I'm torn on this one. On one hand....Blanco does well behind the dish....but his hitting is usually awful. He was well outside his career .227 batting average this year with a robust .292 average. But seeing as that may be an exception to the norm, I'd rather have a better suited offensive catcher that can spell Geo more and we dont lose any offense...and it provides an extra weapon on the bench...I mean...cmon...if the game comes down to Henry Blanco....are we really scaring anyone??

Pudge Rodriguez would be a very intersting call....possibly Paul LoDuca....or even switch hitting Johnny Estrada....

Henry Blanco should be given the guaranteed contract for less money. He is a fantastic mentor to Soto and can still play! His bat is nowhere near the worst in the league so keep him.

One other quick thought from me today: As far as Marquis goes..... Gentlemen he is an innings eater and honestly for as many lackluster games he threw in which we lost there were comparable ganes lost with our offense giving no help. He is not the worst #5 in a rotation.

Of course if trader Jim can work it into a three team trade with us getting Jake Peavy then go for it.

GO CUBS!!

I like Joe's suggestion of Pudge Rodriguez. Now, I know he comes with his own controversy (roids, HGH), but he's still got pop in his bat, leadership, and intensity to boot. I love that idea. I am not enamored with Blanco. I realize he put up a decent line, but if Soto struggles, which he will---and did last year at times, you need someone to step in and catch several games in a row without missing a beat offensively.

I believe IROD could be had on the cheap, and I love his ability.

Barry, as for Marquis, I believe one of (in order): Guzman, Marshall, Hart, Hill, or Samardzija could step in and do just fine. None of those guys makes close to 9 million as Marquis does, so if you could get similar results, why not let the young guys have a look. $9 million would be nice to have in our back pocket to improve the rest of the team. That's the point. He's maddening on the mound. You never know if you'll get a one or two hit shutout, or if he'll be toast by the 3rd or 4th inning. Piniella bemoaned his propensity to give up the "one big inning". He'd be cruising right along, getting in and out of trouble, then BAM!!!!! 6-7 runs would be on the board. That's the point, you NEVER know what you're going to get with him.

Guzman, on the other hand, can be lights out as a starter, but struggles in relief. Why not give him a try? Marshall, is solid all around, and you know what you'll get with him---good control, about 3.90-4.30 ERA, etc.

The future is actually bright with our rotation with guys like Ceda, Samardzija, Rhee, Acosta, Veal, Atkins, etc., all candidates for our rotation eventually. Who else will step up? Our problem seems to be position players, and that should be our focus this offseason, and we cannot really promote from within other than Hoffpauir and perhaps Kroeger.

If we do not improve the offense, it will be a VERY loooooooooooooooooooong year in 2009.

Do you guys think that Pudge Rodgriguez would be willing to take on a mentor/part-time role? I doubt that...

Barry I do agree Hank White did a great job mentoring Soto. But you have to admit, Blanco is a career .227 hitter....he hit way above what he normall does this year. Soto cannot catch as many games he did this year...and to Aaron's point when he needs a break--or god forbid goes down with a slight or serious injury-- we need someone solid to step in for a few days and we don't miss a beat offensively. It's also nice to have a nice bat on the bench to go to as a PH as well. The more I think about it the more I love the idea of IROD....and hell let's sign KROD as the closer too while we're at it!! While we're at it maybe we can get AROD too! Hey we can dream...it is hot stove season right??

This could be JH going cheap. Re-signing Blanco for say $1.4 mil in a $130 mil budget situation is a cheap shot at Hank White. It's a scary, Halloween omen, and it's working on me.

I fear JH knows that he is stuck with a budget that does not even cover the $24 mil or so of increases built into current contracts and nominal raises. Which would mean that JH expects to lose Wood--and Dempster too.

I'm trying not to be down here, but Hill may turn out to be our backup catcher at a cost of about $500K. Demp and Wood cost $5.5 and $4.2 last season, and their costs in 2009 probably would exceed $13 and $8 Mil, respectively. If they go, the Cubs save $9.7 mil; if they stay they take $21 mil of JH's payroll.

It is unfortunate but true that Sori (3), Lilly (5), Dome (5.5) and Marquis (3.5) have built-in increases totalling $17 mil. It's these budget concerns (if JH can't move payroll way above $135 mil from about $120 mil or trade a big contract for low-cost futures) that has me focussed on guys like Seth Smith, Sean Rodriquez and Hoffpauir who have some ability to step up with opportunity. The $15 mil between $120 and $135 and the $10 mil saved on Howry, Eyre, and Ward + would give only $25 mil to work with.

We may be keeping our fingers crossed that Hill, Hart and Guzman are ready--along with Samardzjia and Cotts. We could, in fact, find some impressive performers here.

I wouldnt put too much concern here.....I am sure ol Sam Zell wants to keep the Cubs in top shape so that he can get top dollar once the sale goes through. He's struggling enough with the economy and the sale...he won't shoot himself in the foot by making the team crappier....

The Nats have sent Chad Cordero outright to AAA. He missed most of last year after labrum surgery in his right shoulder, but he and his doc say he should be ready to pitch by spring training. The guy will be 27 in March, and I wonder why a guy who led the league in saves three or four years ago and had 37 saves in 2007 would be sent outright to AAA? Does he have character issues? He made $6 mil last season.

Ivan Rodriquez (37) made $13 mil in 2008 and hit .219 in 96 AB's for the Yanks (.276 with 7 HR's overall in 398 AB's). I've liked the guy forever, but I can't see him taking $2-3 mil and sitting on the bench. Someone may give him $5-6 mil, but I don't think it will be us.

You could be right, Joe S, but a Cubs buyer could see a reduced payroll a plus since revenues will still be high and there's more cash flow available for debt servicing. If I were Zell, I would try to sell my stake in the Trib and keep the Cubs. LOL

Need to have a left-hand hitting back-up catcher----the best time to give Soto a break is vs. a top RHP, therefore the need for a LHH back-up----if Blanco returns, then he starts vs LHP, and Gio murders them yets sits and gets rest on some of those days