We must realize here that the Jacque Jones signing isn't terrible. In fact, I argue it was a wise move. Why? Who here has heard of Jose Guillen? The leader of the Nats and stud with the Angels. He has almost identical numbers to Jacque Jones for his career. Same HRs, OB%, BA...everything. We are getting a player who should hit .280 with 25 HRs for 5.3 million. Not to mention this guy is a Defensive monster who made Torii Hunters job a lot easier. He is 30, not 36 like Burnitz. This is a fine move. When Hendry extends Pierre to a 3 yr contract, I will feel fine about CF and RF.

Now, what moves would I make now... Firstly, sign Wade Miller to a 2 year deal for about 6 million. This guy is a good NL pitcher and he just needs a NL home. I think my major remaining move would be package Jerry Hairston, Jerome Williams, and Corey Patterson for Jose Vidro. The Nats need to open a spot for newcomer Alfonso Soriano. They could use a SP and need OF without Sledge or Wilkerson (parts of the Soriano trade). Vidro would be a solid upgrade at 2B, considering he is a 3 time All Star. Honestly, this is enough. We have a fantastic crop of young guys and I want to see them play. Cedeno and Murton can be great contact hitters. Pie's ceiling is only the sky. And Rich Hill and Angel Guzman will be lethal replacements for Maddux next year.

So what would my 2006 Cubs look like...

LINEUP

Pierre

Vidro

Lee

A. Ramirez

J. Jones

Barrett

Murton

Cedeno

ROTATION

Zambrano

Prior

Maddux

Rusch

Hill/Guzman/Wood

BENCH

1b/2b Todd Walker

2b/ss/3b N. Perez

3b/of J. Mabry

With our newly loaded bullpen (Eyre and Howry w/ sub 3 ERAs, healthy Williamson) combining with Ohman and Dempster, we could play with anyone.

Pitching and defense. PLEASE Hendry don't break the bank for Tejada. Pitching and defense.

I was reading some of the comments about the Prior for Tejada trade rumors, over on the online Tribune page, and this was too funny, and completely summarizes my feelings about the people in charge of my beloved Cubbies right now, who can't seem to hang onto good talent (Lieber, Clement, Nomar, Dontrelle Willis, Jon Garland, Lofton, Alou, etc..), who seem to hang onto bad talent for too long (Patterson, Juan Cruz, Farnsworth, Rusch, Latroy Hawkins, etc...), and who seem to be unable to evaluate talent outside of their club (signing Jacque Jones and claiming he is an upgrade to Burnitz, thinking about trading Prior for Tejada but saying Prior is untradable when talking to the Phillies about Abreu, etc...)

Here is what this guy wrote, and I say "Amen, brother". I love the Cubs, but I am not happy with the direction the club has gone the past two years, and you have to blame management for that:

"15. Here's a better trade: Dennis Fitzsimmons, Andy McPhail and Jim Hendry to Baltimore for a monkey.

Submitted by: Areyounuts?"

How is Julio Lugo over rated? he is better than furcal in most cataglorys exept stolen bases( furcal ahd 7 more).Lugo has a higher Batting Average and a higher OBP. Having two fast guys on top of the order can really help, the white sox won the world series that way. The white sox scored early with podsednik and iguchi. The cubs can do that with Pierre and Lugo, exept Lugo is far better than Iguchi in every single catolglory. Lee would by far win the triple crown. He had almost 15 solo's cuz no one would get on base for him. Thats the best 1-2 punch in baseball, way better than damon, jeter. Lugo is not over-rated.

I mentioned earlier, that I would go after Lugo (for prospects) and sign Millwood. The Cubs would have enuf in their budget to handle both acquisitions.

There is a REALISTIC shot that the Cubs could still acquire Tejada (without giving up Cedeno or Pie).

The Cubs, Orioles, and A's could get a trade done. I have heard several reports that the A's are indeed willing to trade Zito before losing him to FA. Cubs would get Tejada, Orioles Zito and a prospect (or position player) and the A's would get prospects from the Cubs. Amazingly, the prospects would NOT be Pie or Cedeno. Other names include Patterson and Walker. I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE it if Hendry can pull this one off!!

I can see Baltimore accepting Zito and Walker/Patterson, and the A's in turn getting Patterson/Walker, Rich Hill, and Cubs 1st base prospect Dopirak. That's a name that many people haven't talked about, but he is a slugger!! From what I understand, many teams out there have shown great interest in the kid. With D-Lee at first for the next 5-7 years, we can afford to give him up and get a player like Tejada in return!!!

This to me sounds like the most logical trade if we are going to get Tejada.

Cubs need one more big time hitter like Manny, Tejada or Soriano

Possible 3 team deal

Cubs get Manny and Bedard

Orioles get Prior and Clement

Red Sox get Murton, Patterson and Tejada

I would trade Mark Prior and player to be named later for Miguel Tejada.But if you do that they would need a starter.So I would etheir trade Corey Patterson for one or move Rich Hill to the starting rotation.If Wood and Zambrano stay healthy and the other players fill in.We could have a big-time offense threat and good pitching.

Jim Hendry's best trades have come during the season, when no hope teams look to unload salary, so with that in mind (and I know I'll get cat calls. . .) I would have platooned Corey Patterson with somebody in hope that he figured it out in less pressured circumstances (You know when they trade him, Corey will turn into the next Lou Brock, just like they said. . . ). I think the Eyre and Howry and Pierre deals were great; look how St. Louis has done it for years: they have a stacked bullpen and when they get a lead, they never lose it. Remember, how everyone made fun of the Sox when they dropped Ordonez and Lee? The moral is there are lots of ways to win, and one way is to have a solid bullpen, lots of starters, good defensive players, and room to add contracts at midseason. I still think, if the starters don't fall apart, the Cubs have as good a shot in the central as anyone.

How about picking up Matt Lawton again (currently unsigned)? He's a career .270 hitter, has speed where we could use him as a number 2 hitter or leadoff if we ever give ironman Pierre a day off. I'm not saying make him a starter automatically but he'd be a nice 4th outfielder in case Murton or Jones struggles. I also think we could have signed him to a one year deal for cheap and thus paved the way for Pie when he was ready instead of being stuck with a 3 year contract with Jones.

First off I would like to comment on the other posts; Millwood would be to pricey for the Cubs, Julio Lugo's name has been thrown around all winter, he is over-rated, and agree to sign veteran Wade Miller to a minor league contract.

As for me, if I were the General Manager:

It seems that Tejada will not be traded but then again making trades and giving up players that would interest the Orioles could or would be a bad idea. I, GM Jerry, would have to make one final pitch for Tejada, offering Zambrano, if Balt. balks then move on, taking the cards off the table and continue other routes.

Try to get Jose Vidro from Washington for some prospects, therefore they can let Soriano play second, or see if Washington would consider trading Soriano.

Starting pitching needs a couple of insurance policy starters, try to work a deal out with the White Sox for one of their 6 starters, maybe including Patterson and a few low minor leaguers, between Patterson and Anderson the White Sox would be OK in center.

Kevin Mench is still an option for a platoon role in left or rightfields with Texas including one of their surplus of infielders to play 2B for the Cubs, while the Cubs send Texas T.Walker and a PTBNL or prospects.

First of all I would not have traded 3 prospects for Juan Pierre, I feel like that was too much. Hendry got desperate on that one. But given what has happened here's how I would fix the cubbies....

I agree offer Millwood a contract, 3 yrs 30 million should be more than enough, he could fit in quite well in the rotation until Wood is healthy, and if Wood does not come back strong you have insurance. As for the infield I would leave it alone, ARAM, Cedeno, Walker, and DLEE is a solid infield with solid backups in Perez (who can play both SS and 3B) and Hairston. The OF is the major problem and it revolves around C.Patterson. He needs to move. Murton in left is okay, and Pierre in CF is good, but Jones in right scares me. I would shop a package of Patterson and minor leaguers to get Manny. I know that it may not be possible, but I would think that the RedSox would enjoy 3-4 prospects for the headache of Manny. I'm a fan of trading away prospects for proven players (ala Kenny Williams). Manny would be loved in Cubs town and would be a good fit in LF. Move Murton to RF and platoon him with Jones.

I think that if they could get Millwood and somehow snatch Manny, they would be a tough team in the NL Central.

I would also trade ryan theriot,corey patterson, and ptbnl. For Julio Lugo, then I would move cedeno to 2nd to be walkers backup.and if cedeno gets really good, i would trade walker to a team who needs a 2b man at the

trade deadline. I would also sign kevin Millwood to a 3 year 35 million dollar contract. Millwood pitched with maddux in Atlanta and probablly woundn't mind pitching with him again.And i would bring Hill up as a fifth starter.

Zambrano

Millwood

Prior

Maddux

Hill

(and if hill doesn't work out, kerry wood could do it, but if he does, i would trade kerry wood when he is healthy)

Pierre

Lugo

Lee

Ramirez

Jones

Murton

Walker

Barret

And yeh thats it, i think.

Wade miller had a bad year adjusting to the the AL. he played his whole career in the NL central and then goes to the AL East, the toughest division in baseball.Coming back to the central division should help millers career.

Nathan I agree with you about Wade Miller. I mentioned him in my post on Wednesday. I really think the Cubs should offer him a minor league contract and see what he's got left.

I would look into signing the non-tendered pitcher Wade Miller of the Red Sox. I can't think of his name, but he was really good for the Astros a few years ago and I feel he can be again, espically if he is completely recovered from the surgery he had. He has a lot of upside and he would come relatively inexpensively. Worst case, tender him a minor league contract with an invite to spring training to see how far he has come or use him as trade bait in a package for corey patterson and todd walker to bring in someone like Soriano of the Nationals, espically since Soriano wants to play second and that is where we would want him to play ( He is fighting a move to the outfield in the Nationals orginazation). I would also seek some pitching prospects for our two PTBNL trades made so far this off season to replinish some depth that we gave up in the Juan Pierre trade. I would take a good look at Josh Fogg or Ryan Franklin who were both Non-Tendered as well.