There's room for flexibility there though. If they can move Jones, Eyre or Dempster, and DeRosa, they'd be moving similar money. You may be able to replace DeRosa's production with similar numbers out of a Theriot/Fontenot platoon at 2nd. Plus, you may be able to pick up a pretty solid performer after dealing those contracts. You could either keep Murton around as a bench guy who lets Abreu rest on occasion, or go ahead and include him in a deal the cuts payroll. The thing about Abreu is that if he were to become available, it would mean the biggest spender, NY, is out of the bidding. The Mets are already really crowded in the OF. Philly isn't going to take him back. I don't believe Boston would make a serious play for him, unless they move Manny. So, a significant amount of the league's bigger spenders probably wouldn't even get in on the betting, plus, the Dodgers already have about 7 OFers for 3 positions, and I'm not sure a guy like Coletti would be at all interested in Abreu. 1) I strongly disagree with your sentiments on getting rid of DeRosa. 2) However, in your discussion of getting rid of relatively cheap , versatile production (DeRosa) to clear room for a high salary player it appears that you assumed that my claim the Cubs are not in a position to give Abreu a contract that he wants was based upon money allowed for this coming year's team. It's not only that. If you have tried to read the tea leaves that some of the people close to the Cubs have been putting out it doesn't appear that they want to give a long contract with a lot of money, since they already have enough of those as it is. And a contract > 2 or 3 years is something that Abreu is likely wanting, because this would be his last realistic shot at that sort of deal if he does hit the market this year.