According to Ken Rosenthal: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8812098/Cubs-close-to-re-signing-righty-Dempster
The Cubs are close to re-signing Ryan Dempster. He goes on to say that this will NOT necessarily prohibit the Cubs from trading for Peavy or signing Randy Johnson, or another bat.
He also mentions the fact that the ownership issue will be resolved before Christmas, which falls into line with my prediction that the Cuban thing was a conspiracy set up by Selig to eliminate him from contention.
I'm not quite sure that I like the signing of Dempster. Our entire team will need an overhaul if we keep signing 30+ year old guys. I like Peavy, because he's still young, same with a Dunn signing, etc. But everyone else we've been linked to: Johnson, Furcal, Ibanez, Bradley, etc.----are all over 30
But...
I must comment on the Johnson thing. I believe he would definitely take us over the top. He is a proven winner, and has performed very well when it counts. He's tall, imposing, and still K's a lot of batters. So, here's my proposal to make it happen:
1) In the Peavy trade, Towers said we must involve a 3rd or 4th team. So, the players that have been mentioned include: Marshall, Pie, Hill, Wuertz, Cedeno, Hart, Vitters, Colvin, Atkins, Harden, and Veal.
2) You trade Marshall, Pie, and Cedeno to the Pads (this solves a pitching need, their CF need, and SS need), then, you spin a couple of the others to gain more amm for the trade, and spin those players back to the Pads.
3) This essentially leaves a rotation (and pen) of the following: Z, Peavy, Harden(if he's not included), Dempster, Lilly.
Pen: Gaudin, Cotts, Guzman, Ascanio, Gregg, Samardzija, Marmol (this makes the trade of Ceda even more puzzling and damning to the pen, especially without Wood...but anyways)
4) What I would do next might be unpopular, but if Harden is not included in the original deal, then I would spin him or Marquis (if it's Marquis, then you'd include other players) to the Rockies for Brad Hawpe.
5) Next, you would sign Randy Johnson for one year to keep the seat warm for Samardzija (yet another reason why trading Ceda was a bad idea...LOL, love my bitching?)
6) Next, you would move Theriot to 2B to split time with Fontenot, sign Furcal for SS, and spin DeRosa off, all in the same breath.
7) Next, you trade for Teahen to fill DeRosa's utility role.
8) Finally, you cap it off with a one year, plus player option deal for Wood to return to the pen, thus fortifying a prior weakness.
***essentially, the only salary relief we'd get would be about $17 million between Harden and Marquis, then we'd also get $5 million more with a DeRosa trade (though, I wouldn't really like that move). Randy would cost 6, Dempster's raise would be about 7, Furcal would cost 10, and Hawpe would add 7. So, in all,you're adding a net gain of $7 million right there. I'm not factoring in the Peavy and Wood contracts in this scenario, so perhaps, they add about $16 million more combined. All I know is that pending the personnel involved in the Peavy deal, I believe our surplus of pitching just might turn into a weakness after the trade. We would have to give up no less than: Marshall, Hill, Hart, and Veal. That's 4 guys that could have been called upon if we have injuries.
I love the idea of trading Marquis, Lee, Wuertz, DeRosa, and Fukudome to see what type of top prospects we could get for them. In reality, you're not getting rid of any projected regulars outside of Lee. Unless we don't sign/trade for a lefty bat, then you could consider DeRosa a regular in RF, but that's even iffy after Hendry and Lou's comments the past 2 years with DeRosa, and trying to upgrade (makes little sense to me with his production and salary, but, hey, what do I know). Wuertz might not even make the team out of spring, and Fukudome is on his way to a platoon with Reed Johnson. Hey, how do you like this one: trade Fukudome for a mid-level prospect, and a high ceiling prospect (think Kyler Burke when we traded for him), then you sign Josh Kroeger, who is absolutely tearing up winter ball right now, and platoon him with Johnson. Then, he'd also back-up Hoffpauir at 1B, and if we got Teahen, he could do the same. If Hawpe scares you in RF (b/c, let's face it, all Rockies hitters do outside of Coors), and you're worried about losing Lee's production, then you get my man, Adam Dunn for RF.
Any other problems you would like me to solve???? LOL
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At this point, you'd likely have to eat 50% of Fukudome's contract to have any team take him off your hands in exchange for a midlevel prospect. You'd have to eat a few million of Marquis contract too just to get a team to take him off your hands.
Aaron, I posted this on the main page and linked to your post. You bring up a lot of interesting scenarios but I do not think Mark DeRosa should be traded. He gives Lou a lot of flexibility and is a team player.
I keep reading more and more about the Cubs interest in your 'man' Adam Dunn. Scary, scary defense...
Nice post Aaron. I can go along with most of your reasoning, but like you even mentioned, I don't like getting rid of DeRo. We need him, wherever he plays on the field. Besides, my sister won't stop talking about how 'hot' he is!
LOL..."cover your eyes" scary, indeed. However, I truly believe it was a product of his environment. The Reds NEVER attracted many fans, save for when the Cubs were in town and immediately after the new stadium opened. I think that had a lot to do with the guy's motivation both at the plate and in the field, and also probably led to the "he's got questionable desire" accusations.
However, given the Cubs fan base, Wrigley Field factor, and better coaching, I believe Dunn could be just as good as Soriano in the field, but maybe just a little bit slower. Keep in mind, Dunn played football, and was recruited by Texas, so obviously he's got some athletic ability.
As for his performance at the plate, I don't think there's any reason with a good lineup, protection around him, more fans to motivate, etc., that he couldn't average 50 home runs a year for the next few years. He's almost like Ryan Howard in a way, only Howard has had more protection around him. Also, wouldn't you take Howard in a heartbeat at first base? So, given that, and the fact he averages more K's than Dunn, has a lower OBP, lower walks, less doubles, etc., wouldn't it make sense that with a solid core around him like Howard has, that he could produce similar HR and RBI lines?
As you probably noticed, I only mentioned DeRosa to shave salary, and in fact, stated, I would rather keep his production. However, with the theme of getting younger, etc. with their interest in Teahen, that's why I thought of that.
Dunn-28
Teahen-27
Josh Kroeger (as platoon partner)-26
Fontenot-28
Theriot-28
Hoffpauir-28
Soto-25
Peavy-27
Z-27
Harden-26
Marmol-25
Samardzija-23
Ascanio-23
Guzman-27
Hart-26
Marshall-26
Hill-28
Gaudin-25
Brad Snyder-26
Some of the guys I listed are going to be with the team, some may not, but this is a great foundation of under-30 players that could carry us for the next 5-10 years, making a run similar to that of the Braves of the 1990's.
I think we need to say goodbye to the days of Howry, Eyre, Lee, the Gregg trade, Soriano, etc.---all these big contracts for guys past their prime production years. We need more trades and signings of guys like Dunn, Peavy, Harden, etc.---guys that are 25-28 years old, in their prime years, and will be with us for the next 8 or so years, and at that time, you either let them go as FA's, and receive compensation picks, or trade them to replenish the system.
I would keep DeRo
We just signed Dempster (according to reports)
If we could pick up Peavy or Johnson and Dunn or Abreu, we would be set.
You could wait and see about a Furcal/Roberts(i would prefer Roberts over Furcal) leadoff man, but if it doesn't happen, we still have an awesome team.
I don't think Lee is going anywhere even if you want him to.