With the Christmas holiday in the rearview mirror, will Jim Hendry finish the year on a positive note? The rumor mill remained slow on Saturday with the exceptions of Bruce Levine and Jonathan Hood on ESPN 1000 ... and XM Radio.
The Cubs rumored interest in Johnny Damon garnered another mention from the mainstream media. Saturday afternoon Lee Hamilton (XM Radio) listed the Cubs along with the Rays as possible destinations for "Johnny Rocket".
Here's the latest from the mill ...
Talkin' Baseball
Bruce Levine and Jonathan Hood discussed both sides of town on Saturday morning. As for the Cubs, the always-informative Bruce Levine had a few tidbits worth passing along.
Levine discussed the Matt Capps signing to begin the show. Levine is not sure if the Cubs offered Capps a contract. He knows the two sides discussed parameters of a contract but he thinks that is far as the Cubs got with Capps.
According to Levine the Cubs discussed a two-year deal with Capps. Apparently the Cubs wanted to ink him to a two-year contract in order to backload it.
Jim Hendry has between $6 and $8 million to spend on fielding a team in 2010 ... and they would like to add three players. Any deal for Capps had to be payroll friendly for the upcoming season.
Levine mentioned Capps had a two-year deal from the Nationals on the table but turned it down for the one-year contract. Capps believes in himself and his ability to bounce back in 2010.
Centerfield
The Cubs priority (Levine said first and foremost) is adding a centerfielder at this point. He still believes Marlon Byrd will be in center in 2010 (and beyond) for the Cubs. Byrd signing with the Cubs does create another problem according to Levine. Where would they bat him? Fifth? Seventh?
As Levine pointed out, what Byrd could be asking for is a lot to commit to a 32-year old (turns 33 on August 30) that a team appears to be unsure of where he is going to hit in the lineup.
Levine sees the comfort zone that Byrd has with Rudy Jaramillo as a positive.
Scott Podsednik doesn't field well, doesn't run the bases well but would provide the Cubs a better leadoff hitter than Ryan Theriot.
The Cubs have spoken to Kansas City about David DeJesus. DeJesus hits from the left side and put up a .281/.347/.434/.781 line in 144 games (558 at bats) for the Royals last season with 51 walks and 87 strikeouts. The Cubs have "asked" Kansas City about DeJesus in the past.
David DeJesus' Page from Baseball Reference
David DeJesus' 2009 Splits:
- Vs. RHP - .277/.354/.478/.832 with 22 doubles, 7 triples and 12 home runs in 143 games (358 at bats)
- Vs. LHP - .290/.335/.355/.690 with 6 doubles, 2 triples and a home run in 94 games (200 at bats)
- Home - .302/.368/.449/.817 with 16 doubles, 7 triples and 4 home runs in 74 games (285 at bats)
- Road - .260/.326/.418/.743 with 12 doubles, 2 triples and 9 home runs in 70 games (273 at bats)
DeJesus played only three games in center for the Royals last season after 68 in 2008 ... and 156 in 2007.
DeJesus hit leadoff in 96 games in 2009 (24 second, 12 third).
Carlos Zambrano
Levine and Hood discussed the Carlos Zambrano rumors that surfaced before Christmas. Levine spoke with Carlos Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, and he told Levine that Zambrano is not interested in being traded. Levine mentioned Praver told him that Carlos could change his mind next week ... but for now, he is not interested in going to another organization.
Levine thinks Big Z has a lot to prove in 2010. Zambrano is working out with a personal trainer in Chicago this winter,
Ben Sheets
Bruce Levine confirmed once again on Saturday morning that the Cubs "are talking" with Ben Sheets.
XM Radio mentioned Sheets' salary demands for the upcoming season of being near the $11 million mark. Sheets appears to be asking for between $8 and $12 million (hat tip to Suzy and David for pointing out Saturday that they have read reports Sheets is looking to make $12 million in 2010).
The Cubs are apparently interested. How much they are willing to spend on the health risk that is Ben Sheets ... now that's the question.
Kiko Calero
Kiko Calero is the "type of guy the Cubs have extreme interest in" according to Bruce Levine
Jim Hendry appears determined to add a veteran reliever to the backend of his pen.
Jose Contreras
The Cubs have talked to Jose Contreras' agent according to Bruce Levine. The two sides have discussed Jose Contreras filling the fifth spot in the rotation to start the year ... then moving into the bullpen as a long reliever once Ted Lilly returns.
Isn't that the role Carlos Silva is supposed to fill?
Speaking of Carlos Silva ... Tracy Ringolsby of FoxSports liked the Carlos Silva-Milton Bradley swap for the Cubs. Ringolsby thinks the money the Cubs received in return ($9 million) from the Mariners made the exchange of bad arm-for-bad contract a win for the Cubs.
Bad Contracts
Again to carry over a theme ... speaking of bad contracts. The Cubs have two of the worst in baseball ... and were responsible for a third one.
Alfonso Soriano has the second worst contract in all of baseball according to Sports Illustrated.
In their list of the top 10 worst contracts in the game, Soriano is second behind Vernon Wells. Carlos Silva is fourth and Milton Bradley is tenth.
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Well, that's the latest ... and I am sticking to it!
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Well,
Good day to all. I believe the following lineup being our opening day lineup.
Theriot (ss)
Fukodome (rf)
Lee (1b)
Rameriez (3b)
Byrd (cf)
Soriano (lf)
Soto (c)
Baker (2b)
Zambrano (p)
This is it!!! No surprise to it. Plain and simple. We will add Calero to the bullpen and that will be it. No big signings at all.
Neil -
I don't have an Insider account but I see a Rumors headline suggesting Jacob Ellsbury to the Cubs. Any idea who would be going to Boston in this deal? Also, what would it take to get Pie back from the Orioles? I would prefer either of those to Marlon Byrd.
The "rumor" source on ESPN is Phil Rogers ... on both Perez and Ellsbury.
I will mention later but take with a grain of salt. Rogers is probably thinking out loud again.
I was thinking the same thing, Neil. Ellsbury is probably the biggest trading chip the Red Sox have. I would think they would try to use him in an Adrian Gonzalez deal or something of the like. What do the Cubs have that the Red Sox would possibly want? Our top prospects? The BoSox need a bat and the Cubs best bat, by far, is Aramis Ramirez. I can't IMAGINE the Cubs are thinking about trading him, but then again, we have JH as our GM, so who knows.
I wish he would specify his source of his so called rumors too. You would think if you worked for a major newspaper you might feel the need to report rumors that contained some substance, rather than stuff he dreams up. Was he just looking through rosters and came across Perez or is he a legit target? What's "file this name away" suppose to mean?
Nothing Phil Roger's says ever comes true, he's the mlb's premier liar and fantasist. Ellsbury is still highly regarded by the Red Sox and I cannot see that happening at all.
There's one in there about Fernando Perez too (from Tampa). His minor league numbers are interesting.
Byrd in CF? The guy is 245lbs. Look around at the average weight of a center fielder and I gurantee you it's not anywhere near that number. I don't want to see some huge slug lumbering around CF for 2-3 years. What is Hendry smoking?
Don't let this guy near signing another outfielder to a multi-year contract-->EVER!
Hendry is the reason why we have no $ left to make any moves with his ridiculous overcommitment & overspending for guys like Soriano & Fukodome.
We need a CENTER FIELDER, not another DH type. We already have Soriano, Ramirez & Hoffpauir as our DH's who have to play the field. Fox was another DH type until we traded him. Derek Lee probably isn't too far behind either.
The Damon rumors don't make sense with the Cubs reported financial constraints, so this kind of reeks of a Boras made up leak to make it appear there is competition for his services.
Dejesus seems like a nice solid player that could fill in nicely with the team. Still would be lacking the speed they need. KC needs OF's so I don't know what they would be wanting back. Wouldn't Ryan Church be quite similar without giving up prospects? I see no need for Contreras unless they are going to make a play for the young Cuban.
I'm also souring on the Byrd thing, why not go with a speedy defensive minded CF? The Cubs should have plenty of power in the lineup, so speed at the top would be a good compliment.
In my opinion, the Cubs should try to get Pie back and and put him in center and lead him off. Most importantly, keep him in the line up everday, except against lefties. Also don't try to change his style! He was successful in the minors so let him be himself and use the tools that the scouts originally saw in him. Let him run and steal as much as he can.
It's hard to imagine Phil Rodgers keeping his job at the Trib...He is the equivalent of Larry Himes...another poor Tribune hire.
That being said, it kind of got my thinking cap going re Boston/Cubs as trade partners.
Boston indeed is close to the Luxury Cap
and I'm sure they do not want to exceed
it.
Holliday and Bay are still out there...
and reportedly the Red Sox have interest,
but little payroll room to play with.
If Boston does make a serious play...
my guess is they would try to trade
Cameron.
I'm not an advocate of this...Boston paid him too much...
Just thinking out loud.
On another note...
ARAM has an opt out on his contract after this season...and DLee's current contract expires after 2010.
Even if the rumor is Hendry wants to extend DLee....It's not out of the realm of possiblity that both DLee and Aram
are gone by the July trading deadline
if we do not start well.
Again...not advocating..just thinking out loud.
Suzy, FYI the Red Sox cannot trade Mike Cameron until June 16th without his permission. Teams cannot sign free agents and trade them that quickly.
As for Aramis. He has a full no-trade clause. I don't see the Cubs moving either player. Lee is a favorite of the Ricketts family as you know ... other than Hoffpauir, the Cubs have no one in the system ready to step in for Ramirez and Lee.
Josh Vitters is at least two years away and I would not be surprised to see him playing significant time at first base in 2010.
Neil, I didn't know that re Cameron/FA's.
Then how does sign and trade work?
I agree it seems unlikely that either Lee
or Aram will be traded...However, If we do go south this season...I feel anything is possible re trading/reloading
with the exception of moving Soriano/
Fukodome/Silva.
I also strongly agree about Vitters...it
did seem like the Cubs have decided he might be better at first.
His lack of discipline at the plate scares me...in terms of reaching his true potential.
In the fall, one of the scouts at the AFL
said Vitters "hasn't seen a pitch he doesn't like...yet."
It was a small sample to judge from...but still a concern.
With the player's permission. Buster Olney discussed the possibility of Cameron being dealt in his blog this morning ... Olney has June 15 as his date, so around June 15 or June 16.
Olney said if the Red Sox were to trade Cameron, with his permission, they would have to 'eat' money on the two-year contract he signed.
Cameron was excited about his signing with the Red Sox. He is kinda a regular on XM and talked to them after his press conference.
He said that he hadn't played left in a long time but he would do whatever they wanted him to.
If I were Cameron, I'd be really excited too...going from Milwaukee to a perennial
contender...in a baseball nuts town.
Hope he likes lobsta. :)
Its all about incremental benefit, and I think adding most of the centerfielders discussed is an absolute waste of money. Why pay millions per year for a CF to hit .250, hit 15-20 HR and play average defense when we already have Sam Fuld that can hit. 250, can play great defense and is a smart baserunner with some speed, and we only have to pay him $500k.
On another Cubs blog we have been discussing Fernando Perez. Now assuming that Soriano and Soto rebound too me the Cubs should add speed (only 56 SBs last year). The Cubs add Perez and then OHUD adds speed and OBP to the top of the order and sets the table for Lee and ARAM. I would also add Kiko Calero. Should not cost much and adds an effective arm for the 8th. In the event the Cubs add Sheets or Contreras then Silva is done as a Cub. Cubs likely to spin for prospects along with carrying some of his contract to free up money.
The most effective lineup in my opinion is this:
Perez
OHUD
Lee
ARAM
Soriano
Fukudome
Soto
Theriot
The Cubs proved last year they cannot run the bases or get on base and this team would have a much better OBP and be more effective runners and should not cost too much not to mention the improved defense up the middle with OHUD and Perez.
As mentioned, don't read too much into the Perez rumor based on the source (Phil Rogers).
I like getting another X cardinal to play center field (on the cheap for one year deal with a promoxe not to offer arbitration). Rick A. thats right the 30 year od who has a lot to prove after last year. He's Hungry and we have a half dozen outfields in the Minnors on there way so we only need a one year deal. This would be a 1-2 millon deal or forget it. Now we have Money for either Hutson or Jose V for a one year deal with the same free agent promise. If were lucky we will get all three. Highly unlikly I think. As far as a Veteran Pitcher is concern if we can not get Jose V (from Houston/D backs forget it.
We have a lot of young arms to chose from and swope back and forth until we find one. Lou can have his cake and eat it too. remeber Lou had a lot to say about all this players Hendry brought in. He should get some of the blain.
Neil -
I'm not advocating either but couldn't Baker play 3B if Ramirez was traded?
What were the Red Sox offering for Gonzalez?
Baker could play third. But trading the best player on your team would not be a good way for the Ricketts era to begin.
I have heard/read so many names. Gammons came out recently and said the Red Sox and Padres have not discussed players ... so who knows.
The names I hear the most are Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Bard and Clay Buchholz to start.
In addition to the players Neil mentioned, the following Red Sox prospects are also be possibilites I've read mentioned with regards to an AGon deal:
Kelly - now that he has decided to focus on pitching, he will enter 2010 as one of the top pitching prospects in the low-mid level minor league systems
Anderson - power 1B prospect who is close to major league ready
Westmoreland - Red Sox top offensive prospect and one of the top OF prospects in the game
Kalish - very good OF prospect
Reddick - another very good OF prospect
Pimental - very good relief prospect
Bowden - future back end of the rotation starter
I'd also think Iglesias and Tazawa would be of interest to San Diego but I haven't read their names in any rumors yet.
I wish the Cubs had a system like that.
Ricketts would be wise to pick the brains of their scouting director...
and allocate more $$ to the farm system/
scouting...similar to Toronto.
SuzyS,
Well said! The key to contending in the current MLB environment is to develop young talent. Veteran free agents are too expensive to build a team around. The successful teams build within their system and then fill in the gaps through free agency and trades.
I think the Cubs are approaching a crossroads in the direction of the team beyond this year. This make it imperative that the Cubs spend wisely to have more funds available for next year as it remains to be seen how much the Ricketts family can spend for the upcomings years.
As noted by SusyS, besides ARAM and Lee, Lilly and Fukudome contracts will also be up. I cannot see how the Cubs can keep all of them. No matter what I think Fukudome is done. Tyler Colvin in my opinion will be the Cubs right fielder in 2011.
As for ARAM, Lee and Lilly that is a tough decision. Both Lee and Lilly arent getting any younger and will likely command comparable salaries or possibly a little more for a one to three year deal. That will probably be 10-15 mil each but possibly more. Of the three I see the Cubs paying ARAM for his services as he still has a few more productive years and will only be 32 in 2010.
This also brings into question about Lilly as to how much money the Cubs will be willing to spend to bring back a quality number 3 starter.
These guys have been the core of the team for the last few years and without them the Cubs will have been no were but the Cubs will definitely have to weigh current and future options in order to be competitive for the next few years.
The jury in my opinion is still out on the farm system as many do not give good rankiings to the depth of the Cubs system. In addition there are only a handful of players that many consider potential big leaguers and we have seen the Cubs track record over the years in developing everyday players. There is none.
Hopefully Colvin, Castro, Vitters, Berg, Cashner and others will provide the Cubs some alternatives and that the Cubs can attract some affordable and productive free agents in the future instead of creating some of the worst contracts and signing unproductive players in baseball.
Diehardcubfan...I completely agree with the gist of your post.
However, Fukodome's contract runs for 2 more seasons at $ 13 mill. per.
So we will see him in 2011 unless the Cubs are willing to eat a substantial
portion of his contract....
And as we just saw with Milton...they don't want to eat contracts.
We have Soriano for five more years
at 18 mill per season. It will be interesting to see how they handle that
as he gets older and declines.
With Ted Lilly, his future will depend on how he pitches once he returns.
Before his surgery, extending Lilly's contract was discussed.
You are right on labeling Lilly as a number three ... but Lilly has been the Cubs' most consistent pitcher since the break in 2008.
With Aramis, he has an opt out clause on a contract that runs though 2012.
Aramis will earn $14.6 million in 2011 and $16 million in 2012. 2012 is a club option with a $2 million buyout and his no-trade clause ends after the 2010 season.
If Ramirez is traded in the final two years of his contract a $1 million assignment bonus kicks in.
Ramirez can void the 2012 season but if he does the $2 million buyout on the club option is removed.
You're probably right - a Ramirez trade would send many of the faithful to the Ricketts home with torches and pitchforks.
That said, I don't think anyone on this team should be considered untouchable - especially anyone making $16M a year.
If the BoSox were offering Bucholz, Ellsbury and Bard for Ramirez (and I don't know that they would), I'd have to strongly consider taking the deal. The Cubs need young MLB-ready talent and the farm system isnt providing it quickly enough.
SusyS I think Soriano has already seen his better days. In my opinion he has had too many leg issues and refuses to change his approach at the plate along with his swing. My only hope is that with Jaramillo that maybe he can turn Soriano around. Soriano has way too long a swing and swings too heavy a bat at this time in his career. He will definitely need to make adjustments if in order to be productive. Rumors from last year said he scoffed at making any changes and we see that he only struggled though we probably could attribute some of that to his bad knees. Too me keeping ARAM healthy and Soriano productive are the two most important issues for the Cubs in 2010.
SusyS thanks for correcting me on Fukodome's contract. I forgot to verify my facts and was basing on 2010 as his last year from another posting I had read. I still think that since Fukudome will be on his last year in 2011 that Tyler Colvin could still be the starting right fielder unless the Cubs do not decide to trade or sign for someone to play center in 2010 unless Fuld becomes the Cubs version of Ellsbury and Raja Davis.
The Cubs do proably need to decide on Colvins future soon since this is likely to be his last full year in the minors. I would hate to see him sit the bench or be optioned back in 2011. I think that would hurt his development. This is one guy that fits many of the Cubs future needs and is only likely to get better.
Neil thanks also for setting me straight. I meant to say in my earlier post that ARAM could opt out of his contract but right now I do not think he will do it but again you never know. Maybe the Cubs will be open to renegotiating it but again they may not.
I don't know about the reliability of the Johnny Damon rumors, but this is a player that I have seen as a fit for the Cubs since i first looked at the free agent list. He's a reliable fielder, hits the ball well, and has pretty good pop in his bat. His large homerun total from last year is elevated by the new Yankee Stadium boost, but Wrigley Field should help him out as well. Not to mention that he hits from the left side and is a proven veteran leader that has never been any trouble to any team he has been a part of. I know that the salary numbers don't match up, and i'm just dreaming here to forget the nightmare that is Marlon Byrd, but I would like to see Damon in centerfield.
Next offseason is going to be big free agent year. The Cubs need no more long term deals. Anybody else that signs this offseason has to be a one year deal maybe plus an option.
With some big money contracts coming off the books at the end of next year, we could be in prime position to go after the likes of Joe Mauer.
If Soto has a good year, increasing his trade value we could go trade for the positions we don't have in prospects coming up through the system. (i.e. 1B/3B depending on where the Cubs decide to play Vitters, CF - Brett Jackson if he turns out to be a major leaguer is what three four years away?)
I am with Suzy, if we are not within 3 games at the break, trade Derrek Lee to Anaheim or Boston, trade Lilly to a contender, and talk to Aramis, if he is going to opt out - get everything you can from him now. Zambrano will see everyone is leaving, he will change his mind on his no-trade clause.
Those 4 players should net the Cubs between 10 to 20 top prospects from the league. That's either equipping the pipeline for success - or have a couple pieces to go after an Adrian Gonzalez, etc and still improve the system
Woody so say at the allstar break next year the cards are 60 and 27, and were 57 and 30 would you really want to just trade are 6 of are best players. We would have to send cash with all these guys just to get any good prospects. It would set the cubs back 5 years just to be able to make a run at the playoffs. If we trade all these guys nobody will be going to games. You have to make money to bring players in.
This team is not that bad and Im sorry tired of reading it on this website. Im not a ra ra fan and a Jim Hendry hater ,but there are more negative people on here then there are postive. Here is some big proof why I think the cubs can turn it around. From what the Cubs were faced this season its amazing that they had as good of a season as they did. I copied this off of cubs.com.
What a bizarre year. Lou Piniella was issued a warning for jaywalking, Ryan Dempster broke a toe jumping the dugout fence at Wrigley Field and Milton Bradley forgot how many outs were in an inning.
The Cubs had high hopes for 2009 after a 97-win campaign in '08 and a relatively large turnover. The new faces included Bradley, Aaron Miles, Kevin Gregg, Aaron Heilman and Joey Gathright. As 2009 comes to a close, they're all gone.
The one thing no one anticipated was the rash of injuries. The Cubs were able to use their Opening Day lineup just three times in '09.
Fifteen players went on the disabled list 18 times, adding up to 584 games missed. And when that list includes Aramis Ramirez (50 games), Carlos Zambrano (31 games), Miles (53), Reed Johnson (64), Alfonso Soriano (29), Geovany Soto (26) and Ted Lilly (24), it's hard to keep up in the division.
Piniella credits the players for rallying to finish second, the Cubs' third straight winning season. The franchise hadn't done that since 1967-71
Brandon if we seem like we have a firm grasp on the wild card spot that's a different story. That's in the playoffs. And basically I am talking about the guys that will walk at the end of the year and we will get nothing in return for, with the exception of Zambrano. Lilly and Lee are free agents, and Ramirez can opt out at the end of the year. Those are three big players that will bring us back considerable talent.
Since, we are losing those three, doesn't it make sense to get what we can to rebuild while Zambrano has value?? Even if it costs us a little money to get return on Lee, Lilly, and Ramirez - that money will be freed up for next offseason to go after the likes of Joe Mauer, Josh Beckett, Cliff Lee, etc. But at the same we are creating an influx of youth into the team by getting top prospects from other organizations to build the team around a Joe Mauer. If the Twins can do that for year in an year out, why can't the Cubs? This is what Mr. Ricketts said was his plan as new owner.
Do we want a guy like Carlos Zambrano in the dugout when Ryne Sandberg takes over? I see some personality clashes there.
Also, I don't remember who posted it awhile back, but they mentioned that Sandberg should be manager with Maddux as the pitching coach. This will never happen with their past. Isn't Sandberg the reason that Maddux was never retained?
I read that too, and Sandberg is the reason why Maddux didn't come back. If we did sign Maddux back then I think that the cubs would be a different team.
We would have won at least one. They would not be in the win now mode, and we would be building teams not buying them. Could you imagine the 98 or the 03 team with Maddux how different the result would have been.
Sandberg is my favorite cub of all time ,but I would rather have Joe. What he did with the Marlins shows me that he can win with nothing, and what he did with the Yankees just shows he can win with money.
Mauer will never leave the twins he's a home town boy, and they will pay him what ever it takes to keep him. Beckett will stay with the sox's, and Lee will be signed by the Yankees or the Angels.
The bullpen is fine as is. Address the CF/lead off position by a trade and solve it for many years to come or go young in CF and bank the money - Why lock up some old washed up CF to a 2-3 year deal and take us out of the free agent pool again next year. What's your 5 year plan - what do the 2014 Cubs look like?
Thoughts at the end of the day:
Where did you guys read that Sandberg was the reason Maddux left?...and what were the circumstances???
It would be serendipity if Mauer ended up with the Cubs...since the Twins took
Mauer in lieu of Prior that year for affordability issues. ( Prior was ranked
as the #1 talent and the Twins had the first pick)
But I agree with Brandon...it won't happen. Mauer's either with the Twins
or a huge money guy with either Boston
Mets/Anaheim. (NY has Montero).
Brandon, We are now an older veteran team....Older teams get more injuries.
DLee with his neck/ARAM with his shoulder
& Groin/leg issues...Soriano w leg/knee
/air swinging issues are all prime candidates...ongoing... for the DL.
While the team is "not that bad" as you put it...It also has significant holes,
Notably...
Top of Rotation...Compare ours with
Boston/NY/Phillie/SF/St.Louis etc...and one has to be concerned.
CF...We havn't had one in years.
2nd base...ditto
Team speed???
Lead-Off???
I love Fuld...but with his diabetes he
will always be a platoon player at best...and has the "Aaron Rowand" propensity for crashing into walls.
Diehardcubfan, I share your concern re
Soriano. I hope he can be produtive again. But I really think he has already
begun his decline big time.
Woody34, A sell-off of those guys is possible but improbable...Depending
on the scenario...and I really do not want to see that day...but it might be coming.
Cubskim...agreed re no washed up contract cloggers.
But you ask the best question of the day...What will the Cubs look like in 2014?
In 2014, (the last year of Soriano's contract)....But the rest of it is a lot of fun with a long fantasy post:
Clown Kenney is with John McDonough
and the Blackhawks...where he likes to hang around the lockerroom....has a horrible accident ala Bill Mueller
while trying to show the guys he can skate.
Jim Hendry retires and goes back to Omaha. He hangs around the Creighton program and finally becomes a scout...
ala Jerry Krause.
Ricketts lures Theo Epstein from Boston
with the mandate to win 5 World Series
in a row...He serves as President.
Since some of the loan is paid down...
and profit streams up...Payroll is expanded to just under the salary cap.
Andre Dawson is GM
Brenley's his assistant
Sandberg Manager
Maddux is pitching coach
Rudy is still the hitting coach
Mark Grace and Rick Sutcliff share the
announcers booth.
Sammy Sosa is the locker room attendent
(in charge of drug testing)
Yep, "Beisball's been very,very good to me."
The Rotation starts off with Strasberg and Josh Johnson battling for Ace duties.
Cashner's closing.
The rest is for another post...this one is too long.
GO CUBS.