Neuby

I wouldn't give him arbitration. Today, right now, I'd offer him a 2 year deal for $6M total ($3M each year) as a super utility player - play some 3B, play some SS, play some 2B, play some OF. He gets an additional $3M each year if he reaches 500 PAs. This is a keep your options open move for Hendry. With his payroll and available cash, giving $3M to Nomar is nothing. It does not prevent him from going after Furcal or Lugo. Nomar is the fallback if he can't acquire a better SS or has reservations about Cedeno. Now, would Nomar sign a deal for 2 years and $6M as a super utility? The answer may surprise us. I would bet against it. I wouldn't bet against him taking a one year deal with a 3 million dollar base and leaving his postion options open to second, short, outfield as long as he starts.

If your able to get Bradley and Castillo for the top of the lineup I don't need Furcal, I go after Nomar at a bargain rate with Cedeno in the wings. Murton starts the season in Left with hopefully someone on the bench to protect him. RF you need a big bat could the Cubs move Patterson, Williams, and prospects for Manny and cash? Hendry needs to do everything possible for Run producing bat in RF.

I disagree with the Thome comparison because he was possibly prepared to give the Cubs a hometown discount, Pedro wasn't going to give the Red Sox anything.You would still be hearing Fans complaining if the Cubs where still running Choi out there everyday instead of making the deal for Derek Lee. But would Thome have made a difference in 2003 instead of having to use Randall Simon at first base?

I don't think Nomar gets more than 4 million he's been injured the last two seasons and says he'll "whatever" possible to return to the Cubs next year I think that means taking an make good contract. I really hope the Cubs think outside the Box and get Furcal to play short and Nomar at second. Furcal Lofton/Hairston/Pie Lee Giles Ramirez Nomar Murton Barrett If Walker is too pricey for a back up you ship him off for prospects. Cedeno can back up three infield postions. Will a guy like Howry ,Mota, Chad Bradford get more than 3 million a season? Can Dotel command more than the 2 million Williamson and Dempster got coming off injuries. Could you gamble on Dotel and let Williamson go? Say Dotel and Howry cost 6 million total. Lofton at 2 million Nomar at 4 Furcal at 9 million Giles 12 million. Could the Cubs afford a big name starting pitcher ? Will there Payroll stay at 100 million or will they stretch it to 105 -110 range with exspansion and ticket price increases. The name on this list that will the hardest to nab will be Giles.

I don't think Nomar gets more than 4 million he's been injured the last two seasons and says he'll "whatever" possible to return to the Cubs next year I think that means taking an make good contract. I really hope the Cubs think outside the Box and get Furcal to play short and Nomar at second. Furcal Lofton/Hairston/Pie Lee Giles Ramirez Nomar Murton Barrett If Walker is too pricey for a back up you ship him off for prospects. Cedeno can back up three infield postions. Will a guy like Howry ,Mota, Chad Bradford get more than 3 million a season? Can Dotel command more than the 2 million Williamson and Dempster got coming off injuries. Could you gamble on Dotel and let Williamson go? Say Dotel and Howry cost 6 million total. Lofton at 2 million Nomar at 4 Furcal at 9 million Giles 12 million. Could the Cubs afford a big name starting pitcher ? Will there Payroll stay at 100 million or will they stretch it to 105 -110 range with exspansion and ticket price increases.

Sign Dotel to a deal similar to Dempster and Williamson. Sign one of Mota, Howry, BJ Ryan to shore up the pen. Pick up Williamson's option at 2 million he's worth the gamble. Sign Nomar for under 4 million base to play second base. Sign Burnett ,Millwood, Weaver in that order for the fourth starter role. Sign Furcal to play short Cedeno backing up three infield postions. Sign Giles to play right field. Use Patterson,Willams, Walker, Hairston, Mitre, Welly to net us another big time stick for the outfield. If possible keep Walker as a backup and use as he was intended in 2003 backing up first, second, third, left field.

I think Hendry has to go into spring training looking at as is Wood will not be anywhere close to a 100 percent and that Maddux will decline.With the nagging injurys Prior has had, along with the minor one's Zambrano has for a team built on pitching I don't think Hendry views it safe to go with another question mark in Williams. But getting Williams and Ardsma for Hawkins sure looks like a good deal. I think Hendry will be shopping Williams,Hairston,Walker, Patterson, along with fringe players like Welly, Mitre for a bigger piece of the puzzle this offseason

I like Burnett but think he will get a ton on the open market and worried it will hinder the Cubs in improving the offense. Hopefully Dempsters sell job will make this the place he wants to pittch. Millwood- is the safest bet of the free agent bunch and still young. I wonder if he's friends with Mad Dog. Would Moyer come here to be a loogy with Ohman assuming Rusch walks? Weaver is young and has electric stuff but will want a ton with Boras as his agent. I like the names that might be out there for trade better Zito, Schmidt ect.

I meant for 2006 he will be getting 4 million and a 1 million dollar signing bonus does that mean it counts against next years payroll or does the 1 million dollar get paid out over the next three years.

I saw dempster is getting paid 4 million this season , how does his 1 million dollar Signing bonus get paid out?

anyone got one that we can make a sticky?

What is the high reward? Wouldn't it be the major league contract, that is if he's good enough? Vance is saying that with an NRI the only way he makes the team is that if he outperforms other players or injuries and you get the players for the next to nothing. Glendon Rusch has a 2 million dollar option what if Kirk Rueter could replace him as the long man out pen for $250 giving thr cubs the option of dealing Rusch for Prospects?

No problem with Ruetuer as an non roster NRI, they caught lighting in a bottle with Rusch, Worrell, Van Poppel ect recently . It doesn't hurt to have too many arms in spring training or AAA besides Ruetuer could re invente himself as a loogy in the bullpen

Ronnie, I looked at this way. These are the current 2006 commitments: Derrek Lee-$8.7M Aramis Ramirez-$10.5M Michael Barrett-$4.3M Mark Prior-$3.0M Greg Maddux-$9.0M Kerry Wood-$12.0M Henry Blanco-$1.5M Glendon Rusch-$2.0M (player option) Jeromy Burnitz-$500K (buyout) 8 players - $51.5M You figure Carlos Zambrano is not going anywhere, so add him in for $5M. So, 9 players and 56.5M Assuming $100M payroll (safe assumption), the Cubs would have $44M to spend. Major decisions: CF, RF, SS, SP, Closer, Setup team options: Walker, Burnitz, Williamson free agents: Dempster, Garciaparra, Perez arbitration eligible: Patterson, Hairston, Macias So here is my plan A for the offseason (as of right now, this will change about 20 times between now and Spring Training). Dempster has signed for 5M Pick up Walker's Option 2.5M Resign Nomar to 5M + incentives that could go up to 9M Sign Bobby Howry to a 2 year deal, paying $2.5M in 2006. (or trade for a similar set up man) Sign Milwood (or trade for a similiar starter) for $10M, or offer him $9M a year for 2 yearss, or $8M a year for 3 years Sign Brian Giles for $11M in 06, 12M in 07 and 08 Sign Kenny Lofton to a 1-year deal for $3M to keep CF warm for Pie That is $40M guarantted. That should leave $4M to fill out the bench/bullpen. I would also look to deal Patterson for a decent loogy, which should be a wash in terms of salary. Edit to include lineup: 1. Lofton 2. Walker 3. Lee 4. A-Ram 5. Giles 6.Nomar 7. Barrett 8. Murton Starters: 1. Prior 2. Z 3. Milwood 4.Wood 5. Maddux Bullpen includes: Dempster --- closer Howry Novoa/Wuertz Ohman Jerome Williams Loogy Bench includes: Blanco Cedeno Grieve Hairston power hitting 1B/3B backup...Branyon? That total payroll is probably about $105M (excluding Nomar's incentives). I like team but I am betting Nomar signs for a million less, I'm also thinking that Lofton gets closer to 1 million than three due to chicago being his hometown and being a baker boy.

When I read the qoutes from Corey saying this is the first time he's heard of this , could he be saying the first he has ever heard of a sports shirnk and not the first time he's heard of Cubs Brass or Bakers suggestion he see one in the offseason? Bruce mightbe able to clear up my confusion.

2.5 million for Walker to be the swing guy, left field, second base, first base, third base, like he was orginally signed for. Nomar at second , Furcal at short.

Been some chatter warranted or not that Larry Rothschild will be replaced this offseason who would you want as the Cubs pitching Coach. I am big fan of Dave Stewart or Tom House.

I like Dan Evans just ran into him the other day at the aiport .

What makes you think Corey isn't going to be awful again next season? Nothing but the knowledge that he's a much better player than he's shown this season. And I firmly believe that Lofton could really fall off a cliff at any time, too. In general, I'd rather be hoping that a young player will recapture his form from the past couple of years than hope an old player doesn't experience the decline his peripheral numbers point to. Even if Corey recaptures his "form" where looking at a guy who strikes out way too much, doesn't get on base, can't sacrafice a runner, and makes dumb mistakes on the basebaths all for around what close to 3 million nexr year? Please guys this kid has to thing about playing winter ball this offseason after he turned it past offseasons. Let the love affair end.

I really hope the Cubs could Package Mitre,Hairston, Patterson and prospects to the Red Sox for Ramirez and cash relief in his deal. Keep Walker Nomar at short for 4 million or less. Cedeno in the wings. Lofton for Center 2.5 or less. Sign BJ Ryan . Lofton Walker Lee M.Ramirez A.Ramirez Nomar Murton Barrett Maybe switch up Walker and Nomar to break up the lefties? Prior Zambrano Wood Maddux Hill/Williams/ Rusch/Prospects ? Assuming Nova, Wuertz, Willamson,Ohman are all in play for pen spots and the Cubs spend a little on quality bench players would they have enough to be in play for Millwood.

Could we pull off a deal with the Red Sox For Manny? We have the prospects and Cash to make something happen along with Hendry and Epstein having a good working relationship (Nomar, Remlinger). Walker 2B Nomar SS 3 million Lee 1b Manny LF Aram 3B Murton RF Barrett C Cubs let Cedeno be the back up infielder at short , 3b,second. Van Buren, Wuertz, Nova, Willamson, Guzman fight for bullpen spots . Ohman Dempster are locks. Can they bring in a BJ Ryan or Billy Wagner and let Dempster set up? Prior Zambrano Wood Maddux Could Williams, Patterson ,Mitre, Wellmeyer, net us Manny? Do u bring in Rusch to battle it out with Hill and Guzman for that fifth starters role or break the bank and land Burnett or Millwood? Can Hendry find a defensive center fielder with speed that hits left handed .

My hopes would be Walker stays as utility player like he was orginally signed for backing up third,first, second, left. 2.5 million isn't that bad Nomar starts at second , Cedeno at short. Damon for Center field Murton for Left Giles or another power bat for left field I am hoping Nomar can be had for 3 million or less.

I wouldn't mind a low ball deal to try to see if he will overcome those baggage troubles to become a reliable bullpen arm.

ESPN's got a story about how Jim Leyland is looking for a job again.

Not really, it's been reported he actually approved the deal that was orignially "done", and would not veto a trade. last I read Griffey was saying no one came to him with anything and until they do he has no comment.