Latest Cubs Rumors - Furcal, Wood, Nixon

As we approach the winter meetings, all kinds of crazy rumors are making the rounds.  First and foremost is a possible three-way deal between the Rangers, A's, and Cubs as reported by Sunday's edition of the Chicago Tribune.  WSCR, a radio station in Chicago, has cited tomorrow's Phil Rogers column about the trade.

The details:  The Cubs send Kerry Wood and $6MM to the Rangers for Kevin Mench.  The Cubs would also surrender Todd Walker and prospects and would receive Barry Zito from Oakland.  It's unclear what prospects would go Oakland's way, although it's fair to speculate Beane would ask for #1 prospect Felix Pie.  Thanks to Alex and Mike for passing it along, and you can read a message board thread on the deal here.

My opinion?  Doesn't sound valid in the proposed form.  As mentioned on the Inside The Ivy message board, it sounds more like a Phil Rogers opinion column.  Rogers can't be reached to confirm the rumor.  The Cubs have plenty of starting pitcher and outfielder options on the table, and can make a deal without surrendering Pie.  Given that Beane holds the cards with six starters, only the Cubs' very best could entice him.  I don't think this deal happens.

I've also been informed that George Ofman from WSCR is reporting that Rafael Furcal will make his final decision by noon CST on December 4th.  It's still unknown which way he's leaning.  It's well-known that the Dodgers have put in a three-year, $39MM bid for the shortstop.  The offer is a smart one and mitigates L.A.'s risk nicely.  Given that it could bring Furcal more money in both the short and long term, the Dodgers must be a serious option.

A source in the Red Sox organization mentions that the Cubs have interest in 31 year-old right fielder Trot Nixon.  Nixon hasn't had 500 at-bats since 2002, but he's hit well when healthy.  Nixon mashes right-handers but struggles mightily with southpaws.  The Red Sox are rumored to have interest in Corey Patterson.

Thanks to Alex, Mike, Nick, and Cody

Comments

[cubspride]

My first question is, does Rafael Furcal has any friends on the Dodgers, second is when Cesar Izturus returns will Raffy play SS, or another position. These are two factors that may sway his decision.

[cubsfan1544]

With the Dodgers offering Furcal 3 Years at 40 Mil and the Cubs offering 5 Years at 50 Mil, how much do you think Hendry will raise the offer annually? Do you think he would throw in a team option for a 6th. With Fucal's price tag rising how much will that hinder them in the players they can acquire via trade?

[cubsfan1544]

I thougt Kerry Wood had a no trade clause through 2006. I like the idea of Zito, he's a guy who will give you 200 innings.

[Bob]

I believe at some point tonight Hendry will raise his offer to a 5/$55 million and give a 6th year option or an out clause after the 3rd season.

[cubspride]

well he better raise the deal soon, because Raddy's expected to make his decision by noon tomorrow!

[cubspride]

Raffy not Raddy my bad

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

WTF Furcal is being gay and so are the cubs. First Furcal would be a f*cking retard if he goes to the Dodgers and the seconf thing is the Cubs have to give him more money then. We have to do whatever it take to sign Furcal unless we bring back Nomar. Plus why would they trade kerry and todd for Zito. Kerry is just s good as Zito maybe better because he has a better fastball. The Cubs are being retards and so is furcal. Furcal has to sign with us we need him.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

WTF Furcal is being gay and so are the cubs. First Furcal would be a f*cking retard if he goes to the Dodgers and the seconf thing is the Cubs have to give him more money then. We have to do whatever it take to sign Furcal unless we bring back Nomar. Plus why would they trade kerry and todd for Zito. Kerry is just s good as Zito maybe better because he has a better fastball. The Cubs are being retards and so is furcal. Furcal has to sign with us we need him.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

I forgot to. NO ONE WANTS NIXON HE BLOWS. GO after Abreu.

[EverittBlewTheCall]

Gents...Phil Rodgers does this all the time...he sits around and dreams up scenarios which are borderline ludicrous. I can't remember the last time anything he printed ever happened. No one tells him anything.

I do believe the Trot Nixon rumor has some legs. Van Buren was highly touted and we are getting a P-T-B-N-L in the deal. Looking at the Red Sox 40-man and no one sticks out except Nixon. The value between the two is not that far off, and perhaps the deal is bridged by Patterson.

[Bob]

The Cubs do NOT NEED Furcal. Ronny Cedeno is hitting .357 with an OBP of .396 in the DWL. Cedeno could play SS for the Cubs and they have more option for 2B. They could go woth Walker, Loretta, or Lugo at 2B. Murton could lead-off, Cedeno could lead-off, or Hairston could lead-off. I would love an INF defense of Cedeno and Furcal but, I'll live if Furcal isn't part of it.

[Jordan]

Is your name actually BiggestRetardEver? Wood could've been better than Zito, but it's hard to be a good pitcher when you cannot stay healthy. You don't help the team off of the bench. Zito has pitched 100 more innings than Wood despite being in the league a year less. His career record is 86-53 while Wood's is 70-54. Zito's career ERA is also .17 better. If they want to give us Zito I will gladly take it. Wood isn't going to amount to anything since you cannot pitch off of the bench. If Trot was cheaper I wouldn't mind him coming off of the bench/starting against righties.

[Jordan]

I agree I love Cedeno and I think he is going to be good the next couple stars and a star eventually. Since they always talk about how great his arm is, I wonder if they've thought of trying him in RF..

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

I know Zito is good but they want to give up Walker to. Cendeno is good but I do not think he can be a go producer besides defense.

[Jordan]

He can't be good on offense? In 40+ games he hit 300 and and an OBP of 356. Plus, he is only 22... wait until he matures more as a player.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

THE NEWS IS OUT BRAVES DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE FOR FURCAL!!!!!! COME ON CUBS YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

[James]

Bench
Blanco C
Hairston IF/OF
Mabry OF/IF
Perez IF
Pie OF
(Trade Macias or do something to vanish him)
Starting rotation
-Prior
-Zambrano
Wood
-Zito (Trade for Walker and prospects)
-Maddux

Starters
(l)Pierre CF
(s)Furcal SS
(r)Lee 1B
(l)Abreu RF*
(r)Ramirez 3B
(r)Barrett C
(r)Cedeno 2B
(r)Murton LF

Bullpen
Dempster
Howry
Erye
Williams
Rusch
Wurtez
Ohman

*Abreu will be acquired in a trade that sends corey and prospects to Boston and boston gives prospects and T. Nixon to Phillies and Abreu comes to cubs.

[Rock Raines]

Done deal--it's the Dodgers for Furcal. Gee Paul Kinzer, I guess it was all about the money after all, wasn't it??

Story is up on the LA Times website. Furcal will take his physical Sunday.

[RumorMonger]

Here's a link.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-spw-dodgers4dec04,1,3257611.story?coll=la-headlines-sports&ctrack=1&cset=true

Huge blow to the Cubs...there should be a battle between the Braves and Cubs for Julio Lugo.

[Rock Raines]

I don't think so, RumorMonger. The Cubs will just stick with Cedeno/Perez at SS, and address 2B instead. For some reason, the Cubs have really soured on Todd Walker.

What I think this signing DOES mean for the Cubs is two things--1. Hendry will overpay in talent for Juan Pierre (and regret it later); and 2. Hendry will use his warchest of more than $20MM in unspent cash by shooting the moon for AJ Burnett or Kevin Millwood.

[RumorMonger]

Good point - they do have in-house options. One way or another, money will be overspent to compensate with the fans.

[cubspride]

I feel your anger about the Dodgers, especially since we need Furcal so much more than they do. They have Izturis, so why dont they just get someone like Lugo who has a one year contract to cover for Izturis while hes hurt, that way they can save money and we can get a great player. I dont like Cedeno as a leedoff hitter quite yet, maybe a #2, but i want a season in the major leagues out of him to earn his trust just so we dont have another Corey Patterson. I also hate this whole trade for Wood. The Rangers are getting way to much than they should and also I dont want to get rid of our top prospect, Pie. Wood, despite being hurt is still loved by Chicago, and as soon as he leaves will, of course, have a breakout season. However, after saying that, loosen up a little. If you saw what RumorMonger wrote he says that this is almost deffinatly just a pointless ramble by Phil Rogers. Jim Hendry has backup/other plans which may turn outr just as well (like Lugo, Soriano, Bradly, Pierre, and Lowe.) I do want some answeres to our previous questions if anyone has answeres to clear somethings up.

[RumorMonger]

Izturis will play 2B.

[cubspride]

all your comments were post while i was writing, sorry, and p.s. F*** the Dodgers, that could be our season right there.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

What are you guys talking about Furcal does not decide until tommorow I do not know where you are getting this information

[cubspride]

Is this a done deal for sure? is this a rumor or a fact. THIS IS HUGE, I NEED ANSWERES

[Rock Raines]

Again--I'm not sure why Cub fans are so upset here: it's Dodger fans that should be upset. There is no way, no how, Rafael Furcal is worth $13MM per year, OK? Not even close.

One angle I didn't think about, RumorMonger--after spending this wad of cash, and with McCourt's new budget constraints weighing on the team, maybe this makes it MORE likely that the Lowe + Bradley deal goes down with the Cubs? I mean, Coletti has to shed salary somewhere, and he just took on $13MM. And he's stuck with the huge commitments to Drew, Penny, Kent and Gagne, no one will take those dollars off his hands.

Or conceivably there could have been a gentleman's agreement between Coletti and Hendry--who by the way, have a history of working together amiably on past deals. To avoid an all-out price war, Hendry backs off on Furcal if in exchange, Coletti makes the Lowe + Bradley deal with the Cubs and not some other team.

Just thinking out loud, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

This is not True!! Furcal did not pick his team yet. I just heard on the news that the Braves are not in the race anymore and it is between the dodgers and Cubs. Then they said that Furcal will choose his team tommorow. But if the cubs do not get Furcal. The cubs better DO SOMETHING!!!

[cubspride]

Rafael Furcal solves our main problems and was looked on as a possible savior to alot of Cubs fans. If there was ever a place to spend your money it would be in him. Bradley does not solve our ploblems just create more and Lowe is overpriced. Having said that you could be right and this I could be wrong and this could turn out better for the cubs. I do know the Dodgers blew it for both teams!!!

[cubspride]

Biggest Cubs fan Ever, on what site, or other place did you hear this. WE NEED POOF!

[Rock Raines]

Geez, are some of the posters on this message board 13 years old, or what?

You need "poof", try the LA Times, Rotoworld, and WGN News in Chicago for starters. It's done, Furcal went for the money, bully for him. Time to move on.

[Teetz]

WSCR confirms tonight that Furcal has accepted the Dodgers deal. Time for Plan B.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

Ya damn it is true I just saw it the news said not but I guess they suck. F*cking Furcal that wow I am not going to say anything. There goes our Chances off anything. Jim Hendry is not going to do F*cking Shit with anything. He is going to sit on his fat ass and do nothing. Watch he will. If he does we will get no one. Bradley Sucks major cock. Furcal is a damn ass he just signed with a team who is going to do jack shit this year and the next ten years. THE CUBS BETTER DO SOMETHING!!!!

[cubspride]

Hey rocky calm down, I was doubting him not you, I was just making sure there was no hope

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

If we get some players besides staying with Nefi and Cedeno and get some good outfielders and maybe one more good pitcher then we can stay in business this year. PLAN B Resign Nomar! I do not want to here how he will get injured and stuff either.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

There is hope but not until we get some players.

[cubspride]

Bradley doesnt suck, hes actually very talented, he just cant keep his mouth shut, and Dusty cant shut it for him

[EverittBlewTheCall]

Rafael Furcal has agreed in principle to a three-year, $40 million contract with the Dodgers, according to the Los Angeles Times.
He's expected to undergo a physical tomorrow and the deal could be announced on Monday. It's a great contract for Furcal, who will likely be able to land another big deal in three years at age 31. The Dodgers will put Furcal at shortstop and likely leave Jeff Kent at second to start the season. Kent could then move to first base when Cesar Izturis returns in July, although Izturis' lack of offense at second would be a real problem. Perhaps this increases the chances that the Dodgers will go into the season with Hee Seop Choi at first base. They're not going to spend much on a replacement if the plan is for Kent to slide over.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

Ok we just got to calm down and think of some plans and what we think our plans are going to be for later.

[EverittBlewTheCall]

I'm not prepared to start the season with a Cedeno/Perez solution at short. Let me be the first to predict that tomorrow we will be seeing the Nomar rumors. I gotta tell ya....at $6 million, and with Perez as a backup...Nomar isn't looking too bad right now.

[Bob]

Ronny Cedeno will start for the Cubs next season. What they need to do is get a bunch of guys readyto get traded to Tampa for Lugo, Huff, and maybe Gathright.

[Cubs-Mylife]

Well, its been about 100 minutes since LA reported it a done deal, and no one else has reported it. there is still hope

[cubspride]

NOMAR is going to have a good season, but is not a leadoff hitter. I wouldnt mind him signing in left, which he has said he would play, and having him bat in the 6th position. The problem also is that hes been out there long enough since we were sure we were goin to get furcal, so now we are going to get into a bidding war.

[Bob]

Something just doesn't seem right here. Why is it that this article is the only location that is reporting this???? The guy was on the Score a couple minutes ago. He said the Cubs offer was back loaded. How in the hell would he know that???

[Jarid]

This deal with the Dodgers is now reported on FoxSports.com....its a done deal....Cubs are done for 2006.....FUCK!

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

I really do not know what is going on. As a cubs fan I am getting worried. I just say that thing on latime.com and it said that he was going in tommorow to get his physical. I mean he has no signed yet. There is still hope but the cubs got to offer him more money. I am not want Nefi starting short. He is a good backup player. If we do not get Furcal then we have to sign Nomar to like a 2 or 3 year deal and then get Jaun from the Marlins for a lead off hitter. Then we need to trade Kerry for Zito and Todd and some prospects for Bobby or Soriano.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

I really do not know what is going on. As a cubs fan I am getting worried. I just say that thing on latime.com and it said that he was going in tommorow to get his physical. I mean he has no signed yet. There is still hope but the cubs got to offer him more money. I am not want Nefi starting short. He is a good backup player. If we do not get Furcal then we have to sign Nomar to like a 2 or 3 year deal and then get Jaun from the Marlins for a lead off hitter. Then we need to trade Kerry for Zito and Todd and some prospects for Bobby or Soriano.

[BiggestCubsFanEver]

really damn ok ya we are going down if we do not do something.

[BiggestCubsFanever]

Sorry I posted that message twice it was not on purpose.

[cubspride]

In my opinion Jim Hendry blew it, sorry Jim. By not putting the 50 mil on the table earlier (which Raffy prob would have signed to) he allowed the Dodgers to enter the race.

[EverittBlewTheCall]

As I see it, the LA-Furcal deal means Corey is gone. There isn't a shortstop option who can lead off; therefore, that problem has to get resolved in center. I can see Nomar at short with a one-year deal; Pierre in Center and leading off. Walker for Bradley so that we fix right and Cedeno starts at second. I know it sounds like a lot, but hell...there is a lot to do.

[BiggestCubsFanever]

That is good I agree!

[cubspride]

It does seam like we have a good chance to get Juan, since the Yankees wont part with Cano and the Sox arent interested, and also we will probably get Bradley. But seriously, do you think Nomar will sign a one year deal with all the yeams interested

[Jarid]

from what I have read, its pretty obvious the Cubs have waved bye bye to Nomar.....I would find it pretty hard to believe him coming back.....

[cubspride]

i agree. Bi Nomar

[cubs4ever]

I say we go for Lugo and trade pierre for pie. But in order to give up pie, we gotta sign pierre to a long-term deal before the season starts. If we have these 2 guys, I will be satisfied and then with the remaining money use it either to sign milwood or washburn.

[cubspride]

trade Patterson instead of Pie, get Lowe instead of Millwood and Washburn, and finally get Bradley and we may be alright
Batting order
1.Juan Pierre
2.Julio Lugo
*3.Aramis Ramirez
*4.Derek Lee
5.Milton Bradly
6.Ronny Cadeno
7.Michael Barret
8.Matt Murton
9.-Kerry Wood (not Barry Z)
-Carlos Zamrano
-Mark Prior
-Greg Maddox
-Derek Lowe
(one question, do we get rid of rusch if we get Lowe, because without him being in the starting rotation hes just someone who is a backup plan and makes maybe 9 appearences in a season. There is no room for him in the bullpen with OHMAN AND eYRE.)

[waitingforgodot]

Furcal has a bit of a drinking problem no? A few DUI's also and some jail time to boot. Lied about his age and like Kyle has been known to get home a bit late. Check out his offensive numbers gainst Houston in the Division playoff during crunch time and away games where grit come into play. Was the 15 errors in 05 Furcal or were the 24 in 04? Good solid baseball player but not a good move for the Cubs to chase him; for LA to pay 40m over 3y is not a smart play unless their payroll is 120mm. Hendry needs to be creative and get guys who come to play baseball and win for themselves or hopefully the Cubs and their fans. He needs reliable starters (Sell the farm for Zito) a high OBP speedy lead-off (Lugo,Lofton,Pierre,?) someone who can put the ball in play at three (Mueller, Bradley, Nomar,?), and solid D up the middle (at least late with a lead) and room for Pie in late 06 and 07. Lot's of ways to do this if you are creative, Sox did it last year. I'm resigned that Hendry will chase the obvious and will not or can not be imaginative. Will he sign more station to station, high K, double play hitting, rally killing dolts and mercenaries? With the pressure Hendry is under I hope he doesn't add more parts that don't fit to this already monumentally disfunctional "team".

[Chief Wahoo]

Cedeno needs to be the every day SS, he will come cheaper and can be every bit as productive as Lugo or anyone else available. Beware of Bradley, he is bad news everywhere he has gone, although he might be able to play for Dusty since he doesn't belive in player discipline. Corey needs to go as well, all hope is lost on him ever producing as a Cub. Looks like another blown season is coming, especially after the Cards nad Burnett and Jaque Jones...

[cubs4ever]

I would not recommend Bradley. He has team chemistry problems and attitude problems and we know Big boy Dusty won't be able to handle that. To get lugo or pierre, we will need to give up pie. You know how hard it is to trade with TB. There is no need to keep pie if we have pierre. Instead of Bradley, I say that we get Encarnacion. Much better and good avg in RISP. Also, yes, Lowe is a much better option but he has over 24 million left on his contract for the next 3 years. If we try to do all this by trades, we still have over 20 million left more to spend since we only have spent money on Rusch, Williamson, Perez, Eye, and Howry.

[waitingforgodot]

Cedano looked great but he is young. What happens when the league starts studying his weaknesses. He hasn't played 162 games. I think he will be very good defensively too but I like having Perez as the defensive insurance policy. Cedano gives flexibility, he can be used at second if you get a speedy SS or at SS if you get a good #3 hitter at second (Mueller, Nomar?).

[cubspride]

These are the factors that will ensure us a playoff spot.
1. 5 starters remain healthy atleast 3/4s of the year. my prediction Prior has a steller year, Zamrano wins Cy young
2. Ronny Cedeno hits above .280
3.Leadoff hitters combine for atlest .280 and 30 stolen bases.
4.Dempster gets atleast 30 saves
5Aramis Ramirez and Derek Lee combine for 60-70 Hrs.
6.Phillies will not have a good year, hopefully the Mets or Braves fail to have a good season to open up our wild card hopes.
7. Houstan doesnt sign Roger Clemens.

If even 2 of these 7 things fail to happen, I dont like our chances

[Jordan]

Am I the only person that is not really high on Pierre?

[peter]

man the cubs really suck. haha they cant even put a back to back winning season together. on the other hand, the cardinals are great. chris carpenter is the best pitcher in the game, and albert pujols is superior to derek lee. its funny how the cubs suck so bad, yet people still have faith they can win

i hope the cubs team plane crashes

[cubspride]

Hey Peter suck it, Cardinals are good but they havent won a world series recently either, i could care less about there being a 100 years since the last world series, im 16 for Gods sake. The Cardinals and Cubs are all the same in my book. Big Z will be better than Carpenter in 06, and if we get to the playoffs i like our chances against the Cards
Pitchers Lineup
Zambrano vs. Carpenter
Mulder vs Prior
Burnett (if you get him) vs Wood
Whoever we get or Maddox or Big Z vs Suppan or Carpenter
Maddo

[waitingforgodot]

Jordon, Hard to argtue with you based on the results, but boy did the Cards suck during crunch time in that last two years against Boston and Houston. I think if the Cards would suck as bad as the Cubs for the next 100 years the fans that grew up watching them would still hope that they could be a good team.

[waitingforgodot]

Jordon, Hard to argue with you based on the results, but boy did the Cards cave during crunch time in that last two years against Boston and Houston. I think if the Cards would suck as bad as the Cubs for the next 100 years the fans that grew up watching them would still hope that they could be a good team.

[Jordan]

I didn't say anything about the Cards... I hate them

[Joe]

Dear Biggestcubsfanever,

I think you are the most inarticulate moron I have ever had the pleasure of 'meeting'. Watch your language, check your grammar, and stop being a jackass.

Love,
-Joe

[SD]

Why do I keep seeing Bill Mueller listed as a viable option as a #3 hitter?

[RumorMonger]

Don't swear - I can't police this board. Too much work.

Mueller is a viable #2 because of his OBP, but #3 should be the team's best hitter.

[cubspride]

Any new news on an Alphonso Soriano, Kevin Mench trade?

[cubspride]

Any new news on an Alphonso Soriano, Kevin Mench trade?

[Jordan]

There is a need to keep Pie because IIRC Pierre only has one year left, so we could be giving up Pie for a player that we keep for one year. I've been a Cubs fan my whole life and seen a lot of bad teams, so I have the patience... I think we need Cedeno at short and Pie in CF to let them develop. WHy be the Yankees and use hired guns when we can build our own?

[cubs]

Man im so pissed furcal did not choose the cubs but oh well its all about buisness.Plan B next

[cubs]

money i mean instead of buisness

[Jordan]

I'm actually somewhat relieved we did not get him. We would be extremely overpaying for him and it would also hold Cedeno back. With the money we saved we can go get other things we need and lock up Lee.

[Albie Pooholes]

I am a great hitter...evrything else, not so good.

[cubspride]

Weve got the pitching to win now, "why be the Yankees," seeing Pie's stats in the winter just proves to me he's not ready. So if someone spending money for a player who fills a role we need to fill (leeding off) and covers a player who is not quite ready to be an everyday player in the major leagues (felix pie) makes us the Yankees, than we should be the Yankees.
By the way, since we didnt raise the money on the Dodgers we are obviously not the Yankees

[BiggestCubsFanever]

Why not go after Jonny Damon he did not sign with Boston yet.

i highly doubt that zambrano would be able to put a streak together where he goes 21 consecutive starts where his team wins, and in each one of those games he only allows 3 or less runs. nobody besides carpenter last year has done that since bob gibson in 1968. zambrano may have better stuff, but his emotions get the better of him and he loses focus, allowing him to become a bit wild. greg maddux didn't have the best stuff when he played with the braves, but he became one of the best pitchers in recent memory. and whoever said that the cardinals are in the same boat as the cubs is the dumbest person ive ever had the misfortune to converse with. so i guess having back to back 100 win seasons qualifies the cardinals as bad. and how can you even compare a 23 year drought without a world series victory to a 97 year drought? youre obviously an idiot, so just shut up. the cardinals are a much better team, and if history has taught us anything, prior and wood will spend the majority of the season on the bench with injuries. maddox is at the end of his career, so i wouldnt count on him doing much. the cubs have MANY holes to fill, and with furcal signing with the dodgers, thats just one more hole that will be less adecquately filled. i expect the cubs to have another poor season, while on the other hand, the cardinals will once again do well. the cubs suck, and always will

THE CUBS SUCK WORSE THAN THE ROYALS!!!!!

[cubspride]

Ok fine, put me down. Im 16 so a 23 year drought and a 100 year drought doesnt make a difference to me. Atleast most of your arguments made sense which makes it easier to converse. Prior was hurt by getting hit on his leg, not his mechanics, so he should not be hurt next year. Wood has worked on his mechanics, and thus it will be interesting to see if he will be healthy when he returns (whick i admit is questionable/doubtful due to history.) Zambrano's emotions are what drives him to be better, and as he gets older will learn to harness him (hes only 23). It would be tough for Zambrano to put the streak together of Carpenter, but im not expecting him to. Im expecting him to throw some gems, but have about 5 where he's knocked out before the 5th/6th inning. I am also expecting him to lead the league in Ks. And by the way the royals are, and will be next year much much much worse than the cubs.

[Caren Carpenter]

My arm will fall of by July.

[Cardinals Fans]

Living in trailer parks is fun!

[BiggestCubsFanever]

Not getting Furcal is kind of a good thing because now we have more and more money to spend.

i wasnt serious about the royals comment you jackass

[Jordan]

Wood's injuries are his fault but you cannot blame Prior. The two biggest injuries he had was from a line-drive off of his elbow and a collision with Marcus Giles.

[still have faith in the cubs]

Its ok if we didnt get furcal.There plenty of people for hendry to pursue in a trade (pierre,abreu,soriano,mench,zito,and nixon) these are possibilities so we have to sit back and relax and let hendry do the hard work.

[captain]

wonder if the cubs would be interested in orlando hudson? his hitting is subpar but he is a gold glove second basemen.

[RumorMonger]

Captain, I think if Hendry is serious about improving his defense, Hudson would be on his radar. However, the Jays want a top starter in return. Not sure if Jerome Williams would cut it.

[cubsfan1544]

Hey monger does kerry wood have a no trade clause through 2006? I thought that was part of his contract.

cubspride, i retract my previous statement calling you dumb,(although your knoweledge of anything outside of sports may be minimal, im not sure) you know your stuff when it comes to baseball. i just dont understand how you could possibly see how a 23 year drought is the same as a 97 year drought. its not hard to comprehend, im sure you are fully capable of it. weather or not zambranos emotions are what drives him to be a good pitcher, until her gets them under control he will continue to struggle(so has matt morris) but if he can control his emotions and pitch to his capabilities, i myself will admit he is one of the best in the game(that would be a hard thing for me to admit) and what i understand from foxsports.com, there was no possibility of abreu being traded. they were merely rumors.

[jokeyidoc]

13 million for a shortstop that hits .270 with 12 homers and 47 stolen bases? What is this world coming to? I think Jim Hendry did a great job not trying to beat that ridiculous offer. You could get three or four quality players for that amount. If you get a lead-off man in Pierre, why not go after Nomar? Then I say play cedeno at 2nd. Hopefully the trade will go through and we have Mench and Zito. Our lineup, rotation, and bullpen will be strong enough to compete with anyone. Then you have Mabry, Blanco, Pie , etc. on the bench. Murton is a starter. Furcal would have been an expensive guy we boo at Wrigley (ala Todd Hundley) come August. And let's give Dusty one more year, if he screws up again, he can take his toothpick to L.A. to hang-out with the drunk and J.D BOO.

[RumorMonger]

You're forgetting the tons of value Furcal adds with his glove.

[OutOfDarkness]

After the official trade of Pierre, why don't the Cubs re-sign Nomar and have him play second? Cedeno is a great defensive SS, and Nomar could hit in the 2 hole. I could easily see him rebounding with a .290-20-75 year at the least.

Oh, and nice "living in trailer parks is fun!" post above. That was hilarious! Of course we should watch out, the Cardinals have been making a huge splash moves-wise so far this offseason. Wait, what have they done?

yeah the cubs have made multiple blockbuster moves also, i mean signing 2 relievers and a speedy guy who cant throw for shit, those are quality acquisitions

CORK!!!!!

[Cubs Fans]

How about we all harass some guy who caught a foul ball and blame him for the cubs losing 4 straight in the nlcs? dont blame a single person for an entire teams poor performance during the playoffs. STEVE BARTMAN IS A GOD!!!!!