Guys, you are right that Gagne did not work out, and there is no guarantee Wood is going to work out. However, having Marmol and Cordero at the end would make us very tough. How many times have you been watching a Cub game and said to yourself, "we better get to them before the 7th." I think adding Cordero would make us that team you hate to play against!

As for paying him $10 mil per, if we can afford to pay a bum like Marquis $7 mil per, I think we could afford Cordero. Especially if we can find a way to dump Marquis and Jones' salaries.

The last time the Cubs had a great staff was 2003-2004 when you had Wood, Prior, Z and Clement in a strong healthy state. Unfortunately 3 of the 4 couldn't stay healthy. But all four had the each-day potential to be truly dominant. Teams feared facing a 94-97mph fastball every day.

Jerry....I agree 100% with you. The great winning teams have superb starting pitching, particularly in the 1,2,3 spots (which are critical come playoff time).

Hill, atleast at the present time, is more of a 5 v. 3 starter. The team needs 1-2 more hard-throwing (no more soft toss) starters.

Yes, RF is a potential current need, as may be CF. But it was tiring watching last years starting rotation consistently give up leads, and rarely pitch with dominance. I wholly concur that the rotation should be the #1 priority. I wish we had the crystal ball on Prior's future, because he's really the wild card thru all this.

Matt and Rick, I completely agree, I think Theriot has earned it to be our starting SS next year, the only thing I would change is bat him leadoff, but that probably won't happen. Except for the late season slide he had a very good year, and when Soriano went down, he was very good leadoff hitter.

As far as the late inning pitchers go, If Wood sticks around, I think a 7th, 8th, and 9th inning of Marmol, Howry, and Wood, or however they could it is arranged, could be the best in baseball next year.

As for Crawford, go get the guy Hendry!!

I sure wished that the Cubs would concentrate on acquiring 1 or 2 more quality starting pitchers. Someone that would be a #1 or #2 and a solid end of the rotation guy. Please, if the Cubs want to win the World Series they have to have a very solid pitching staff. Look at the Red Sox staff, hell everyone of their starters from Beckett, Shilling, Dise-K, and Lester would be a ticket to the World Series if they pitched for the Cubs. Zambrano with his inconsistency would be a #2 guy, Lilly at best a #3 or even #4, and Hill is a end of the rotation hurler. Mr Hendry look a t Cub history, when was the last time the Cubs had a great staff.

Steve...you are welcome.

BD, good points on Theriot and DeRosa instead of Matsui...

Ben, quick question on Cordero. Is he worth B.J. Ryan money? I have read 4 years and $40 million.

Ben, with all due respect...where you watching the same Red Sox that I was? Gagne was a disaster in Boston, what is exactly what you mean?

Kaz Matsui is not the answer! Give Theriot another season. Can you guys please stop dreaming about Santana. It is not gonna happen! Carl Crawford would be an amazing addition and giving up Pie to get it done would be completely justifiable.

Also, am I the only one who thinks Cordero would be a much better option than Wood or Marmol. If we sign one free agent this offseason it should be Cordero. Imagine this...Wood in the 7th, Marmol in the 8th, and Cordero in the 9th! Looks a lot like Gagne in the 7th, Okajima in the 8th, and Papelbon in the 9th. Look what that did for Boston.

Hey all, longtime reader first time poster. I would love the Cubs to get Crawford and put him in RF. With an outfield of Soriano, Pie, and Crawford, the Cubs would have a very formidable offensive and defensive outfield. As for Kaz Matsui, I would rather have Theriot and DeRosa.

Mark....I would package half our team for Crawford.

Relative to our interest in Crawford from Tampa Bay, reports out of Tampa have them in a major need for a shortstop as their top priority (and they report not likely to gain that thru the FA market). They also expressed that they preferred a defensive SS v. offensive skills. Their other needs are in relief pitching and a catcher.

Package a Cedeno and Dempster for Crawford (and you can throw in Jake Fox if necessary)?

If Matsui is only seeking 3 or 4 million, then he'd be a steal. And he'd play 2nd base, so Theriot would still be able to play SS. Matsui would be a nice consolation prize as a #2 hitter if we aren't able to trade for Crawford or sign Fukudome.

I too don't know what the issue is with Theriot. Regardless of the late season tiredness (he didn't cause our meltdown in the playoffs), the guy batted .280 most of the season and stole over 20 bases. How many SS's did that? And he's one of the few on the roster that does work a pitch count. I gotta believe this is very low priority on the Pinella/Hendry radar.

In perspective, I think Kessinger had a lifetime .260 batting average, and Dunston wasn't much better. Different times I know, but we don't necessarily have to have a .300 hitting SS with this lineup.

Why all the love for Kazuo Matsui? I know I have a hard on for the Riot but how is Matsui any better than the Riot. Ryan Theriot spent the whole year batting .285-ish until he got tired at the end of the year and he becomes worthless now?

Come on CCO. I say give Theriot a half season to prove his worth like last season and he will hit .280 and make opposing pitchers work. And if he doesnt by all means give Kaz "Jap Neifi" Matsui the reigns..

but here is a realistic thing of what will probably happen this offseason.... The cubs sign Fukodome and Matsui. They also trade Jones for some prospects as well as ronny Cedeno...I hear the rays are interested in him, how about him for kazmir and crawford..jk...and they trade marquis as well for some prospects, they resign wood, Prior is insulted by the offer he gets and signs with the reds. and ruins his chance for a resurrected career cuz baker will ruin it right away again. and maybe the cubs sign carlos silva and a relief guy(if they don't trade for a relief guy)

pitching wins games...trade for santana...at 29 and the best pitcher in the league, he will be worth it. And then trade for fuentes from the rockies, he will definetly solidify our pen. Then sign fukodome and trade for crawford to solidify our outfield. then sign matsui to 2b and move derosa to ss. And if it is possible sign the japanese sp and closer. I know we would be giving up our farm system for these guys, but who cares! our farm system sucks. lets win on the 100th anniversery.

Fukudome would be a great fit in RF and the 2 hole in the line-up. He may go for as much at $10-$12 million a year for 4 or 5 years, but I hope Hendry brings him in. I don't expect that we'll add another starting pitcher with Dempster being moved to the rotation and the ridiculous prices that are going to be paid for marginal starters this offseason. As much as I like Theriot, I'd think he'd be more valuable to the team in a super-sub role (backing up at 3B, SS, 2B, LF and RF and pinch hitting and running) so I think SS would be another place we could upgrade.

I think we should stop talking about Kuroda. Sounds like he has marginal stuff, and will be greatly overpriced, given the dearth of decent free agent starting pitching this year. I'd rather spend the money on some offense, and let Marshall, etc. do a decent (and much more cost-effective) job.

However, I think we should go after Fukodome hard. Sounds like the exact kind of player we need: sound defense, good OBP, some power, left-handed. And who wouldn't want to be able to talk about a guy name Fukodome all year? Wouldn't you all listen to a rock band called Fukodome? I would.

Thanks for the knowledge Neil. Could you imagine if they would've pulled that garbage in '84? Cubs Nation would've flipped. Comiskey would've been torn to the ground before game one.