Cubs Off-Season Rumors - Chapter Two

More Cubs Rumors

The Gossip papers are in full swing and there are more names on the Cubs rumor list for 2006. The Chicago Tribune mentioned on Saturday the Cubs have talked to the Texas Rangers about the possibility of trading for outfielder Kevin Mench and I was listening to XM Radio on Saturday to MLB Live and they brought up Kevin Millwood and Barry Zito as possible additions to the Cubs pitching staff.

Also, the agent for Rafael Furcal has said his client will not sign a contract for less than 5 years and $50 million dollars. Both XM Radio and the Chicago Tribune have said the Cubs, New York Mets and the New York Yankees (Furcal would play center for the Yankees) are the teams most interested in acquiring Furcal.

I have problems with Furcal 'demanding a contract'. Why would the Cubs want to lock up that amount of money for 5 years? Furcal will be 32 by the time that contract ends. I will say it again.... a team is best built by trades and players within the organization, NOT FREE AGENCY. Furcal would look good in Cubbie blue, but at what price? Aramis Ramirez just signed a four-year extension with an option for the fifth-year; do not look for Jim Hendry to tie up that long of a contract again.

According to the Chicago Tribune article, Hendry has spoken to the Rangers about a trade for Kevin Mench that would include the Cubs sending Corey Patterson and a pitching prospect to the Rangers. Mench seems to be a good everyday player and all of the experts and the Rangers say he is full of potential. Last year (2005) was Mench's first year at playing everyday (150 games) and he will be 28 when the season starts. Mench can play both right and left field, which is a big positive, but he is right handed. Depending on the route they go with centerfield (Pierre is a lefty, Lofton is a lefty and Pie is a lefty) the Cubs all ready have a right handed left fielder in Murton and with Lee and Ramirez both being right handed, I question this move. Mench's numbers are fine (.264/ 25 HR/ 73 RBI/ .328 OBP/ .469 SLG) and he has a big upside....but the Cubs do need some left-handed power in the lineup. I still like Aubrey Huff (see my post on November 7th about Aubrey Huff) and according to XM, he is on the trading block....somebody email Jim Hendry.

I am not going to spend much time on Kevin Millwood. He has never impressed me, but all of the experts love this guy. Holden Kushner on XM did bring up a good point, all pitchers coming from the American League to the National League has averaged 1 run per inning less on their ERA. Millwood did lead the AL with a 2.86 ERA....but I am not sold on him. A lot of injuries over the years.

Barry Zito is very intriguing. The last of the big three (Hudson, Mulder and Zito) left in Oakland. 2006 will be the last year on Zito's current contract and there are doubts if the A's can afford to keep him. Zito's numbers have declined since 2002 and will turn 28 in May. He started 35 games and threw over 220 innings for the A's last year. Zito was 14-13 with a 3.86 ERA, 171 strikeouts and only 89 walks. Zito is a good pitcher, but I wonder if all of the innings (over 200 innings every season since 2001) and all of the starts (over 30 per year since 2001) are starting to take its toll on his arm. If the Cubs could trade Corey Patterson and Sergio Mitre for Zito, it might be worth the risk. Wouldn't it be fun to watch a Mulder / Zito dual 3-4 times a year?

Well, that's the news (Cubs rumors) and I'm sticking to it!!

Neil

Hey Jason, I really like your comments...keep 'em coming..they are making me think. Zito is a much better option that Glendon Rusch, but I do not agree with trading Rich Hill to get him. The Cubs cannot entertain any trade offers that contain the names 'Pie, Hill, Guzman, Nolasco or Sing', those guys are very talented and are the future of the Cubs. I agree about Mitre, he has not impressed me much either, but his name was thrown around a lot last year and Hendry would not part with him. Some say he has problems with Wrigley...I do not know. I think he does have trade value, he would have to be packaged with someone else. I saw that about Furcal, but I am still unsure...Furcal is the best free agent on the market this year, but it is an off year. They have to be careful. I agree with the comment you made about having the best team you can to start the season. The Cubs have a lot of games within the division to start the season and no games with the Astros or Cardinals in September, so a slow start could put an end to season before the ivy is green. I really think Furcal will either end up back in Atlanta or end up a Cub. I think the Mets are just trying to run up the contract, like all the teams did last year with Beltran. I agree with the Furcal and Pierre at the top of the lineup, 2 leadoff hitters in front of Lee and Ramirez, that would be like '84 with the 'Daily Double'. Keep the faith and remember 'Now It's Our Turn'.

Jason B. from AZ

Hey Neil, I had forgotten about Zito, and I think he will likely be traded by Oakland, whether to the Cubs or to some team willing to part with prospects. I had Oakland's young starters in my Fantasy league last year and they were great (Harden, Haren, etc..). Billy Beane was able to trade his two best pitchers and didn't miss a beat, and he saved a bunch of dough, so I believe his success will embolden him to do the same with Zito. Even if Zito doesn't win 20 games again, he is young, and would be a great addition to the Cubs staff, long-term. I don't think much of Mitre, so I doubt Beane will either at this point, so Hendry may have to part with Rich Hill or someone like him. That is what the farm system is for, imo, with a team with a high payroll. Use them as enticing trade chips with the lower budget teams to fleece them of their soon-to-be-expensive talent. Think Aramis and Lee here. How is Choi working out these days, for example? A lot of people were upset with the Choi for Lee trade at first, but what a no-brainer it is now. I also agree with you about Millwood. I just can't get excited about the guy, and I have to believe you would get a better pitcher via a trade. In the online papers today they mentioned Furcal's agent backing off on any sort of "demand", so I think he can be had for 4 years by the Cubs. Unfortunately, I see Hendry making one trade for Furcal and then calling it a day and filling the other gaps with mediocre players. I know Jim will be hurt when he reads this, but I have lost faith in him due to what I see as a pattern of trying to "get by" with a stop-gap measure, or hoping for a career year from a player. Hendry has been quoted in the past saying how he likes to leave room available to make trades in mid-season. At first, this sounded great...but then the more I looked at it the past two years, I realized that if you don't put out a team you consider to be World Series-ready at the start of the season, you will fall 40 games behind the Cardinals by June again. So why not make those mid-season trades before the season, and get out of the box strong and get some momentum and confidence built up (ala the Sox) that carries over throughout the year. I bring this up because in the paper today, Furcal's agent was nixing his $50 million demand, which had supposedly scared away the Cubs. The paper said that Hendry would turn his attention elsewhere if Furcal became too pricey, and look at a trade for Pierre. In other words, either the Cubs get Furcal, or they go after Pierre, but not both. Why not both?! Imagine a team with Furcal, Pierre, and Cedeno. Then add Murton and Lee, and you have a very speedy team. You still have power with Lee, Aramis, Barrett, Murton, and your RF of choice. I hope Hendry fills all the holes this time, before Spring training. Don't give me a Bellhorn at 3rd to start the year. Don't put a Hollandsworth in LF to start the year. Don't put a Rusch/Mitre/Dempster as a 5th starter to start the year. The last two years have made me a cynic, Jim. Please prove me wrong this off-season.