One more thing to think about with the Bargain Hunting on this FA market. Depending on what each player has accomplished in their career, could dictate what type of team they will sign for a minimum amount.

A player that has a World Series ring, might be looking for playing time, therefore, would give the deal to a team that will give them a starting job. A player who has never won, might be willing to be a back-up for a couple of positions, and a pinch hitter, for the chance to win a ring. We might have trouble signing either one of these types, as we have no starting jobs that "will" be handed out at this point and not sure if a player will feel this is a team that they can help win a World Series.

You really can't fault either of these types, as one is playing to win a championship, the other is playing because they love to play baseball.

The third type is the aging veteran that wants to get paid! These are the ones that we need to avoid, and since Hendry spent this year and next years budget already, we won't have to worry about these guys.

The fourth type will be the one that wants to play for the Cubs and have the experience they hear other players talk about. They are willing to accept that they won't be making the big bucks and won't be getting lots playing time, so lets go enjoy a summer at Wrigley on a 1 year contract.

This is the player we want to fill out the roster. Just not sure if they are out there.

Just a thought...while we're shopping for bargains...I see the players union

trying to bring a collusion case against

baseball...and they might be right...but in this case...I really believe it's a function of both the economy AND the owners natural tendencies.

Look at how much less Podsednik got than what he was looking for. All the GMs are waiting until the season approaches to sign guys for less. There's a lot of middle level quality free agents out there that GMs used to "overpay" when the economy was good, but now that ownership fears a drop in attendance, they're back to their stingy ways.

That said, the mention of Nady is one of the brighter rumors I've heard in a while. Lot of upside there. So much younger than Dye. But diehard is right, it doesn't fit into the budget the Cubs say they have available unless we "collude" along with the other GMs.

The right price is the big ? here. Nady made 6.5 mil last year, Dye made over 11 mil and Sheets is asking for 10-12 mil. Reports I have seen indicates the Cubs have 3-5 mil to spend. That means salary has to be dumped somewhere if we sign anyone that will command a larger contract or JH has got to convince prospective free agents that if they are willing to restructure contracts and sign 2-5 year deals for less to play on a contender then the Cubs can probably get one or two of the individuals.

Between Nady and Dye, Nady will probably be more realistic given that he is younger and probably will costs less and besides having played all three OF positions has some experience at 1B. That will give Lou some verstatility, especially if Soriano struggles again. The biggest question on Nady will be if he stays healthy but Nady could be a good addition at the right price.

Now if it boiled down to Nady and Ben Sheets there is not even a quesiton here. Ben Sheets, if healthy, is the best option. You can never have enough pitching and hitting is always available but quality starters are not.

The competition for players is in reverse order of the past. Agents gave out parameters to engage in contract discussions, teams said let me know if you come down from your demands of years and dollars. After talking to teams they wanted and teams that contacted them, they usually had a base of teams to get what they were looking for a contract. Now, there are more rounds of this intro, because agents and teams don't agree on the years and $$$'s. Players will get antsy near the end of the month and then especially once the calendar turns and they don't know where to book tee times. Of course the Cubs and others are interested in these names...at the right price.

I am still confused!! Given all the reports and comments about the Cubs budge issues and pending arbitration cases I find it amazing that rumors of players such as Sheets, Bell, Nady and Dye keep surfacing.

There must be more money available than we think but as names keep getting released in the press the more those guys are going to costs if there is competition for there services.

like i said before, and dont bar me from the site neil, i would love to see tejada. i dont see why he cant play second and fill in for ramy when he gets hurt(we all know it will happen but its just a matter of how long the dl stint will be). listen folks, the worrying about the rotation should all stop now. Randy Wells is confident he'll improve on 2009. I feel better already.

Bo, don't worry I have only banned two from the CCO in five years ... and they more than crossed the bounds.

I would not think of it just because I do not care for Miguel Tejada.

I would interetsed in knowing the metric The Ricketts will use to judge the team's perfortmance for 2010...

Also seeing how it has been over a 100 years since the last world title when will the fans see a more detailed plan on how this franchise is going to get back to the World Series and win it...Just because the owners are new doesn't give them a pass for continuing the incompetency and clipping coupons while the beer flows at Wrigley. So far they are either keeping the cards close to their vest or they just don't know because I haven't heard anything more than vague statements and their beleif that the minor league system needs to be stronger and the team as constructed can win.

Hey Neil, I see Ricketts will be fielding questions from the fans on Saturday.

Wfat's the question from the CCO?

I am open for suggestions ... within reason.

The session with the Ricketts is going to be like the 'Meet the Cubs Baseball Management' session. Should be very interesting.

Neil, Here's my burning question...(that has a chance of being truthfully answered):

Last year, The Cubs spending on signing draft picks was near the bottom of mlb.

How do you plan to address this?

And what if any plans do you have to

increase resources to strengthen the farm

system?

Suzy I really like that question.

Sorry, I hit enter by mistake ...

Rick Sutcliffe was on XM today. After he talked about the fact he feels Andre Dawson should go in the hall as a Cub, he talked about the hiring of Greg Maddux.

According to Sutcliffe, the Cubs are wanting Maddux to help build up their minor league pitchers like Nolan Ryan has done in Texas.

I was not able to take detailed notes, so that is all I feel comfortable passing on.

Neil, don't let us down with your golden opportunity. Ask him when he plans to get a competent GM.

lol!

Better yet...ask him if he is waiting to get sick again and connected to an EKG machine yet again to sign somebody of real impact? lol

San Diego, Toronto an Colorado ... ie Bell, Frasor, and Spilbourghs.

I agree with SuzyS ... not the players I'd like to see (at least not in exchange for the players we'd have to deal to obtain them).

Tejada, Tejada, Tejada.

***another reason to sign him would be so that he could back up Aramis when hurt or in need of his usual time ...

While there are players on each of those teams I would like...the names I've heard absolutely do not excite me.

Why not surprise us JH....pull a Kenny Williams and trade with the A's for Gio Gonzales.

Suzy,those names do not exicite me either and believe me that Gio Gonzalez would be exactly what JH could get to make you more furious at him. Gonzalez was a highly taughted prospect 3-4 years ago but really he has not been able to pull it in the big leagues and you could expect BB to flee our farm for him. His strike out to walk ratio is not bad but he gets rocked with conscistency.

I would not mind Xavier Nady or Calerito...though

Augustin...you never know...look at Aardsma...years of bouncing around and

never quite "getting it". Then he puts together a gem of a season last year.

Who out there is the next Aardsma...that's the question and beauty of baseball.

I am tending to agree with you David and I think that Ricketts will allow him to make those minor moves.

Picking up Dye or Nady would be amazing for a platoon situation as well as the all around OF depth.

Hendry's remaining moves:

Sheets/Garland

Hudson/Lopez/Tejada

Dye/Nady/Reed

Calero

A combo of 2-3 of those 4 positions would be HUGE for our depth and spelling injuries and breathers and whatnot.

I know we dont have the room for all of those but there are bound to be some real bargains like last season and there is some definite talent to be had.

Cubs will make some noise in 2010

I can't agree more! Instead of Calero I'd rather trade for Bell, if he comes at a reasonable price... That way we can match salaries and save a roster spot or two. Personally of the other 3 I would like:

Sheets

Tejada

Nady

However, I would not be discouraged with the other guys by any means...

I've said it before, but I really think JH is waiting for the mid Feb bargains to fall ... the ones he missed out on last year. Among Dye, Nady, Lopez, Hudson, Sheets, Bedard, Tejada, OCab, and Ankiel, there will be a few bargains if JH waits out the market. There are not many dollars out there. I expect Molina, LaRoche, Damon, Padilla and Pineiro will sign decent (but much lower than they or their agents expected!) 1 or 2 year deals in the next couple weeks and the remaining free agents will have to take much less than expected come February.