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By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
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Guest 4107
I think Marcum and Haren are the free agents the Cubs need to go after. They don’t figure to get long contracts because of their injury history.
dc21892
Dan Harens injury history consists of what?
JSapp11
Carlos Villanueva would be a nice addition
jammin502
One player not mentioned is Arodys Vizcaíno. I think he could be a big plus if he comes in healthy in Spring Training. I would guess that the Cubs would bring him along a little slowly, using him in relief, but eventually he could be a starter in 2013. I like the idea of going after Marcum, and I would even throw it out there to see if Dempster would come back. The money should be there for Demp. Kevin Youkilis could be a usable stop gap at 3B if the price is right and the FO and Youk should know each other pretty well. I would also talk with the DBacks about Justin Upton. Again, if the price is too high, walk away. Ryan Ludwick could also be an option if available in FA.
TheoHoyer
Justin Upton has the Cubs on his “no-trade” list. I don’t see that happening.
swan ronson
I think that’s more for contract negotiations than because he doesn’t want to play for the Cubs. Players put teams with deep pockets on their no-trade list so if they get traded their, they can get some more dough out of them. Regardless, I don’t see him coming to Chicago.
Dan 24
I kind of intrigued by Gavin Floyd if you can get him at a good price. He’s still relatively young, has a good GB rate (Wrigley-beneficial), pitched in a HR friendly ballpark in US Cellular, & can benefit with a move to the NL. He’s also on record on wanting to stay in Chicago. Perhaps on a different team?
That’s of course if the White Sox decline his $9.5mm option, which I can see them deciling.
foxtown
I wouldn’t expect any major free agent additions. More of the DeJesus and Maholm type veterans will come and go on 1-2 year contracts until they are ready to make a run. They’ve been pretty open about their desire to keep payroll low while rebuilding.
123redsox
soriano and cash to Boston for Bryce Brentz and carpenter
Jay Taylor
I don’t think the Cubs should go out looking for a catcher. Welington Castillo looks to me like he can be an everyday player, so they might as well spend those resources elsewhere.
TheoHoyer
I’d personally like to see Henry Blanco as our backup again, if his option is declined. I enjoyed watching him with the Cubs a few years back. He’s on the downside of his career and would definitely bring that veteran experience into the clubhouse.
Maybe David Ross? He could definitely fill the backup role and could provide some power off the bench. I can see them signing a veteran backstop to mentor Wellington Castillo.
EDIT: Role, not Roll.
123redsox
Cubs get 3rd baseman Garin cechinni from boston for cash and OF Tony Campona
johnsilver
Cubs can draft their own top prospects. Boston isn’t going to trade away one for a 5th OF
CandyMaldonadoLand
They need to fill that hole at 3B. I don’t want to see them playing musical chairs for the next 25 year at that position.
Cubstein
Not much in terms of FAs that will fill that hole. They have several solid potential 3B prospects coming up through the system including Lake, Baez and Villi. If Youk becomes available they should go after him for something along the lines of a two year contract with an option.
Bryan Pahigian
Valbuena should not be the opening day 3B, hes not even offensively gifted enough for 2B let alone 3B. I like the Youk idea, give Houston a call as well on Jed Lowrie, Chris Johnson in ARI will probably be non-tendered, and if you want to go big give San Diego a call on Headley. Hoyer has connections there and if you start a deal with Vitters and Baez (Baez seems like a surplus with Castro under contract till 2019) and go from there i could see something happening. You could sign Headley to something along the lines of what Wright signed for his first big contract, maybe 5yr/$55m with an option at the end.
Duder Steve Pettke
Headley will get more than 11 mil a year. Yanks would offer way more than that alone.
TheoHoyer
“Baez seems like surplus with Castro under contract til 2019”
I disagree. Baez has been nothing but a STUD in the minor leagues so far. He’s still young and could definitely transition to 3B. If Castro fills out, he could transition to 3B, yet I see this as unlikely.
There is no way the Cubs sign Headley, since they have gone on record saying they want to build from within, and spend money when the team is ready to compete.
TheoHoyer
Do the Cubs try and re-sign Shawn Camp?
Shel K
2 issues with this article. 1) having Valbuena doesn’t exactly make us “set” at third base. They need a third baseman until Vitters declares whether he’s a keeper or not, and if not then they they decide whether to eventually plan on Castro, Baez, Lake or the kid they got over the summer – Villanueva(?) at third. I would go for Youk – 1 yr plus an option. 2) listening to Theo it doesn’t sound like he thinks catcher is a pressing need right now – he felt Castillo made huge strides in the last 6 weeks, and certainly made noises like Castillo is the man for 2013.
gr8testsoxfan
Garza for Brett Lawrie or Mike Olt, or maybe even Tulo if Colorado helps with that contract
Shel K
if you do garza for headley straight up, get 2 mid level FA pitchers and a FA outfielder, you’ve suddenly got at least a respectable team
TheoHoyer
Yeah..this is not going to happen.
LaxMan21
i like the idea of going after marcum and haren. marcum is a good middle of the rotation guy and it is safe to say Haren had a down year and good get a one or two year deal to see if can bounce back. also if one or neither of these guys gets signed the idea of demp coming back aint a bad idea. for 3rd base i like the idea of youk, he would be good on a one or two year deal as well. he can mentor vitters and already being familiar with the front office should be a plus. Soriano and Dejesus are already in the outfield (unless the unlikely event that soriano is dealt) and CF has a ? as of now. B-Jax saw some time this year and he already said he knows what to work on but could i hurt to get a CF on a year flyer? probably not. Pagan, Ross, and Sizemore are FA although with Sizemore’s injury history the last few years doubt they sign him but a one year for 1 or 2 mil could be a low-risk high-reward signing. and grabbing one or two veteran relievers would be beneficial, there are plenty of vets out there that will be looking for a short term contract. and like this past season, if some of these FA get some value dont surprised to see some flipped for more prospects at the deadline