By Tim Dierkes | at
First the first time since the infamous Garland/Karchner deal, the Chicago teams got together on a trade. The Cubs sent relievers David Aardsma and Carlos Vasquez to the White Sox for Neal Cotts.
Cotts, 27 next season, has had one good season out of three. In 2005 he upped his groundball percentage a bit and displayed fantastic hit and home run prevention.
Here is a downright frightening picture of Aardsma.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio 1000, the Cubs have inked backup catcher Henry Blanco to a two-year, $5MM deal. Gil Meche could be the next player the team signs.
I like Jim Hendry’s aggression…but is Larry Rothschild really the guy who’s going to fix Meche?
While I have you – Cubs fans may want to check out my Mark DeRosa projection over at AllCubs.com.
By Tim Dierkes | at
For teams looking for a player via free agency who can serve as both a center fielder and leadoff man, there are four options. You can sign Kenny Lofton, Gary Matthews Jr., Juan Pierre, or Dave Roberts.
But if you’re not into aging speedsters, the OBP/defense-challenged, or the guy coming off a career year, you can get a little creative. Aside from a huge commitment to J.D. Drew, who might or might not hold up in center field, you could ask Julio Lugo to be your center fielder.
That’s an option the Cubs are considering if they fail to sign Alfonso Soriano. Lugo’s agent, Jeff Borris, knows that his client is much more valuable if he’s seen as an option at SS, CF, or 2B. Lugo was headed towards a career year of his own until he was dealt to the Dodgers, where his role was unclear.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio 1000, the Cubs are about to finalize a three-year contract with 2B/3B/RF Mark DeRosa.
DeRosa could start at second base and also play right field when the Cubs face a southpaw.
UPDATE: ESPN says the contract is for $13MM. Jim Hendry has a tendency to buy high on guys…but I don’t mind this move.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 has some new Cubs info for us. He reports that the Cubs have asked the Indians about a possible deal involving Cliff Lee or Jake Westbrook in exchange for relief pitching.
In addition, the Cubs may consider Ray Durham as a source of power for second base.
By Tim Dierkes | at
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.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Wow – an about face on everything we’ve heard lately about Aramis Ramirez. I was just reading about this complete failure and nodding. Ken Rosenthal reports that the Cubs have re-signed Ramirez. The deal is for five years and $73MM, a significant hometown discount. There’s also a mutual option for 2012, his age 34 season.
Did you know 34.6% of Ramirez’s batted balls were flyballs in both 2005 and 2006? You learn something every day. Talk about consistency.
The Cubs re-signed Kerry Wood as well. He got a deal that could reach $6MM if he meets various bullpen and health related incentives.
By Tim Dierkes | at
With Aramis Ramirez now available to the highest bidder, the Cubs figure to have yet another vacancy to fill. Trying to win in 2007 with this core of players will be a huge challenge for Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella.
A Cubs source of mine tells me that Hendry offered the original six year, $90MM contract that agent Paul Kinzer wanted. Kinzer of course rejected it, as he feels his client is worth Beltran money now.
The Cubs camp is not happy with Kinzer after this situation as well as Rafael Furcal last winter. The strained relationship may stop the Cubs from chasing Vicente Padilla.
By Tim Dierkes | at
A week ago for my Top 50 Free Agents list, I ranked lefty Kei Igawa 24th overall and had this to say:
"The Cubs have a clear need for a starter or two, and an increased focus on scouting Japan could lead to Jim Hendry to Igawa. Only one team can get Matsuzaka, after all. Igawa would be a fine consolation prize."
With the winning Matsuzaka bid likely to exceed $30MM, it appears that my speculation could become reality. After reading some scouting reports on Igawa, though, I wonder if I ranked him too high. Keith Law ranked him 31st, noting a below average fastball that sets up his plus curve.
With Igawa, the Cubs’ rotation would look something like this:
Carlos Zambrano
Free Agent
Rich Hill
Kei Igawa
Wade Miller/Mark Prior
Relying on the oft-injured Miller/Prior combo for the fifth starter spot could be workable, if the Cubs get a big fish to be the #2 starter. That could be Vicente Padilla or Randy Wolf in my mind. Padilla shares an agent with Aramis Ramirez and Jim Hendry has discussed the possibility.
By Tim Dierkes | at
CubDumb has consulted its insiders and uncovered a couple of near-certainties for the Cubs. (The post begins with a look at the questionable past effects of Gerald Perry, new Cubs hitting coach).
The first certainty is that Juan Pierre won’t return. This pleases me, even if it means the Cubs are three pitchers lighter for just one year of service. Is it just me, or does it seem like teams just aren’t interested in Pierre’s bag of tricks this offseason? I guess that’s progress. Perhaps the Cubs will now turn their attention to Dave Roberts or better yet J.D. Drew.
The second is that Kerry Wood will be back. C’mon Kerry, give us 60 dominant innings before your arm falls off.
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