According to a report from Bruce Levine, the Cubs and hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo "have begun discussions on a contract that would possibly make him the highest paid coach in Major League Baseball." Levine's sources indicated the Rangers' former hitting coach "may get upwards of $750,000 or more in a multi-year deal" either with the Cubs or another Major League Club. The Astros, Mets. Giants and Indians are believed to be interested in hiring Rudy Jaramillo.
Jon Heyman, from SI.com, reported on Monday afternoon that Jaramillo is "likely to join the Cubs and expected to be the highest paid coach at $800,000 per year."
Bruce Levine reported that Jaramillo could make a decision within a week.
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Can Jaramillo coach Mr Hendry on what a hitter is before he signs him. Its really hard for anyone to work with the slugs he has been signing. Nice move to add him as a coach but there is bigger issues in the front office that needs addressing
Suzy:
Sleep well tonight.
LAA 5
NYY 4 Final
Thanks Jim...I will...but wouldn't it be better for YOUR marital bliss if the Yankees took it?
Well, I could pretend to be all caring.
Great finishes to both games tonight ...
Well....I--like Derrek Lee--am not bog on hitting coaches....but....as long as we need to have one--why not sign the best one available??
It's just a shame Milton Bradley had such a personal meltdown....perhaps Jaramillo could have done well with him next year.
Also...noted something that has me EXCITED about next year...the young talented 19 year old shortstop Starlin Castro. The Cubs minor league brass is very high on him...talks about how great he is....how he is a can't miss and has all the tools. Right....now let me take my tongue out of my cheek.....seems to me I've read this a time or two before....namely with Felix Pie...and before that Corey Patterson. I'll believe the hype when I see it. But I'm not holding my breath.
I'm excited about Castro too. Though I got to thinking this morning, our minor league system is so bad that we are excited about a guy that hit in the .280's with 0 homers in abotu 110 AA at-bats. Castro isn't among the top 50 prospects in baseball and likely isn't even in the top 100. It really shows how poor our drafting/signing and development program is. Even our bets, Josh Vitters, wouldn't crack the Top 25. It would be nice to be excited about a Jason Heyward, Justin Smoak, or Madison Bumgarner type talent ... not a Starlin Castro.
On Castro, what's the deal with his defense ?
So I have read he's questionable at SS, and that's why he has moved over to 2B in AFL.
So they have given up on him already as a SS at age 19 ? Jeez.
Or are they just playing him at 2B in AFL becuase that's where he fits best on that particular team ?
Joe S, I totally understand your skepticism, but you know the old saying about blind squirrels, right ? :-)
We have to get lucky at some point with a prospect, don't we ? (I hope)
On Castro, the Mesa Solar Sox as you know is not just a team of Cubs' prospects. Other teams have players they want to play ... he was back at short today.
Here is a snipit from a comment I left last week on Castro and his defense ...
"I have heard/read really good things about him and I am hoping he gets a big league invite to Spring Training.
Baseball America said the following about his defense prior to the 2009 season:
"He has plus range, steady hands and a solid arm with good accuracy. He displays fine instincts at the plate and in the field."
I been thinking about a possibility lately and what would happen if Mr Ricketts steps in and says Jim, you and Lou have one year. Here is a blank check, do whatever is needed to bring Chicago a World Series in 2010. Then I am bringing in a fresh new start after that. Taking into account players that could be free agents and trade options,what could our lineup possibilites be if this were the case?
Following rumor boards across the board this is what I have come up with:
CF Granderson
SS Ramirez (recent rumors has the Red Sox going after him, why not us)
C Mauer
LF Manny Ramirez
1B Lee
3B Ramirez
RF Vladimir Guerrero
2B Baker/Castro
Pitcher
Bench:
C Hill
INF Carroll
OF Reed Johnson
OF Mark Kotsay
INF Blalock
Rotation:
1 Brandon Webb
2 Ben Sheets
3 Jake Peavy
4 Ted Lilly
5 Ryan Dempster
Pen
CL Marmol
SU Wagner
SU Guzman
MR Caridad
MR Grabow
Free agents that could be had for the right price in that list are Wagner, Sheets, Webb, Blalock, Carroll, Manny, and Vlad. The top three in the lineup would cost us alot of money in picking up salaries of Soriano and Bradley going the other way.
Getting Mauer who is a free agent at end of next year would be a trade centered on Soto and some other top prospects going the other way.
Hanley would cost the most. Will cost at minimum Vitters plus 4 others. Granderson will probably be the cheapest in terms of prospects granted we take on Bradley's contract up to the point the Tigers pay him league minimum.
This lineup would be in the 250 million range, but for one year of glory - would it be worth it for over 100 years of disparity???
If you look at it, we would not be in too bad of shape for the coming years also. Yes it would deplete the system, however you sign the likes of Webb, Mauer, and Hanley longterm. You have a core for at least four or five years and you build from the ground up during that time frame. Aramis and company should net us some top prospects to start the rebuilding cycle that we would need to infuse young talent to play alongside Mauer and Hanley.
Any thoughts???
There are plenty of other options to replace some of these guys (i.e. Holliday, Bay, Lackey, Figgins) I chose these specific players soley on the fact they could be had for a one year contract and have the egos that they would love to end the World Series drought in Chicago, especially Manny after winning in Boston and bringing LA back to the playoff world. I know he and Vlad are not the same players. The biggest concern I believe would be the injury risks, especially in the rotation with Peavy and Webb coming off bad injuries as well as Sheets. Whomever is not sent out in trades would be used extensively whether it be Wells, Gorzelanny etc.
PS. It had been so quiet on the board was just trying to get something going, I would love to hear Aaron's response - I am sure I would hear about Adam Dunn.
This should wake some sleeping giants.
Before I get specific about players, I point out that $$ does not equal success in baseball. Didn't the Cubs just prove that the last 3 years? Not to mention all the importance given to a cohesive clubhouse since the Bradley debacle and you think a bunch of Super Stars centered around Manny - of all the idiot cheating slacker egos - and coached by Lou would be winning unit?
I'd love Mauer everyday. Who wouldn't. And Hanely, for Vitters and 4 Cubs prospects - puh-leeze! If it were that easy and cheap I think it would have been done. I realize this a fantasy post, so I won't get to critical, but I wonder why you left Pujols out. You'd rather have DLee than Albert?
And Vlad can hardly run and Manny isn't so Manny anymore - if you know what I mean.
What happens after the 1 year to win it all with a $250M payroll that you can't pay the next year?
Vlad is a one year deal along with the Manny deal. Pujols was left off the list for the simple fact that the Cards would not trade Pujols to the Cubs. I took into account 2011 free agents who could be available players via trade in the offseason. Hanley would not be that cheap, in that deal we would end up sending them either a Bradley or Soriano plus prospects plus the cash to cover the cancers salary.
This was not just a fantasy post, this could be a reality if Hendry were given Yankee money for one season.
The Twins won't be able to afford Mauer. Florida is approaching another blowup the team for prospects.
Manny and Vlad provide proven playoff studs which is what the Cubs need in order to make a run.
A handful of these players would only cost a one year deal (Manny, Vlad, Sheets, Blalock, Wagner, and Kotsay) That would be about 75 million coming off the books after the season.
Then take into account Lee, and Lilly come off the books, and you trade Dempster and Ramirez to get the team to a respectable 100 million. Plus you have a new younger core group in Mauer, Hanley, Peavy, Marmol etc. to build around for the future.
Woody...the problem with gearing for one year...is that time marches on. The 1985
Bears are no longer exciting...
interesting but no longer filling the seats at Soldier's Field...like the 27 Yankees. Boston/NY/LA (AL) are always knocking on the door of the playoffs and smetimes win it all because they are always there....That's what I'd like to see the Cubs become...always knocking on the door...until the day comes we knock
it down.
Right now...we are a long way from that.
But we can begin a new foundation to get there with Ricketts.
Suzy aren't we most of the way there already? Since Lou has been at the helm we won two straight division titles and even though this year was a bust - we were still a winning club. With what is in house right now, we have one chance to win it all. This team is so backloaded with contracts, it is going to take years to recover. I personally am sick of the other side of town saying how many World Series have the Cubs won in the last century. The Cubs are close enough with the right moves we can finally win one then worry about rebuilding or retooling. You know Lou does not want another "Tampa" situation where all he will do is wither away. Go all out for one year and Lou will go out the hero as will Mr Ricketts come in and be the saviour.
Woody, I guess you got your "Aaron post"
and indeed Dunn was mentioned...lol.
To answer your question..."Are we close"?
(like NY/Boston/LA).
My feeling is we are not close at all.
Remember, with the exception of SF at the end of last season...we could take a series from ONE winning team.
We beat up on the bottom feeders...and because of all the back-loaded contracts
we don't have the flexibility to make all the moves we need to.
At the end of last year...I thouhgt we were one solid bat away.
Now I think we need another ace pitcher...(Lackey/Holladay?)/ help at 2nd and short/an amazing CF that can cover both his AND Soriano's territory...
and the CF should have a big bat....
possibly a catcher if Soto doesn't bounce back...AND...to be a GOOD playoff team...we need a better pen.
Consider that Pittsburgh/Cincy were basically minor league teams...Houston fell apart and Milwaukee had no pitching
and we only ended up a few games over .500....next year we'll be another year older.
So no, Woody...we are not close to true
contention...just contention within one of the weakest divisions in baseball...
I don't think that's what you or any Cubs fan has in mind.
Bradley's repercussions are going to be felt for a long time...because sooner or
later the Cubs will have to try and dump Soriano's much larger contract and drag on the team...and the resources needed to dump Bradley will take a lot away from that effort.
there's almost zero chance of the Cubs adding much to the payroll next year, or the following year for that matter, for the simple reason that we have the following committed:
2010: $120 million (not including arbitration raises)
2011: $96 million (not incl. arb.)
2012: $54 million (not incl. arb.)
2013 and 2014: only Soriano's $19 million/yr remains on books
So, unless they backload every single deal, there's almost zero chance we'll sign any big name free agents and/or add more payroll through trades.
I think we'd all love to see Dunn, Granderson, Upton, EY Jr., Crawford, etc. added to this team, but aside from Upton and EY Jr., everyone else would be owed significant $$, and given Upton and EY Jr.'s low salaries currently, it'd probably take an awful lot just to land them.
The only big $$ contract that we can move, and not have to eat anything would be Lilly's $10 million remaining for this year. Soriano, Fukudome, Dempster, Z, and Lee all have no-trade clauses, and in every case, we'd probably have to eat salary anyhow just to trade them (maybe not Lee or Dempster, but certainly the other three).
But, again, it doesn't factor in arb. raises for Marmol, Guzman, Gorzelanny, Marshall, K. Hill, Theriot, Fontenot, or Baker. (Fontenot is the only one likely to be non-tendered). It's quite likely all of them totaled together would equal roughly $12 million. Therefore, our baseline payroll for next year would be $132 million. If we had 10% to our payroll of nearly $135 million this year, that'd mean that we could add $13.5 million for a total of $148.5 million, and that's assuming Ricketts would even approve that type of increase.
So, unless you get rid of Lilly's easily movable contract, thereby diminishing your rotation, there's absolutely no possible way you can add much this offseason. Adding Dunn or Granderson would essentially wash away any savings by trading Lilly. But we have bigger holes. We need a CF, RF, 2B, and 2 effective middle relief/set-up types. If you look at the going rate of those positions, it'd stand to reason you could expect the following annual salaries:
CF-$8 million/yr
RF-$10-12 million/yr
2B-$6-10 million/yr
middle relief-$2-4 million/yr
late relief-$4-10 million/yr (higher end if closer)
So, therefore, if Hendry went the free agent and/or veteran trade route, we would be adding no less than $32 million in payroll, which would bring us to $152 million (not including arbitration raises).
He could bring it down to the area I mentioned with the 10% increase if he went the prospect route with his relievers. I think between Gaub, Papelbon, Parker, Mateo, Cashner, etc., we should be able to find 2 guys to fill the empty slots in the pen.
If Hendry's smart, he will capitalize on Theriot's value right now as a decent bat at shortstop to avoid an arbitration raise, especially considering we have several candidates to fill his vacancy at SS now, (or in the next few years) in Blanco, Castro, Barney, and Hak Ju Lee. Having Baker for a full year also represents an upgrade at 2B, so we can afford to non-tender/trade Fontenot. (and we'll save about $3 million between Theriot and Fontenot). Then, if we can get out from under Bradley's deal (or, at the very least, offload about 30-50% of his contract, we'll save between $7-10 million, or about $3.5-5 million/yr for the next 2 years). So, if you're counting, that's a savings of $6.5-8 million.
Additionally, if Hendry resists the temptation to offer another old, LOOGY reliever with arm issues (Grabow) a multi-year, multi-million deal, then we'll probably have $8.5-10 million to work with.
I would think that there will be several suitable replacements in RF for next season either via trade or free agency, including:
Dunn, Abreu, Hermida, etc.
Suitable replacements at 2B include:
Uggla, Hudson, Felipe Lopez
Suitable replacements in CF include:
Ankiel, Podsednik, Marlon Byrd
For relief, the only guys I'd consider (via FA) are:
Wagner, Escobar, Pena, Beimel
*I like Escobar, because he could start occasionally, and I like Pena back in the NL. (in case you were wondering what the heck I was thinking there)
As I've mentioned ad nauseam already, here is what I think Hendry should do:
trades for: Dunn, Upton, EY Jr., Josh Fields, Mitchell Moreland, and Chris Davis
Only Dunn would be expensive right away, while all others would be either pre-arbitration, or first year arbitration. We would be getting speed, and certainly versatility with all of them (even Dunn can play LF, RF, 1B).
However, if we had to "settle" for lesser quality, the guys I previously listed would suffice, and here would be my list:
RF-Abreu
CF-Ankiel
2B-Uggla
UT-Felipe Lopez
All indications point to Uggla already having punched his ticket out of town when he questioned the desire of their team MVP (Hanley Ramirez), plus his arbitration raise will make him unaffordable for the Marlins anyhow.
Abreu will probably command $9 million/yr + incentives, and I would give him $10 million for the first year with an $8 million second year team option + incentives to entice him. Keep in mind that he's widely credited with turning the Angels' offense around this year not only with his performance on the field, but also in the dugout helping others.
Lopez can play 2B, SS, and all 3 OF positions. He's a very valuable guy to have, and we could probably get him on a DeRosa-esque 3 yr $18 million deal (or less). Ankiel would also come cheaply.
Let's also face the realization that Hoffpauir, Fuld, and Fox are not the answers to our offense. I've mentioned this before, but Hoffpauir simply lacks the bat speed to be an effective major league ball player, plus he has a long swing. Fuld is not the answer, simply because he's no more than a defensive replacement/pinch runner. He can't drive runners in, which has always been the knock on guys like Pierre, Podsednik, etc., and is why they've been on multiple teams. Fox might have a power bat, lightning quick swing, and can play multiple positions, including catcher, 1B, 3B, LF, and RF, but dude CANNOT hit a breaking pitch to save his life, even when he knows it's coming (how could he not? that's all they threw him towards the end of the season)
Sorry for the long post....I just want to offer you my 2 lineups based on the above:
#1 Goal (hope):
EY Jr.-2B
Upton-CF
Lee-1B
ARAM-3B
Dunn-RF
Soriano-LF
Soto-C
Castro-SS
*Fields, Davis, Moreland, W. Castillo, Fukudome on bench
#2 (fall back):
Lopez/Ankiel-CF (if Ankiel, Castro moves to 1, and Ankiel bats 2nd with everyone moving down)
Uggla-2B
Lee-1B
ARAM-3B
Abreu-RF
Soriano-LF
Soto-C
Castro-SS
*K Hill, Baker, Fukudome, Blanco, Ankiel/Lopez on bench
It seems like Theriot might be trade bait
based on all the castro love.
Aaron...where are you allowing for the bad contract back for Milton?
(Burrell/Sarge Jr or somesuch player?)
Last year, since the Phils jumped on Ibanez before Hendry could get out of the gate...My choice would have been Abreau....The way he has played this year
will make him hot...but at age 36...and the current Cubs roster...I don't see the Cubs doing anything more than one year with him...(because our teeth are already long). And that might not get it done....(for Abreau)
I'm willing to start the youth movement
now...(this doesn't mean turn over the whole team)...it means maybe 2 or 3 STRONG candidates per year (ie EY Jr)
being infused into the team.
Ricketts needs to change this team's culture...to be proactive...ie...much as I love DLee...instead of extending him...
and ARAM...the Cubs should be scouring the leagues...both majors and minors for their replacements...NOW.
DLee's neck is not going to get better with age...nor ARAM's shoulder/and oftentimes leg issues.
I love both guy's but like Maddux/Grace/
Dawkins...father time catches us all.
Suzy,
Sorry about that. Normally I check to make sure I didn't overlook anything, but it was such a long post (sorry).
I hope we don't have to take on much salary (either eating, or another bad salary) in a Bradley trade, but it looks like that will indeed happen, and I forgot to account for that in wording. However, it was accounted for with the payroll, so essentially this year and next year were included, which would mean that if we could offload even part of his deal, it'd save a decent amount of money.
You are ABSOLUTELY right in your take on this roster. We HAVE to get younger, and there's no question about it.
Guys like Davis, Moreland, Upton, and EY Jr. would appear to be excellent fits with this team.
Outside of Flaherty, Burke, LeMahieu, Brett Jackson (that's even debatable given sample size...along with LeMahieu as well), and possibly Castro, there aren't many position players in our system that I'm high on.
All of those guys (save for maybe Castro) are at least 2-3 years away from making our roster, because the Cubs simply don't know how to promote and utilize early 20's position players. Usually they wait until they're about 27-29 to promote them, and by that time, they're not even considered prospects (see Theriot, Fontenot, Fuld, Hoffpauir, Scales, DuBois, etc.)
Sure, they'll promote highly touted guys like Corey Patterson, Pie, Colvin, etc., even though they're not ready, and hold back the likes of Hinske, DuBois, Flaherty, Burke, etc. that are more deserving of an opportunity simply because of draft status and/or money invested in the player, which is totally backwards from the forward thinking clubs of today that promote almost always based on production. If their player bombs, then they cut their losses, and accept the fact that they're paying a former first rounder millions to still be in High A ball after 3 years. But, no, not the Cubs...they'll fast-track that player even to his detriment in the hopes of seeing a quick return on their investment. They follow the same strategy in free agency too. They'd rather overpay for an older veteran, than trade away prospects for an up-and-coming early to mid 20's player.
Do you realize that Aramis Ramirez was the only up-and-coming position player in recent Cubs history to be acquired before his late 20's?!? That, my friends, is VERY pathetic.
Aaron, lets hope that with the change of owners we'll get a change in philosophy...re aggressiveness and forward thinking.
It looks like we have to start out with
Lou and JH again...But hopefully not for long.
Unless JH pulls some miracles off this off season (And alot of them) He shpould go with Lou....So the new GM can start with a new manager.
I haven't had time to read every post on the Jaramillo subject, so I am sure this has already been mentioned. Is the general consensus here, that this signing is all about a Soriano reclamation project?
Gary, I think so.
Cubs getting close on Jaramillo ...
Will have more later. It appears 3 years and $2.4 million
http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog?post=4580815&name=levine
Thanks Neil for the updates.
Dave Kaplan just reported Jaramillo will be named the Cubs' new hitting coach on Wednesday.
Sweet!
I hope he is as good as they say.
Our hitters too Jim! It will be an important signing. We now should turn the attention to get Duncan, if we do that, we might be on to something. No sarcasm here.
PS-Surprising that this guy leaves Texas and JH buys high and makes him the highest paid coach ever. {I like him but I'm sure JH gave him a no trade clause and free tickets for all his family for ever at wrigley lol!}
Thanks, Neil.
Castro went 4-for-5 today with his fourth RBI. Castro played short ...
http://www.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=&sid=l119&t=p_pbp&pid=516770
Good news about Jaramillo....maybe he can smooth the way for some of that Texas
talent to come our way.
If anyone out tere knows how to contact JimK and check on him...please do. His last post 5 days ago said he had been battling the flu for 2 weeks...and nothing since...(Gramps, if you're reading this...let us know...we are concerned.)
Suzy, I received your email but all I can do is read my mail right now ... having issues. As soon as it is back up I will send him an email. Like you, I hope he is okay.
I also get worried when regulars are away for awhile. I hope Jim K or Mrs K lets us now that he is well.
Hi Everyone! This is my 1st post and I have been reading this site for the last 2 seasons. I have been a Cub fan all my life (43 years). I can only look to the coming ownership change as a true Cub fan on a mission to make this team into what it should be. I hope Mr. Ricketts share the same feelings as we. As for the hitting coach, I found this article this morning that sounds like it is a done deal: http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4581458
I view this as a great sign! Now I can only hope that Dave Duncan is next! Even though the word came out earlier that the whole coaching staff is returning, I just think there might be some shake ups coming. I agree with many the Mr. ricketts needs to bring in his own baseball man and have him over see Hendry if Hendry is allowed to stay in the same position. I can not believe Kenney will be around at all. But we will see! Here is hoping! Thanks for this wonderful site and hope to say hi every now and then.
U.P.North...it is hopeful news and a good start to the offseason...thanks for the link.
U.P. North ... Welcome to the CCO.
Thanks Neil!