The three winters leading up to this off-season saw the Cubs spend money on free agents like never before. They signed players to a lot of big contracts, back-loaded them all and hoped they would win the illusive title before it all caught up to them.
As the saying is defined, "You can put off paying your debts only so long. Eventually you'll have to pay the piper. You can't get away with that forever. You'll have to pay the piper someday."
So while Jim Hendry attempts to figure out how to move money and make changes to a team with a lot of holes (and no room in the payroll), here is the latest from the mill and Ryan Dempster on ESPN 1000.
Chatting with Bruce Levine
Mr. Talkin' Baseball conducted his weekly chat on ESPN Chicago on Tuesday afternoon ... here are the highlights:
- Levine still thinks once the Cubs trade Milton Bradley for Pat Burrell, Jim Hendry will send Burrell to the Mets for Luis Castillo. Levine said, "The Mets are dying for some RBI production, and Burrell would fit nicely into LF for them."
- Levine does not see any way Bradley is back with the Cubs in 2010 ... and it will cost them half of the $12.5 million owed to Bradley in 2011.
- If the Mets sign Jason Bay it would not handcuff the Cubs according to Levine. Burrell would "have to sit for a while" and "worst-case scenario, Burrell is the Cubs starting RF, which would be scary defensively."
- The Cubs have "had their eye" on Matt Capps for the last three years. Right now the Cubs do not have enough money to sign Matt Capps.
- The Rangers still like Bradley according to Levine.
- Geovany Soto is "working extremely hard in Puerto Rico." Soto is one of the keys to 2010 and the Cubs have sent trainers and other baseball people down to monitor him.
- The Cubs are not trying to trade any other players and Levine does not see "much flexibility in the trade market for Hendry."
- The Cubs have spoken to Scott Podsednik's agent.
- Milton Bradley's contract "has nothing to do with Hendry's ability to spend money."
- Ryan Theriot is the Cubs' leadoff hitter right now.
- Carlos Zambrano is working out in Chicago and reportedly has lost 15 pounds this winter. Levine thinks he's committed "to make up for an embarrassing season in 2009."
- Ryan Theriot and Carlos Marmol will each receive $3 million in their first year of arbitration.
- Jim Hendry will need next year's payroll to be increased in order to add Marlon Byrd.
Aroldis Chapman
The Cubs were one of 15 teams to watch Aroldis Chapman throw a bullpen session in Houston on Tuesday. The former Cuban national team pitcher topped out at 96 mph on Tuesday. The Red Sox are the only team that has reportedly offered the southpaw a contract ($15.5 million).
The Tribune reported the Cubs "are considered long shots at best" to sign Chapman ... it is expected to be another Yankees-Red Sox bidding war.
Marlon Byrd
According to a report from Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs "increased their pursuit of free-agent outfielder Marlon Byrd" on Tuesday in the wake of Mike Cameron agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with the Red Sox.
The Cubs wanted Cameron but if they sign Byrd they would reunite him with Rudy Jaramillo.
Byrd is the Cubs top available option to fill their hole in center according to the Tribune.
Bruce Miles reported that the Cubs like Byrd "but they haven't moved significantly down the road with him (or any outfielder) yet."
The Cubs have had conversations with Byrd's agents ... but nothing is imminent according to the Tribune.
Coco Crisp
According to a report from the Tribune, Coco Crisp "has emerged as a possibility now that the White Sox have acquired Juan Pierre." Crisp is not high on the Cubs list but might move up if Marlon Byrd signs with another team.
Ryan Dempster on ESPN 1000
The always-entertaining Ryan Dempster joined Waddle and Silvy on Tuesday. Dempster discussed his daughter, his upcoming fundraiser, 2009 and of course Milton Bradley.
Dempster said his daughter is doing well. April was the hardest time for him and his wife. Dempster found out about his daughter's illness three days after she was born while in a hotel in Houston (right around Opening Day). Dempster indicated things are looking up but there is a long way to go.
Ryan Dempster is hosting a fundraiser benefiting the Ryan and Jenny Dempster Foundation to help children with DiGeorge Syndrome (the disease his daughter has) on Thursday, December 17 at D'Agostino's. For more information on the event, click on this link to MyWrigleyville.com.
The conversation then turned back to baseball and the 2009 season. Dempster said the Cubs did not play the way they are capable. When they lost Aramis Ramirez in May they did not find a way to get past it. He mentioned the fact every team goes through injuries and pointed out that injuries are no excuse. He explained that everyone began to press at that point and were not able to get out of the hole in August.
Dempster said they must return to playing the way they are capable in 2010 ... and it is up to the individuals to prepare better on a daily basis and play better as a team.
Ryan Dempster said it is hard to judge someone when you are not on their journey ... in reference to Milton Bradley. Bradley came to Chicago with a lot of expectations including the high expectations he put on himself. Dempster explained he got off to a rough start ... and he is sure if Milton looks back he wishes he could have done things differently.
Dempster said Milton Bradley is a "really, really good guy" despite what the public perception is. Dempster said there were certain things he handled poorly and pointed out the fact Bradley is a better person and teammate than that.
Dempster feels Bradley could help the Cubs in 2010 and he is positive Bradley will be out to prove he was not himself in 2009 ... that he is more like the player in Texas in 2008.
Bradley back in the Cubs' clubhouse would be uncomfortable at first according to Dempster. He said they could put him in a dunk tank and let everyone take a few shots ... of course, Dempster was joking.
Dempster explained that he is a very, very forgiving person. He knows how great it is to play and win in Chicago.
"If he's back on this team, which I expect him to be, I want him to enjoy that and experience what it is like to play and win at Wrigley."
Ryan Dempster said he would like Milton to be able to go out there (at Wrigley) and have fun.
Dempster is focused on getting ready for the season. He is not paying attention to all of the Hot Stove rumors and moves. Dempster indicated that is Jim Hendry's department. Hendry will do a good job filling the Cubs' needs but the team needs to play better and "bounce back" next season.
Click here for the Podcast of the Waddle and Silvy Show from 12/15/09
ESPN Chicago's Top Ten Cubs of the Decade
ESPN Chicago released their top 10 list of the best players on the North Side over the last decade
- 10. Mark DeRosa
- 9. Mark Prior
- 8. Ryan Theriot
- 7. Moises Alou
- 6. Sammy Sosa
- 5. Ryan Dempster
- 4. Kerry Wood
- 3. Derrek Lee
- 2. Carlos Zambrano
- 1. Aramis Ramirez
For those that have not voted ... The CCO has a poll of which player the Faithful thinks was the best from 2000 - 2009 on the right side of the site.
Follow the CCO on Twitter ...
If you don't have an account on the CCO ... sign-up for one to share your thoughts and interact with the rest of the Faithful.
Well, that's the latest ... and I am sticking to it!
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A) How could any non-objective Cub fan not vote for Sammy Sosa on the CCO poll? I recall four excellent seasons from 2000-2004 out of the slugger. I just hope that steroids and his exit didn't play any part in those opinions.
B) I keep saying it. There is no good to be had of trading Milton at this point. We make our team much worse by replacing him and lose much to money in this market.
If Demp and the guys welcome him back the fans will learn to get over it, especially if he comes close to his 2008 ways.
Furthermore, a hot start by the 2010 Cubs will all but allow Milton to fly under the radar and hopefully build up value for a possible midseason trade.
Again, I say keep him.
Matt,
I agree 100% on Sosa. I voted him #1.
I agree 100% on Bradley. JHendry made his bed, now all Cubs' fans must lie in it. We only further sabatage ourselves by dealing him for more trash, albeit more socially adjusted trash.
CF looks like a platoon of Fuld and Johnson, when Johnson sobers up and realizes he ain't worth $3 million.
And for all of those who want the kids to play, there ain't no kids on the farm that can play ML baseball right now, if you are talking position players.
"Face it: we're sunk, and you know it, and now we'll have to pay through the nose."
Neil, Bruce Levin must be on drugs. When I see how he keeps swearing up and down that Burrell is coming here, and then to the Mets for Bradley, and the trade is going to happen in the next two days, yada, yada, yada . . . he's nuts. I'm beginning to question whether his reporting is worth reporting. "Consider the Eugene-type-source."
To expound on what you're saying Rip:
This should be a lesson to baseball fans and GMs. You don't just make decisions and get out of them with ease whenever you like.
You COMMITED to a 3-year deal with the man which means that you expected him to play successfully here for those three. Why would anyone else want to make that same silly commitment that you should have never made in the first place.
The lesson:
Don't make commitments or offer contracts that you know you can't get out of when you surely know that they will go awry (Soriano and Milton).
Matt that is why this team needs to just sit. Do not mortgage the farm, do not over pay for aging veterans.
I have been railing on Hendry and I feel deservedly so, but I think I have overlooked an aspect of this 2010 team... the players we do have.
Get together in Maui after the convention, pat each other on the back and say "Hey, for the first time in a few years we aren't the favorites anymore, our hearts are being questioned, we are called aging, they say wait til 2011. It is time to suck it up, play like men, and prepare for the fight of our baseball lives. Look around you, this is what we got. Get cranky, get ready, and let's all have the best years of our lives because this is the last hurrah..."
And yes Milton is at that meeting. And yes we as fans need to deal with it. This team is better with Bradley in the OF and in the lineup, compared to the options that have been bandied about. With the sole exception of a CCO contributor that mentioned Bradley for Kerry Wood.
I said it last year and I will say it again, Cubs Win, Bradley hits, and shuts his mouth and we as fans will learn to forgive him. If he does that in the post season we will embrace him. (Come on Chicago you embraced Rodman).
I do not see the post season as an expectation in 2010, but I cannot comment on the pride of professional baseball players when they are being called out. Personally I think we are going to see a real motivated team, a team with a chip on it's shoulder, and a team ready to at least go down with their Guns a blazing. They may not have the horses, and that is a direct indictment of Big Jim, but they have professional pride, and maybe even a little bit of a win in spite of Hendry spirit. (Eww pictures of the movie "Major League" penant race eww eww eww uglier than Aaron's projected lineup)
Here Here!
Nice pep talk!
That's what the CCO needed to hear.
Cloycub...thought I was reading
"Knute Rockne, All-American" for a second....Maybe we can invoke the Ghost
of Ronald Reagan, (former Cubs announcer
in some small midwestern town...to use his considerable charm to urge the baseball gods for kindness this year.
On another note...I wonder why the Cubs never utilized another inspirational character from the area..."Rudy" of Notre Dame fame to either speak in a players meeting or sing the seventh inning stretch....But if he sings...beware, his musical voice resembles mine...(a little) in that it sounds like 10,000 geese farts blowing in the wind.
As far as the post season goes...one can
never accurately predict such things.
What if EVERYTHING goes right??? And because we made no major acquisitions in the offseason...a couple of good trades/pickups occur midseason to boost us???
See...there's always reason for optimism...even if our lineup looks like
YUCK...to begin with.
I'm going to credit Aaron with that term.
...and start an advertising campaign around it...Come see HOW the CUBS
HAS BEENS in 2010. The lineup of Yuck.
I wonder if in the near future teams will start having a sports psychologist on their daily training staff? Last year we had Kahil Greene and Joey Votto go on the DL for mental related issues. Greinke had issues in the past. It sounds to me like Bradley and Miles could have been aided by this last year.
Maybe the Cubs should try it with Milton, since it would be cheaper than the millions it will cost them to trade him. They pay for an interpreter for Fuku.
Very good thought. Hopefully JH is reading. Our best option seems to be to keep Bradley.
I was watching MLBTV last night and they were speculating that the Red Sox acquired Cameron in order to possibly include Ellsbury in a trade for AGon of the Padres. I remember reading during the winter meeting that Hendry had discussions with the Padres and everyone thought it was about Heath Bell. Which really didn't make sense since they have said Marmol is the closer. Maybe, just maybe it was about getting involved this type of deal by sending some prosepects to the Padres for Ellsbury since they really are rebuilding.
I really hope Hendry is waiting in the weeds for this type of deal rather than being hung out to dry as some speculate that Ricketts is doing to him.
That would be nice, but highly unlikely. Ellsbury is a cheap rebuilding piece for the Pads. If Hoyer wants him as part of an AGon package, it would to keep as a Padre.
I think JH has no flexibility this offseason and the most significant acquisition we make is a Marlon Byrd type.
Personally, reading that Soto and Zambrano are working out like fiends, is the most encouraging news of the offseason. If those two come to camp in shape, it should have a bigger impact on the team than any trade or signing could accomplish.
Gary...I agree that the most hopeful news is that both Z and Soto are working hard to get back to form...that being said...it is despicable that we can't count on them to work hard as mlb players
to be the best they can.
That would be great if it is true. I hope Z is exercising his attitude also to get that in shape.
The Red Sox need a third baseman and would love Ramirez so how about Aramas and Milton for Jacoby, JD Drew and a couple prospects. Then we give Dero a two year chance at third until Vitters comes up. We save money get rid of a great player who is lazy and can't stay healthy and don't have to eat bradleys contract.
Dude. You want to trade the ONLY consistent true producer and clutch threat on the team for JD freekin Drew and Ellsbury? Because Aramis is lazy(?!) And JD Drew is soo reliable and, O, NOT overpaid?
Or wait, it's so you can root for DeRosa during his decline.
Please.
The biggest problem with Zambrano is his lack of focus. His complete lack of focus, from game to game, hitter to hitter, and pitch to pitch sometimes. And most importantly for the course of an entire season. That is really my only bone with Big Z, but it is a big bone.
I am thrilled he working out and losing weight and all that. But this is the report every winter: he wants to make up for something from the previous season, he is going to win the Cy Young, etc. His intentions are obviously good, he is certainly a competitor and has a great fire. I just don't have any reason to believe that this season Z will be any different than any other - disappointing. When is the last time Z put together 5 solid months in a row?
Agreed, jc3-6-3...he loses emotional controll all too often...but wouldn't it be something to see him finally puit together the type of season his stuff is capable of?
If he could just get over his emotional deficiencies...he could have rivsled Fergie J.
OK. Maybe Zambrano needs to get in shape and pay a visit to Stevie Eyre's doctor, to help him reach his full potential.
Thing is that the only way for the Cubs to suprise everyone on the upside in 2010 is for Z to pitch to his upside and not make a downside of himself.
I keep wondering when I'll see some movement. For a team with some pretty significant holes: starter (if you think Lilly will be back on the Cubs schedule--early April, you must've been living under a rock during the Prior and Wood era), 2B, CF, RF, bench, and even a pen arm.
2B-Uggla, Felipe Lopez, Kelly Johnson, Hudson, and Juan Uribe (Lopez, Johnson, Hudson, Uribe are FA, while Uggla is on the block)
CF-Upton, Ankiel, Byrd, Crisp, Brian Anderson, Jeremy Reed, Podsednik, and Baldelli (all but Upton are FA)
RF-Church, Cust, Gomes, Kearns, Dye
bench-Amezaga, Khalil Greene, Chad Tracy, Hinske, Mike Jacobs, and Blalock
pen-Capps, MacDougal, McClung, Beimel, and Jeff Weaver
starter-Pedro, Randy Johnson, Brett Myers, Noah Lowry, Wang, and Sheets
Those are just the big names I'd at least consider. I'll give you my A, B, C options for each position:
2B-Uggla, Lopez, Hudson
CF-Upton, Ankiel, Anderson (don't laugh...the guy just didn't get a fair shake with the White Sox...plus, he's still only 28 next yr)
RF-Gomes, Church, Dye
bench-Blalock, Greene, Tracy
pen-Capps, Beimel, McClung
starter-Myers, Sheets, Wang
Folks, I'm pretty positive those options won't cost us a lot (aside from prospects in the Upton and Uggla trades). We have useful chips like: Marshall, Theriot, Fontenot, and even Soto to trade at the MLB level, and we have guys like Jay Jackson, Carpenter, etc. to trade at the minor league level. About the only guys I wouldn't trade would be the Peoria guys from last year (including Vitters that went to Daytona), plus maybe Cashner.
A lineup with Uggla at 2B, Greene or Castro at SS (in that case, you'd sign Juan Uribe as insurance for the bench), (Upton is a long-shot, so I'll leave him out), Ankiel in CF, Gomes in RF, and Blalock off the bench would be next to impossible to stop.
Just think about this lineup:
Castro-SS (30+SB potential)
Uggla-2B (30 hr, 90 RBI avg)
Lee-1B (20+hr, 85+RBI avg)
ARAM-3B (25+hr, 100+RBI avg)
Ankiel-CF (proven 20+hr, 70+RBI threat)
Soriano-LF (20+hr, 70+RBI avg with us)
Gomes-RF (20+hr, 50+RBI avg)
Soto-C (proven 20+hr, 80+RBI threat)
*in Ankiel, Soto, and Castro, you just don't know what you're going to get, but at least they've exhibited those stats at the MLB level--in the case of Ankiel and Soto, and you have Uggla and Gomes to make up for their inconsistencies, then Blalock on the bench to hedge against injury to ARAM or Lee, and the bench would be: K Hill, Brian Anderson, Khalil Greene or Juan Uribe, Blalock, and Fukudome
What do you guys think of that? Guys like Gomes, Uribe and Greene, and Anderson could probably be had on the cheap (ie-$2-4 million each) while Ankiel and Blalock would probably fetch $4-7 million/yr. You'd get rid of Theriot's $3 million estimated arbitration, plus any additional monies in arbitration to Fontenot, Baker, and Marshall. We already have roughly $8-10 million right now to fill holes by my estimation, so we'd have an additional $5-6 million on top of that.
Gomes-$3 million
Uribe/Greene-$2.5 million
Anderson-$800k
Ankiel-$5 million
Blalock-$5 million
=approx $16 million (plus, if you backload deals, say for 2 yrs, or give incentive-laden deals, then it makes it even more affordable)
*of course, this is ignoring pitching, but we might be fine in-house with pitching anyhow.
**I also left out Uggla's contract, but he'll probably make about $7-8 million in arbitration, so we'd have to gain flexibility somewhere, and that might be trading Gorzelanny and trying our damndest to find a taker for Fukudome as well, even if we eat half of his contract or more---as it'd still be worth it.
I realize all of this is just being pulled out of thin air by me, but at face value, you can see that it's quite plausible. Almost all the guys I just listed would probably sign for 1 yr deals or 1 yr with a player option, because they were either injured for part of last year, coming off a bad year (after showing some consistency prior), or because the market is so saturated with players right now, they very well might just take the first deal handed to them, as they saw what happened to a lot of veterans last year that were shut out of the game after waiting too long to get a better deal.
It doesn't appear that Hendry's patience is really paying off, but I might be wrong on it later on (and hope I am). Consider the fact that teams like the Braves, Phillies, Jays, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers (because of divorce proceedings), Padres (out of money), Rays (out of money), Rangers (selling, out of money), Brewers (out of money), Twins (perpetually out of money), Pirates (no budget, no fans=no money), Reds (said to be dealing veterans b/c they can't afford them), Astros (McLane claims they can't make any moves), D'Backs (added salary of Edwin Jackson, and already said to have considered non-tendering Webb b/c of money), White Sox (due to added salary from trades=no money) and now word that Bay might sign with the Mets, and they'll be without money, and you can see all the teams that have either made a lot of moves to better their teams and might be done dealing already, or don't have money to begin with.
Basically, this leaves us, the Giants, Marlins, Angels, Cardinals, Indians (though, we briefly saw them in the news hurting for cash, wanting to dump all their veterans, so you might take them off this list...I included, because I only saw one article about them), Nationals, Orioles, Rockies, Royals, and Tigers (though they're also like the Indians, where we saw articles regarding them dumping veteran contracts...but with their trade of Jackson and Granderson, they might've freed up some money). So, really instead of 29 other teams we're bidding against, it's really just 10 teams (maybe 8) that we'll be bidding against with some money to spend, and of those 8, you look at their needs, and you can begin to see what market there really is for certain players. This was one of the reasons Hudson lasted so long, and signed for so little last offseason...same for Abreu. Their agents severely over-estimated the market for them, and I don't think agents will be giving the same advice this year, and they'll tell them to sign for one year, and prove themselves for a bigger payday (unless you're Holliday or Bay).
A few thoughts...
* Spot on in regards to much needed upgrades for 2B, CF, RF, bench.
* For 2B,I would prefer Hudson over Uggla but would be vey happy with either.
* For CF, Upton by far but he is not a FA and hendry would probably offer them Marmol and our top prospects. As far as FA I would go after Coco Crisp then Rich Ankiel.
* For RF, Austin Kearnes or Johnny Gomes.
* As for the bench, I would love Hank Blalock but I think he will be a starter somewhere. Jack Cust is worth a shot and Jose Uribe should have been with the team last year after Derosa was traded.
why dont we move soriano back to second base and screw keep bradley sign byrd and then we can have byrd koskue and bradley in the outfield
As I mentioned early in the off season...it's better to keep Bradley. He is likely to bounce back from last year..especially now having Jaramillo as the hitting coach. But, unfortunately if we keep Bradley that would mean Fukudome out in CF. We'd have to get a RH platoon player forsure. Though I'd much rather have Sam Fuld in CF with a RH platoon player.
Really, the biggest key is Jaramillo and the effect he has on the players who slumped last year. Think about it guys...everyone is all upset over our lineup and what we need but it may not be as bad as people think.
What if Geo reverts back to his rookie year hitting stats?
Hopefully Ramirez stays healthy and we have his bat all year.
What if Soriano stays reasonably healthy and has a more productive year?
What if Baker plays 2B and hits like he did during his time with the Cubs last year?
What if Bradley bounces back?
Sure, its a lot of what if's but so would any new signing we put in there. Nothing is guaranteed. But certainly the chance exists that several of the players do in fact bounce back and that will certainly make for a nice improvement on production.
Let's not forget this is the first spring we do not have to listen to the debate of where Soriano should hit. He's out of the leadoff spot and down in the order where he belongs.
Sure, no other moves leaves us without a true leadoff hitter....but that's not the end of the world if we are scoring runs like we did in 2008.
coetsee says I am thrilled he working out and losing weight and all that. But this is the report every winter: he wants to make up for something from the previous season, he is going to win the Cy Young, etc. His intentions are obviously good, he is certainly a competitor and has a great fire. I just don't have any reason to believe that this season Z will be any different than any other - disappointing. When is the last time Z put together 5 solid months in a row
part time
coetsee says his should be a lesson to baseball fans and GMs. You don't just make decisions and get out of them with ease whenever you like.
You COMMITED to a 3-year deal with the man which means that you expected him to play successfully here for those three. Why would anyone else want to make that same silly commitment that you should have never made in the first place.
part time
I remember reading during the winter meeting that Hendry had discussions with the Padres and everyone thought it was about Heath Bell. Which really didn't make sense since they have said Marmol is the closer. Maybe, just maybe it was about getting involved this type of deal by sending some prosepects to the Padres for Ellsbury since they really are rebuilding.
I really hope Hendry is waiting in the weeds for this type of deal rather than being hung out to dry as some speculate that Ricketts is doing to him.
part time