WrigleyField 22

If Wolf is signing this early then that's an indication to me he's getting a great deal for himself. Combined, him signing before some of the others plus the fact that it's the Dodgers signing him, makes me believe he'll be getting much more than we might expect. Rosenthal said he was taking a discount. See above.

DeRosa, Soriano, and anyone else the Cubs sign.

Wasn't Hendry in charge of the minor league system when we turned it from one of the worst until it became regarded as one of the best several years ago? It is smart to build from within, but in the meantime I don't see why we wouldn't try to improve by other means until we can improve our player development.

Maybe the notion that he doesn't have a position is playing a part. Perhaps he'll be thrown in a trade to an AL team. Don't see how one can judge that based on an injury-plagued year. This is trade low, I wouldn't trade Dopirak right now at all. ..... His .663-OPS year at WTenn was injury-impacted. I don't think his .670-OPS year at Daytona was injury-plagued, though. his confidence was hurt? :)

Lets make one of these threads for every non free agent

with a 3.40 ERA to boot and darn, Pierre is gonna steal 49 bases. wtg Hendry

That is hilarious. "I'm going to go yell at Prior until he fractures his self-esteme bone" classic The Dugout Sticky doesn't get enough attention.... :?

Not that I think we should concentrate on this now, but why let Zito's contract set the bar. That will just drive up the price. It's in our best intrest to look for a hometown discount.

Well although we have struggled as of late to develop talent, I don't see any signs to us abandoning it. We can do both at once. In fact spending can help in the draft with guys like Smajazkdfdfwsjflada and Huesby. Its not like we have been giving away good prospects so far this offseason. We can spend big and develop the farm system. The hiring of Wilken and rumors that we are looking more oversees (Japan etc) shoud help to bolster our farm system in the future.

Hank White. Where's the HOMETOWN DISCOUNT HANK!?

Why do so many want Crisp? He's garbage. When he's playing with an injured hand he is, look at '04 and '05. Even in those years, his OPS was largely dependant on BA. We don't have a huge minor league resume to go off of, but he was able to sustain it there. He does have youth on his side, just entering his prime. It would be buying low and if we are only talking about Izturis and not much else of value, it would be a solid pick up. How long is he arby eligible for?

You guys have no idea what you are talking about. Depending on the number of years that Matz signs for Schmidts market is in the $22-27M per year range.... :? yyeeaa

Whats nice is that Jones is affordable enough for a small market team, but his small salary also works nicely for larger market teams who need a cheap fix in one spot so they can focus on another. I wouldn't expect a top prospect, but I'm sure there are a number of favorable deals that could be worked out. Are there any teams with a decent SS they are looking to dump in favor of a younger player? There are certainly possibilities, though I would let the FA field play itself out. If this happens I see it as a deal occuring in 2007.

This is like Christmas, or Hannuka, or Kwanza.... all combined with a little Thanksgiving turkey thrown in.

Stiff competition for the last three bench spots. Lots of "minor leaguers" to choose from.

some great names btw positions would help so I don't need to look them all up

:( on Dope and Harben Now someone can claim them and only needs to hold them on the 40 right? You forgot to hit the 40man tab, they are still there.

:( on Dope and Harben Now someone can claim them and only needs to hold them on the 40 right?

If the price is right and he can play CF, I'd take a chance. Just think of the comic potential if him and Lou go at it!

What exactly are the character concerns? He looks good, thats for sure.

Lookng at old draft trackers on MLB.com they have a Compensation A b/t 1st and 2nd and a Compensation C b/t 2nd and 3rd Compensation used to be: A- First Rounder and Comp A B- Second Rounder C- Comp C 2006 Didn't have any Comp C... 2005 had two, one of which was Blanco, who I remember was a C. Although now I can't remember if the type A's get only a first rounder or also the compensation. Is it only a type B compensation? If the A's and B's share a compensation you have to figure the A's go first. I'm so confused. I am confident it goes by strait record though, which is good.

I didn't know how to find finesse rules like this, but I did go back to the 2002 draft. Here is the sequence, with has the sandwich team, the team's 2001 wins and post-season success, and the player being compensated for. Dodgers 86 Park Cubs 88 Weathers Indians 91 Juan Gonzalez (lost 1st round playoffs) Braves 88 Karsay (lost 2nd round playoffs) A's 102 Giambi (lost 2nd round playoffs) Cubs (Rondell White) A's Isrinhausen Cub's Van Poppel A's Damon Giambi was clearly more highly rated than Weathers. So the sequence was not based simply on player rating. It appears that for playoff teams, the farther you got the later you drafted. So post-season survival trumps regular-season record. (That's why the INdians, who lost in first round, drafted ahead of the Braves, even though Cleveland had a better regular-season record.) If you didn't make the playoffs, the sequence most likely is based on record rather than player ranking. (The Dodgers had a worse record than Cubs.) I may be misreading this. Or, perhaps the rules have changed. But, it looks to me like the first pick would go to the non-playoff team with the worst record. Regardless of how good the lost FA being compensated for is. If so, unless I'm overlooking some A/B FA from Tampa, Pittsburgh, or KC, the Cubs are the beneficiaries. This could put the Cubs as the first pick of the sandwich round. The prospect of going 4th and 31st, that's pretty appealing. Way to go Pierre! Again, given how long the sandwich round is likely to be, the positioning within that round is pretty important, especially in what projects as a premium draft. Cubs could get somebody very talented at 31. 2006 Draft Dodgers 71 Dessens? Orioles 74 Ryan Giants 75 Eyre D-Backs 77 Worrell? Padres 82 (lost Fisrt Round) Hernandez Marlins 83 Burnett Phillies 88 Wagner Braves 90 (lost First Round) Furcal Indians 93 Howry Red Sox 95 (lost First Round) Damon Yankees 95 (lost First Round) Gordon? Cardinals 100 Grudz/Morris? Braves Farns? Red Sox Mueller? I filled in for the guys I knew, but it pretty much looks just like its based on straight record, though I think this was an all type A sandwich wasn't it? Didn't there used to be a separate sandwich for type C and type B didnt reward sandwich picks? I'm so confused, but if it is by record, even if the type B's go after the type A's we should get the first, second, or third one.

15/350

whats yall's opinion on the last name Fielder (especially for a baseball player)

Felix Pie(say it the good American way)?