Sources: Cubs pursuing Pujols, Fielder

[brett05]

I just thought it was funny that a fan would wish for overpayment

 

[brett05]

Not 40 per year. Maybe like 25 and possibly a little more.

It's also not exclusively about Prince. It's also partly about how quickly you expect to fill out the roster with viable options.

The only way you front load at 25 for fielder is years 5-7 are at 24,999,999. I really think he's getting 25 per on average. So if you front load you need to come up quite a bit

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

i dont think being giant completely eradicates the possibility of injury...a lot of mass helps...but the body can only take so much force(or wear and tear in) especially when you play every day..sure its not a contact sport..but there are going to be injuries

that said, i think that prince's durability is surely a strong advantage of his considering he is not injury prone, young, and that his weight really helps him more than slows him down when considering how it impacts bat mechanics

unless, he,um, falls on a twinkie or something

 

[Lex L.]

The only way you front load at 25 for fielder is years 5-7 are at 24,999,999. I really think he's getting 25 per on average. So if you front load you need to come up quite a bit

Well, keep in mind that one thing that's complicating this is that we could be talking about different things depending on the # of years. What I would actually do, is offer a contract of 5/130 or another one that's longer but front loaded.

 

[brett05]

unless, he,um, falls on a twinkie or something

Mmmm twinkies

 

[Lex L.]

BTW, lets all just remember something. As much as some of you want to worship at the alter of sabermetrics, the truth is that Theo inherited Manny and never won a championship without him.

 

[brett05]

Good point

 

[Rice Cube]

BTW, lets all just remember something. As much as some of you want to worship at the alter of sabermetrics, the truth is that Theo inherited Manny and never won a championship without him.

Right, but Manny was a very good offensive player and Theo kept him until his useful life was almost done before dumping him. They also never won a championship without David Ortiz, whom Theo signed on the cheap. Theo also traded for Curt Schilling and built the next core which contained guys like Pedroia and Ellsbury.

 

[Lex L.]

Right, but Manny was a very good offensive player and Theo kept him until his useful life was almost done before dumping him. They also never won a championship without David Ortiz, whom Theo signed on the cheap. Theo also traded for Curt Schilling and built the next core which contained guys like Pedroia and Ellsbury.

They dumped him because he became a malcontent.

I agree that Ortiz was a factor but I'm not sure why you bring that up since we don't even have someone on the level of Manny at this point. Saying they had Ortiz isn't really an argument against getting Fielder. They got lucky with Ortiz. If you're suggesting they should go that route hoping to connect twice, the odds are against you.

The point is that he inherited a cornerstone hitter. We currently don't have that.

 

[Rice Cube]

They dumped him because he became a malcontent.

I agree that Ortiz was a factor but I'm not sure why you bring that up since we don't even have someone on the level of Manny at this point. Saying they had Ortiz isn't really an argument against getting Fielder. They got lucky with Ortiz. If you're suggesting they should go that route hoping to connect twice, the odds are against you.

The point is that he inherited a cornerstone hitter. We currently don't have that.

The point is that there's more than one way to build a contender. Right now the Cubs are more than a David Ortiz and a Manny Ramirez away. It is a good plan to incrementally build up the powerhouse-to-be and one starting point would be to acquire someone like Prince Fielder. But as has been discussed before, the likely aging curve suggests that the acquisition of Fielder will leave you a very short window of opportunity to contend while he can still be an elite offensive force. The alternate plan is what it seems the Cubs are trying to do and what Theo has done, is to identify potentially undervalued players and plug small holes while waiting things out. Of course, they could do both; sign Fielder and make dinky Ian Stewart trades that don't make sense to anyone at the time, but may pan out later like the Ortiz signing did.

 

[Lex L.]

The point is that there's more than one way to build a contender. Right now the Cubs are more than a David Ortiz and a Manny Ramirez away. It is a good plan to incrementally build up the powerhouse-to-be and one starting point would be to acquire someone like Prince Fielder. But as has been discussed before, the likely aging curve suggests that the acquisition of Fielder will leave you a very short window of opportunity to contend while he can still be an elite offensive force. The alternate plan is what it seems the Cubs are trying to do and what Theo has done, is to identify potentially undervalued players and plug small holes while waiting things out. Of course, they could do both; sign Fielder and make dinky Ian Stewart trades that don't make sense to anyone at the time, but may pan out later like the Ortiz signing did.

Like I said, Theo has already admitted that you're "lucky" if you hit on 2 draft picks from any give year. Not only that, but he was lucky that he hit on Ortiz. You're advocating hitting the lottery too many times. If you dont acquire talent when and where you can, including elite hitters in FA, then 5 years could easily end up not being close to enough time.

The simple fact that Prince fits almost every criteria of someone they'd be looking for and won't cost draft picks should almost be enough on its own.