I just wish we'd move on to Spring Training....

Furcal = NO! He spurned us once. He was injured much of last year--do we not have enough injury projects on our hands? Not to mention he isn't much better than our current leadoff hitter (if at all) Alfonso Soriano. Last year, Soriano's OBP was .344 compared to Furcal's OBP in 2007 was .333(not using last year for Furcal since he only appeared in 36 games). Even for a career, Furcal is not that far ahead of Soriano. .352 to .329. Soriano provides more power, is comfortable there, and if his legs are finally healthy may be able to double his stolen base total and get closer to 40 which would be about what Furcal would bring.

Raul Ibanez = NO!! Why do we want a 37 year old outfielder, with little speed (34 stolen bases in 13 years) and only medicore power at best (average about 21 homeruns per year). As a bench player, if he was cheap. Sure. Starter? Move On.

I'd like to see Jake Peavy added or Randy Johnson signed and then as rumored trade Marquis somewhere, picking up some of his salary. If possible I'd hold Marquis until spring training to see if all our horses are healthy (Zambrano and Harden in particular, and Peavy or Johnson if they are added).

I believe Kerry Wood is going to be back with the Cubs.

Thank GOD it appears that Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu are off the radar. Juan Cruz would be a good name to see appear on the radar, even if we get Wood back. Imagine that bullpen or Cruz,Shark,Wood, Marmol and Gregg with Cotts and Marshall as the lefties.

Looking at numbers I'm not sure how Marcos Mateo has surpassed Jose Ceda....Last year at Daytona & Tennessee combined Ceda pitched 84.1 Innings, gave up 67 hits, walked 42, and struck out 95. While Mateo, with Peoria & Daytona combined pitched 103.1 innings, gave up 91 hits, walked 36 and struck out 85. It appears that Mateo had a bit more control with the walks, but certainly Ceda seems to have the stronger power arm.

Interesting with Donald Veal. I have to believe a young team (maybe even Padres) will take a chance and grab a young lefthander, whose made almost 30 starts each year after his rookie year in 2005 and has averaged about a strikeout an inning. I wonder what caused him to be left off the 40-man, with three spots open.

Joe S; great points. However,the team does need a feared hitter and a better table setter...I agree with your concerns about Furcal and I'd hate to reward a guy who is interested only in the highest bid...but what are the alternatives for the dangerous hitter and table setter? Unless its a potential difference maker why bother...Maybe the A's falter and you can get Holliday mid year. I too think Johnson and Cruz could help for the right price. Marquis is a good insurance policy and it makes no sense to dump him without the right value coming back

I TOTALLY agree with you Joe S. on Furcal and Ibanez. My buddy from LA is laughing at the fact of us trying to sign Furcal. Ibanez IS too old. We have to get Peavy or Johnson. I'm pretty sure they're trying.

And I hope these RF names are just thrown out. WHY are we looking for mediocre players like Hermida, Teahen and DeJesus? These guys hit .250 if that, and have only 12 -15 hr's Just because these guys bat left handed doesn't mean that they should play RF here. I wouldn't waste my time.

Mark, I totally agree with you on Hermida, Teahen, and DeJesus. They are "mediocre" players with little upside. I'm also surprised the Cubs are so keen on Ibanez. He's extremely poor defensively, he's old, and he's not cheap (much more suited to be a DH). If the Cubs are going to spend big money on an old guy, spend it on Bobby Abreu. He's been very consistent throughout his career (great OBP, scores a lot of runs, solid production) and his patient bat would be a great influence on the Cubs lineup(and he's lefthanded). Plus, he's at least adequate defensively. As much as I would love to have Peavy, I think our starting rotation is strong enough without him. I would much rather have Furcal or Roberts because the Cubs do need a "true" tablesetter at the top.

Some of these names make no sense for our outfield issues.

Hermida v. Fuk

J Hermida
OBP .323 SLG.406 AVG .249

Teahen
OBS .313 SLG .402 AVG .255

DeJesus
OBS .366 SLG .452 AVG.307

Ibanez
OBS.358 SLG.479 AVG .293

K Fukudome
OBP .359 SLG.379 AVG .257

Of those players, only Ibanez and DeJesus were significantly an upgrade. And it should be noted that DeJesus 2007 stats went 351 .372 .260 . Hmmm, almost exactly like Fuk in 08.

Ibanez's age scares me signicantly, regardless of his numbers last year.

I'm not saying Fuk is going to be patrolling right for years to come, but let's be realistic about how much any of these names will actually "upgrade" the team, especially when we have other needs to fill still. One last point, Fuk plays great right field defense. No, I don't advocate keeping a playing solely for defensive abilities, but it should be taken into consideration when the offensive replacement is a minimal upgrade at best.

Juan Cruz would be a great addition to the pen and likely a real solid value based on what he'll cost.

It be great to bring him in and get Kerry back on a 1 year deal.

getting Juan Cruz, Wood, and Peavy would give us one of the best, if not the best pitching in the league.

If we can't get Dunn or Abreu, I say we use our money on a solid shortstop or second base and just throw Derosa in right field.

If we got rid of Fukudome, we would have plenty of money for the pitching additions and we could still get someone like Teahan to take Derosa's super sub spot while Dero takes over in right field.

Personally, I've never liked the former Cardinal Marquis and hope that he is traded before spring training.

Even though the Cubs need a lefty like Fuentes, count me in on the "I hope the Cubs go after Juan Cruz" bandwagon. I always thought he had a nasty breaking ball. I am also in the "no to Furcal" camp. Some injuries are more reoccurring than others, but back injuries are by far, the worst.

I read something about Fukudome that was interesting. He only played 79 games before going down with season ending knee surgery. It went on to say that he wasn't in good enough shape to last a season in Japan let alone a 162 game MLB season. Typically japanese players have a much better second year in the bigs. I am calling it now, people will be in Fuk love come June again.

Again why spend money on a OK RF'er when we have an in house option in Hoffpauer. Ever since Furcal broke DLee's wrist he has been on my "can't stand" list. No thanks to much money for a guy who WILL do on the DL.

Lee Traded!!
Here's the lineup:
Roberts
Pie
Fukudome
Ramirez
Hoffpauer
Soto
Soriano
?

Beedo, Where you from? FRG?

I know I'm not a big Pinella fan, but doesn't it seem odd when a manager now gets quoted in the Tribune as saying "Lou hasn't spoken to any of the Cub players since the season came to a stunning finish seven weeks ago at Dodger Stadium", followed by "I usually leave the players alone during the winter".

Since the job he was hired to do hasn't been fulfilled, I would just think common sense would be for him and his coaching staff to go visit each member of the team early in the off-season to do a season debrief, and go over off-season conditioning requirements and parts of the game to work on. And then monitor that thru a series of follow up visits, phone calls, whatever. I know Pinella isn't unique in this "hands off" approach with today's top dollar athletes and egos, but after 100 years of waiting it's kinda time to break the mold on sports protocol (especially based on what everyone is being paid, including the manager).

Neil:

Is Hak-Ju Lee, SS the young player from Korea that the Cubs signed last summer?
I think he is known for his speed. I saw that BP had him on the top 10 cub list.