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MLB: Ricketts to make an announcement on the Chicago Cubs' future

If they make widesweeping changes it will be interesting to see how drastic it will be. They are in limbo with too many large contracts but not enough talent in the minors to rebuild from within.
 
This could be a lot of things, I just hope they are in the right direction. I'm so sick of these teams underachieving.
 
I think the Cubs are close to becoming a solid young team.
Soto has developed into a good defensive Catcher,Castillo should replace Hill soon.
I like Pena at first but Prince would look really good behind Castro.
Barney and Castro seem to be exactly what this franchise needed.
Ramirez has a year or two left, hopefully Vitters will work out
Soriano needs to go regardless of the contract. Campana could turn into a top notch leadoff hitter.
Byrd looks solid in Center until Jackson is ready
Colvin looks like a new player after being called back up.

The rotation has 2 parts Garza and Cashner.
Dempster can be a good middle of the rotation guy if they don't give him a long term contract.
Zambrano would be better off gone but I can't imagine not seeing him next year.
Wells isn't a big league starter, at best compete with Coleman for long relief/emergency starter.

The pen is solid with a bunch of young arms the only two guys unsigned for next season are Wood and Grabow. Wood is a must sign.

Hopefully they keep DeWitt and Baker for the bench and resign Johnson as a 4th Outfielder.

Signing a top of the rotation starter and a productive First Baseman could get them right back in the hunt in the Central.
 
Catcher - Soto, Castillo
1st Base - IF possible, Pujols, and if not then Pena
2nd Base - Barney, Baker
Shortstop -Castro
3rd Base - Vitters, Dewitt
Left Field - Campana
Right Field - Colvin
Center - Byrd, Jackson

Starting Pitchers
Garza - Current
Buehrle - Free Agent 2012
C.J. Wilson - Free Agent 2012
Scott Kasmir - Free Agent 2012
Ryan Dempster - Current

Long Relief
Wood
Marshall

Short Relief
Wells
Coleman
Wood

Closer
Marmol

Castro, SS - Lead off hitter
Barney, 2B - Can hit if he works on it over the off season
Campana, LF - Speedster can get on on a bunt
Pujols, 1B - Hitter
M. Byrd, CF- Hitter
Vitters, 3B - UNK
Colvin, RF - Sporadic
Soto, C - Hitter
Pitcher
 
Dave19642011 said:
Catcher - Soto, Castillo
1st Base - IF possible, Pujols, and if not then Pena
2nd Base - Barney, Baker
Shortstop -Castro
3rd Base - Vitters, Dewitt
Left Field - Campana
Right Field - Colvin
Center - Byrd, Jackson

Starting Pitchers
Garza - Current
Buehrle - Free Agent 2012
C.J. Wilson - Free Agent 2012
Scott Kasmir - Free Agent 2012
Ryan Dempster - Current

Long Relief
Wood
Marshall

Short Relief
Wells
Coleman
Wood

Closer
Marmol

Castro, SS - Lead off hitter
Barney, 2B - Can hit if he works on it over the off season
Campana, LF - Speedster can get on on a bunt
Pujols, 1B - Hitter
M. Byrd, CF- Hitter
Vitters, 3B - UNK
Colvin, RF - Sporadic
Soto, C - Hitter
Pitcher
Click to expand...

I think you've got three 1/2 spot guys hitting in the first three spots of the order. One of them needs to move down, IMO. Barney would be the guy that I'd move down to the 7 or 8 spot, just to get a solid bat and speed in the bottom of the order. Bat Campana leadoff, Castro second, Pujols third. Rammy will still be here next year, so he can hit fifth, moving Byrd to sixth (where I think he's a better fit than at 5).

Pujols has pretty much always hit third in the order. We have no one good enough to displace him. Prince Fielder is a cleanup-type hitter. Pujols is a #3 guy.

I do think Pujols is a longshot for us, but I don't really want Fielder. I'd rather keep Pena and his glove, in addition to his 30+ homers.
 
Dave19642011 said:
Catcher - Soto, Castillo
1st Base - IF possible, Pujols, and if not then Pena
2nd Base - Barney, Baker
Shortstop -Castro
3rd Base - Vitters, Dewitt
Left Field - Campana
Right Field - Colvin
Center - Byrd, Jackson

Starting Pitchers
Garza - Current
Buehrle - Free Agent 2012
C.J. Wilson - Free Agent 2012
Scott Kasmir - Free Agent 2012
Ryan Dempster - Current

Long Relief
Wood
Marshall

Short Relief
Wells
Coleman
Wood

Closer
Marmol

Castro, SS - Lead off hitter
Barney, 2B - Can hit if he works on it over the off season
Campana, LF - Speedster can get on on a bunt
Pujols, 1B - Hitter
M. Byrd, CF- Hitter
Vitters, 3B - UNK
Colvin, RF - Sporadic
Soto, C - Hitter
Pitcher
Click to expand...

How much ******* money do you think the Cubs have ?
 
the Chicago Cubs could potentially have $40MM come off the books for the 2012 season. The $40MM comes from Carlos Silva, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, and half of Carlos Pena’s $10MM coming off the books in expiring contracts.

Which brings us to the 1 year, $10MM contract that the Cubs gave to power hitting first baseman Carlos Pena. Whether or not Pena proves worth the $10MM is irrevelant, because the Cubs set themselves up for potentially making a blockbuster free agent signing in 2012. According to the Chicago Sun Times, whispers were heard at the Winter Meetings that the Cubs are putting themselves in a position to target Albert Pujols next winter.
 
Dave19642011 said:
if you build it ... they will come
Click to expand...

No way the cubs could afford to have those 3 starters, on top of Garza, as well as pay for Soriano's contract and pay Pujlos money. Its impossible. They Cubs need a #1 starter, and that will go along way. Bring that in, and than you have Garza as your #2, Dempster, Cashner, etc. It sounds like CC Sabathia may be opting out after this year as he wants back in the NL. Depending on what he is demanding, the Cubs could also look at him.

I hope and pray the Cubs look past Pujlos and Fielder. I would love to have both of them, but not for what they are going to demand. Pena is just fine. I also think they should try to bring Ramirez back for at least a few years, and try to improve Vitters down in the minors. Vitters had ALOT of potential, but has fallen way off since his injury last year.

You DO NOT bring Castillo up as a backup catcher. He too talented to be sitting on the bench. Koye Hill is cheap and fits that role just fine.

As far as the outfield, I'm OK with what you have. My only problem is, if you are going to have to eat upwards of 75% of Sorianos contract, you might as well keep him. He is still a decent player, just not worth what the Cubs are dishing out.
 
Pujols and Wilson will eat up that $40 million alone. Then you have to add in all the additional money needed to get rid of some contracts.
 
Dave19642011 said:
Catcher - Soto, Castillo
1st Base - IF possible, Pujols, and if not then Pena
2nd Base - Barney, Baker
Shortstop -Castro
3rd Base - Vitters, Dewitt
Left Field - Campana
Right Field - Colvin
Center - Byrd, Jackson

Starting Pitchers
Garza - Current
Buehrle - Free Agent 2012
C.J. Wilson - Free Agent 2012
Scott Kasmir - Free Agent 2012
Ryan Dempster - Current

Long Relief
Wood
Marshall

Short Relief
Wells
Coleman
Wood

Closer
Marmol

Castro, SS - Lead off hitter
Barney, 2B - Can hit if he works on it over the off season
Campana, LF - Speedster can get on on a bunt
Pujols, 1B - Hitter
M. Byrd, CF- Hitter
Vitters, 3B - UNK
Colvin, RF - Sporadic
Soto, C - Hitter
Pitcher
Click to expand...

You think Buehrle, a lifelong Cardinals fan and a guy who's played for the White Sox will come to the Cubs? You're looking at a guy who will probably command 14 million a year again as well. But, this is your fantasy.
 
cybsball20 said:
Pujols and Wilson will eat up that $40 million alone. Then you have to add in all the additional money needed to get rid of some contracts.
Click to expand...

Exactly, and will probably for the next few years. Cubs fans need to remember that Castro, Colvin and Cashner are all eligible for arbitration after the 2012 season, and those are pieces the Cubs may potentially be trying to build off for the future.
 
Gotta lose Soto and Hill at Catcher. Castillo can put up the same exact numbers.

Also gotta keep Cashner.
 
gocubs2118 said:
If that's our outfield next year, we are in deep ****.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the OF class of free agents for this year is VERY weak. Beltran (aging), Damon (aging), and Francouer (contract includes an option, not sure if it's club or player). Nobody really worth paying big bucks.

However, 2013 is LOADED. Josh Hamilton, Curtis Granderson (option), Matt Kemp, Shane Victorino, B.J. Upton, and Ichiro all are scheduled to hit the market.

Honestly, if we were able to land just about any of those guys, particularly Kemp or Victorino, we'd be sitting pretty well. I don't really think that Hamilton will leave Texas, and Ichiro is getting up there in age, even if he's not showing it all that much.

Pitching is also strong for 2013, but I'd be satisfied with landing someone like Wilson this year.
 
tm3308 said:
Unfortunately, the OF class of free agents for this year is VERY weak. Beltran (aging), Damon (aging), and Francouer (contract includes an option, not sure if it's club or player). Nobody really worth paying big bucks.

However, 2013 is LOADED. Josh Hamilton, Curtis Granderson (option), Matt Kemp, Shane Victorino, B.J. Upton, and Ichiro all are scheduled to hit the market.

Honestly, if we were able to land just about any of those guys, particularly Kemp or Victorino, we'd be sitting pretty well. I don't really think that Hamilton will leave Texas, and Ichiro is getting up there in age, even if he's not showing it all that much.

Pitching is also strong for 2013, but I'd be satisfied with landing someone like Wilson this year.
Click to expand...

That just goes to prove you have no idea what you're talking about.
 
chuckd4735 said:
It sounds like CC Sabathia may be opting out after this year as he wants back in the NL.
Click to expand...
CC is going to opt out because he can get more money. That limits his acquisition to about 3 teams.
tm3308 said:
However, 2013 is LOADED. Josh Hamilton, Curtis Granderson (option), Matt Kemp, Shane Victorino, B.J. Upton, and Ichiro all are scheduled to hit the market.

Honestly, if we were able to land just about any of those guys, particularly Kemp or Victorino, we'd be sitting pretty well. I don't really think that Hamilton will leave Texas, and Ichiro is getting up there in age, even if he's not showing it all that much.

Pitching is also strong for 2013, but I'd be satisfied with landing someone like Wilson this year.
Click to expand...
If Granderson keeps it up, the Cubs won't be able to afford him. He's going to walk into Brian Cashman's office and Cashman is going to write him a check for whatever amount he wants.

I don't think the Cubs have much of a shot at Wilson either. Yankees and Red Sox are both going to open up the check books to get him (Yankees because they need him, Red Sox just to drive up the Yankees payroll).
 
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