What have we learned this baseball offseason? Don't trust a Cubs employee. From Ryan Dempster to Carlos Marmol to Anibel Sanchez, the Chicago Cubs front office is closer to a group of high school girls than the frat boys they're made out to be.
Its an offseason like this that one would hope they make Life-Lock: Baseball Franchise. One would also assume that Carmine, Theo Epstein's computer system doesn't have an anti-virus program.
The Cubs haven't lost out on anything, really. They may have dodged a bullet, and a shock to the rebuilding plan had the signed Sanchez, and although it might have been nice to pull off the Atlanta deal you don't see the Braves make many mistakes when they've decided to deal players.
Baseball fans ask, who related to the Cubs has the loose lips, and apparently girls are hoping Theo and Jed Hoyer have loose lips (Theo has been known to turn some ladies eyes and Jed was named the 5th most sexy baseball GM by Yahoo! Sports).
Undeniable that the Cubs have improved their club this offseason, but at what cost? Will future bigger names think the potential deals that leaked are a negative? Will this deter or cause the Cubs to overspend in the coming years when going to the free agent market?
Well... Who knows for certain, right? I mean blown secrets are one thing and $10 million a year for 4 years is certainly another.
Showing posts with label Hot Stove. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hot Stove. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Nostrajamie
From my typing fingertips to Ken Rosenthal's reports, the Chicago Cubs are showing interest in Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.
I know, I know, the Cubs have far more holes than just first base. What will they do at third base? Will they try to upgrade at second base? Will they upgrade their corner outfielders? What upgrades will be made to the pitching staff? There are all those questions, but if you can fix one with regular glue or super glue, you choose super, every time!
Let's not fool ourselves either, the Cubs have enough money to hand out a big contract to one of these big time stars, and they will be heavily compensated in return for that acquisition. Either of those two would help the rest of the lineup in, seeing better pitches, having better hitting scenarios, and having more opportunities to be successful. The Cubs will also have enough money to make another high profile signing, or multiple mid level type of signings.
In a complete dream scenario, the Cubs will hit the proverbial home run if they can bring in Prince Fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, and Mark Buehrle. This will give the Cubs a much needed power boost which should be around for some years, and another dependable starter to fill out the rotation that has some questions. These additions should cost around $40-50 million, which they currently have around $80 million committed to players. Adding $50 million in salaries puts them around the same neighborhood as the 2011 season. Then after 2012 they have another $40 million coming off the books.
Basically the Cubs have the equivalent of the Milwaukee Brewers entire payroll coming off their books in the next 2 years, and if we can get creative with Alfonso Soriano's contract this team will have a lot of splashing to do, and they have the brain trust to now spend that money wisely.
Should we be planning a parade in Chicago soon? Let's not get ahead of yourselves just yet. Should we have a lot of good baseball ahead of us? Hell yes.
I know, I know, the Cubs have far more holes than just first base. What will they do at third base? Will they try to upgrade at second base? Will they upgrade their corner outfielders? What upgrades will be made to the pitching staff? There are all those questions, but if you can fix one with regular glue or super glue, you choose super, every time!
Let's not fool ourselves either, the Cubs have enough money to hand out a big contract to one of these big time stars, and they will be heavily compensated in return for that acquisition. Either of those two would help the rest of the lineup in, seeing better pitches, having better hitting scenarios, and having more opportunities to be successful. The Cubs will also have enough money to make another high profile signing, or multiple mid level type of signings.
In a complete dream scenario, the Cubs will hit the proverbial home run if they can bring in Prince Fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, and Mark Buehrle. This will give the Cubs a much needed power boost which should be around for some years, and another dependable starter to fill out the rotation that has some questions. These additions should cost around $40-50 million, which they currently have around $80 million committed to players. Adding $50 million in salaries puts them around the same neighborhood as the 2011 season. Then after 2012 they have another $40 million coming off the books.
Projected Cubs 2012 Lineup
Projected Cubs 2012 Rotation
- Starlin Castro SS
- Darwin Barney 2B
- Prince Fielder 1B
- Marlon Byrd RF
- Yoenis Cespedes CF
- Alfonso Soriano LF
- Geovony Soto C
- Eric Chavez/Casey Blake/Mark Derosa 3B
- Ryan Dempster
- Matt Garza
- Mark Buehrle
- Carlos Zambrano
- Randy Wells/Andrew Cashner
Should we be planning a parade in Chicago soon? Let's not get ahead of yourselves just yet. Should we have a lot of good baseball ahead of us? Hell yes.
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