Cubs' Payroll Higher Than Expected

no way they need peavy, too much pitching already

Don't be mad cuz the Dodgers aren't getting Peavy

I think the Cubs will add Peavy and will sign Ibanez. Lou wants Ibanez a lot mostly because of his work ethic, thats what you hear most about him. Cubs will have the best lineup and Rotation in baseball.

apparently, a lot of people underestimate Peavy's value to the cubs. Not only does he bring a great clubhouse presence (he is supposedly a staunch christian), but he is also a proven ace in every sense of the word-in terms of innings, K's, ERA, and wins. Don't be demoralized by critics who believe peavy's ERA would be 4.something. Even though wrigley is a hitters haven, pitchers have done well there in the past 5 years, and there's no reason to believe peavy won't have a ERA less than 3.00, 20 wins, 250 K's, and 230 innings in a cubs uniform next year.

Lucky cub fans? first time ive heard that one.

@mellowyellow

"apparently, a lot of people underestimate Peavy's value to the cubs. Not only does he bring a great clubhouse presence (he is supposedly a staunch christian)"

completely irrelevant

"he is also a proven ace in every sense of the word-in terms of innings, K's, ERA, and wins."

not really. Look at his road numbers. I'm not saying he definitely wouldn't be an ace with the Cubs, but he is certainly not a sure thing.

"Don't be demoralized by critics who believe peavy's ERA would be 4.something."

It probably wouldn't be that high, but I'd expect mid to high 3s.

"there's no reason to believe peavy won't have a ERA less than 3.00, 20 wins, 250 K's, and 230 innings in a cubs uniform next year."

Seriously? He's never had 20 wins. He's never had 250 K's. He's never had 230 innings. On the road, away from the best pitchers park in history, his career ERA is 3.80. I would be extremely surprised if any of those things happened next year.

I agree with uww1: The cubs have some pitchers who have a history of getting hurt.

ONE QUESTION: Does anybody really think that the Cubs are interested with Randy Johnson?

MELLOWYELLOW -
you my friend are a numbnut. it's the cubs you're talking about. you can take the healthiest players, put them in cubs uniforms, and somehow, someway, they go missing for half a year.
YOU'RE CURSED!
and by the way, Peavy can sport a 2.75 ERA all he wants, but once they get into the playoffs, he and the rest of the staff will have to sport a 0.00 ERA for about 10 innings a game to win if they don't balance out that lineup.

Marquis is a poster boy of why huge contracts do not go to people like Silva, garland and himself... Once signed, you are stuck with them without eating 2/3 + of it.

If the Cubs have payroll concerns and are also in a Win now (next 2 years) mode; then I am not sure Abreu makes the most sense.

For me, Brad Hawpe should be their target. Left Handed power hitting Right Fielder who costs a lot less then Abreu.

Marquis + 4M means the Rox payroll won't go up and the Cubs would still be around 133.

Obviously the Cubs then need to expand the deal to include a top prospect but that could work for both clubs I'd think.

This would of course assume the Rockies were willing to rebuild next season instead of think they can still compete. With their current pitching situation I just don't see them going far next year no matter what type of offense they have so it could work if the right prospect(s) were involved.

To clarify on Abreu, if the Cubs want to win Now and give themselves a 2 year window; I don't know that locking into a guy like Abreu for 4 years is a smart move for them. (Abreu is better then Hawpe IMO just not worth the price tag when you have payroll issues)

I go with Hawpe b/c he is signed until 2010 for a reasonable cost. I think this is why they also want to go after Peavy b/c he isn't a long term committment.

With Hawpe/Peavy the Cubs can afford to clear out their farm and go for broke because they will be getting plenty of draft picks back in the future with all the Type A guys they would have.

This also makes the team more saleable; as they wouldn't be locking into any long term expensive contracts.

Uww1,

I like the fact your lineup has Lee in the 2 hole. Cub fans want Soriano out of leadoff (no problem). Just as important is Lou moving Lee. He is not a #3 hitter anymore and Lee hitting second fits.

I really don't like this trade if we give up Vitters. Sure Peavy is good and all, but when Ramirez and Lee are free agents we will need Vitters. Pitching will be fine. We have at least three pretty dominant pitchers through 2010 with Zambrano, Dempster, and Lilly. Samardzija should be in the rotation by 2010, and the Cubs are talking about extending Harden. We'll only need 2 more pitchers after 2010 if Lilly leaves and Harden is extended.

Sounds like one of those leaked "stories" to improve a clubs bargaining power. Cubs look pretty payroll strapped after the whole wood not offered thing. Could hurt their negotiating power. On the flip side if these numbers are correct it is even dumber that they did not offer.

At this point I think that Jake Peavy will be a Padres next season

"How do you figure that at all? A man practicing Christian values will OBVIOUSLY be a better clubhouse prescense than one that does not or even an agnostic or atheist. He'll be positive and more uplifting when the other players are down. This makes a big difference in team chemistry as well, which I think is underrated. Just MHO."

Wow. Do they even have internet back there in the DARK AGES?

BIGPADRESFAN2009, what do you think it would take for Peavy to play for the Angels in 2009?

"Cubs will have the best lineup and Rotation in baseball."

Probably next year also.. Am curious to see the stats Marquis, Dempster and Lilly put up and end of year and if Harden avoids the DL list for 1/2 the season.

Stabbingworth,
I was just saying that I think Peavy would be a great influence both on and off the field. ie. Brian Roberts, John Smoltz

"I guess $140 mil doesn't go as far as it used to. The Cubs should have fired Hendry when they had the chance. "

Are you kidding??? He has done a great job as GM. Maybe not everyone agrees but look where we are at. He has put a great team on the field for the last 5-6 years or longer. He has had some top 100 prospects that havent panned out at all, which can really hurt a team. But through some great trades, Hendry has brought some great players here Chicago. And after he makes a great trade for Peavy, we will easily have the best rotation in baseball.

First Dunn in my opinion is not a good idea. We have Soriano who we know is going to strike out 120+ times a year. Dunn is going to strike out 150+ times a year. Chances are that those 2 guys could potentially bat 4-5 in the lineup. That many strike outs paired up in this lineup is not a good idea. We have plenty of power in this lineup, maybe not one guy who is going to hit 40, but we potentially have 5-6 or even 7 guys who could hit 20 or more HRs. IMO we need guys with a high OBP.

Secondly, yes we probably had the best rotation and lineup preseason in the NL this last year. If we get Peavy and one of Abreu/Ibanez/Bradley then we will have the best lineup and rotation all MLB this year.

Sure a left handed bat is the first priority, but how can you pass up on a guy like Peavy? Too much pitching, dont need him? Yeah, who needs a 27 year old Cy Young winning pitcher anyway?Get Peavy and Ibanez. As for firing Hendry?Whats he ever done for the Cubs, other than Ramirez,Soriano,Lilly,Johnson,Edmonds, Piniella, etc?

Sorry, I directed that last post to the wrong person. My bad.

"I guess $140 mil doesn't go as far as it used to. The Cubs should have fired Hendry when they had the chance. "

Umm...he just fielded the best team in the NL last year, that had a great mix of veteran talent and young homegrown players. Hendry's biggest weakness is probably his draft picks, which he has hired help for and it seems to be doing pretty well so far. The Cubs are consistantly competing and have won back to back division titles for the first time in 100 years. He deserves some credit...and certainly more than you are giving him. For every Jason Marquis contract there is a Mark DeRosa one. For every Soriano contract, there is a Ted Lilly. Get off the guy's back.

"IMO we need guys with a high OBP."

Yeah, like Adam Dunn does? What exactly do strikeouts matter? Is Dunn a bad hitter? Is Soriano? Jim Thome in his prime? Ryan Howard?

Dunn is basically not going to be an option because Hendry want want the worst outfield defense in the league this year, but Dunn's hitting productivity is exactly what we could use and he's the absolute best hitter available who can be considered an option (even though I highly doubt it will happen because of the defense problem)

On the other topic, I would rather have a team full of atheists/agnostics/privately spiritual people. That way you don't have any smarmy, holier than thou types messing up your clubhouse chemistry. Of course the concept of clubhouse chemistry is pretty much a joke anyway.

"Hendry has spent almost a half BILLION dollars on this team the last 3 years. You can give ANY GM in baseball that kind of money and they would have more than an 0-6 record in the playoffs to show for it. He's hamstrung the organization with back loaded contracts, no-trade clauses and one of the worst minor league systems in baseball."

Sounds like the ultimate win-now philosophy. I'm sure those were probably Hendry's marching orders. Win now at all costs. That's what he has been trying to do. The Cubs will probably end up with Peavy, but the window of opportunity is still shrinking. Unless they want to end up with a 200+ payroll eventually (which isn't completely out of the question with the backloaded contracts) it seems they only have a 2-3 year window.

Well this is the way I see it.

Rotation

Peavy

Big Z

Lilly

Harden

Marquis

Cubbies97, why do people keep paying Dempster 52M to sit on the bench? Is he invisible? You're like the 5th person ive seen post our rotation without him.

The Cubs will trade Rich Hill at some point this off-season right (In a Brian Roberts trade)

Abreu/Ibanez/Bradley all are defensive liabilities (Bradley isn't bad, but very prone to injury) plus they all had better splits against lefty pitchers than righties last year. Isn't the whole point to get a left handed hitter to hit righties, so when the Dodgers throw 10 consective righties at us, we have someone that can hit them? Just because you are left handed, it doesn't mean you hit righties well and Abreu or Ibanez don't.

Dunn on the other hand kills righties - he's a liability defensively, but you can take him out in late innings. He's the only bat worth the money for the Cubs.

Jim Hendry has done a good job. I don't like every move made, but I try and look at why he made it. The Wood situation is one of them and it will be made clear one way or the other.

Look at the team from the ground up when 'Dandy' Andy was in charge to when he let Hendry take over the GM role and give him more reign over the position. In a few short years, the Cubs have been more aggresive in FA/trades. At least Andy did eventually allow Jim to make decisions and he has made mostly good ones.

Not only that, but Hendry is not an ego GM. He brought in highly regarded baseball people or promoted them. He surronds himself with a lot of baseball 'know how' to put a plan in place and is not worried about his job. You win, you get new contracts, that's sports. Granted the team has fallen short the last two years. Also, as far as the scouting, he has that improved, too. A highly regarded scouting director has only been there since '06. That will take a couple more years to build the farm.

Other GMs comment how much Hendry works and is always talking to other GMs and building relationships. How many players or GMs make comments about Jim not being upfront with them...none. Even Woody said Hendry told him how it was going to happen. Not great to hear, but honest. Ofcourse they have a good friendship outside of baseball, but he is upfront with all his players. Even White Sox people, Kenny and Ozzie, have said in seperate interviews how they do not like the Cubs. But there are a few people each respects in the organization. Jim Hendry was mentioned by both as people they respect.

No one is perfect and I'm not saying he is either. I could get more specific, but I think overall Hendry is a good GM.

No, the O's do not want Rich Hill. His bad minors tour last year and continued 7+ ERA and wildness in winterball warms no teams heart.

The Rich Hill name needs to quit being touted by Cub fans. Just another player that could have been good, but is not good. No value, none.

If I were the Cubs I'd take Dunn's deficiencies in the field for his 40+ homers 100 RBIs and career .900+ OPS. If anyone knows baseball, then don't post something about all his Ks (100) with his (102) BBs.

here is a little uncommon wisdom-getting peavy would not only make the cubs' staff the best in baseball, but it would also take some of the pressure off of zambrano, harden, and dempster-big z would be the best #2 starter in the league, harden the best #3, and dempster the best #3, and peavy, of course, would be one of the top 5 aces in all of baseball.

A Chicago sun-times columist made a prediction that he thinks the cubs will end up with Peavy and Brian Giles. Personally, I actually wouldn't mind Dunn although his defense is bad he is probably the biggest power bat from the left hand side on the market, plus he's familiar with NL Central pitchers and always seems to hit at Wrigley.

Trade Derek Lee and pick up Texiera. There is your lefty and you can put Derosa in right and Fontenot at 2nd.

"How do you figure that at all? A man practicing Christian values will OBVIOUSLY be a better clubhouse prescense than one that does not or even an agnostic or atheist. He'll be positive and more uplifting when the other players are down. This makes a big difference in team chemistry as well, which I think is underrated. Just MHO."

This is a typical statement by a Christian. For some reason, they all seem to think that everyone either is a Christian and doesn't realize it yet or they desperately want to be a Christian and don't know how. Leave it alone already. Religion and sports should be mutually exclusive. I really hate these players who praise God and blow kisses to heaven when something goes their way. What about the poor schlub you just embarrassed by striking him out? What about the guy on the verge of being demoted who slid into your throw at second base and cost his team the game by being over-aggressive? Do you really think God had any hand in helping you? If so, what sort of ego do you need to believe that any God would favor you over the person whose failure you profited from? Saying God helped you win is the same is saying God helped him lose. Not likely.

Anywho, religion has no place in a sports clubhouse, or any place other than church. It's the only place you can be 90% certain that everyone else believes what you believe. Everywhere else, keep your beliefs to yourself.

The cubs are pressed for money until the sale of the Cubs. Texiera is going to cost $20+ mm per year. We arent going to get him. We dont want to get rid of Lee either.

I do like the Brad Hawpe idea, but I really dont know what its going to take to get him. I am hoping we trade for Peavy, I dont want to use any trading chips for Hawpe

re: Ceda for Gregg

God what was Hendry thinking??? I like him as a GM, he's generally pretty good, but the Marlins front office must love dealing with him. He gets bent over a desk every time they do a deal.

"I dont think thats a bad deal really. Maybe they could have throw 2 mid level prospects for Hermida with that deal to even it out, but its saving us money."

Ceda, Colvin and Veal or Gregg and Hermida? I could have handled that.

HAHAHA good joke

Most overrated player in baseball??? His hits .300+ BA every year, 20+ HRs, .360+ OBP

I love having him on this team.

If you want to dog Hendry go no further then Josh Hamilton. Theres are left handed power hitting OF. Other then Johan Santana the best ever Rule 5 draft pick. Hendry immediately traded him to the Resd for cash. Hendry should of at least waited until Spring Training to see what he had first. I mean come on the guy was a 1st over all pick. Also, from what I understand has found God! (since people seeme stuck on the Religion)

My thoughts on Peavy, and why I hope the Cubs get him. First off, Peavy is so far a very dependable pitcher. You know what to expect every time he pitches. Zambrano on the other hand, has terrific stuff when he is able to control it..about 75 % of the time this past year. He's not so far a Number 1 starter. Harden, like Zambrano, has the stuff for a Number 1...but has not shown recently he can be healthy for 35 starts. So we cant count on him for our Number 1. Dempster had a season this past year to where he proved he was our Number 1 starter. But he dont have a current history of this, and we dont know what kind of success he will have next year. So we cant count on him to be our Number 1. Lilly won enough games to be considered a Number 1, but for me personally, I dont trust his stuff or pitching acumen enough to call him our Number 1.

So thats why the Cubs are eager...and they are eager...to get Peavy. There first bonafide Number 1 since Greg Maddux (the first time around).

This goes way back on a comment of how if given the money the cubs have spent, any GM would have a better record than 0-6 in the playoffs. Consider the fact that the team that has always been the biggest spender in the Yankees didn't even make the playoffs this year. Money doesn't buy championships.