YearofDaCubs

That seems to be, for some reason what alot of the posters on this baord believe. Look at Maddux's numbers and you tell me what the likely scenario would be.

Signing Maddux would be a terrible idea IMO.

I'm not a big fan of Suppan to be honest. I'm not interested in any of the STL FA pitchers.

Maddux's numbers as a cub and you tell me if you see a pattern: 2004: 16W 4.02 ERA 1.18WHIP .269BAA 2005: 13W 4.24 ERA 1.22WHIP .275BAA 2006: 9W 4.69 ERA 1.29WHIP .284BAA (136IP) See the pattern? Do you think his numbers are going to get better when the stats clearly show his number declining every year? You throw away the April hot streak he was on and his numbers would look far worse. No thanks to Maddux.

This shouldn't be an argument. Counsell, Izturiz, Neifi are all garbage and shouldn't even be considered to be on this team even as a backup role.

I would like one of Wolf, Lilly or Padilla.

The latest update on the radio seems to indicate that the Tribune and all of their assets may be sold to those two LA billionaires and might actually keep the Cubs. I don't know how I feel about that but I've gotta tell you I would hate for an owner to purchase the Cubs and lower salary by any margin than what it is now.

Hey, I'm just glad that we didn't end up with this guy.

Compare those numbers to maddux's when he was here last year and I will gladly take Mateo, Marshal and Miller over Maddux for the cost. Hill is a nobrainer.

-He had a 4.20 ERA overall, and a 4.69 ERA with the Cubs. That's bad. He won't be worth whatever he costs. That's not bad, that's average. He puts up similar numbers to the free agent pitchers not named Zito or Schmidt, and they all are asking for 8-10 million dollars. Do you think Maddux will sign for more than that? I doubt it. Zito and Schmidt are asking for around $12-15m per. I'd guess Maddux could get at least $6m or $7m. He's not worth that. Regarding his ERA, if you take out April he had a Cub ERA well over 5. He was terrible for us. Why would you want him back when better options for a back end rotation guy are available via trade, FA or in house? What I meant is that people like Padilla, Lilly, Meche are all asking for 8-10 per. I'd much rather sign Maddux for 1/6 than sign any of them to 3/27 or 4/36. I don't know of anybody in house of the youngsters besides Rich Hill that could be likely under a 5 ERA. Trading? Well, there's been some rumors-but none of those players are significantly better than Maddux either except Jennings who will cost way too much talent. What pitchers would you want for the starting rotation, and at what prices would be better enough to Maddux to both justify the difference in salary and years? If that's the case we might as well leave one of our rookies to pitch. Maddux was terrible here and I expect an even more decline in numbers. He was getting worse and worse every year of his contract for us.

Agreed. Since we know Drew isn't an option the only thing better than Lugo and Jock is Lugo at SS, and a trade for VWells for CF. Talk about a stacked lineup.

And that is the reason why there was a lot of criticism about the DeRosa signing. Of course 4mil per compared to 10mil is a big difference.

I don't want him back. If we can't sign Schmidt, I would like to see us get Lilly/Padilla and Wolf.

Agreed.

I really like the idea of signing Wolf but please say no to Counsell.

Glendon Rusch is still on the roster, and there's been no indication that he won't make the team. He would be the 4th lefty in the bullpen listed, and that's ridiculous. A trade must be in the works/in Hendry's mind. Rusch is incredibly unlikely to be medically cleared to play by Opening Day. He has to be on blood thinners for a mininum of 6 months, and it will probably be longer than that. He cannot play at all during that time. They started in the middle of September, so the earliest he could even really throw a baseball is the middle of March, and probably later than that. After that, it would take quite a while to get back into playing form. We may have to pay his contract, but the indications are that he won't be in the bullpen for at least the first 1/2 of the season at least. We might as well release him if he doesn't retire.

Well, so would I. But the difference in player cost between the two would be huge. In fact, I'm not sure we could put together a package for Baldelli but we likely could get Dukes. I lean the other way on this. I think Baldelli is more easily attainable. He has the "injury prone" tag firmly on him and other GMs will shy away. I would think that a 3 pitcher deal ala Pierre last offseason would do it. I would offer Marmol/Marshall/C AA Prospect and get it done. There's no way a package like that will get Baldelli. TB has every intention to hold on to Baldelli. They even extended his contract through 2011.

He had a 100mil payroll and still stunk it up. If anything it was MacPhail and his philosophy, Hendry and his fascination to sign mediocre talent and lack of a game plan that has done us in.

Especially with the price CFers are being payed this year. I don't think JJ likes it in Chicago after all the abuse he took. I think he would welcome a trade. But a lot can change with him in CF and with Soriano on the team. Last year the Cubs really needed him to produce, now that is not so much the case. The Cubs really need him to produce this year. Anything less than what he did last year would hurt the team. He's still the 5th hitter, as things stand today. They haven't added a single middle of the order hitter. And I believe that's exactly what this offense still needs is another good middle order hitter.

Drew is not coming to the Cubs via Bruce Miles. I'll take his word for it. I'd love Wells. But any deal involving him starts with Barrett, and probably with Pie/Veal. I would do it.

If Drew is out of the picture then trade for V Wells. How much better is Sarge Jr over Jones really?

I would take a flier on Perez if the price was right.

Trade Jock, trade for Wells or sign Drew for CF and we're set. Soriano Murton Lee ARam Wells/Drew Barrett DeRosa Theriot Pitcher I would LOVE that lineup.

Some people thought the Pierre signing was good for us too. I don't blame them though, just wait until they are done with the first year of his contract and then they will understand why we're glad he's a goner.

Do you guys think they will keep Furcal or try and trade him now that they got Pierre?