NorthsideAvenger

I'm going to assume this is a pun. If I'm right, you are up WAY too late. MPrior/Ron what the heck are you talking about?

Link. I'd much rather have Igawa if the winning bid was actually 38-45 million. I can't fathom paying up to 95 million for 5 years of one player. Especially an untested one at that. Agreed.

I disagree. Hendry's butt is on the line (no jokes, plz) and with the rumors that McDonough is willing to let the payroll jump to around $115 mill, it's safe to say that Hendry is going to land a premier FA. Not to mention McD mandate is to "win this yr", the pressure is on Hendry to field a "WINNER." So, yeah...look for one, and who knows, maybe two premier FA/traded players on the Cubs in 2007. You don't nessarily need "talent" to acquire talent. If you're willing to eat an ugly contract, along with the talent, you could "feesibly" acquire ARod (in this case) for a package of young arms (that includes Marmol and perhaps Gallgaher) if you are willing to take back Jaret Wright or Carl Pavano. Stop the inside the box thinking, and look outside for answers. I want nothing to do with Soriano and Zito (perhaps next yr's most spectular pitching/hitting bust), but Drew, you never know. Drew, you neve rknow. Hendry does work well with Boras, and that could carry some weight in negotiations, and should the Cubs offer the CF job, he MIGHT take. So don't rule out JD Drew, just. Just remember, he isn't under contract WITH ANYBODY, meaning he is still available, and can be had. I mean, if Vladimir Guerrero was still availabe on January 13, 2004, when the Angels sign him the next day...then who knows.

St.........................ret.....................chi..................ng........., Neuby.

Ummm....no thank you on Adrian Beltre. If the Cubs lose ARam, I would just prefer either A: Put Scott Moore at third, and grow with him, or B: See what it would take to get Bill Hall from Milwaukee. Failing that, Adrian Beltre SHOULD NOT be a consideration for 3rd, UNLESS Seattle eats a good portion of his contract.

Me too. Why? They'll both turn into Chris Carpenter parts II and III if the Cards sign them to long-term deals. I don't know but there deals with Lou Siffer should be ending anytime now.

The Astros are strictly paying Biggio this money so that he can get hit number 3,000 in an Astros uni. Biggio, IMO, will retire after the season. If this is INDEED his last yr, Joe Morgan will have another 2B that is in his stratosphere in HOF.

And Sheffiled ain't the player he once was, and his injury in 2006, willprolly be a precursor to a down yr in 2007. And Floyd would be a better (and atleast chepaer) option for the #4 or #5 in rotation, over guys like Aaron Small, Carl Pavano, and Jaret Wright.

I agree, but ESPN is usually more responsible with its reporting than some random site with a rumor. If it's on ESPN's web site, it is much more credible. ESPN yes, Buster Olney...no.

I believe whichever team offers JD Drew Centerfield as hi position (along with a nice contract) will sign him. I don't see him signing with a team that wants him as a full time RF. He might be willing to play a few games a yr there (say 10 a yr), but he prefers CF, and the Cubs should offer that chance.

First: We have rumors that Texas Rangers have won the bidding for under $21 million. Second: We have rumors the Cubs have won the bidding at around $30 mill, or so. NOW, we have the Red Sox rumored to be the highest bidder at anywhere between $38-45 mill. Can you see why I am skeptical about anything until it becomes official? My guess, this rumored about the Red Sox is just that....a rumor. So, I wouldn't sweat about the Red Sox getting him, just yet.

A quote from that NY Post article: Interesting...so Sheff was ARods only friend on the team. Bring them both in, sign Drew, win the Matsuzaka bid, trade for Heilman and M. Giles! If that happens, nilodnayr, then I would believe in Santa Claus, again. I would love your suggestions to come through, but right now I see the Cubs gett You suggestions Cubs suggestions: ARod Alex Gongalez Sheffield Jose Guillen Matsuzaka Mac Suzuki Heilman Kirk Saarloos M Giles Aaron Miles.

Vance, now we are talking. I would love to get JC Drew in CF.

That's crazy! I understand Cashman is trying to get the best possible deal for Sheffield, but to turn down both The Phillies deal that included Gavin Floyd and a Padres deal that included Scott Linebrink, is beyond insane. Everybody knows that Yankees are trying to trade Sheffield, and everybody knows Sheffield no longer wants to be a Yanks. So to turn down either deal, is beyond idiotic, and I hope they can't trade Sheffield, cause you know Sheffield will tear ANY chemistry that team might have to pieces.

Is it really that hard to grasp that Lee's numbers at Wrigley and the reason he likes hitting there is due to crappy Cub pitching and that if he came to play for the Cubs he wouldn't get to face that crappy Cub pitching when he plays in Wrigley? Then explain Moises Alou? Before Alou signed with the Cubs a few yrs ago, Alou had a career BA at Wrigley near the mendoza line. Maybe it's the "crappy pitching", but there are more variable of hitting at a certain park. Maybe as a hitter, he is really comfortable seeing the ball, etc, etc, etc. So I doubt the "crappy pitching" is the only reason why he seems to kill the Cubs. Jeff Blauser You mean anti-Jeff Blauser. Blauser KILLED the Cubs during his playing days, and when he came to the Cubs, he basically retired. The opposite is true for Alou.

I'm not comparing ARam to Lee, I'm comparing ARam to other "great" hitters around the league. I like ARam, and I believe he will stay, but he isn't a player you "throw the money to " to get him to stay. He would be impossible to replace with his production, but I believe if he leaves, he won't be the backbreaker, as some suggested. Yes, he is.....but he is asking to be paid like he is a Top 10 hitter. ANd he isn't a Top 10 hitter. He should be paid accordingly. And the 5 yrs $80 mill is pushing it. If he can't see himself taking a VERY REASONABLE offer from the Cubs, then maybe he shouldn't be on the Cubs anymore. The White Sox did fine without Ordonez. I want ARam to return, but if he is determine to test the FA, then he had no illusions of staying in Chicago in the first place. I don't mind the deadline (although it was a bit premature), and Hendry is trying to get a decision from ARam ASAP. He can't allow ARam to dictate the offseason. If ARam has to listen to other teams offers, fine, but not at the expense of the Cubs sitting at home, waiting for his call.

Is it really that hard to grasp that Lee's numbers at Wrigley and the reason he likes hitting there is due to crappy Cub pitching and that if he came to play for the Cubs he wouldn't get to face that crappy Cub pitching when he plays in Wrigley? Then explain Moises Alou? Before Alou signed with the Cubs a few yrs ago, Alou had a career BA at Wrigley near the mendoza line. Maybe it's the "crappy pitching", but there are more variable of hitting at a certain park. Maybe as a hitter, he is really comfortable seeing the ball, etc, etc, etc. So I doubt the "crappy pitching" is the only reason why he seems to kill the Cubs.

I'm going out on a bigger limb and say the Cubs were in the top 4 for bidding. So as usual, we will have bid just enough to lose but say we tried? Did you expect anything more? When was the last time we roped in a top tier FA that wasn't our own? I'm thinking Andre Dawson?

As someone mentione earlier in the thread, I would go only as high as 5 yr 80 mill. While ARam is one of the game's better hitter, he is easily not in the Top 10, and you can make a case for Top 15. To me, why pay a guy Top 5 money, when he isn't a Top 5 guy? How many MVP's have he been considered for? ASG? Now, while I like ARam, and I want him back---and believe he will be back---he is not a player you simply throw money out to try and re-sign. ANd while the Saturday deadline is abit earlier, I have no problem with a deadline being set.

Only if they can't get Marcus Giles.

So do I. So if the Cubs sign Roberts, they would HAVE to look into acquiring more pop from the middle IF (ie Tejada/M. Giles).

And then this to sum it up. I realize that the Cubs need to take some risk, but necessarily risks, but not unnecessarily risk. And for somebody to have that kind of mileage at such a young age, is definately a cause for concern. You know what...as much as this may not be popular, but I kinda hoping the Cubs don't win this bid. For some reason, Matsuzaka is going to flame out as in the majors (not hating, just going by the history of Japanese pitchers in the majors). I remember Contreras recieving similar hype (I know he was significantly older, and the chances of his continue his Cuban dominance in the majors, were unlikely) and Contreras hasn't exactly set the majors on fire. And if the rumors are true and the Rangers won the bid, I actually feel bad for him, considering, I see him putting up CH Park type numbers in Texas, with his overall numbers being solid, but not worth the money he is getting.

First: Wrong Bruce, they are quoting. To me there is a saying, "Bruce Miles with the smiles, Bruce Levine and his craplines." In other words, I would hold what "Levine" and what a "Cubs.com message board poster" say with a grain of salt. Second: As somebody mention earlier....that poste was made before bids were due in. So unless somebody had the power to see the future, there is no way the cubs.com poster and/or Levine would know if the Cubs lost the bid, before the annoucement of the winner. So... I heard George Offman at noon say the Cubs are expected to be outbid by the Yankees and Mets. I don't think he has any actual information, just assumptions. Again, that is simply based on PAST history of the teams and dealings of the International FA. Obviously the Yankees have the most agressive (with Matsui/Contreras and Irabu via trade). The Mets have dabbled, and have been burned with Kaz Matsui. And obviously the Cubs haven't dabbled in the market. But, Hendry MAYBE the most stubborn man in baseball, and if he wants Matsuzaka there is no man that will outbid him. (and that includes Steinbrenner) The only reason why the Cubs won't win the bid, is if Hendry believe Matsuazaka won't be worth the deal he is going to get. So, I don't necessarily put any stock into what George "Off"man stated earlier. I mean "expected" and "are outbid" is not the same thing.

I shall always remember his voodoo he performed on the team's bats a few years back prior to a 8 (?) game win streak. Actually, I believe it was a 12 game winning streak that followed an 8 game losing streak.

But the Cubs seem more interested in keeping Pie in AAA, then at the major league. So, I figure Pie won't be in the equation for the team until maybe June of 07.