Rotoworld's top 50 MLB Free Agents, and your Cubs wishlist.

[bobferg]

Top 50 MLB Free Agents - Rotoworld.com

There are some damn good underachieving players on this list.

I would say:

Aaron Hill
Grady Sizemore
Prince Fielder.

Aaron Hill would fix the black hole that is 2nd base for the cubs. Grady Sizemore would be the first true 3rd hitter the Cubs have had since Lee was still good. And Fielder is a no-brainer. Granted this is pretty unrealistic, but it is fun to think about.

Still doesn't fix the leadoff problem though.

 

[Rick]

Grady Sizemore...

 

[waldo7239117]

I like Sizemore a lot but too injury prone for my liking. Before he got injured, I wanted him on the Cubs.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

prince....and hill

but sizemore lulz hell to the no

 

[dabynsky]

Top 50 MLB Free Agents - Rotoworld.com

There are some damn good underachieving players on this list.

I would say:

Aaron Hill
Grady Sizemore
Prince Fielder.

Aaron Hill would fix the black hole that is 2nd base for the cubs. Grady Sizemore would be the first true 3rd hitter the Cubs have had since Lee was still good. And Fielder is a no-brainer. Granted this is pretty unrealistic, but it is fun to think about.

Still doesn't fix the leadoff problem though.

Yeah I am also confused at the Sizemore call since OF is one of the few spots that we have help ready for next year. Colvin is a guy that deserves a chance to see if he can take a big league job or not, and if not we have the best prospect in our system near ready as well. Both could be busts, but I would rather go with that then Sizemore. Fielder and Hill would give a nice boost to the power on this team. I would prefer to avoid Hill myself, but I could see the value in having a guy like him on the team.

 

[Capt. Serious]

prince....and hill

but sizemore lulz hell to the no

Yeah, because Sizemore is just horrible.

Get him on the cheap because of injuries, teams will take a chance.

 

[dabynsky]

Yeah, because Sizemore is just horrible.

Get him on the cheap because of injuries, teams will take a chance.

Well it would be a different strategy for the Cubs. Instead of the player becoming a bust and injury-riddled once they get on the Cubs, they just get guys that are already at that point...

 

[poodski]

Yeah, because Sizemore is just horrible.

Get him on the cheap because of injuries, teams will take a chance.

For once I actually agree with The Cawk.

IF, and thats a big IF you can get him on the cheap I would take a gamble on him, but I doubt that will happen.

 

[poodski]

Boy (I know it won't happen) I would love Nicky the Swish.

 

[dabynsky]

Boy (I know it won't happen) I would love Nicky the Swish.

I love his skillset, but do you really want to add another over 30 OF to this team? Or are you suggesting plugging him at first base?

 

[poodski]

I love his skillset, but do you really want to add another over 30 OF to this team? Or are you suggesting plugging him at first base?

I don't think he has the bat for 1B, but I think he could make a nice CF or RF if he can stay healthy. But I am more looking at like a 1 year 5 million dollar deal with an option for 2013 at 10 million or something.

Regardless I bet the Indians pick up his option.

I would rather move Byrd and have Sizemore.

 

[dabynsky]

I don't think he has the bat for 1B, but I think he could make a nice CF or RF if he can stay healthy. But I am more looking at like a 1 year 5 million dollar deal with an option for 2013 at 10 million or something.

Regardless I bet the Indians pick up his option.

I would rather move Byrd and have Sizemore.

See this is where I disagree. As much as I like Swisher's skillset I don't want to add over 30 players to a position that I could possibly fill internally. I don't know what Brett Jackson will be in the majors, but he ought to be ready to go at the start of next season. I would also like to move Byrd into right field where he would be a much better defender. I just think that we have to find out what we have in Jackson and to a lesser extent Colvin.

I would rather focus on spots that we don't have guys ready to go. That would be 1B, 2B, 3B, and front of the rotation starting pitching. Everything else I think we can get from within the system or is currently on the major league roster.

 

[poodski]

See this is where I disagree. As much as I like Swisher's skillset I don't want to add over 30 players to a position that I could possibly fill internally. I don't know what Brett Jackson will be in the majors, but he ought to be ready to go at the start of next season. I would also like to move Byrd into right field where he would be a much better defender. I just think that we have to find out what we have in Jackson and to a lesser extent Colvin.

I would rather focus on spots that we don't have guys ready to go. That would be 1B, 2B, 3B, and front of the rotation starting pitching. Everything else I think we can get from within the system or is currently on the major league roster.

I assume you mean Sizemore...

I would rather put Jackson in CF as well, but I would like to try and move Byrd at the deadline and try someone like Sizemore or even Swisher, but I don't think either will be available.

I see no way we can get a front of the rotation starter, and honestly I don't think an ace is needed.

I agree on 1st 2nd and 3rd base though.

 

[dabynsky]

I assume you mean Sizemore...

I would rather put Jackson in CF as well, but I would like to try and move Byrd at the deadline and try someone like Sizemore or even Swisher, but I don't think either will be available.

I see no way we can get a front of the rotation starter, and honestly I don't think an ace is needed.

I agree on 1st 2nd and 3rd base though.

I thought we were talking about Swisher to be honest. Sizemore isn't bad but I am always concerned about guys that a lot of their value comes from their speed and who have had a number of injuries. Sizemore is going to be 29 next year as well.

I agree with the first half of what you said about a front of the rotation starter. I don't think we can get one this offseason, and really I don't hold out much hope the Cubs can get one through free agency. The way the Cubs have gotten most of their SP has been through the farm or trade, and I am going to guess that is where it is going to have to come from this time. That said I don't see the guy in the system that is a year or two away that can be that guy.

If I am looking at this team those 3 infield spots are the ones I am focused on. I am just worried that the Cubs think that they have 2B covered for years to come with Barney.

 

[poodski]

I thought we were talking about Swisher to be honest. Sizemore isn't bad but I am always concerned about guys that a lot of their value comes from their speed and who have had a number of injuries. Sizemore is going to be 29 next year as well.

I agree with the first half of what you said about a front of the rotation starter. I don't think we can get one this offseason, and really I don't hold out much hope the Cubs can get one through free agency. The way the Cubs have gotten most of their SP has been through the farm or trade, and I am going to guess that is where it is going to have to come from this time. That said I don't see the guy in the system that is a year or two away that can be that guy.

If I am looking at this team those 3 infield spots are the ones I am focused on. I am just worried that the Cubs think that they have 2B covered for years to come with Barney.

Ah well yeah I think Swisher could be a decent 1B, but isn't really the ideal impact bat at first. I do think he would be amazing in RF though. I also highly doubt he becomes available this offseason either.

 

[daddies3angels]

I actually like the idea of Swisher for RF next year alot. He works the count and takes his walks. Adding Fielder and Swisher to Cubs lineup would be HUGE

Jackson CF
Castro SS
Fielder 1B
A-Ram 3B (yes i resign him)
Swisher RF
Soriano LF
Soto C
Barney 2B (Would love to sign 2B though like Kelley Johnson also)

Byrd needs to be traded to save 6.5 mil in cap room. Swisher is an all around better player then Byrd.

 

[dabynsky]

I actually like the idea of Swisher for RF next year alot. He works the count and takes his walks. Adding Fielder and Swisher to Cubs lineup would be HUGE

Jackson CF
Castro SS
Fielder 1B
A-Ram 3B (yes i resign him)
Swisher RF
Soriano LF
Soto C
Barney 2B (Would love to sign 2B though like Kelley Johnson also)

Byrd needs to be traded to save 6.5 mil in cap room. Swisher is an all around better player then Byrd.

That would be a nice lineup though I don't know if I would bat Jackson leadoff. I would probably bat Castro leadoff with Swisher behind him granted that would stack the righties after Fielder. Still that wouldn't be a terrible lineup.

Also I know you know this but there isn't a cap in baseball. The cap is the amount the Ricketts family is willing to allocate to player salaries.

 

[daddies3angels]

That would be a nice lineup though I don't know if I would bat Jackson leadoff. I would probably bat Castro leadoff with Swisher behind him granted that would stack the righties after Fielder. Still that wouldn't be a terrible lineup.

Also I know you know this but there isn't a cap in baseball. The cap is the amount the Ricketts family is willing to allocate to player salaries.

sorry meant ricketts cap. Assuming he a ****** again his payroll will go down so that could be 6.5 mil he saves on payroll

 

[dabynsky]

sorry meant ricketts cap. Assuming he a ****** again his payroll will go down so that could be 6.5 mil he saves on payroll

I figured that is what you meant, but I thought I would clarify.

Actually that would be a pretty nice lineup especially if you could replace Barney with Kelly Johnson. That lineup would have nice balance with 3 lefty bats (Fielder, Jackosn, Johnson) and a switch hitter in Swisher. Too bad that there is no way that the Cubs go on that spending spree ala 2007 to buy their way into the playoffs next year.

 

[daddies3angels]

I figured that is what you meant, but I thought I would clarify.

Actually that would be a pretty nice lineup especially if you could replace Barney with Kelly Johnson. That lineup would have nice balance with 3 lefty bats (Fielder, Jackosn, Johnson) and a switch hitter in Swisher. Too bad that there is no way that the Cubs go on that spending spree ala 2007 to buy their way into the playoffs next year.

They have the money coming off the books to do so. I did some research and with current roster and expected ARB cases payroll would be about 85 mil. If they keep same payroll as this year then they should have 50 mil to spend. I think you and i could build a very nice team with 50 mil to spend :hi5: