Your Offseason Plan

[WindyCity]

Signings

1B Prince Fielder [6 years 150 million]
LHP Paul Malholm [2 years 12 million]
OG Yoenis Cespedes [5 years 35 million]

Line Up

1. RF DeJesus
2. SS Castro
3. 1B Fielder
4. C Soto
5. LF Byrd
6. CF Cespedes
7. 3B Stewart
8. 2B Barney

Rotation

1. Garza
2. Dempster
3. Malholm
4. Wells
5. Samardjia

 

[Rice Cube]

Sounds like you've already eaten Soriano and Zambrano's contracts then.

 

[WindyCity]

Sounds like you've already eaten Soriano and Zambrano's contracts then.

Zambrano is an early season trade to the Marlins, with the Cubs eating a lot of the deal.

Soriano hits the bench and pinch hits from time to time.

 

[Rice Cube]

I'm at peace with whatever Theo is doing:

I love it when a plan comes together… | World Series Dreaming

If it were up to me, I'd tell Fielder to take-it-or-leave it at 6 years, $130MM max. Somehow I doubt the Rangers have that kind of money, or the Mariners/Blue Jays for that matter. If Fielder does end up going to Texas, or the other two teams, I say "whatever" and at least he's out of the division.

I'd trade Byrd and Marmol pretty much immediately and get what I can back for them.

I would only trade Soto, Garza and Marshall for something spectacular, especially Garza and Marshall.

I play Soriano in LF for as long as it takes for Brett Jackson to get ready. Then he becomes the bench bat or DH in interleague.

I pencil Zambrano in anywhere between 3-5 spots in the rotation until he blows up again, then I release him.

Rotation:

Garza (unless he's traded)
Roy Oswalt (?)
Hiroki Kuroda (?)
Dempster
Zambrano

Keep Z in #5 spot until he blows up, then put Wells in. If Oswalt breaks, call up Casey Coleman or let Cashner do it if he's gotten enough strength built up.

Bullpen:

Russell
Samardzija
Wells
Cashner
Wood (unless he wants more than $3MM in which case he gets to retire)
Marshall (unless traded, in which case pluck a guy from AAA)
Marmol (ditto)

Starting position players:

C Soto
1B LaHair (probably)
2B Barney
SS Castro
3B Stewart
LF Soriano
CF Byrd (until traded), then Brett Jackson
RF DeJesus

I'll do a quicky WAR calculation later to determine how few wins we can expect while the team rebuilds

 

[WindyCity]

I'm at peace with whatever Theo is doing:

I love it when a plan comes together… | World Series Dreaming

If it were up to me, I'd tell Fielder to take-it-or-leave it at 6 years, $130MM max. Somehow I doubt the Rangers have that kind of money, or the Mariners/Blue Jays for that matter. If Fielder does end up going to Texas, or the other two teams, I say "whatever" and at least he's out of the division.

I'd trade Byrd and Marmol pretty much immediately and get what I can back for them.

I would only trade Soto, Garza and Marshall for something spectacular, especially Garza and Marshall.

I play Soriano in LF for as long as it takes for Brett Jackson to get ready. Then he becomes the bench bat or DH in interleague.

I pencil Zambrano in anywhere between 3-5 spots in the rotation until he blows up again, then I release him.

Rotation:

Garza (unless he's traded)
Roy Oswalt (?)
Hiroki Kuroda (?)
Dempster
Zambrano

Keep Z in #5 spot until he blows up, then put Wells in. If Oswalt breaks, call up Casey Coleman or let Cashner do it if he's gotten enough strength built up.

Bullpen:

Russell
Samardzija
Wells
Cashner
Wood (unless he wants more than $3MM in which case he gets to retire)
Marshall (unless traded, in which case pluck a guy from AAA)
Marmol (ditto)

Starting position players:

C Soto
1B LaHair (probably)
2B Barney
SS Castro
3B Stewart
LF Soriano
CF Byrd (until traded), then Brett Jackson
RF DeJesus

I'll do a quicky WAR calculation later to determine how few wins we can expect while the team rebuilds

That batting line up would lead to 60 wins.

 

[Rice Cube]

That batting line up would lead to 60 wins.

Nah...more like 70ish. If they play out of their minds they might squeak into the 80s. But 70 is about the floor.

 

[waldo7239117]

**** LaHair!! I'd rather have Vitters.

 

[Rice Cube]

**** LaHair!! I'd rather have Vitters.

Vitters couldn't get on base nearly as much as LaHair could though.

 

[waldo7239117]

Vitters couldn't get on base nearly as much as LaHair could though.

Yeah, maybe... But if the Cubs are not going to contend, I'd rather have a 22 year old than a 29 year old.

 

[Rice Cube]

Yeah, maybe... But if the Cubs are not going to contend, I'd rather have a 22 year old than a 29 year old.

The 22-year-old will still be around.

 

[waldo7239117]

The 22-year-old will still be around.

Yeah, but I just really don't want the Cubs to have LaHair. I wish he dicided to go to Japan.

 

[Rice Cube]

Yeah, but I just really don't want the Cubs to have LaHair. I wish he dicided to go to Japan.

Why? He costs like 5% as much as Fielder would and he'd be league average most likely. Also not like he's blocking anybody better at the moment.

 

[waldo7239117]

Why? He costs like 5% as much as Fielder would and he'd be league average most likely. Also not like he's blocking anybody better at the moment.

I don't like LaHair and don't want to see him playing in the majors when he does not deserve it. Fine, let the Cubs go with Riding.

 

[brett05]

Nah...more like 70ish. If they play out of their minds they might squeak into the 80s. But 70 is about the floor.

What, over two seasons? Come on now.