YearofDaCubs

We may as well go after Zito over Schmidt then. Schmidt is getting over 15mil, offer Zito the same for 6 years.

I would rather have Zito and one of our rookies than to have Lilly and Meche here.

Ditto. Damn good GM they have there in Boston. Yeah, great move there trading Hanley Ramirez and Edgar Renteria so you can throw $9M a year at a guy that is worse than both of them. Colletti is also quite the genius giving up Joel Guzman and Sergio Pedroza so Lugo could sit on the bench during the stretch run last year. That really paid off. His WS series ring on his finger must feel very nice...

Ditto. Damn good GM they have there in Boston.

Lugo? Did I miss something? Per rotoworld: ESPN's Steve Phillips says he's hearing free agent Julio Lugo will join the Red Sox. WFAN reported earlier Tuesday that Lugo had a four-year, $36 million contract from the Mets. The Red Sox weren't believed to want to go that high, but if they felt thet couldn't land a shortstop in a Manny Ramirez deal, they might have believed they didn't have much of a choice. Dec. 5 - 6:21

They got all the players I wanted in Drew, Matsuzaka, and now Lugo.

Sounds like Lilly a Cub almost a done deal. There's been so much talk about it I'm expecting this to come to fruition.

Where was Jim Hendry quoted? If that rumor is true, and Hendry is shopping him to everyone, and it's leaking, then how much leverage can he possibly have? What else is new?

because he can't hit lefties You're right, he would need a platoon partner against lefties but his numbers against righties are pretty good.

I think this means that the Cubs feel Jock cannot play CF. Why else would they be looking for left-handed help when Jock is LH?

He's better than Gil Meche. Ted Lilly is not a good pitcher. And how is he a better option than Gil Meche? Check the stats...

I would take the risk of letting him play for us in CF if the price is right.

Now we're talking, especially if we can platoon Jones. Jones really does have good numbers against righties it's the lefty pitching that kills him.

Considering the Orioles rumor that might involve Jones for Benson, Jennings is at least a little more refreshing. Jock for Benson is a terrible idea on our part.

Agreed. All Jones needs is a platoon partner.

he's not going anywhere guaranteed.

I know it's pricey but if it's true I'm a happy camper. Lilly had some bad starts but overall I felt that he was very good. Let's hope it's true.

If I had a choice between two middle of the pack starters, I'd take Padilla over Lilly. Padilla and Westbrook would likely create one of the better rotations in the NL. If Hill shows the same glimpses as last year as well as Prior showing somewhat of his '03 form, it could be the best. I won't complain if we get Padilla and Westbrook either.

Lilly was my first choice after Zito and Schmidt and I'm not so sure about Schmidt either due to his age concerns. I know 9 mil sounds a lot for Lilly but we need pitching and it won't come cheap if we need to make a run for the WS. Sign Lilly and trade for Westbrook please.

Maybe we shouldn't even consider Meche. His away numbers from last year: 15HR 5.14ERA 1.60WHIP .275 AVG His numbers from 2005 away and home are similar to his away stats from last year.

I have a problem signing guys whom will give you a 4.5 era and above to contracts. We need to improve this team a bit better than that if we are to make a run to the playoffs. If Kip Wells can find his stroke and the Cards resign Weaver I still think they are the team to beat in our division, just my opinion.

It's an improved offense, but not one I see bringing the team from worst in the league to top 5. And without a top 5 offense, I think they need at least a top 5 pitching staff, and right now, the staff is nowhere near that. Adding a couple innings eating mediocrities won't improve them enough. Agreed.

I'm not a big Meche fan but I would prefer him over Marquis any day of the week. I'd be happy 2 pitchers from this pool: Westbrook Padilla Lilly Meche (last choice)

Do you think they will look for a lefty shortstop, or a lefty CF and deal Jones? They like Izturis a lot so I don't see them trading him. The latter is more of a real possibility. This is what absolutely kills me. How can someone like a no hit-slick fielding SS a lot? They are a dime a dozen. The Cubs seem to have employed seemingly just about every single one of them over the last 3 or so years. If they went out and grabbed a JD Drew type for the last spot in the outfield and then picked up a Mark Loretta type to play 2b, I think the Cubs could get by. Maybe that's the plan, but with Vernon Wells or someone of that caliber rather than Drew. I've seen Izturis play enough that I just don't understand the manlove he's getting. And after a nearly 2 year layoff, he's bound to be even worse than he was before. Maybe we should sign Marquis. At least then we can count on more offensive production from the pitcher's spot than wherever Piniella decides to bat Izturis. Ughh. #-o I've written it numerous times, Hendry wouldn't have traded Maddux if he didn't think he'd get a good player in return. It sucks. Hendry is still behaving as if it is the 1980s. It does suck. I can't stand Izturis but nothing we can do about it since it's all in Hendry's hands.

Do you think they will look for a lefty shortstop, or a lefty CF and deal Jones? They like Izturis a lot so I don't see them trading him. The latter is more of a real possibility. This is what absolutely kills me. How can someone like a no hit-slick fielding SS a lot? They are a dime a dozen. The Cubs seem to have employed seemingly just about every single one of them over the last 3 or so years. If they went out and grabbed a JD Drew type for the last spot in the outfield and then picked up a Mark Loretta type to play 2b, I think the Cubs could get by. Maybe that's the plan, but with Vernon Wells or someone of that caliber rather than Drew. I've seen Izturis play enough that I just don't understand the manlove he's getting. And after a nearly 2 year layoff, he's bound to be even worse than he was before. Maybe we should sign Marquis. At least then we can count on more offensive production from the pitcher's spot than wherever Piniella decides to bat Izturis. Ughh. #-o I'm sure part of their reasoning is that they'll be batting Izturis eighth and not second, where Dusty had him in the order. So as of right now our lineup will be: Soriano DeRosa Lee ARam Jock Murton Barrett Izturis PITCHER I honestly don't see the reason to trade Jock if they feel he has the ability to play CF. I don't see this lineup as a world beater either but it should be improved from last year though that isn't saying much.