2008-2009 Cubs Offseason Thread

[hermes]

maybe san diego gets desperate during the season and takes a worse deal

[SportsWorld]

hows this bullpen gonna shape up tho???

9 marmol
8 shark
7 gregg

I think Gregg is going to be the setup man. Him and Marmol will battle for the closer spot in Spring Training.

[Fukudome1]

i think if smardjiza develops more this offseason then theres no reason why he cant set up marmol in the 8th. his ceiling is so high, and gregg i think hit his already

[The Sheik]

Shark is very overrated right now. He is essentially Bob Howry right now. He has one pitch and shaky control. People will start figuring him out if he doesnt develop an out pitch and get control. Gregg is the set up man, Marmol the closer. Will see who steps up to be the 7th inning guy. Samardifgjakfhskfja is definitely in the running.

[karch34]

I think Shark takes Marmol's role as the reliever that could come in anytime to cut down a rally, rather than be a main set up man. I think he'll wind up pitching the 7th or 8th a fair amount, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the 6th or earlier if things go bad.

[DanTown8587]

Bullpen
CL Marmol
SU Gregg
MRP Shark
MRP Guzman
LP Cotts
LR Gaudin
UTL Marshall

Bench
Fontentot
Cedeno
Bako
Gathright/Pie
Johnson

[ChronicKerr]

http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_s ... yeing-lowe

Cubs among several teams eyeing Lowe
by: Jon Heyman09:36 PM ET 12.16 Share

The Cubs could become a landing spot for star free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe.

Chicago had been talking seriously to the Padres about trade target Jake Peavy for weeks until pulling out at the winter meetings, and some baseball people think discussions could be revived at some point.

If not, however, Lowe could become a suitable rotation replacement in Wrigley Field. Peavy has $63 million over four years remaining on his contract, and that's very likely Lowe's price tag, as well.

The Yankees were in serious talks with Lowe before turning to A.J. Burnett for $82.5 million over five years, and they also could resume discussions in the event Andy Pettitte rejects their $10 million offer for 2009.

Other teams on Lowe's radar appear to include the Braves, Red Sox, Mets, Phillies, Dodgers and Angels -- although the Phillies may be done after signing Jamie Moyer, Chan Ho Park and Raul Ibanez, and the Dodgers and Lowe are indicating they don't envision a reunion

[SportsWorld]

I would love to add Derek Lowe just so he can't own us everytime he pitches against us.

[Fukudome1]

if we got derek lowe, i would have him pitch game1 of the playoffs no matter what lol

[The Sheik]

Honest question.

Would we be better off adding depth rather then trying to make splashes (Lowe, Bradley)?

This team has a lot of problems and just adding one guy isnt going to fix it.

We have exactly 1 reliable bull pen arm.

Our Rotation as is with the addition of Marshall and subtraction of Marquis the best in the division.

We lack power and a LH bat.

Our bench is nothing to brag about.

[Posey H8er]

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2 ... rs1219.php

Dave Kaplan reported on Thursday night that Adam Dunn is telling people if the Cubs will have him, that's where he wants to play. Kaplan reminded his listeners about how awful the Cubs defense would be in the outfield with Alfonso Soriano in left and Dunn in right. Kaplan finished his brief, yet revealing, discussion about Dunn with the following: "He wants to play here in the worst way."

Theriot
Lee
Ramirez
Dunn
Soriano
Soto
DeRosa/Fontenot
Fukudome/Johnson

That would be one amazing lineup. Although his asking price is probably very high and that outfield defense would be terrible.

[DanTown8587]

I would only want Dunn if we traded Lee and then if we did that, we are just laterally moving. Dunn is a SO king and low average middle of the lineup guy. He played 20 years to soon. And his defense is terrible.

To the poster with the "more than one move"...I would love to fix a few holes.

I would rather have Arthur Rhodes (lefty set up), Randy Johnson (veteran pitcher), Juan Riveria (talented but injury OF) and Brandon Lyon (fireballer for middle Innings)

2009 Chicago Cubs
Soriano LF
Theriot SS
Ramirez 3B
Soto C
Lee 1B
Rivera RF
DeRosa 2B
Fukudome/Johnson CF

C Paul Bako
IF Cedeno
IF Fontenot
OF Johnson/Fukudome
OF Gathright/Pie

SP Zambrano
SP Dempster
SP Haren
SP Lilly
SP Johnson

CL Marmol
SU Gregg
SU Rhodes
MR Lyon
MR Cotts
MR Gaudin
UTL Marshall

Marquis is in AAA

[Posey H8er]

I'm also becoming less confident about our bullpen. Both Guzman and Samarzija are young and really talented, but I don't want to rely on them going into the postseason. I think it would be great to trade Marquis for a reliever and then sign another solid arm.

[Fukudome1]

I would only want Dunn if we traded Lee and then if we did that, we are just laterally moving. Dunn is a SO king and low average middle of the lineup guy. He played 20 years to soon. And his defense is terrible.

AB R HR RBI BB KO SB BA
517 79 40 100 122 164 2 0.2360

i would love those numbers, no matter what he gets on a lot, he walks so much. go get him! i might be in the minority saying this on these boards, but i would love his bat in the lineup.

obviously his defense is bad and it would be an awful defensive outfield.

[SportsWorld]

Mark DeRosa will play for Team USA in the WBC:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8976 ... USA-invite

[Posey H8er]

I think DeRosa will be the United States' utility player since Dustin Pedroia was also named to the team. Hopefully Mark represents the US and the Cubs well.

[Posey H8er]

This is why we should be glad the Cubs did not sign Raul Ibanez.

[SportsWorld]

Well the Yankees have officially ruined baseball. This sport is getting harder and harder to watch.

[The Sheik]

Sadly all these moves just make them playoff contenders...not even title.

[Fukudome1]

that payroll is just out of hand now. i always liked sabathia and texiera but i hope they both get injured game 1 now. just sad and bad for baseball how the yankees spend money.

im gonna go check out what the yankee fans think about this on their board.