You heard it here first. A disappointing development for the Cubs draft of 2010, Matt Szczur opts to play football. In another shocker the Bears draft him and immediatly make a trade for the very first time to a baseball team. Matt Szczur and future considerations to the Cubs for wr Jeff Samardzija.

You know, I can never fault Samardzija for his career choice and the no-trade clause: the guy wanted to be a Chicago athlete, and only the Cubs would give him that guarantee (cause he'd get drafted higher than the pick the Bears had at the time). Unfortunately, he just wound up with the one of the two teams that sucks at developing his particular position in said sport.

LOL

I'm all for the Webb idea - he won a Cy Young in 2006, and finished second the next two years before getting hurt and missing the last two years. And it's not like he was hurt at the end of the year and is coming off recent surgery - he pitched in rehab games at the end of the year so he should be ready to go in theory. However earlier in the off-season his agent said he'd be looking for a contract in the $7.5 million range and if that's still the case I'd rather they stayed away. I doubt that's still the asking price though.

As for first base - haven't seen this mentioned... is there some reason Lee isn't being discussed for the Cubs for a 1 year deal? Of the affordable options out there, Lee is on the decline obviously but he's still serviceable. Is there bad blood in the clubhouse somewhere?

I don't quite get it . . . .

Vasquez signs for $7 million one year deal with Florida, after turning down $20 million 2 yr deal elsewhere.

Jeff Francis: are you kidding me? The Cubs are looking at picking him up, with his 5.00+ ERA, his WHIP of 1.483, awful stuff! Ah, but he's a lefthander! And somebody says he's a get defensive pitcher! lol

Again, Vazquez wanted to train in Florida and sign a deal with the Marlins. Levine reported yesterday (see above) that Vazquez lowered his asking price from the Marlins to $10 million to $8 million ... at least that is what Levine was hearing.

Vazquez wanted to be as close to his family as possible.

Padilla would be a bad deal, Webb and Pena would be better fits.

I'd really love to see the Cubs go out and get Pena, Webb, and Wood this offseason. I like Pena for first base since he's younger than Berkman and plays better defense. He could probably be gotten for a 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd. Webb would be a cheap option and I know you had said that his fastball was down, but for a former Cy Young winner it might be worth a shot. If the Cubs could trade Fukudome and throw in some cash in the deal, they could probably get all three on 1 or 2 year deals.

I don't know about that idea Mike...2 year deals? For those guys? The only one of them I'd consider for that would be Wood.

Pena is coming off a dreadful season batting below the Mendoza line. He's always hit for power, but never for average. At ages 29, 30, and 31, he had OUTSTANDING power seasons:

46 hr, 121 RBI, .282 avg, .411 OBP

31 hr, 102 RBI, .247 avg, .377 OBP

39 hr, 100 RBI, .227 avg, .356 OBP

Last year, he had 28 hr, 84 RBI, .196 avg, .325 OBP

And, if you pay attention to Bill James' research, you'll note his analysis of when hitters start declining, and Pena is a PERFECT example of this. If you sign him, expect to get a Mendoza-esque average (though I should note he'd be changing leagues, so it's probable that it might be higher given the league's adjustment to him), but he's only going to hit you about 25 hr, 80-something RBI...and while I'm okay with that, I'm NOT okay with it if he's hitting just over .200. Everyone complained before about Dunn hitting around .250 with huge strikeout numbers....but at least he hit 40 hr, 100 RBI year after year. Pena K's a TON, and I think people would hate him on this team.

As for the other guys....

Webb is coming off shoulder surgery, which is usually the kiss of death to any pitcher. And supposedly he was only throwing only 80-82 mph tops. Do you really want to give more than one year to him?!?

And while I wouldn't be opposed to getting Hawpe on the cheap, there are other far better and younger alternatives out there as free agents in Hermida (27), Franceour (27), and Melky Cabrera (26).

I just don't see the point in going with retread veterans coming off terrible seasons unless they were maybe injured and had a history of consistency.

Now, as for 1B, the only decent options are Dunn, LaRoche, Berkman, and Pena in terms of FA. Dunn is too expensive. LaRoche will be looking for above average money and multiple years. Berkman is older, and while he has an excellent history of consistency with a .290's avg, .400's OBP, and 20+hr, 100+RBI, and he also has an excellent K/BB ratio....but at 35, he's NOT the player he once was.

I actually think if Berkman will take $5 million, plus incentives, and we can unload Fukudome...it makes sense to go that route, then decline to bring back Baker, Koyie Hill, and try to trade both Byrd and Barney.

Then, remake your roster with Berkman, Franceour (or Hermida), Melky Cabrera, Chirinos or Castillo in for Hill, and sign Juan Uribe for 2B.

I'd probably go with a lineup of:

Cabrera-CF

Castro-SS

Berkman-1B

ARAM-3B

Colvin-RF

Soriano-LF

Uribe-2B

Soto (even though I want to trade him)-C

on the bench, you'd have: Chirinos/Castillo, Franceour, Marquez Smith or Tony Thomas, Guyer, and I'd probably make a risky move of bringing on Flaherty if he does well in Spring Training, because he can play everywhere.

If Berkman gets hurt, Flaherty or Colvin could slide to 1B with Franceour in RF if Colvin goes to 1B. Then Guyer can take over in CF if Cabrera doesn't work out, and fill in if Soriano needs a day off.

It'd be an infinitely more versatile team than we currently have. I just wish Hendry had any ounce of sense in him to make it work.

Unfortunately, we'll likely see a Nick Johnson type of signing, and go with almost the same roster we had last year

I like the Berkman and Hermida ideas. Not sold on Uribe or Melky though. And I really hope they don't waste space in our limited budget on Webb ... shoulder surgery is a killer ... he's likely done as a productive starter.

The reason I like Uribe so much is his versatility (2B, SS, 3B), plus, he has outstanding power for a utility guy. Yes, his OBP sucks, but versatility is HUGE, and I'm essentially saying he'd replace Jeff Baker. In that case, it allows you to trade Barney to someone who would actually use him. We don't need the likes of Baker, DeWitt, Barney, etc. on the roster anyhow. Why? They serve no purpose right now. Maybe if ARAM and Soriano were in their primes, and you could at least count on ARAM for 25+hr, 100+RBI, and Soriano for 30+hr, 90+RBI (before he got to us), you could handle players like that, but we flat out need offense, and run production, and NONE of Baker, DeWitt, or Barney provides that.

Uribe at least will give you about 20 hr, 70 RBI per season, and play above average defense at all 3 of his infield positions.

Think of it this way...If ARAM goes down again...which, at his age now, seems like a given, would you rather have DeWitt, Barney, or Baker at the hot corner with absolutely no run production, or someone like Uribe. To me, it's a no brainer, which means this very thought hasn't even dawned on Hendry yet. Scary isn't it?

We'll likely lose Marquez Smith in the Rule 5, which means the only alternative at 3B is an extreme disappointment...albeit still young and with time, Josh Vitters....Wow...That's why you need a team with Juan Uribe, and do you think it's a coincidence that he's played on 2 World champion teams (White Sox 2005 and Giants 2010)? He offered those teams something they were lacking before.... a power threat in the middle infield that was versatile enough to play 3B in a pinch

I'm 100% with you (and the rest) that Pena is NOT the guy. He is a hack, he's cooked. No thanks. But I just cannot get behind Uribe. He looks like a great candidate for a last harrah contract based on his last great year and the WS ring. No thanks.

Webb is worth a low risk gamble. Bedard - No way. What is it about Hendry that makes him think they can rehabilitate old injured guys? What? Past experience? HA! Just stop, man. The problem is he is desperate to contend again and he simple does not believe that it can be done with young players because he refuses to look forward further than 162 games.

Oh, but Aaron, Pena plays a good defensive 1B. Who cares if he hits below the Medoza line, if he saves 14 runs per game with his D? lol

And Webb--he looks like Mark Prior to me. He's done. Sure, Mark Prior milked the system--he's still trying to milk the system--by getting someone to sign him for $3.5 million to rehab in the minors. But you won't be seeing Mark Prior in the bigs anymore, and I think Mr. Brandon Webb has joined the same club as Prior.

If they wanted a FA 1B with a real bat, its gotta be Dunn. If they want to go cheap, and just sign a cheap bat, its LaRoche. If they think they want to roll the dice, and try to get one more milking out of the cow before they take her to slaughter house, it's Berkamn. IF they just want a plain piece of junk at 1B, then it's Pena, C. Davis, LaHair, Snyder, these are your options.

What do I want? I want a BAT: DUNN.

Pena would be a bad idea, but if he's the only one willing to accept a one year deal, which would at least hold us over to the outstanding crop of 1B due to become FA next year in:

Pujols

Adrian Gonzalez

Prince Fielder

Nick Swisher

**Rickie Weeks and Jose Reyes are also due to become FA, and at 29 years old after next season, it could provide is with an opportunity to make a splash in a trade by dealing some of our middle IF depth, and just sign of of those 2 guys.

But...back to the subject...

I've already mentioned that there's almost no chance in hell Dunn or LaRoche would even entertain one year deals, and thus, they're both probably looking for contracts above $10 million/year, and in Dunn's case $12+ million/yr, which would take them both out of our range, unless the unthinkable happens, and our idiot GM is able to unload Fukudome's burdensome contract.

As for the one year deals...They are often reserved for the "make good" seasons for rehabbing players or players coming off down years like Pena, Berkman, Nick Johnson, etc. And of that group, I'd take Berkman over all of the rest, unless we can get Dunn.

All of the stuff we're hearing from Hendry and Ricketts this offseason kind of makes you think the following:

a) Ricketts is cheaping out, and will run the team like P.K. Wrigley

b) Ricketts is really pissed at the immovable contracts Hendry doled out, and is forcing him to deal with his mistakes, rather than spend his way out of it....

c) Ricketts really does have a plan for the future, and it involves going after a top flight 1B next year like Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, or Fielder, and spending big to do so, knowing that the Yankees can't enter the bidding with Teixeira locked up long-term.

And given the possibility for option C happening, I'd much prefer the Cubs going after Berkman than all the rest, knowing that in 2009, when he played in just 136 games, he still amassed 25 hr, 80 RBI with a .274 avg, .399 OBP, and walked 97 times vs 98 K's, which means he saw a TON of pitches. And last year, playing in just 122 games, he still had 14 hr, 58 RBI, 77 walks vs 85 K's and a .248 avg and .368 OBP. I'd take that ANYDAY over a .196 avg, .325 OBP...which is likely what Pena would produce

Cubs showing interest in Carlos Pena

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz

My ideal starting lineup would be:

Colvin - RF

Castro - SS

Roberts - 2B

Byrd - CF

A-Ram - 3B

Soriano - LF

LaHair - 1B

Soto - C

Rotation:

Dempster

Wells

Gorzellany

Silva

Cashner

Get rid of Fukudome already, along with Zambrano and Hill...Stick Samardzija in the 'pen with or without the hair...And Neil, do you see any chance of Kerry Wood coming back to the North Side?

Yes, I think there is a chance Wood re-signs with the Cubs.

According to Jon Paul Morosi

Marlins and Javy Vazquez agree on one-year contract pending physical, source confirms to FOXSports.com.

Vasquez: I knew he wasn't coming to Chicago when I saw that he turned down a 2 yr, $20 million dollar contract elsewhere. We didn't have the $$$$ for him.

It had nothing to do with the money. Vazquez signed a one-year deal. According to Levine (see above) he had to lower his demands from $10 million to around $8 to sign with Florida. Have not seen what he signed for yet.

Rosenthal is reporting Vazquez's deal is worth between $6 - $7 million.

I can't remember who said it....but I came across a post on here where someone compared the possibility of signing Webb to that of Wade Miller, and while that's a valid comparison, Miller's stats were nowhere in the league of Webb's prior to injury.

I still would take a flier on Webb, Bedard, Francis, etc. before I gambled $5+million on someone like Vazquez, Harang, etc. The reason I'd do that is simple. If they don't pan out, you can always disable them, just as we did with Miller, and you're not really risking much, especially if you give them an incentive-laden deal. And given guys in our system like Coleman, Archer, Carpenter, Jay Jackson, and even converting Cashner back to a starter, if one of those experiments fail, we already have internal options. But if the experiments succeed, then you have a top of the rotation pitcher in a Webb or Bedard, and that's what we desperately need right now.

I'm also ALL for signing Hawpe, but ONLY if we can get rid of Fukudome, otherwise, I'd just go with one of our minor leaguers like B Jackson or Guyer.

I would also be for signing Hawpe, but strictly as a first baseman. While he only has 8 major league starts at first, he had 215 starts at first (compared to 220 OF starts) in the minors. If he pans out, he could be a good bridge to some of our prospects in the low minors.

Neil,

You mentioned that Carpenter should be in the pen sometime this coming season, does that mean the Cubs have given up on him as a starter? or is he following the same path that Cashner did? I know he has some nasty stuff coming out of the pen, but I thought I had read somewhere that the Cubs project him as a top of the rotation starter sometime soon.

Larry, I do not think they've given up on Carpenter as a starter. From what I can gather, they are not sure how they want to use Cashner and Carpenter.

Carpenter has dealt with injuries in the past (TJ in 2005 and a tired arm in 2007) and he might be better suited as a reliever .... plus he was filthy out of the pen in the Fall League. I think his performance as a reliever gives them another option with him.

brad hawpe and brandon webb would be low cost, high return signings given our payroll issues. why not?? Brad hawpe had one down year, after pretty consistent LH Power.

I wonder why there isnt any talk of a Soto, Wells, Colvin, Coleman type deal for Greinke??? Or anybody else? What about Dempster and Bryd for some payroll relief and then use the cash to sign a couple guys??? I know hendry loves dempster, he's company guy.

I'd take a flyer on brian roberts if they took some contract money back. he's due 30m, if they would take some of fukudome and samardjiza??

Roberts

Castro

Berkman

Ram

Hawpe

Bryd

Soriano

Catcher

with Brett Jackson on his way, not bad??

The Royals would have no interest in Covin, Soto, Coleman and Wells (or similar package) for Greinke. Greinke is going to cost at least a couple blue chip prospects. The Cubs should be holding on to their top prospects now so there will be no deal here.

I agree but you know JH is not that bright!

LaHair is a AAAA player and may be an option as a backup 1st baseman/outfielder. Like LaHair, Chris Davis doesn't hit lefties well and wouldn't be an everyday player in my opinion. Marlon Byrd, Fukodome, Colvin and Soriano are currently blocking Jackson, Byrd imho would be the easiest to trade and should be traded, while he has some value, especially if the cubs are looking at a guy like Hawpe and we already have 4 startng Outfield options. I like the Brandon Webb possibility. Wells should be traded for whatever we can get. Gorzellany is a lock as he is our only lefty and I think he is much better than wells imo. Silva might be ok for half a season. Coleman and Archer aren't ready yet imo. Cashner if he did go back to being a starter would be limited in starts/innings especially since he spent over half of last year in the bullpen. Samardzija isn't ever going to make it. Dewitt will be given every oppurtunity since he and Barney are our only options. Baker needs to be sent packing, but Hendry will keep him another year.

Add Jeff Francis to the list

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-1128-around-town--20101127,0,1702733.column

Byran LaHair has already 5--count 'em, Five--seasons at the AAA level.

Let me translate that for you: THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN HIM. His only call up to the bigs was in 2008, where he hit .250 in 136 AB, 3 HR, 10 RBI and 40 K's in that little time. He was on a pace to K 162 times in 550 AB.

BUT . . . his last two years in AAA have shown some power (26 & 25 HR, vs. his usual 12 HR) and 2010 was his best for OPS at .942 (outstanding!).

Still . . . I wonder if the Cubs will even consider bringing him up for five minutes. . . . .

Lahair has only been in the Cubs system for 1 year. They signed him as a FA last offseason, after spendig many years in the Seattle system.

Looking at our possible starters . . . .

The Locks are:

Z

Dempster

Wells

Gorzelanny

The question marks are:

Silva (imho, he will most likely win the job in ST by means of his salary alone, and be on the DL from June 1 until his contract runs out).

Coleman: will be sent down out of ST and called up in May to take the final spot in the rotation. If he pitches like last year, the soft tosser will be the 5th starter.

Cashner:

You all say starter, but I dunno at this point. Has a great arm, needs more control. Looks like a fine bullpen arm to me, should he gain a little control.

Archer:

May be a June call up. Fine arm.

Samardzija:

He's awful, but he will make the team simply due to the fact he costs $2.5 million and has no options left. If he only had control . . . and a haircut!

The haircut might move him back towards reality, and would certainly improve his attitude and appearance.

Vasquez turned down a 2 yr, $20 million contract! HE AIN'T COMIN' TO THE CUBS, FOLKS!

That leaves a bunch of injured has-beens: Harang, Webb, Bonderman. To these I say, "If they won't sign a minor league contract, they ain't a comin' to my team."

There is no doubt that to start the year it will be Zambrano, Dempster, Gorzellany, Wells, Silva (if healthy)

I just don't see Wells bouncing back. I think the league has caught up with him. I hope you are right and I am wrong!

Archer and Colemna will be in the roation, no later than mid-season.

Cashner, I think should get a chance to see if he can start at the major league level.

Samardzija does need a haircut and it couldn't hurt his pitching and might just help.

But when you look at our options, how can we be rumored to be wanting to sign an aging veteran! It makes no sense.

When I compare Castro vs. Jackson in AA Tennessee, I see these stats:

Castro Jackson

PA 243 268

HR 1 6

RBI 34 28

AVG. .300 .276

SB 10 18

CS 5 4

OPS .867 .831

OBP .384 .366

The difference is that Castro played at the tail end of 2009, and the first month of 2010. Jackson got all of his experience in the last half of 2010.

Tony might be right, and Jackson might be with the Cubs in June, 2011.

It also says right here that I think Brett Jackson needs a full year at AA or AAA before he comes up. He has only one-half a season in AA, where he hit .276 with 18 SB, 4 CS and 6 HR, 28 RBI in 268 Plate Appearances.

Very nice prospect.

"Needs more seasoning."

It says right here that Wells has a bounce-back year and wins at least 12 games.

The position players are almost set for next year as well.

OF - Soriano, Byrd, Fukudome, Colvin

IF - ARam, Castro, Dewitt, Barney, Baker

1B - Lahair or C. Davis

C - Soto and Castillo (Hill)

That's 12 of the 13 spots.

1B - Will be covered by Lahair or Chris Davis, with Colvin, Baker, and maybe Soto covering some time as well.

By June Brett Jackson will arrive, like Castro did last year in late May, and will be covering CF.

I like your list, and Tony, you always make great posts, but I cannot say that C. Davis is set for 1B when he is not even on our team. Likewise LaHair, a AAA Iowa player, doesn't seem likely (to me) to even make the team. Like Synder,Marquez Smith, and some others, the Cubs' don't like him.

Sorry hit submit to soon.

My point was that we will have someone at 1B and that fills one of the roster spots and it won't be anyone that looks like an Adrian Gonzalez.

We have only 1 real roster spot that isn't spoken for already.

Back-up catcher could be Hill or Castillo, but in reality this should be Castillo.

The roster has no flexibility, w/o getting rid of some of the dead weight.

My best guess at what they have (Lahair is the only 1B they have and Chris Davis is the only one they have talked about they can afford)

The rotation is full of back of the rotation guys and unless we are adding a true #1 or #2, why sign another back of the rotation guy.

Dempster and Zambrano are in the rotation. They will be our #1 and #2

Silva will be in the rotation to start the year, if healthy.

Gorzellany and Wells are in the mix.

Coleman showed he deserves a shot.

Samardzija will be be given plenty of more opportunities, given his no-trade and out of options. Almost guaranteed to at least make the bullpen.

Cashner and Archer will be given a chance to show they are ready.

That's 9 options, why would we want to sign anybody, when we have the 3-5 spots in the rotation covered, 3x over. We need front line starters and since we are not going to get any, from this years FA market, we need to develop our own.

I would love to see Archer, Cashner and Coleman in the rotation by June.

Neil wrote, "Levine thinks the Cubs rotation, as it stands at the end of November, does not match-up well with the likes of the Reds and Cardinals and looks like a fourth place rotation."

HEY! THAT'S A MOVE UP FROM THEIR FIFTH PLACE FINISH IN 2010!

Okay, so I'm pretty happy with all of this. All things considered.

I've set a real low bar for what I consider good news for the Cubs nowadays.

=D