Author Topic: Cubs in '12  (Read 167408 times)

brjones

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Re: Cubs in '12
« on: September 29, 2011, 11:09:50 am »

Some things I would ideally like to see this offseason (in addition to adding the Friedman/Maddon or Epstein/Francona tandem):
  • Target CJ Wilson, and make the best offer unless bidding gets ridiculous.  I'd definitely be willing to go as far as Jered Weaver's 5 year, $85 million deal.
  • Attempt to add a young hitter who could become a building block player along with Castro and Garza (and hopefully Jackson).  I've mentioned Alonso (blocked by Votto) and Morrison (out of favor with the Marlins) several times, but there are probably others out there.  Dominic Brown and Brandon Belt come to mind immediately as top prospects whose teams just don't seem to want to play them, for example.  I'm sure there are others.
  • Make Ramirez a "take it or leave it" offer pretty quickly around 2 years, $22-$26 million with a team option for 2014.  If he doesn't accept, move on and find an under the radar trade (Chase Headley?  Martin Prado?).
  • Avoid Fielder and Pujols because their contracts will be far too long.  Find a short term (1-3 years at most) middle of the lineup hitter (Beltran?  Ethier?  Wright?), which will allow the Cubs a little more time to determine where they need long term help.
  • Find the best trade offer for Marmol and take it. He's far more Eric Gagne than Mariano Rivera.
  • Dump Zambrano and Soriano, with the strategy being to take the deal that serves the most money.  No matter how much of these contracts the Cubs pay, they're not going to get anything better than some team's 20th-25th best prospect.  They're better off saving an extra $3 million or whatever.  Obviously, there are exceptions (specifically, I'm thinking about Zambrano having value to Ozzie Guillen, and eating more money might make him appealing as a second piece in a Morrison deal)...but generally, saving money should be the goal.
  • Make sure there is starting pitcher depth.  Coleman and Russell should not go into 2012 as the 6th and 7th starters.
  • Make it clear that CF is Brett Jackson's job to lose.

The Marlins are the most interesting team to watch in relation to the Cubs' offseason, I think.   Recent developments just seem to be great for the Cubs.  We all know of Morrison's issues and Zambrano's strong relationship with Ozzie.  But there are other factors too...they may not have a closer after the Nunez/Oviedo situation (making them a possible destination for Marmol).  There have been rumors the last few days that they will shop the disappointing but reasonablly productive Ricky Nolasco (giving a potential contract match for Marmol who fills a Cubs need).  They could potentially be a one stop shop to address several things the Cubs need to do this offseason.