and that Barrett was going to be working with some Major leaguers from the ATL area along with Corey Patterson and Richard Lewis.

When the deals where handed out for Hawkins and Remlinger it seemed like everyone was for them. That said I would spend the money on Dotel .

By my count, that means the Cubs are interested in every available SS, RF, SP, RP, lead off man, and power hitter. If half of these reports are true, Hendry will have met with about 700 agents. I would hope they would be with all the holes we have and trading chips to go along with all are money.

It's the coaches job to coach. Rothschild has been here for a while. Wood was healthy when Larry showed up and stayed healthy the first two years. But similar to the way Clement reverted to form after brief success under Larry, Wood has reverted to injuries. There are dozens of ways to lay blame there. Wood didn't do enough to change his mechanics. Larry didn't do enough to change his mechanics, and, perhaps more damning, Larry didn't do a thing to stop Dusty from overabusing his guys when they were healthy. When did Rothschild get here 2002?Wood was drafted when? Coaching go only so far. It's sometimes up to the student to apply it. Wood was with the Cubs organization.Patterson is a prime example no matter what team he ends up with I doubt he will be able to apply his tools to become the player we all thought he could be.

750 OPS. Yes, he's clearly 2nd tier. Miggy, ARod, Jeter, Young. I might even put that Peralta guy up there, but it's probably too soon. Furcal is in a group with Lugo, Renteria, Rollins, Guillen, Crosby and possibly Green. Furcal is being grossly overvalued this offseason. What does that have to do with anything? Both Furcal and Giles are likely to take their time signing, but they are also likely to sign within a week of each other. I don't care if Hendry goes after Furcal. He's overpriced, but at least he's good, and the one thing the Cubs have is the ability to spend. But what you absolutely cannot even consider doing, is going after Furcal instead of Giles. Giles is far and away the better option between the two, it's not even close. RF is a much bigger hole, and Giles is a much better player. Considering ARod plays third I am gonna take him off the list that leaves us with Miggy Young Jeter I would put Furcal right behind those guys . Peralta and Lopez each have one good season so far. Renteria had an off year last year. So at must your putting Furcal in the top 6 or 7 in the majors at his postion , thats doesn't seem like second tier to me. Right now from all reports it looks like it is between the Cubs and Braves . Hendry has to focous his attention on getting Furcal done. If Furcal signs with the Cubs it lets Hendry move Walker for needs in other areas. Giles has been fielding offers from a ton of teams and won't be signing quick from all indications. Getting Pierre and Furcal shouldn't preclude the Cubs from getting Giles. There interest has been reported. Assume they get Pierre cheap in terms of prospects , then with Furcal signed adress there right fielder needs by going after Dunn, Abreu,Ramirez? Where have you read the if the Cubs sign Furcal that it means that a guy like Jacques Jones will be in right field?

I'd go far close to 4 years 40 million assuming some of that money is tied up in incentives. Maybe 4 years 36m with another 4 million in incentives tied up.