WrigleyField 22

I wish this whole thing (the Cubs releasing the tape, Sammy leaving etc) just would have never happened. Both the Cubs, Sammy, and the fans would be better off.

I'm definately intrigued by Cliff Lee or Westbrook. I'd be comfortable with either in the number 3 spot. Lee for next 3 years: $2.75M $3.75M $5.75M w/ option for $8M Westbrook is set to make $6.1M next year and then will hit free agency I would think the Indians would be more inclined to trade Westbrook based on this. Eyre and Marmol? too much? too little? just right?

I have way too much on my mind to make a cohesive post, so some scattered thoughts: Won't mind him as number 8 hitter TRADE Izturis and get a real SS (no thats not Theriot) Wow, with the way the market is looking, Aramis LOVES Chicago I fully expect DeRosa to be average .330 OBP .420 SLG Probably were better 2B options out there, not so much for UTIL guys but are we even using him in the UTIL role Generally dissapionted, but wont jump to knee-jerk reactions

List of pitchers (who are as good as their younger couterparts, or close) who we can sign to shorter deals: Tom Glavine Miguel Batista Greg Maddux Mike Mussina Roger Clemens Jason Schmidt I just based that off age, there could be other younger guys willing to take on shorter deals. I admit all of that list looks either impossible or very unlikely to sign. But hey, we can at least try to take a shot at signing one or two. Maybe there are younger guys willing to take a shorter deal. If you find that opportunity take it. Worse than ending up with mediocre pitchers is ending up with mediocre pitchers that are signed longer. I just suggest all of this because I think we are closer to building within than some think.

On a semi-unrelated note: As far as developing pitching, we aren't that bad off. Veal and Gallagher are only a few years away from being regulars in the rotation. Hill might live up to all the end of the season hype. We have a #3 pick, which if spent well could be a pitcher who flied through the system. Then we have a plethora of guys who have a chance to be back of the rotation guys at least (Marshall, Guzman-stuff to be top of line, Mateo, Marmol-more likely RP, Ryu-maybe) Then all it takes is one good season and a guy like Shaver could fly up the ladder. None of these guys can really be counted on next year, except to count on Marshall/Guzman/Mateo/etc to take on the last spot. I'd almost like to see if we can find some good pitchers willing to take on 1-3 year w/ option contracts. This would basically mean old guys I guess. The Padilla/Lilly types will want that long contract to last them. The older guys might be willing to take shorter deals and probably have the chance to perform as well as the slightly younger guys who want longer term deals. I honestly think that our pitching situation will partially solve itself within a short time, and if it doesn't get resolved we can always sign a new FA the following years. I just don't have a good feeling about long contracts to mediocre pitchers. Its not even the amount I'm worried about. In this market pitchers will get money. No way around it really.

He'll probably be serviceable. I'd like better with a top half first rounder, but like others said, its a crapshoot. Lets just wait a few years and see what results we get, as a whole, from Wilken's drafts. If his past is any indication we'll do better than we have been doing.

To be fair, it worked and is continuing to work, we just let Dusty ruin it. If Dusty hadn't ridden those guys we may be looking to add a number 4 only. Now maybe Prior and Wood(Wood especially w/ the mechanics) were damned to be a constant injury problem, but I think part of it may be Dusty. Even if one of Prior/Wood could have stayed healthy, we'd be looking at the top two spots filled. We've done a fair job at proucing good pitching talent.

I'm not sure the little money you save of Barret and Molina is worth it. Barret off the top of my head is set to make like 5.5M. If you are planning on ridding yourself of Dempster's, Isturiz's, and Jones' contract also, money should not really be an issue, though I haven't added it all up exactly, but you would probably be fine. Adding on to what I just said: Barret is set to make 4.4M. Bengie Molina signed for 5M last offseason and was pretty much right in line with his career line this year. He won't get any less than 5M. So he'll probably actually be more than Barret. Let the Philles sign Molina if they need a catcher so bad, because they wont demand one from us.

I'm not sure the little money you save of Barret and Molina is worth it. Barret off the top of my head is set to make like 5.5M. If you are planning on ridding yourself of Dempster's, Isturiz's, and Jones' contract also, money should not really be an issue, though I haven't added it all up exactly, but you would probably be fine.

He's improved every year of his career, and a move to the NL might help his numbers even more. I'd look into it, thats for sure.

Whats the ruling again on type A signings? And wheres a list of the type A's and B's?

Is that because Hendry is a nice guy, or because Aramis loves us more than we love him? fixed

Once the contract details come out it's likely to drop his 2007 price a million or two It could also be slightly frontloaded.

We'll see. He's gotten "busy work" out of the way already. There are rumors(likely false) of him already going after a big FA, Drew.

If you think about it, that kind of contract might not be all to suprising if Hendry really is changing his style. Last year he was the slowest GM in baseball, and made barely any moves at the beginning of the offseason. Now, he will make a quick strike at a top FA target. That would be his final offer. If Drew and Boras took to long to look at the offer, and weren't definitive on an answer, Hendry will have moved on to another target for the the OF in a week or so. At least im hoping thats what this kind of large offer would mean. I don't see any of Boras guys signing quickly. Especially if the Cubs and Red Sox are both interested. He will use them to drive up the price. good point. I dunno, at 15per how much more can he realistically drive it up. Maybe add an option year, but I can't see much else. Who knows if this even has any truth though. We shall see.

Well heres how I would break it down. With the lineup I would be fine having one unkown or just plain bad player as the number 8 hitter. That could be Izturis(SS), Theriot(2B,SS), or Pie(CF). I wouldn't mind Pie staying in AAA for a bit and Izturis at 4.15 is an expensive backup and had to move, whereas Theriot is valuable as a backup. Plus I'm sure Hendry will ove having a good defender at short, so its a likely scenario. That leaves 2B, CF, and possibly RF as places to upgrade. Second base we should really look for a top of the order guy. Murton will be able to handle the other spot: Loretta or Trade for Giles would be my top two choices. Number one on my wishlist regardless of all else, is JD Drew. He could be CF or RF. Another CF possibility is a trade for Andruw Jones, and if we can make a trade for him and Giles, that could be convienent. Need to sign him to an extension though. For RF, we may just need a platoon partner for Jacque, Craig Wilson? I also wouldn't be opposed to Catallanotta and using him at the top of the order, but then you have to move Jacque. The one thing that wold negate a lot of this is if there is a complete blowup in NY and the Yanks want ARod out and he uses his NTC leverage and all we have to do is give up a little talent and take pretty much the whole salary. For the bench I would look into trading for Branyan for 3B or signing Helms/Graffanino/Aurilla. Pagan can stay as 5th OF, Theriot, Soto also good cheap options. That leaves spot for a 4th OF and another bat. Dave Robertswas mentioned, but as a starter. I would take him for the bench though. Some power would be nice too. Jose Cruz Jr? David Dellucci? Trot Nixon as part of platoon? Craig Wilson as mentioned before. So for the position player my list of targets (with my prefernce bolded) JD Drew Andrum Jones Marcus Giles Mark Loretta Craig Wilson -- Branyan Helms Dellucci Nixon Cruz Aurilla Graffanino Pitching Wise: Right now I'd say we have 3 rotation spots taken with Zambrano, and the gazillion headed monster of Hill, Miller, Prior, Marshall, Mateo, Guzman, Marmol, Ryu ready for two spots. I'll assume Hill easiy takes one as the fourth man and the others battle for the fifth spot. That means we need a number 2 and 3 SP. Zito Schmidt Matzwhatever- dependent on winning the bid obviously which I dont believe we'll do. Wolfe(under normal cirumstances its a nice risk, but we have a lot invested into injury risks already, so I'll say no, but put him down anyways) Mark Mulder Ted Lilly Vincent Padilla Miguel Batista Jeff Suppan Iwaga The way the market is, no matter who you get you will be overpaying for. Only three of those guys are worthy of being called number 2 pitchers and maybe a few more worthy of being called number 3 pitchers. It honestly doesn't look to good. Trades are another possibility, I havent heard much about who may or may not be on the market. Bottom line though is with the money we have tied up in injury risks the guys we get better last. Bullpen is fine as is, not neccessary to get anyone.

heh, I read and responded to this post before seeing Aramis signed. I was wondering why there wasn't bickering that this deal held up negotiations for Aramis and damned us all to eternal hell.

Alright, thats good to hear, becuse both him and Miller got less than I expected and now its out of the way so we can focus on important stuff.

I think I can break this down. •our exclusive negotiating window w/ ARam has closed. •Hendry may have never gotten past a paltry 5/73. •In a preemtptive strike against fan apathy, John McDonough set into motion a plan that will invite additional guest singers between the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th innings of every home game. •It was revelaed that Jim Hendry, due to anatomical shortcomings, is invulnerable to a swift kick to the "charlie brown." •The news had stunning, dramatic effects on NSBB posters. •USSoccer climbed into a full bathtub while holding his plugged-in toaster. •O_O reached new levels of anger for him, which is roughly 1/4 as angry as Gooney is on any given day. •OleMiss converted to radical Islam; JR bought a Prius •Treeman injected heroin into his forehead on Hendry's doorstep. He is now dead. •Sethuel tried to do so as well, but the needle didn't penetrate the six-inch layer of vomit covering his face. A full recovery is excpected. •ndistops bought a 6-pack and passed out 3/4 of the way through the first can. It should be noted it was a 6-pack of cream soda. •The angels or dodgers will swoop in and compensate ARam fairly. •One of Scott Brosius/Shane Andrews/Kevin Orie/Steve Buechele will be ARAM's replacement. •Last year's team will soon look like a juggernaut compared to waht we're going to assemble. •All hope is lost. hope that helps. So everyone overracted and a confused drunk got upset over nothing? I was expecting this all along. Chill guys. I'll wait to inject my forehead with heorin on Hendry's doorsteptill there is a rumor Aramis signs elsewhere. Geezee guys. Thats all I needed to hear, thanks. I fully expect for him to be signed elsewhere in like 2 days

at 3:30 (now 4:00) nonetheless.....

I just came to the realization that I was only caught up to pae 67 cuz i thought this was the old ARAM thread... this is new I guess.. WHATS HAPPENING

pk god, im only up to like page 67 and like ndstops very drunk but not cuz of the ciubbies.... simply put whats the deal? is the rumor only that hes not signing with the cubs or has another team swooped in?

I'm only caught up to page 60 but finding this thread 30 pages up is no good, especially drunk... god cubs!

I haven't looked at this since about page 9, but as far as salary goes, I'm hoping he'll take a slight pay increase for more guaranteed years. 5/60 - 5/65?

Peanuts An all-beef hot dog with mustard and onions (no ketchup) Best Answer.