Cubs Exercise Harden's Option

I don't think the Cubs will bring back Blanco. They have a perfectly good option available for backup catcher in Wellington Castillo. Blanco will be bought out and allowed to pursue other options. Both Wood and Dempster will sign team-friendly deals; Harden will be back.

Definitely not a bad idea to bring back Hank White at a cheaper contract for one more year, but at $3 million he'd be way overpaid and not worth it.

Harden is an easy decision and who knows, maybe someday he'll put his health problems behind him. He did throw a lot more innings this year than most people expected. Thing is, just like in years past when the Cubs were always counting on Prior and Wood and always ended up getting burned, they need to have a backup plan with Harden. He can't be counted on so they need to make sure to have plenty of starting candidates going into spring training. Which makes me wonder which Rich Hill is going to show up next year?

I do believe that both Wood and Dempster will sign, and probably for less than they could get on the market, but I don't think their contracts will be overly team friendly. Hendry has shown that he's willing to pay fair value to players who've earned it and he'd surely love to keep both those guys in Chicago so I'm guessing they get contracts that they are happy with.

Agreed. Gaudin and Marshall are defintely capable of being #4 or #5 guys with no problem. Hill is a complete wildcard, but nothing to be counted on. Marshall has looked really good to me lately, and may be the #5 guy full time in 2010.

"Which makes me wonder which Rich Hill is going to show up next year?"

Lou Pinella will never have Rich Hill pitch for him, take it to the bank.

"I do believe that both Wood and Dempster will sign, and probably for less than they could get on the market, but I don't think their contracts will be overly team friendly."

Good point. Yes they will want to stay, but the cubs are gonna have to shell out big $$$ and big years for both of them regardless. If Lohse's deal is any indication, Dempster is still gonna command atleast $12 mil per. Wood? Probably close to $10 mil per, especially consider he pitched for peanuts in '08. You add that with Harden's $7mil, your looking at an increase of around $30 mil. The cubs going into'09 have around $122 mil committed because of the backloaded contracts,not counting Wood, Dempster, and Harden. Add the estimates for the above guys mentioned and your looking at around $150 mil payroll. Then you have the issue of a left handed bat, which isnt going to come cheap. I heard Crane Kenny is expecting a spike in payroll, but Im not sure he has $150mil plus as the number.

Again, not stating anything that hasnt already been discussed, but one of the cubs' big contract guys ( Lee, Ramirez) is going to have to be moved for all this to come to fruition.

Forlife, I heard Crane say around 140 mil. That was not an exact number.

I have been saying a big Cub name will have to be moved and some are not going to like it. I hear 'how can trade...' Well, how can you as a responsible GM bring the core back after two years of 3 and out in the LCDS. It is that simple and a tough pill to swallow. Who matches up with what we can trade is what I am thinking about and not just throwing names yet. Personally, I would do what it takes to trade Soriano. That would be a tall challange because of his money owed and I have no clue who would want him if it were possible. Anyway, we can't sign CC and Manny and everyone else out there as had been suggested by others.

However unlikely it may be, if Hill is smoking hitters in spring training next year, Piniella will most likely give him a shot in the rotation.

Grienke had some major mental issues that forced him to take a year (or more) off from baseball. Look at how well he did this year. I know it's not the same situation, but some pitchers (Ankiel as a pitcher obviously not included) can rebound.

The Cubs aren't going to trade one of their power bats for a leadoff hitter. That would just create a hole to fill a hole.

"Forlife, I heard Crane say around 140 mil. That was not an exact number."

Yeah i think Tim actually brought that number up. Looking back at the numbers again, the $$$ committed for '09 is actually closer to $116 mil( still no chump change), not the $122 mil that I previously mentioned and that inlcudes Blanco's option and expected raises to Guadin, Reed Johnson, Cotts, Marshall, etc.

"I have been saying a big Cub name will have to be moved and some are not going to like it."

I dont see any other way unless they make a decision to go in-house with a starter ( Marshall/Samardzjia/Gaudin) and let Dempster go or realize that Harden is to high maintenace and a torn labrum waiting to happen. I hear you on Soriano, but that is going to be close to impossible to do.

In the end I think it will be Lee or Ramirez, with Lee being the likely one. And even that isnt a given and wont be easy to do, not with a NTC and 2yrs/$26 mil left. That will probably involve eating some $$$ or receiving lesser prospects in return. Of the 2 Ramirez definitely has the most value, but Lee will probably be the one the brass would like to see moved.

i don't think there's any way ramirez or soriano gets moved. ramirez is the cornerstone of that lineup, and the cubs look poised to be at the top of that division for at least a couple more years. they won't move him, not now. soriano's contract alone makes him almost immovable. also, if he were to get traded it would almost seem like admitting a mistake, something that organization doesn't do lightly. look at how long they stuck with prior, and they're about to re-up with wood again (though i happen to think that's the right move this time)
i know the angels have a great farm system, but i'm unfamiliar with any specific names. they might want lee if tex leaves, but again, how do they match up?
i'm also thinking of a way to get figgins and put him in center. with them possibly (likely?) losing k-rod, would one of the cubs young fireballers (i.e, samardzija but not marmol)entice the angels? is samardzija for figgins completely nuts?

"Whats everyone's best guess on what Wood will resign for? My guess is 2/17 mil with an incentive based option for the 3rd year. Thoughts?"

Ooh, again its gonna come down to how badly he wants to stay in chicago. We all know he took less to come back in '08, has said he wants to stay in chicago, but you know someone will offer him 3/$30 mil, especially when you consider Fuentes' asking price ( 3/$37.5 mil). He took less last year, he will have to do it again to stay with the cubs because someone (like the Red Sox last year) will offer him more than the cubs.

I'd also hate to see Ramirez go. And based upon the fact that he's been the most consistent and also resigned a couple years back for a pretty team friendly deal, I don't think they'd break him off eitheer. I think you're right that they're going to have to rid themselves of one of those contracts and also break up the right handed axis though. But if it's Lee, they're not going to go out and sign Texeira! I don't see that happening at all. Maybe if Lee does go, the Hoff gets his chance at first, with DeRosa playing some spot duty against lefties?

If Pinella has a hard-on for Chone Figgins, this is yet one more bit of evidence that maybe he's going a bit senile and should consider retirement. Other bits of evidence:

1) Lou's insatiable need to give Howry "one more chance";
2) His inexplicable love for the pinch-hitting "stylings" of Daryl Ward (somebody needs to tell the both of them that the goal of a PH is getting a hit or a sac, NOT getting into a duel w/the pitcher and then striking out);
3) His complete refusal to bat Soriano anywhere but lead-off;
4) Having Theriot, the only guy on the damn team w/a .300 avg., bat in the bottom of the order;
5) Putting Ward on the playoff roster and not Hoffpauir;
6) Not trying harder (like using more first-stringers and NOT using Howry) to beat the Brewers in the last series of the season. The Cubs would've had a much better chance at beating the Mets in the NLDS than the Dodgers (a team that, although the Cubs succeeded against in the season, virtually suffocated the Cubs' offense every game).

Adunc-your contract for wood seems about right. i think he's more concerned about getting more than one year than the dollar amount. obviously he doesn't want to get low-balled, which hendry wouldn't do anyway, but i think 2 yrs with an option works fine.
dempster might be a little trickier.he's gonna go for at least 3 years, 10 million minimum and that's bare minimum. the cubs might be the only team that he would accept that from, and that's pushing it.
i suppose that's good news on the harden front, but these injury prone guys still give me the creeps. with harden definitely in the fold for next year, whether injured or not, you have to have insurance for him if/when he goes down. that means hanging on to marshall and gaudin at the very least. i'd be willing to trade the ceda and ascanio type players if you can get good value in return. in the end, prospects are just prospects, and the cubs certainly don't have any can't miss ones out there. if those players (along wtih others) can help you get roberts/figgins, you can't pass it up. not this time. the window for this team closes in a couple more years, at least with the current roster.

"1) Lou's insatiable need to give Howry "one more chance";
2) His inexplicable love for the pinch-hitting "stylings" of Daryl Ward (somebody needs to tell the both of them that the goal of a PH is getting a hit or a sac, NOT getting into a duel w/the pitcher and then striking out);
3) His complete refusal to bat Soriano anywhere but lead-off;
4) Having Theriot, the only guy on the damn team w/a .300 avg., bat in the bottom of the order;
5) Putting Ward on the playoff roster and not Hoffpauir;
6) Not trying harder (like using more first-stringers and NOT using Howry) to beat the Brewers in the last series of the season. The Cubs would've had a much better chance at beating the Mets in the NLDS than the Dodgers (a team that, although the Cubs succeeded against in the season, virtually suffocated the Cubs' offense every game)."

I feel the need to address this, with my opinion on some of it.

1)Howry didn't pitch all that much when it mattered. Honestly, I don't mind Lou giving him more than 1 shot to get it back together. Even with his horrendous showing for much of the year, he is a type B free agent. If he would have even been average in the 2nd half, he probably would have netted the Cubs 2 picks. As it stands, I'm not sure if they will offer him arbitration or not.

2)Ward isn't a bad pinch hitter. He wasn't as good as he was last year, when he hit a whopping .327/.436/.527 in the role...but I don't really fault Lou for using him.

3)Soriano's ego came WAY into play here...and believe me, when you sign a guy to an 8 year contract, you have to worry about stuff like that. I still think he should have batted lower, but look at his numbers in any other spot in the order to find out the Cubs reasonings for not doing it.

4)I agree with this. Theriot should have been the full time #2 hitter.

5)I'm as big a Hoffpauir fan as the next guy...but have you ever seen him try and hit a slider low and inside??? Hint: He swings every time, but almost never makes contact. Playoff teams see video of this kind of thing and expose it immediately.

6)He was balancing the value of resting his players vs. playing the Mets instead of the Dodgers. I agree with you on this, but can also see his reasoning.

Rich Harden (unless his shoulder injurie is serious),Ryan Dempster,and Kerry Wood will all be back next year i gurantee.

I know Soriano will not get traded. That was just wishful thinking and a hope I would like to see, not saying it would happen. Seems a few here are thinking the way I am that a big Cub name would have to be moved to get a left handed bat.

They picked up Harden's 7 million option (obivious move unless his shoulder is completely blown up). I doubt they would turn around and trade him. Hendry does not work that way. That means the rotation will be set if they resign Dempster. If they don't (I think they do), that changes a few things. They might try to trade Marquis. The Cubs actually can command a fair deal even if they still have to eat some of his money. He is not a bust. That opens up for Marshall/Gaudin. I think they leave Samardzija in the pen in '09. His starting role is in the future when he gets better command of his pitches. He still needs innings and this is a good way to give him confidence and more success. Someone brought up Guzman. I hope he stays healthy because he has nasty stuff, even after 2 major operations. I agree he would look real nice coming in the 7th or maybe the 6th & 7th here and there or when Harden pitches along with the others. Then the BP looks better when they sign Wood.

Ramirez is the least likely to go if any are traded. Lee would be the one, but I doubt Hendry does it unless it is just right for the teams involved and Derrick.

This whole Fukudome mess has caused a big trickle down effect. When you think about it, we are back to talking about some of the same issues as last offseason.

* How do the Cubs keep from getting swept in post season. (See ball, hit ball)
* Need a left handed thump bat (a must)
* Need a leadoff hitter (Jim, do not call Andy) and move Soriano down in the lineup
* Can we move Marquis (maybe, odds are better than last year they can do it)
* Will Wood resign with the Cubs (I think yes)
* Upgrade someone over Theriot at SS (It will be talked about, not sure either way)
* Can Fukudome play defense and hit (yes and maybe after he adjusts)
* I still dislike TypeKey

I'm sure I missed a couple as well.

Full circle

BleedingBlue, I agree with most of your post. I have to disagree on one thing. How much better would we have been playing the Mets. Really, the team as a whole had the deer in headlights look from the first pitch. That grand slam will be the scapegoat (don't like to mention goats around here), but they were not ready at all. Dodgers or Mets did not matter. They would have had Santana twice. All NY would have needed is one more win. Even if they beat the Mets, would they have all of a sudden loosened up to beat the Phils. I doubt it. The Cubs weaknesses were exposed and they have to correct some things. Two years under Lou and he is awsome as a manager and rarely gets out managed during the season. Post season comes along and he goes to sleep. I don't know.

Why not trade for Roberts? If we could get a good left handed lead off guy which the Cubs desperately need then why not? I say that Casey McGehee would be a good trade chip also you have others so why not get Roberts?

Casey McGehee a good trade chip? Trade Derek Lee? It would be nice to keep the core together? Where do these people come from? No one cares about a 25 year old career minor leaguer. No one wants D-Lee. He makes way too much money for the stats he produces. Even if you could trade him, you would be dumping his salary, you wouldn't get anyone good for him. And finally, why in the world would anyone want to keep the core of this team together? So we can get swept in the playoffs again? C'mon. If you can trade Soriano for a bag of peanuts, you would, but you can't. And Fukudome, Lee, Ramirez and Soriano all have full no-trade clauses. And Harden should have been let go - he holds the team hostage with his always cranky shoulder.

The Cubs vs the Mets would have been interesting. Both teams have the same problem of having their top tier offense go in the tank in these big games. They all want to hit the HR, they all want to be the hero. Probably would have had a 5 game series, every game going about 14 innings, ending 1-0 whehn one of the players finally connected with his long ball approach. I think the Mets and Cubs are two very similar teams. Both have upset fan bases, but both also have very solid teams. Need to make some decisions on the rotation (Harden, Dempster, Pedro, Ollie), both have good offenses that need a little tweaking for next year. The Cubs definitely have the better pen, but my point is I think they are in similar situations in this offseason, about what they need to do to improve for next year.

I made a comment on another blog and nearly got flamed for it but my thoughts would be to move some combination of DLee, Marquis, Pie etc... to the Phils for Ryan Howard. It solves the left handed bat problem and the Phils are likely going to want to move Howard since his bill is coming due. For instance, if the Cubs could move Lee and Marquis (Phils need back-end rotation types, right?) they would actually save money in the deal, while the Phillies payroll might go up but they'd also get a better pitcher than Adam Eaton or Kyle Kendrick. That said, Howard may get a huge bump in salary and it could be a wash. Still, the Phillies probably wouldn't do it straight up for DLee and Marquis considering Howard is becoming a perennial MVP candidate (even with the low obp), so throw in someone expendable to the Cubs like Pie (thoughts???). It's not like Philadelphia would come out bad in the trade, they'd get DLee who is still a great 1b and a good hitter even if he's not hitting with as much power. Marquis is who he is but he's better than what the Phillies have right now.

Thoughts? Am I way off base here? Seems like it would be beneficial to both teams. Would Philly need more for Howard, would the Cubs be giving up too much (not likely but still...)?

I don't see the Phils having any interest in Marquis. Pie and Lee for Howard isn't all that far off though...at least in my opinion.

Casey McGehee has no trade value...whoever brought him up needs to understand that he is nothing more than a throw in with any trade to any team.

"No one wants D-Lee."

I completely disagree with this. I think there is definitely value in D-Lee for 13 mil a year. The Yanks would love to have him manning first base with his salary...I guarentee it.

From an Angel's fans perspective ...

Here's the deal. Everything hinges on which Derek Lee you think will emerge in 2009 and beyond.

People that are pessimistic will argue that he has had one great year, one poor year, and one very average year over the past 3. His most recent was very average. Further, he is getting older and makes $13m/year. Too much for his 2008 performance.

People who are optimistic remember D. Lee as the the guy who jacked 40+ HR's and hit above 330. They will argue that his injury slowed him down in 06 and that 08 was just a bad year. This group believes that the Derek Lee of 2007 is who you can count on for 2009. If true, his $13m salary is somewhat under market.

Personally, I'm in the middle. I see a 300 hitter with 20 HR capability. His pay is exactly in line with his performance. His trade value is neither negative or positive.

continued ...

Which leads me to my conclusion.

Figgins means much more to the Angels than Derek Lee would.

We have internal options that can replicate a 300/20HR type hitter. They don't cost us a dime or league minimum and it doesn't open up a positional hole + send us scrambling for a lead off hitter.

I can totally see why Cubs fans think that Morales + Figgins = D. Lee. I can also tell you that as an Angels fan Chone Figgins is much more valuable to us than D. Lee.

Instead of spending $13m on D. Lee why not throw in another $4-5m to get Tex? We keep our 3B, keep our leadoff hitter, and add a better bat/glove. That makes much more sense to me than moving Figgins.

"BleedingBlue, I agree with most of your post. I have to disagree on one thing. How much better would we have been playing the Mets. Really, the team as a whole had the deer in headlights look from the first pitch. That grand slam will be the scapegoat (don't like to mention goats around here), but they were not ready at all. Dodgers or Mets did not matter. They would have had Santana twice. All NY would have needed is one more win. Even if they beat the Mets, would they have all of a sudden loosened up to beat the Phils. I doubt it. The Cubs weaknesses were exposed and they have to correct some things. Two years under Lou and he is awsome as a manager and rarely gets out managed during the season. Post season comes along and he goes to sleep. I don't know."

You could be right here, for the Cubs seemed to be treading water the entire month of September (and maybe if the Cubs do have to lose, it's better if they lose as badly as possible so the management has no choice but to wake up and take the Cubs' weaknesses seriously). Still, I think the Cubs would've fared much better against the Mets. In their 4 game series w/them in NY, they played pretty well against them using mostly second-stringers. I think if the Cubs played the Mets, they could've got to the NLCS. Most likely they would've lost that, but who knows? The Cubs are sort of a schizophrenic team (though, I hate that misnomer). One week they're on a hot winning streak, the next week they look like a minor league team. Who know which team would've shown up to play the Phils (assuming the Phils beat the Dodgers). Anyway, I don't know what the stats on this are, but when I saw the Cubs play the Dodgers during the season, I absolutely hated this. Though the Cubs won most of the games, the Dodgers' pitching really screwed w/the Cubs (probably more so than any other team the Cubs have played). When the Cubs were done w/the Dodgers I was elated because I didn't think they'd have to see them again this year. Damn you, Arizona! Well, this is all speculation anyway. Who knows what would've really happened. All we can do is "wait till next year." Sigh....

P.S. I was a little hard on Lou in my rant about him. Although I disagree w/him on a few things, I still think he's a good manager. I'm just still suffering from post-choke rage.

Ok cubs fans....

Over under 2 DL stints for Harden next year?

He is coming off a season with the 2nd most innings of his career, and evidenced by all the skipped starts and short outings his shoulder was obviously a problem at times so what do you think?

I say over 2 DL stints next season for sure.

If the Cubs are disenfranchised with Hill, what would it take for the Royals to get him? Would they take Teahan?

"Instead of spending $13m on D. Lee why not throw in another $4-5m to get Tex?"

Because Tex would actually probably be at least 7 mil more a year and you only have Lee under contract for 2/26. If Tex costs you 6/132, there is a huge, huge difference.

"If the Cubs are disenfranchised with Hill, what would it take for the Royals to get him? Would they take Teahan?"

In 2 seconds probably, but doubt Hill has any real trade value right now.

NRMax88:

Perhaps the Cubs and Mets are more alike then we think. Both failed to reach the promised land on an anniversary of their last WS victory (Mets 20, Cubs 100), despite being the best team in the NL.

And Carlos Marmol got in a car accident in DR. Possibly involving Dominican Food?

OK, we need guys who can get on base, that's true enough. But who drives them in? Ramirez, Lee and Soriano aren't clutch players as they have proven with their miserable performances in the past two playoffs. That's why people ae proposing to trade DP-Lee and Ram (you can't trade Sori unfortunately). And yes, Harden DOES hold the team hostage - why do you think Billy Beane gave him away for next to nothing? One time he needs 2 extra days, oops now he needs a week, better give him a cortisone shot, etc etc. And in the meantime, you're scrambling at the last minute to call up a starter from AAA or use a converted reliever and messing everyone up. Face it, he's another Prior, been there done that. We don't need that crap any more. Bad decision on Hendry's part unless he's a trade chip. You just can't count on him.

"Bad decision on Hendry's part unless he's a trade chip. You just can't count on him."

If they did not pick up the 7 million option, he would become arbitration eligible. Going 10-2 with a 2.07 ERA (5-1 1.77 with Cubs) buys more than 7 million in arbitration. Good decision and a no brainer on Hendry's part.

Just wondering (and I don't mean to insult any Boston fans), but how does Boston have such a huge payroll? Boston is a much smaller city than Chicago, and even if you take the White Sox into account, don't the Cubs have a larger fan base?

"Just wondering (and I don't mean to insult any Boston fans), but how does Boston have such a huge payroll? Boston is a much smaller city than Chicago, and even if you take the White Sox into account, don't the Cubs have a larger fan base?"

First off, the cubs dont have payrolls like Boston because they dont make the $$$ that Boston does. Its not all about the size of the fanbase, its about the $$$ being made. This might be a blow to cubs fans' ego, but believe it or not, the cubs are the biggest $$$ maker in baseball. There are 4 other teams ( yanks, mets, dodgers, red sox) who are worth more than the cubs. Not coincidentally, 3 of those teams have higher payrolls than the cubs. To put it simply, they dont have the payrolls of those teams because they arent making enough $$$ as them. Here is a link in '07 discussing basball's biggest $$$ makers
http://www.forbes.com/2007/04/19/business-baseball-valuations-07mlb-cz_kb_0419baseball_land.html

Again, this might be a blow to cubs fans, there is one main reason the cubs arent making the $$$ the yanks, dodgers, red sox and mets are; wrigley field. Because of wrigley they arent maximizing their profits with regards to
1. Advertisement( or lack thereof)
2. Parking ( there is none)
3. Sky boxes/suites/ clubs
4. Stadium naming rights.

Second, stop with all the Cuban nonsense. Its been discussed here, espn, foxsports and practically every other sports blog in america; the chances of Cuban getting the team are slim. And please dont give me the "Cuban has the most money" crap, it doesnt matter. It will ultimately be the owners decision, and Sam Zell knows this. Look no further than the white sox sale of '81. Eddie Debartolo had the most $$$ and offered the highest bid. The owners voted nay for the same reasons that owners will say nay to Cuban ( too much of a spender, arrogant, brash, etc). Reinsdorf offered less, but he was the owners' "guy", he got the bid, the rest is history.

So for those who are saying get "Furcal, Dempster, Wood and Abreu, it won't be money that will hold them back" you are wrong and you dont know what you are talking about.

"That's the old Cubs attitude. This Cubs team has shown a propencity towards trying to build a championship."

Again wrong. I'll quote Steve Stone and say the reason the Trib has finally spent $$$ is because its OTHER PEOPLES MONEY. Why do you think all these contracts were backloaded? It got nothing to do with a new attitude, and everything to do about trying to drive up the value of the team and at the same time not getting stuck with the bill. After years of cheapness, the Trib all of the sudden has an epiphany, wants to win it all and spends $300 mil on the club? Stop drinking the koolaid, there is a method to their madness.

Forlife, I agree about Cuban. No matter who the next owner is they will have the coin. MLB will not let the sale go of one of it's most storied franchises to a group that can barely squeek in and afford it and then not be able to maintain the club. Even with the economy tanking, it will not be sold to an 'iffy' group. You think we as fans are upset they went out so quickly. How do you think Zell feels as that cost him big bucks.

Some of those backloaded contracts actually are not so out of line anymore, either. At least not as horrible as 2-3 years ago when they were signed.

"I think fanbases are generally thought to go Yanks, RedSox, and then Cubs...but thats complete opinion and couldn't really be proven."

I say this because I believe that is who sells the most merchandise...which I would think would be the best fact to base this on.

I echo those sentiments, forlife61. The only way we can make some good trades is to sell off the ones making league minimum. Theriot and Marmol would be the best trade bait, Derosa...

Theriot, Marmol, Derosa, Marquis and Lee (if we can lift his NTC).

The Salary dump of Theriot and Marmol would enable us to get their current value, not what they're making. Marmol is coming off two seasons where he was the best non-closer bullpen pitcher in MLB. Teams would salivate at the oppurtunity of him closing for their team. Marmol could command atleast 8 million. Theriot, coming off of a career year, could yield atleast 6. Derosa, having established his utility ability and hitting prowess, would be worth at least 10. Even if trading lee would just be a fulltime salary dump, getting prospects and money in return, it would enable us to be strong buyers in the free agent market this year. Texiera is good, because he is young. Crisp can be signed somewhat cheaply, and be used as a stopgap. Furcal, more expensive, but same thing. Fontenot plays second. Fukudome in right.

"Eddie Debartolo had the most $$$ and offered the highest bid. The owners voted nay for the same reasons that owners will say nay to Cuban ( too much of a spender, arrogant, brash, etc). Reinsdorf offered less, but he was the owners' "guy", he got the bid, the rest is history."

Well, actually one of the big sticking points w/Debartolo was his supposed links to the Mafia (I'm not saying those links were true, just that there were links).

"Zell's shown that he is in no hurry to rush a sale, he's going to wait to get maximum profit, and I don't see how you can get max value for anything in this economy."

True, but Zell and the Tribune have money probs of their own (which is why they're selling the Cubs), so they don't have the luxury of waiting too long (and if they wait another season, the Cubs may not even get to the playoffs).

I'm willing to bet that the Cubs will be sold by February 2009 at the latest.