2008-2009 Cubs Offseason Thread

[DanTown8587]

Rumor is San Diego could be talked into trading Peavy...I send anything they want to get him...I think a package revolved around Jeff S., Pie, Cedeno, Colvin, and a couple others could do it maybe, I'm not sure

[IlliniNRG]

Ok, now that the series is over, I'll bite on this topic.

Some of you are overlooking the simply outstanding year that Mike Fontenot had. He absolutely needs to start at 2B next year.

Theriot has been fine at SS, and he had an OBP of .387 this year. I know some of you guys are clamoring for a major shake-up after that choke job of a series, but it won't happen. Theriot is about as prototypical a leadoff you can get, and he's already on our roster for cheap.

Edmonds was great for us too, but can he repeat 2008? Doubtful. Second question - can he play RF? How about an Edmonds/Fukudome platoon in RF? Fukudome is a bit better against lefties, Edmonds is tons better against righties.

Not a whole lot available for CF. I hope to hell they don't overpay for a guy like Mike Cameron. Same for the bullpen. Save your money, use some AAA guys to replace Howry/Eyre/Lieber.

There won't be major changes this offseason, and for good reason. This team won 97 games during the regular season, and if they can resign Dempster, they won't lose any major parts. When it comes down to it, three games is a very limited sample that's virtually meaningless. We need to get this team back in the playoffs next year and keep plugging away.

[Posey H8er]

Interesting poll at the Tribune's site-

What should the Cubs do with Kosuke Fukudome next season?

Start him in right field (54 responses)

25.8%

Keep him as a reserve (59 responses)

28.2%

Trade him (76 responses)

36.4%

Send him to the minors (20 responses)

9.6%

[The Sheik]

Here is the way I see it.

Theriot is not a true leadoff hitter and he is just average if that at SS. We gambled on Fukudome and Soriano and are stuck with them. The only signing that we could possibly due is Furcal. Movie Riot to 2nd base and DeRosa to RF. Perhaps we could add a Raul Ibanez to play RF.

Fontenot needs to get more ABs

Ward is gone and Hoffpauir takes his spot.

Keep Reed Johnson, let Edmonds walk and at some point Lou needs to give Pie a chance. The whole point behind sending him to AAA was to win now, look where that got us. Have him and Reed platoon in CF.

Soriano needs to move to the 5 spot.

Furcal
Riot/RJ/Pie/Fontenot
Lee
Aramis
Soriano
Soto
Derosa
Pie/RJ/Riot
As far as pitching goes we need to re-sign dumpster and wood.

Im absoultely shocked that some of you think this bullpen is good enough. The Bullpen is Marmol and Wood, even Wood is a little shaky too.

The Shark needs to go to AAA, because he isnt major league ready. He needs to be converted to a reliever and work on his control, breaking balls and out pitches. Mostly his control though.

Randy Wells impressed me and he should replace Lieber in the bullpen.
Guzman can basically replace Howry, dont really know if thats a good thing.

We need a lefty because Cotts just doesnt cut it.

Marquis needs to go if only to open a spot in the rotation for Sean Marshall.

Basically we need to add a lefty specialist, perhaps one other bullpen arm. Resign our key FA. Look at Furcal, Ibanez or Abreu.

[Jo Jo English]

If nothing else, the last two playoff series have provided ample evidence that Alfonso Soriano cannot cut it as the lead-off hitter in the post-season. Getting hot for a few stretches during the regular season -- something he could also do hitting 5th -- is not justification for the man batting below .200 when the opposing pitchers have a chance to prepare for him.

[Posey H8er]

Wood definitely will re-sign. He loves it in Chicago, and he will not leave. Dempster is going to cost a lot now that he had a breakout season, but the Cubs will probably work hard to bring him back. Marquis is gone, and I think our rotation will be this:

Zambrano
Harden
Dempster
Lilly
Marshall

We do need help with our bullpen. With Marmol/Wood we are set with the 8th and 9th innings, but we probably need another solid arm for the 7th. Cotts is a solid lefty but we need another lefty.

We definitely need a leadoff hitter. How good would our offense have been in the regular season had Soriano been down in the order and if we had someone like Theriot (or even better Roberts) at the top?

Ramirez, Theriot, DeRosa, Lee, Soto, and Soriano are definitely staying. That leaves us questions with CF, RF, and 2B and/or SS if we sign someone like Furcal. Theriot had a great season and should start somewhere. Mike Fontenot needs to get more at bats too, so I have no easy solution there.

The Cubs have the most talented roster in the NL, so there are no urgent changes needed. They just need to bring guys in that can help win when it counts.

[Posey H8er]

If nothing else, the last two playoff series have provided ample evidence that Alfonso Soriano cannot cut it as the lead-off hitter in the post-season. Getting hot for a few stretches during the regular season -- something he could also do hitting 5th -- is not justification for the man batting below .200 when the opposing pitchers have a chance to prepare for him.

The argument that he is 'more comfortable there' is bull. You see the same pitcher no matter where you hit. You may also see better pitches hitting lower. He is a high SLG% hitter so he needs to hit lower. He hits so many solo home runs too.

[GYBE]

The Cubs have the most talented roster in the NL, so there are no urgent changes needed. They just need to bring guys in that can help win when it counts.

That's the thing. You can't dismantle a team that was the best in the league all season, it's a core good enough to get to the playoffs consistently. It needs tweaks, not a rebuilding. A few notes:

- Lefty reliever should be one of the top priorities (Arthur Rhodes? Damaso Marte? I'll look at our options more closely later on with a more detailed plan)

- We need another bullpen arm to solidify the middle relief before Marmol. Juan Cruz? Actually, we should give small deals to like 4 mediocre/injured relievers and just hope 1 or 2 breaks out and can contribute. Bullpens are unpredictable from year-to-year, I'd rather try as many options as possible and see who's hot.

- SportsWorld, McLouth isn't a free agent. I think the Pirates could deal him before the deadline next year though.

- Fontenot needs to start. If that means we trade DeRosa, so be it. Chase Utley is the only 2nd baseman who outhit Mike Fontenot. That's it. He needs to play, period.

- I'd love to deal Theriot, but I think Lou has a man-crush on the kid.

- One thing we'll have to wait for is hints on how much money Hendry is authorized to add. With the sale still not done, we may not be allowed to add significant payroll. Remember, Dempster and Wood will both get raises assuming they stay.

- If we were allowed to get any free agent, I'd go for Bobby Abreu.

[DanTown8587]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/2 ... ree-a.html

That is a good list of potential FA

With the things been said: I agree with GYBE on every point. I would love to get Rhodes+Cruz+2 high/risk high reward guys as the bullpen (with Wood and Marmol and Cotts and Marshall/Guzman as hold overs) and let them pitch it out. The Cubs were blessed that every pitcher who they counted on stayed healthy for the most part.
Fotenot is someone who I didn't realize was first among the full season Cubs in OBP and second in average. He can flat out rake. I would love to see start and let DeRosa play RF if the team doesn't add a RF via FA.
The team needs Soriano batting lower. I would love to see Furcal play SS and lead off (making Theriot utility IF/insurance) but its unlikely the Cubs feel the same way about him as we do.

[Howling Mad]

I need to get to the 'acceptance' stage before I start thinking about upgrades and rebuilding.

...but, Arthur Rhodes would look real nice as the lefty specialist. Abreu is tempting, but I don't watn to shell out double digit millions for him.

McClouth would be a dream in center field.

Theriot batted .300 all year. Do I htink he'll do that next year... not much hope, but he's not going anywhere.

Where does Samardzija fit in? He'd be great for long relief.

[Fukudome1]

can we get a proven left handed hitter please. someone like abreu would be so nice.

can we move derrek lee? love his defense but lack of hitting and nack for the dp ball just got frustrating.

soriano needs to b batting somewhere between 3-5 in this order, im sick of this leadoff crap.

get a legit leadoff hitter who can steal bases, bunt, hit for contact and play a solid cf.

releif to bridge the gap to mormol in the 8th and wood in the 9th.

thats it for now

[Posey H8er]

I think it may be time to let the Felix Pie era begin. Fukudome was given so many chances in right field so why not Pie in center? Unless the Cubs want to deal Pie and the Cubs could find a power hitting right fielder and split centerfield playing time between Reed and Kosuke. That's a good solution for Kosuke. He will have limited playing time against RHP and Reed would play against LHP which he kills.

I would love to sign a big bat in the middle of the order like Teixeira, but Derrek Lee is going nowhere with his no-trade clause.

[IbreakNeckZ101]

I think it may be time to let the Felix Pie era begin. Fukudome was given so many chances in right field so why not Pie in center? Unless the Cubs want to deal Pie and the Cubs could find a power hitting right fielder and split centerfield playing time between Reed and Kosuke. That's a good solution for Kosuke. He will have limited playing time against RHP and Reed would play against LHP which he kills.

I would love to sign a big bat in the middle of the order like Teixeira, but Derrek Lee is going nowhere with his no-trade clause.

And felix Pie hasn't been given plenty of chances?? Felix is good on the bench but as a starter no... his body language says he can't handle pressure or even starting every day in the majors.. no.. we put reed Johnson there.. as for kosuke.. i have no idea that guy is horrible..

[SportsWorld]

Felix really never got much of a chance unless you count 1 month of him and Johnson splitting time.

[hermes]

i haven't really read any of this yet, but has Howry been discussed

i think either we should drop him off on some remote island where he can't come back
or pay the Brewers to take him, just to make it official

[Posey H8er]

This was Bob Howry's 3rd and final year of his 3 year contract. He is as good as gone and Cubs fans will never have to see his pathetic performances again.

[SportsWorld]

Would be stunned if a team actually signs him. I'm sure the Brewers will though because they like taking our trash.

[SportsWorld]

Here's Paul Sullivan's ideas for next year:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ba ... 3262.story

Some of these are comical like sending Shark to the rotation (no thanks Paul) and giving Hoffpauir time at first because he is a "good hitter".

[Flaming Mo]

You guys are obviously set in terms of talent. You got all star caliber players at C, LF, 1B, 3B and P. Now the Cubs' problem in the last two years has been performing in the postseason and under enormous pressure. Now nobody of the current group has shown he can step up in those times, keep the team focused and rally the troops around him. Such a player does not always have to be a star. Get some proven vets to put on the bench that can change the culture of this team that certainly lacks toughness. A guy like Kevin Millar comes to my mind, David Eckstein maybe or a Mark Ellis who is a free agent (though you guys have plenty of 2b players). But these unspectacular but efficient signings would take away some of the pressure of Lee, ARam and co. and they would help by making the Cubs a mentally tougher team,

The bullpen would need some help as you'll never know how long Wood is going to stay healthy and you don't want to run Marmol out there as much as this year. The starting rotation looks great on paper but be careful. Zambrano and Harden have injury concerns and Dempster has to prove himself again next year. Another solid guy might no be the worst idea and keep Marshall as a 6th starter or long reliever. He would certainly get enough starts over the course of the year.

[hermes]

This was Bob Howry's 3rd and final year of his 3 year contract. He is as good as gone and Cubs fans will never have to see his pathetic performances again.

oh good