Aaron, Funny...While reading about the arb numbers today, I started thinking about a Theriot trade.

To be honest...He only has ok to subpar defense. I actually considered his defense last year to be a drag on the team.

On the other hand, He IS a definite

sparkplug on this team, a hard nosed

player, great personality (a walking

talking, and PLAYING Ernie Banks type of personality.

If you could merge Blanco's defense into Theriot...you'd have a franchise player.

He's a walking, talking advertisement for the Cubs...just eminently likeable.

So JH would have to be extremely careful in a Theriot trade...make sure he got value in return...Because Theriot's value is greater than his statistics

at this particular point in time.

In honesty, when I saw 8 players up for arbitration...I wondered how many would be dealt...and expected Fontenot and

Hoffpauir to be the first.

So far, nada on the deal front.

Here's my problem...we need to get better. The team needs to transition

out of the current core group...just

to remain competitive (due to age).

I just don't trust JH to do the right thing.

Re Baldelli...I also loved him as a player at a different time...My heart goes out to him...he was a huge talent

that will NEVER be realized.

I think Tony Conigliaro whenever I hear his name. (Conigliaro was a late 60's/early 70's player for the Red Sox...

probably on the way to a HOF career when he got beaned in the face. )

After a year or so of rehab from a fractured skull/eye socket/blurred vision

etc. Conigliaro returned against all odds and played several years. But he never displayed the great talent that once was...ever again.

He would have been as good as Yaztremski.

So...sadly...no to Rocco.

re; Dickie Thon

well...now comes word the Cubs have eyes for Baldelli.

I just don't think that 62 games played last season is an upgrade for us, and I hope Hendry stays away from him. I'll admit that I loved the guy in the past, and just thought he needed to stay healthy, but he has a serious disease situation, and is brittle, and quite obviously, health overall, will be a HUGE issue for next year. Thus, as mentioned, Baldelli would be a poor choice.

I've also heard rumblings the Cubs might look to trade Fontenot, Theriot, and Hoffpauir prior to the start of the season. Theriot might come as a shocker to you...so might Fontenot, but all 3 players I mentioned will be 30 next season, and there's a very good chance that players like Barney, Castro, and Snyder might begin the season with us. My only source is a friend in MLB, and he wouldn't tell me anything more than that.

I think the Theriot trade is a big stretch. I just don't think you could trade your projected leadoff hitter like that, unless someone else emerges BIG time in Spring Training. Supposedly, Barney has a tremendous arm, and I believe you mentioned something about him being an under-the-radar sort of player, didn't you Neil?

Personally,I would say that if you could save an estimated $4 million with Fontenot and Theriot combined, I'd say you absolutely do it, and sign Felipe Lopez for that amount.

I'd be fine with trading Theriot at that point for one year of Lopez (or more if necessary), and just go with younger players, and hope they pan out. I would think you could get at least a top prospect for Theriot, and a relief pitcher for Fontenot. Why wouldn't you make a trade like that? Lopez would give you a lefty bat in the lineup. So, check this out:

Last year, Lopez batted leadoff in 140 games with a .315 avg, .388 OBP, 38 doubles, 3 triples, 9 hr, and 55 RBI.

Lopez-2B

Barney/Castro-SS

Lee-1B

ARAM-3B

Snyder-RF

Soriano-LF

Byrd-CF

Soto-C

bench: Hill, Barney/Castro, Fukudome, LaHair, Baker

Now, that's a lineup I could be proud of. Yes, Lopez will be 30 as well, and he has been with several teams, but he's a switch hitter, and we need more balance to our lineup.

As I've said in the past, I firmly believe that this team needs to start offloading some of the 30-something players, and start mixing in the 20-something players. It's how the Yankees brought along the likes of Posada, Jeter, Cano, Cabrera, etc. Now is the perfect time to start doing this. Snyder deserves a chance to battle Fukudome for the starting spot. Castro and Barney deserve a chance to unseat Theriot from his starting spot. Samardzija/Jackson/Cashner/Diamond all deserve a shot at unseating Silva not only from the 5th starter spot, but bump him altogether from the 25 man roster.

Additionally, I've read others say that we should pursue Mulder AND Sheets, and to that, I say...if both come cheaply, then why the hell not?!? What do we have to lose?

Assuming Mulder comes full strength in May or June, and Sheets is ready at the start, your rotation midseason would look like this:

Z

Lilly

Dempster

Sheets

Mulder

Wells (as sixth starter...yeah, it's a stretch, but you'd just go one less in the pen, and that'd be fine with me, because you're ensuring that your rotation is well rested AND you're protecting yourself against a sophomore slump from Wells)

Unfortunately, as we all know, Hendry does NOT think this way. He does NOT think logically, and he'd much rather dish out $1-4 million per year for a mediocre veteran like a Miles, Gathright, Gregg, or Bako.

Honestly, I think you have to look at it from this perspective...What internal options do you have at each position, and are you better off with them?

Theriot vs Castro/Barney/Blanco: slight advantage to Theriot based on experience

Fukudome vs Snyder: advantage Snyder

ARAM vs ....: advantage ARAM

Lee vs ....: advantage Lee

Byrd vs Colvin/Fuld/Adduci: advantage Byrd

Soriano vs ....: advantage Soriano (even though he's not worth his contract)

Baker vs Fontenot/Castro/Barney/Thomas: advantage others (because Baker is better suited as a back-up...so is Fontenot)

Soto vs W. Castillo/Robinson/Clevenger/Chirinos: based on last year, I'd say Castillo, but given his new conditioning, I'd say that Soto has an edge

bench:

Hill vs Chirinos/Castillo/Robinson/Clevenger: advantage Castillo or Chirinos. While Hill supposedly handles pitchers well, so does Castillo and Chirinos, and they're better hitters to boot

Hoffpauir vs LaHair: advantage LaHair, based on prior stats, and younger and more versatile

Blanco vs Castro/Barney: advantage Castro or Barney. Let's face it, Blanco is switch hitter with excellent defense, but Barney and Castro are also great defensively, and offer good range, PLUS better offense than Blanco

Fuld vs Colvin/Adduci/Camp: advantage Fuld...but it's slim over Camp, as Camp has more speed and versatility

Fontenot vs Barney/Castro/Thomas/etc.: advantage others.

Hill, Fontenot, Hoffpauir, and Fukudome are all 30+, and could easily be replaced by 20-somethings altogether on the roster and/or starting lineup, and not even miss a beat.

I hope Hendry does the right thing

me too Aaron, I hope JH does the right thing. I don't see how Theriot is moved since Piniella adores him and to be honest he is like a mini leader,franchise,home grown, public relation player in the Cubs organization. I think he needs to go to second base to start the year and a good SS needs to be acquired or needs to step up.

But yeah, by all means, trade Hoff,Fontenot, Hill and Fuku can be a good bench player. I would also like to give Matt Spencer and Snyder a shot. Lets see

"Sheets was impressive during his workout today. Good velocity...I will be surprised if the Cubs sign him"

They don't make it easy to be a fan do they, Neil?

Hah! I suppose the yang to that yin would be: Player X who is coming off a career year is looking to sign one big final contract. So far, only the Cubs are interested"

Mike Fontenot a millionaire?

Yep, Fontenot got paid.

Fontenot will probably get taxed 38% by the Gov. Plus another 10% from his agent, so his net will be a maximum of about $520,00

Fontenot still makes more than the president of the USA

Still not a bad gig if you can get it.

neil what about soto hoff wells and fuld?

Hoff, Wells and Fuld are not arbitration eligible and I don't think Soto is yet either.

it says their last contract year was 09 are they arb eligible or did they sign 4 2010

Matt, Soto, Hoffpauir, Fuld and Wells have less than 3 years of MLB service time. Those players are considered automatic renewals or 0-3 men. There contracts were already picked up for around league minimum.

Here's a link from Cot's Contracts that explains the difference.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2003/01/transactions-glossary.html

oh ok i see cause i checked cots contracts and it didnt show they were signed for 2010 it just says 2009 last contract year i was wonderin about those guys how much they were paid in 2010

Isn't it the Sheets throwing exhibition today? And tweeters on this? I'm curios...if it goes well I wonder how quick he'll have a contract.

Jc 3-5-3...mlbrumors .com is reporting that a scout watching Sheets throw...said he threw really well...and

"east".

The Cubs were listed as one of three teams as the frontrunner for his services...the Rangers and someone else...as well.

If we sign Sheets...my guess is Ricketts would have to get involved.

I'm not banking on it...but the rumor persists/

XM is reporting Sheets was impressive during his workout today.

Good velocity ...

I will be surprised if the Cubs sign him ... just passing on info that was asked for.

I am even liking it more that mlbtraderumors from information reported by FoxSports has also indicated the Cubs are keeping an eye on Mark Mulder and that he is still available.

If the Cubs sign Sheets they could then look at Mulder and if things look ok health wise he would then have time to buidup arm strength and the Cubs could activate him off the DL say around mid season if he was cleared by doctors.

I think he could make a great addition and is worth the risk because if healthy he could easily make a difference and if the Cubs had a rotation like this it would be the best in the NL and arguably the best in MLB:

Sheets

Big Z

Dempster

Lilly

Wells

Mulder

OUCH!!!!!!

Diehard...some of this is just "due diligence".

Muldar deserves nothing more than a ninor league rehab contract...It's been uyeqars since Muldar was Muldar.

If you sign ALL these hospital guys...

what happens if Diamond or Cashner gets hot?

btw...Mark Prior is hoping for a job this season too.

Sheets is a good gamble...but he still only threw at 90mph today...OK for January...with no competition for a year.

But not worth an 8 million gamble.

syzys...you just said the f word. It is forbidden to mention that name here ever again.

You shall post 100 time before midnight the following words for forgiveness....

I shall never ever mention that damn name again, Im sorry. Love to the CCO, Suzy :)

Augustin...you want me to mention Mark Prior 100 times before midnight...

OK...I'm throwing the towel in ...and out...and all around...100 times.

Sheets workout IS today. Regardless where he goes...it is interesting.

I imagine the scouting reports have to get back to teams...Then his agent has to field offers.

Considering his asking price...and injury history...I'd think it would take a week or 2...I'd be really surprised

if he didn't end up with an incentive laden deal/

I have an unrelated question to this link...and I don't know if anyone knows.

In my mind...when a pitcher has Tommy John surgery...it's usually not until the second year after surgery that they really get everything back.

Does anyone know the true recovery time for a position player?

Nady had Tommy John surgery last July.

What would be realistic expectationhs for him...in terms of recovery?

I know the Drs. have cleared him for spring training...are there any other position players we could reference?