Now we hear that the Cubs are targeting Alfonso Soriano for center field to complement Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee.
Is this feasible? Here’s one possible scenario:
2B – Optional – $4MM
SP – Guy with #2 potential – $11MM
SP – #4 guy – $7MM
CF – Alfonso Soriano – $17MM
Total: $39MM with a 2B, $35MM without
The Cubs have maybe $81-85MM committed depending on the incentives reached by Wade Miller and Kerry Wood. If they are reached the Cubs would probably view that as a positive.
Interestingly, if you take my current $85MM estimate and add the above free agents (but use an in-house 2B option) it puts you right at $120MM. It would not be ridiculous for the Cubs to take payroll to that level.
Go with Ryan Theriot at second base, as many here have suggested. You’ve got Eric Patterson and Ronny Cedeno floating around as well. It’s only second base, after all.
If willing to go to $120MM, the Cubs could add Vicente Padilla, Miguel Batista, and Soriano. You can substitute many different similar options. The #2 potential guy could be Gil Meche, Randy Wolf, or Ted Lilly instead of Padilla. The #4 could be Kei Igawa, Mark Redman, Tomo Ohka, Chan Ho Park, Jason Marquis, or even Ryan Dempster.
Here’s the lineup:
1. Matt Murton
2. Michael Barrett
3. Derrek Lee
4. Aramis Ramirez
5. Alfonso Soriano
6. Jacque Jones/Jose Cruz Jr.
7. Ryan Theriot
8. Cesar Izturis
It’s easy to forget that Lee has a decent chance at 40 HR and Murton is blossoming nicely. 1-6, the lineup could be tough. I’m sure Lou would find a less optimal way to order them and he’d bat Jacque against lefties, but let’s not nitpick.
And the rotation:
1. Carlos Zambrano
2. Vicente Padilla
3. Rich Hill
4. Kei Igawa
5. Wade Miller/Mark Prior
Zambrano and Padilla could be the new bad boy tandem, terrorizing the NL with beanballs. I’m sure Lou would put someone between Hill and Igawa to avoid two consecutive southpaws. Igawa could baffle the NL for half a season. And between Prior and Miller there’s got to be 180 innings of 4.50 ball, right?
Bullpen:
1. Kerry Wood
2. Bob Howry
3. Scott Eyre
4. Mike Wuertz
5. Ryan Dempster
6. Sean Marshall
7. Will Ohman
Like the lineup and rotation, this pen would be solid if not spectacular. Of course, it could be ugly if Wood gives the Cubs nothing.
See, this is how Cubs fans think. Forgive me for playing fantasy baseball with this roster just this once. I love the hot stove.
