The "Three or Four" Moves

[waldo7239117]

I know it was impossible. I was just speculating what they'd HAVE to do to be in the playoffs.

Any cheaper ways to get us in or close?

Play the kids....it won't make the Cubs close or in but expierence will be nice and they will play all out unlike some vets.

 

[Captain Obvious]

I completely did not get what I meant. The pitchers the Cubs called up this year sucked and they are probably the ones that would get called up next year. If they come up and play good, keep them because they are cheap.

That's where we need Lou to not be a dumbass. Thankfully, we won't have him next year. I see an opening day pen of

Marmol
Marshall
Cash Money(maybe, might be in rotation)
Caridad
Grabow
Wood...yes, Kerry.

Then for the rest of the pen, through the year, we need to use our minor leaguers. We'll have about a 20 million dollar bullpen right there, don't want to spend any more.

 

[Jntg4]

We don't have a kid at 1B though. And if we move Colvin there we have to rush Jackson.

 

[Captain Obvious]

We don't have a kid at 1B though. And if we move Colvin there we have to rush Jackson.

That depends if we trade Dome or not.

 

[Jntg4]

That depends if we trade Dome or not.

Ya, I'm just assuming they do.

Anyway, during the game today they said what the Cubs are looking to do this season:

1. Strengthen the Rotation (With or Without Zambrano)
2. Trade Fukudome
3. They said the main reason they want to trade Fukudome is to sign a Left-handed Slugger at either 1B or RF, citing that Colvin can be one or the other, but they want to sign someone to take the other spot.

They said they were talking to Ricketts, so maybe we could have a higher payroll?

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

because we dont have a high payroll already?

getting a 1B like Dunn or Pena would keep colvin in the outfield.....so thats what im going for

 

[JustinTCB]

That's where we need Lou to not be a dumbass. Thankfully, we won't have him next year. I see an opening day pen of

Marmol
Marshall
Cash Money(maybe, might be in rotation)
Caridad
Grabow
Wood...yes, Kerry.

Then for the rest of the pen, through the year, we need to use our minor leaguers. We'll have about a 20 million dollar bullpen right there, don't want to spend any more.

I like this bullpen, though I really want Cashner to at least get a shot at the rotation. Probably won't happen though.

I know that Caridad was compete trash this season, who knows if that is all bc of the elbow or not, but I really think he can be a good pitcher.

Also, what will Angel Guzman be up to next year? Obviously we can't count on him, but there is no reason he wouldn't make the team if he's healthy.

 

[Captain Obvious]

I like this bullpen, though I really want Cashner to at least get a shot at the rotation. Probably won't happen though.

I know that Caridad was compete trash this season, who knows if that is all bc of the elbow or not, but I really think he can be a good pitcher.

Also, what will Angel Guzman be up to next year? Obviously we can't count on him, but there is no reason he wouldn't make the team if he's healthy.

Caridad had 4 IP, not a big enough sample size to say anything, other than we don't have a big enough sample size. Although, I would think that he pitched injured.

As far as Goozy, he will be in arbitration again and I don't think the Cubs want to pay him. I know I don't. I think we will end up non-tendering him.

Cash Money should get a shot at the rotation, but I agree with you, I see him being a Papelbon for us.

 

[Jntg4]

Don't we have like 40 Million coming off the books with Lee and Lilly, and then even more because we traded them? Isn't that like 100 Million to build on? I don't think Lee and Dunn will combine for $120/season, so I don't think that's 220 Million Dollars.

But before I make a dumb argument, does anybody know how much the Cubs have committed to next season?

 

[Jntg4]

Jackson could get a shot, maybe Cash when Dempst is gone.

I don't know if it fits into the plans mentioned in the game by the announcer who talked to Ricketts though.
"1. Strengthen the Rotation (With or Without Zambrano)
2. Trade Fukudome
3. They said the main reason they want to trade Fukudome is to sign a Left-handed Slugger at either 1B or RF, citing that Colvin can be one or the other, but they want to sign someone to take the other spot."

(Yes I know I posted that a few posts ago BTW, just reiterating in this one)

He also said the Cubs think they are really close.

 

[JustinTCB]

Jackson could get a shot, maybe Cash when Dempst is gone.

I don't know if it fits into the plans mentioned in the game by the announcer who talked to Ricketts though.
"1. Strengthen the Rotation (With or Without Zambrano)
2. Trade Fukudome
3. They said the main reason they want to trade Fukudome is to sign a Left-handed Slugger at either 1B or RF, citing that Colvin can be one or the other, but they want to sign someone to take the other spot."

(Yes I know I posted that a few posts ago BTW, just reiterating in this one)

He also said the Cubs think they are really close.

Of course they do, they also thought this team could win this year.

 

[Jntg4]

Of course they do, they also thought this team could win this year.

And they were dead wrong.

EDIT: But I think we are close too, more or less than people think however.

 

[JustinTCB]

Caridad had 4 IP, not a big enough sample size to say anything, other than we don't have a big enough sample size. Although, I would think that he pitched injured.

As far as Goozy, he will be in arbitration again and I don't think the Cubs want to pay him. I know I don't. I think we will end up non-tendering him.

Cash Money should get a shot at the rotation, but I agree with you, I see him being a Papelbon for us.

Caridad only had 4IP? Crazy. Yeah, so he was obviously injured then. I remember hearing that his best attribute was his command, so it would make sense to expect that to return once the elbow heals.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Don't we have like 40 Million coming off the books with Lee and Lilly, and then even more because we traded them? Isn't that like 100 Million to build on? I don't think Lee and Dunn will combine for $120/season, so I don't think that's 220 Million Dollars.

But before I make a dumb argument, does anybody know how much the Cubs have committed to next season?

We have 103.5 Million committed for next year.

If we get Dunn for say, 15 million, that puts us at 118.5. I think he will get less next year, because Jimbo will backload the deal, but we'll go with 15.

Marmol - 6 million
Marshall - 2 million
Gorzo - 2 million

These are 2nd year arby players. You might include Baker in there, but I don't see him back next year. Now, we are at 128.5 million. Soto will be due for a raise, so we will say 3 million for him. Now we're sitting at 131.5. That's 14 players right there. We can probably safely say that Castillo, Wells, DeWitt, Colvin, Castro, and Cashner will be on the team, making league minimum. That's about 2.4 million, so that would put us at 134 million to 20 players.

I see us signing Kerry Wood, to bring him back for shits and gigs, at about 3 million. 137 to 21 players. Fill the rest of the spots out with guys in the minors, and we are at just under 140 million. Now, I would like to see us trade Z and Dome. We can probably get about 10 million total off the books for next year for the both of them. That'd put us at 130 million. If we can get more off the books, we might be able to get Cliff Lee.

However, I do not think that that is the smartest thing to do. He is 32 years old and not a power pitcher. He is going to want too much money. I might think about it, if it were a 3 year deal, but anything more and there is no way I would do that deal.

 

[Jntg4]

Money-regardless:

The Cubs' "number-one need" in the offseason is a left-handed power bat at either first base or right field, with Tyler Colvin available to play the other position.

1B Possibilities:
Lance Berkman
Adam Dunn
Tyler Colvin

RF Possibilities:
Brad Hawpe (not sure I'd call him a power bat)
Eric Hinske (not really a power bat, but there aren't really any LH RF FA power bats)
Tyler Colvin

Starting pitching is also a need for the Cubs, as Rosenthal says the team wants to bring in at least one new starter "regardless of what they do with Carlos Zambrano." One option could be to bring back a recently-traded ace --- Rosenthal says Chicago "still has a lot of interest in Ted Lilly."

Possibilities:
Cliff Lee
Ted Lilly
Jay Jackson
Andrew Cashner
Carlo Pavano
Kevin Correia
Bronson Arroyo

 

[Jntg4]

We have 103.5 Million committed for next year.

If we get Dunn for say, 15 million, that puts us at 118.5. I think he will get less next year, because Jimbo will backload the deal, but we'll go with 15.

Marmol - 6 million
Marshall - 2 million
Gorzo - 2 million

These are 2nd year arby players. You might include Baker in there, but I don't see him back next year. Now, we are at 128.5 million. Soto will be due for a raise, so we will say 3 million for him. Now we're sitting at 131.5. That's 14 players right there. We can probably safely say that Castillo, Wells, DeWitt, Colvin, Castro, and Cashner will be on the team, making league minimum. That's about 2.4 million, so that would put us at 134 million to 20 players.

I see us signing Kerry Wood, to bring him back for shits and gigs, at about 3 million. 137 to 21 players. Fill the rest of the spots out with guys in the minors, and we are at just under 140 million. Now, I would like to see us trade Z and Dome. We can probably get about 10 million total off the books for next year for the both of them. That'd put us at 130 million. If we can get more off the books, we might be able to get Cliff Lee.

However, I do not think that that is the smartest thing to do. He is 32 years old and not a power pitcher. He is going to want too much money. I might think about it, if it were a 3 year deal, but anything more and there is no way I would do that deal.

That sounds somewhat workable (to get Lee and Dunn). We were at about 144 Million this year, before trades. We saved some money too. Ricketts may allow a small increase, but we won't know until October what Ricketts wants to do.

 

[Jntg4]

That'd put us at 130 million. If we can get more off the books, we might be able to get Cliff Lee.

However, I do not think that that is the smartest thing to do. He is 32 years old and not a power pitcher. He is going to want too much money. I might think about it, if it were a 3 year deal, but anything more and there is no way I would do that deal.

Probably right, I posted some other options in the post after this one you posted. Any of those names you like?

 

[FedEx227]

We have 103.5 Million committed for next year.

If we get Dunn for say, 15 million, that puts us at 118.5. I think he will get less next year, because Jimbo will backload the deal, but we'll go with 15.

Marmol - 6 million
Marshall - 2 million
Gorzo - 2 million

These are 2nd year arby players. You might include Baker in there, but I don't see him back next year. Now, we are at 128.5 million. Soto will be due for a raise, so we will say 3 million for him. Now we're sitting at 131.5. That's 14 players right there. We can probably safely say that Castillo, Wells, DeWitt, Colvin, Castro, and Cashner will be on the team, making league minimum. That's about 2.4 million, so that would put us at 134 million to 20 players.

I see us signing Kerry Wood, to bring him back for shits and gigs, at about 3 million. 137 to 21 players. Fill the rest of the spots out with guys in the minors, and we are at just under 140 million. Now, I would like to see us trade Z and Dome. We can probably get about 10 million total off the books for next year for the both of them. That'd put us at 130 million. If we can get more off the books, we might be able to get Cliff Lee.

However, I do not think that that is the smartest thing to do. He is 32 years old and not a power pitcher. He is going to want too much money. I might think about it, if it were a 3 year deal, but anything more and there is no way I would do that deal.

:tiptoe:

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

I see no need in getting a lefty power bat now if we aren't going to contend.

 

[JustinTCB]

I see no need in getting a lefty power bat now if we aren't going to contend.

Agreed, just go all out bad. Slash the payroll for the next few years, collect high draft picks, use those draft picks on first round talent, and develop them.