OFFICIAL: 2012 Free Agency Thread

[85Bears4life]

Who would u like the cubs to sign this offseason this list is the "major" Free agents that will be available to sign

2012 FA list by pos

Catchers
Rod Barajas (36)
Henry Blanco (40)
Ramon Castro (36)
Ryan Doumit (31) - $7.25MM club option for 2012, $8.25MM club option for '13 with a $500K buyout
Ramon Hernandez (36)
Jason Kendall (38)
Gerald Laird (32)
Jose Molina (36)
Yadier Molina (29) - $7MM club option with a $750K buyout
Dioner Navarro (28)
Ivan Rodriguez (40)
Brian Schneider (35)
Kelly Shoppach (29) - $3.2MM club option with a $300K buyout
Chris Snyder (31) - $6.75MM club option with a $750K buyout
Matt Treanor (36)
Jason Varitek (40)

First basemen
Lance Berkman (36)
Russell Branyan (36)
Jorge Cantu (30)
Michael Cuddyer (33)
Prince Fielder (28)
Ross Gload (36)
Brad Hawpe (33)
Eric Hinske (34) - $1.5MM club option with a $100K buyout
Nick Johnson (33)
Casey Kotchman (29)
Mark Kotsay (36)
Derrek Lee (36)
Xavier Nady (33)
Lyle Overbay (35)
Carlos Pena (34)
Albert Pujols (32)

Second basemen
Clint Barmes (33)
Willie Bloomquist (34) - $1.1MM mutual option with a $150K buyout
Orlando Cabrera (37)
Robinson Cano (29) - $14MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Jamey Carroll (37)
Alex Cora (36)
Craig Counsell (41)
Mark Ellis (35)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (36)
Bill Hall (32) - mutual option
Aaron Hill (30) - $8MM club option for 2012 and $8MM club option for '13
Omar Infante (30)
Joe Inglett (34)
Kelly Johnson (30)
Adam Kennedy (36)
Felipe Lopez (32)
Jose Lopez (28)
Julio Lugo (36)
Aaron Miles (35)
Augie Ojeda (37)
Brandon Phillips (31) - $12MM club option with a $1MM buyout

Shortstops
Clint Barmes (33)
Yuniesky Betancourt (30) - $6MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Orlando Cabrera (37)
Jamey Carroll (37)
Ronny Cedeno (29) - $3MM club option with a $200K buyout
Craig Counsell (41)
Adam Everett (35)
Rafael Furcal (34) - $12MM club option with a $1.3MM buyout
Alex Gonzalez (34)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (36)
J.J. Hardy (29)
Omar Infante (30)
Cesar Izturis (32)
Julio Lugo (36)
John McDonald (37)
Augie Ojeda (37)
Nick Punto (34)
Edgar Renteria (35)
Jose Reyes (29)
Jimmy Rollins (33)
Ramon Santiago (32)
Marco Scutaro (36) - $6MM club option/$3MM player option with a $1.5MM buyout
Miguel Tejada (38)
Jack Wilson (34)

Third basemen
Wilson Betemit (30)
Casey Blake (38) - $6MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout
Jorge Cantu (30)
Eric Chavez (34)
Craig Counsell (41)
Mark DeRosa (37)
Greg Dobbs (33)
Edwin Encarnacion (29) - $3.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Jerry Hairston Jr. (36)
Wes Helms (36)
Omar Infante (30)
Felipe Lopez (32)
Jose Lopez (28)
Melvin Mora (40)
Nick Punto (34)
Aramis Ramirez (34)
Miguel Tejada (38)
Omar Vizquel (45)

Left fielders
Pat Burrell (35)
Jack Cust (33)
Johnny Damon (37)
Mark DeRosa (37)
Jonny Gomes (31)
Carlos Guillen (36)
Scott Hairston (32)
Willie Harris (34)
Jeremy Hermida (28)
Eric Hinske (34) - $1.5MM club option with a $100K buyout
Raul Ibanez (40)
Joe Inglett (34)
Conor Jackson (30)
Reed Johnson (35)
Austin Kearns (32)
Ryan Ludwick (33)
Jason Michaels (36)
Laynce Nix (31)
Juan Pierre (34)
Scott Podsednik (36)
Juan Rivera (33)
Matt Stairs (44)
Marcus Thames (35)
Josh Willingham (33)

Center fielders
Rick Ankiel (32)
Carlos Beltran (35)
Willie Bloomquist (34) - $1.1MM mutual option with a $150K buyout
Mike Cameron (39)
Coco Crisp (32)
David DeJesus (32)
Scott Hairston (32)
Andruw Jones (35)
Nate McLouth (30) - $10.65MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout
Corey Patterson (32)
Cody Ross (31)
Grady Sizemore (29) - $8.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (38) - $9MM club option with a $1MM buyout; vests with 433 PAs in 2011
Lance Berkman (36)
Willie Bloomquist (34) - $1.1MM mutual option with a $150K buyout
Milton Bradley (34)
Michael Cuddyer (33)
David DeJesus (32)
J.D. Drew (36)
Jeff Francoeur (28) - $3MM mutual option
Kosuke Fukudome (35)
Willie Harris (34)
Brad Hawpe (33)
Jeremy Hermida (28)
Joe Inglett (34)
Austin Kearns (32)
Jason Kubel (29)
Ryan Ludwick (33)
Xavier Nady (33)
Magglio Ordonez (38)
Cody Ross (31)
Nick Swisher (31) - $10.25MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Josh Willingham (33)

Designated hitters
Milton Bradley (34)
Jack Cust (33)
Johnny Damon (37)
Jason Giambi (41)
Vladimir Guerrero (37)
Carlos Guillen (36)
David Ortiz (36)
Jason Kubel (29)
Hideki Matsui (38)
Jorge Posada (40)
Jim Thome (41)

Starting pitchers
Mark Buehrle (33)
Chris Carpenter (37) - $15MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Bruce Chen (35)
Aaron Cook (33) - $11MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Kyle Davies (28)
Ryan Dempster (35) - $14MM player option, no buyout
Justin Duchscherer (34)
Zach Duke (29) - $5.5MM club option with a $750K buyout
Jeff Francis (30)
Freddy Garcia (36)
Jon Garland (32) - $8MM club option with a $500K buyout; vests with 190 IP
Aaron Harang (34) - $5MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Rich Harden (30)
Livan Hernandez (37)
Edwin Jackson (28)
Kenshin Kawakami (37)
Scott Kazmir (28) - $13.5MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Hiroki Kuroda (37)
Rodrigo Lopez (36)
Paul Maholm (30) - $9.75MM club option with a $750K buyout
John Maine (31)
Jason Marquis (33)
Kevin Millwood (37)
Sergio Mitre (31)
Scott Olsen (28) - $4MM club option with a $100K buyout
Roy Oswalt (34) - $16MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
Brad Penny (34)
Oliver Perez (30)
Joel Pineiro (33)
C.C. Sabathia (31) - may opt out of remaining four years, $92MM
Carlos Silva (33) - $12MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
Javier Vazquez (35)
Adam Wainwright (30) - $10MM vesting option for '12, $12MM for '13
Tim Wakefield (45)
Chien-Ming Wang (32)
Brandon Webb (33)
Dontrelle Willis (30)
C.J. Wilson (31)
Chris Young (33)

Closers
Heath Bell (34)
Jonathan Broxton (28)
Matt Capps (28)
Francisco Cordero (37) - $12MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Frank Francisco (32)
Ryan Franklin (39)
Brad Lidge (35) - $12.5MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Joe Nathan (37) - $12.5MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Jonathan Papelbon (31)
Jon Rauch (33) - $3.75MM club option with a $250K buyout
Francisco Rodriguez (30) - $17.5MM club/vesting option with a $3.5MM buyout
Rafael Soriano (32) - $11MM player option or a $1.5MM buyout
Jose Valverde (34) - $9MM club option, no buyout

Right-handed relievers
Danys Baez (34)
Miguel Batista (41)
Blaine Boyer (30)
Dave Bush (32)
Shawn Camp (36)
Clay Condrey (36)
Lance Cormier (31)
Juan Cruz (31)
Octavio Dotel (38) - $3.75MM club option with a $750K buyout
Kyle Farnsworth (36) - $3.3MM club option with a $650K buyout
Jason Frasor (34) - $3.75MM club option
Chad Gaudin (29)
LaTroy Hawkins (37)
Aaron Heilman (33)
Scott Linebrink (35)
Ryan Madson (31)
Micah Owings (29)
Vicente Padilla (34)
Joel Peralta (36)
Mark Prior (31)
Chad Qualls (33) - $6MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Jon Rauch (33) - $3.75MM club option with a $250K buyout
Chris Ray (30)
Fernando Rodney (35)
Takashi Saito (42)
Jeff Suppan (37)
Koji Uehara (37) - vesting option
Dan Wheeler (34) - $3MM club option with no buyout; vests with 65 appearances in 2011
Kerry Wood (35)
Jamey Wright (37)
Michael Wuertz (33) - $3.25MM club option with a $250K buyout
Joel Zumaya (27)

Left-handed relievers
Tim Byrdak (38)
Randy Flores (36)
Mike Gonzalez (34)
John Grabow (33)
Mark Hendrickson (38)
Javier Lopez (34)
Ron Mahay (41)
Damaso Marte (37) - $4MM club option with a $250K buyout
Hideki Okajima (36) - can opt for free agency
Darren Oliver (41)
Dennys Reyes (35)
Arthur Rhodes (42) - $4MM club option with a $200K buyout; vests with 62 appearances in 2011
George Sherrill (35)
Brian Tallet (34)

 

[Jntg4]

Just a 1B and 3B. Maybe an OF.

 

[85Bears4life]

Just a 1B and 3B. Maybe an OF.

resign reed johnson maybe?

 

[ChiSportsRich]

the 2 big names are Prince and Pujols. Imo, if I were a Cub fan I'd like to see mgmt sign Prince. Not to excited about the 3rd base names

 

[daddies3angels]

Here would be the 3 FA i sign:

Prince Fielder (22 mil)

CC Sabathia (22 mil )

Jose Reyes (12 mil) ( I know it looks funny but honestly i would move Castro to 3B, Castro makes to many Errors to be SS, plus he projected to become a power hitter once he fills out more)

Trade for RF!!!! (10 mil)

Thats 66 MIL added to the 72.6 mil thats already on roster for next year: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tt7HjIernphaSrv4wMWdUYg&output=html

so that = 138.6 mil + 13 mil for Garza and Soto ARB = 151 mil....NO REASON THAT CANT BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If they get RF also would get rid of Byrd 6.5 mil to put it under 150 mil

So opening day Lineup:

SS Reyes
2B Barney
3B Castro (another year getting bigger should help him)
1B Fielder
RF ?????? Trade for one ( Rumor Either could be avaible) or Byrd
LF Soriano
C Soto
CF Jackson

SP 1: CC
SP 2: Garza
SP 3: Demp
SP 4: Z (if not traded this year)
SP 5: Cashner

CL Marmol
SU Marshall
SU Wood

 

[Jntg4]

Here would be the 3 FA i sign:

Prince Fielder (22 mil)

CC Sabathia (22 mil )

Jose Reyes (12 mil) ( I know it looks funny but honestly i would move Castro to 3B, Castro makes to many Errors to be SS, plus he projected to become a power hitter once he fills out more)

Trade for RF!!!! (10 mil)

Thats 66 MIL added to the 72.6 mil thats already on roster for next year: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tt7HjIernphaSrv4wMWdUYg&output=html

so that = 138.6 mil + 13 mil for Garza and Soto ARB = 151 mil....NO REASON THAT CANT BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If they get RF also would get rid of Byrd 6.5 mil to put it under 150 mil

So opening day Lineup:

SS Reyes
2B Barney
3B Castro (another year getting bigger should help him)
1B Fielder
RF ?????? Trade for one ( Rumor Either could be avaible) or Byrd
LF Soriano
C Soto
CF Jackson

SP 1: CC
SP 2: Garza
SP 3: Demp
SP 4: Z (if not traded this year)
SP 5: Cashner

CL Marmol
SU Marshall
SU Wood

No. Just No. The Cubs said they won't move Castro BTW, and Reyes spends half the season injured. CC probably won't be available IMO. No trade for RF, just put BJax there and keep Byrd in CF. Castro won't hold up as a 3B, he has no power. And of course he makes errors, he is 21. You are just looking for ways to spend just to say we spent, rather than focusing on what we do or don't actually need to spend on.

 

[ChiSportsRich]

Here would be the 3 FA i sign:

Prince Fielder (22 mil)

CC Sabathia (22 mil )

Jose Reyes (12 mil) ( I know it looks funny but honestly i would move Castro to 3B, Castro makes to many Errors to be SS, plus he projected to become a power hitter once he fills out more)

Trade for RF!!!! (10 mil)

Thats 66 MIL added to the 72.6 mil thats already on roster for next year: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tt7HjIernphaSrv4wMWdUYg&output=html

so that = 138.6 mil + 13 mil for Garza and Soto ARB = 151 mil....NO REASON THAT CANT BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If they get RF also would get rid of Byrd 6.5 mil to put it under 150 mil

So opening day Lineup:

SS Reyes
2B Barney
3B Castro (another year getting bigger should help him)
1B Fielder
RF ?????? Trade for one ( Rumor Either could be avaible) or Byrd
LF Soriano
C Soto
CF Jackson

SP 1: CC
SP 2: Garza
SP 3: Demp
SP 4: Z (if not traded this year)
SP 5: Cashner

CL Marmol
SU Marshall
SU Wood

CC Sabathia is not gonna opt out of a 23M/yr contract to sign a 22M/yr contract

 

[daddies3angels]

No. Just No. The Cubs said they won't move Castro BTW, and Reyes spends half the season injured. CC probably won't be available IMO. No trade for RF, just put BJax there and keep Byrd in CF. Castro won't hold up as a 3B, he has no power. And of course he makes errors, he is 21. You are just looking for ways to spend just to say we spent, rather than focusing on what we do or don't actually need to spend on.

Reyes only been hurt one year. Has over 500 AB every year but 1....CC will opt out but i do see him going back to NYY, but remember CC and Prince were teammates with MIL. Byrd is not a CF and is not that good. Castro only 21 and is projected to become 20 HR guy. Alot of scouts project him to hit for power like Hanley. Just needs to learn league and has growing to do. Im not looking to spend just cause. I really think doing those 4 moves makes the Cubs a favorite in NLC.

 

[daddies3angels]

CC Sabathia is not gonna opt out of a 23M/yr contract to sign a 22M/yr contract

Good point there my bad So lets say 25 mil...still a budget a Chicago team could handle....i realize this wont happen. Just a fantasy offseason. I do think this team would compete

 

[ChiSportsRich]

Reyes only been hurt one year. Has over 500 AB every year but 1....CC will opt out but i do see him going back to NYY, but remember CC and Prince were teammates with MIL. Byrd is not a CF and is not that good. Castro only 21 and is projected to become 20 HR guy. Alot of scouts project him to hit for power like Hanley. Just needs to learn league and has growing to do. Im not looking to spend just cause. I really think doing those 4 moves makes the Cubs a favorite in NLC.

BAseball America also projected Castro to be the 2nd baseman, of course that was prior to Lee being traded

 

[daddies3angels]

Again i realize this is basically unrealistic.....alot would have to go crazy right and Owner have to spend tons of money...i see the Cubs going the same way you all do...

 

[zlarson]

the 2 big names are Prince and Pujols. Imo, if I were a Cub fan I'd like to see mgmt sign Prince. Not to excited about the 3rd base names

Definitely want Prince in Chicago, I want someone who can put the ball on Sheffield consistently. We'll just have to hope Vitters actually pans out.

 

[Captain Obvious]

resign reed johnson maybe?

Dear God NO

Definitely want Prince in Chicago, I want someone who can put the ball on Sheffield consistently. We'll just have to hope Vitters actually pans out.

Vitters is a righty....

I think we could realistically see something like Prince, Kelly Johnson, and Heremedia.

3B absolutely sucks for us. Basically it's Vitters or maybe a trade. It would be nice to see Hendry trade for a 3B, but I doubt that happens.

I feel like we'll pass up 2B and end up signing a SP, which is going to piss me off.

But basically if we don't get Fielder, we're fucked.

 

[EnjoyYourTiger]

Dear God NO



Vitters is a righty....

I think we could realistically see something like Prince, Kelly Johnson, and Heremedia.

3B absolutely sucks for us. Basically it's Vitters or maybe a trade. It would be nice to see Hendry trade for a 3B, but I doubt that happens.

I feel like we'll pass up 2B and end up signing a SP, which is going to piss me off.

But basically if we don't get Fielder, we're fucked.

I know you're going to reply with a snappy comeback, but I'll be ready for it. Why do we need a 2B? Our huge needs are (in order-ish):

1B, 3B, P.

So if we sign Prince, trade for a 3B, since the free agent market is pretty scarce, and get a decent SP and RP we should be in okay shape.

Unless I'm missing something?

 

[Captain Obvious]

I know you're going to reply with a snappy comeback, but I'll be ready for it. Why do we need a 2B? Our huge needs are (in order-ish):

1B, 3B, P.

So if we sign Prince, trade for a 3B, since the free agent market is pretty scarce, and get a decent SP and RP we should be in okay shape.

Unless I'm missing something?

Why do we need pitching? Our starters are like 20-15(W-L sucks, but meh). When they get hurt, we suck. But what's wrong with our starters? I see a terrible option at 2B in Darwin Barney. Only Cabrera walks less out of 2B in the league. I really don't see what's so great there.

As for 3B, I'd really like to see us go out and trade for Ryan Roberts. He walks a ton, which is what we need. Badly.

 

[EnjoyYourTiger]

Why do we need pitching? Our starters are like 20-15(W-L sucks, but meh). When they get hurt, we suck. But what's wrong with our starters? I see a terrible option at 2B in Darwin Barney. Only Cabrera walks less out of 2B in the league. I really don't see what's so great there.

As for 3B, I'd really like to see us go out and trade for Ryan Roberts. He walks a ton, which is what we need. Badly.

I just don't see Cashner being a long term option. And then we just picked up Davis and Lopez who may or may not be worth anything at all. So far Davis is sucking it up big time and I think Lopez will just end up pitching batting practice. I just think the need for a pitcher outweighs the need to replace Barney.

Yeah, he doesn't walk a ton. But, neither does anyone else on the Cubs. Except Kosuke.

 

[Captain Obvious]

I just don't see Cashner being a long term option. And then we just picked up Davis and Lopez who may or may not be worth anything at all. So far Davis is sucking it up big time and I think Lopez will just end up pitching batting practice. I just think the need for a pitcher outweighs the need to replace Barney.

Yeah, he doesn't walk a ton. But, neither does anyone else on the Cubs. Except Kosuke.

How do you not see Cashner as a long term option? I'm no Jntg or whoever the hell he is now, but Cashner not a long term option? Really?

Did you not see the 20-15 thread? Our "Opening Day" Starting Rotation is doing just fine. It's the suckfest of the rest of them that sucks. I wouldn't mind trading back for Gorzo or a Gorzo type pitcher to have in case of injury, but to say that we need pitching is a little extreme. Injuries have totally killed us.

 

[EnjoyYourTiger]

How do you not see Cashner as a long term option? I'm no Jntg or whoever the hell he is now, but Cashner not a long term option? Really?

Did you not see the 20-15 thread? Our "Opening Day" Starting Rotation is doing just fine. It's the suckfest of the rest of them that sucks. I wouldn't mind trading back for Gorzo or a Gorzo type pitcher to have in case of injury, but to say that we need pitching is a little extreme. Injuries have totally killed us.

Idk, just with the shoulder injury after one start, it just doesn't bode well. Then it was better and then he reinjured it. It's just reminiscent of Prior and Wood way back when. Hopefully I'm wrong - this is all just based upon his injury/ rehab.

I didn't see it. Does that just mean that between Z, Demp, Garza, Wells, and Cash that they are 20-15 combined? Because Coleman has a win or two I think and Davis has like two losses. Is it counting them?

If not, then that's not terrible.

Then I guess I should specify that we need middle relief, because I'm sure we can all agree that Shark, Berg, Maine, Grabow, and Russell all pretty much suck.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Idk, just with the shoulder injury after one start, it just doesn't bode well. Then it was better and then he reinjured it. It's just reminiscent of Prior and Wood way back when. Hopefully I'm wrong - this is all just based upon his injury/ rehab.

I didn't see it. Does that just mean that between Z, Demp, Garza, Wells, and Cash that they are 20-15 combined? Because Coleman has a win or two I think and Davis has like two losses. Is it counting them?

If not, then that's not terrible.

Then I guess I should specify that we need middle relief, because I'm sure we can all agree that Shark, Berg, Maine, Grabow, and Russell all pretty much suck.

The 20-15 is Z, Demp, Garza, Wells, and Cash.

Our bullpen really hasnt been that bad. Shark has been pretty good, so has Russell when in relief. Grabow has been meh, but Maine and Berg have sucked dick. I would rather the Cubs go out and give Pujols a 300 million dollar contract than spend money on the bullpen. It's such a stupid investment. They only pitch like MAYBE 80 innings a year. They are so hit and miss that it is just silly to spend money on them, when it can be filled in house for much much cheaper.

Pitching has never been the Cubs' problem, at least in the last decade-ish. The problem is scoring runs. We need to score runs.

 

[EnjoyYourTiger]

The 20-15 is Z, Demp, Garza, Wells, and Cash.

Our bullpen really hasnt been that bad. Shark has been pretty good, so has Russell when in relief. Grabow has been meh, but Maine and Berg have sucked dick. I would rather the Cubs go out and give Pujols a 300 million dollar contract than spend money on the bullpen. It's such a stupid investment. They only pitch like MAYBE 80 innings a year. They are so hit and miss that it is just silly to spend money on them, when it can be filled in house for much much cheaper.

Pitching has never been the Cubs' problem, at least in the last decade-ish. The problem is scoring runs. We need to score runs.

Yeah, I guess in the grand scheme of things, the games that the Cubs lose by 2 or fewer runs would probably outweigh the number of games that the bullpen actually blow. It's definitely more frustrating to watch us blow a lead than it is to never have one, though.

I still wouldn't give Pujols a 10 year, 300 million dollar contract. History just tells us that it won't end well.