2008-2009 Cubs Offseason Thread

[SportsWorld]

So what do we do? Let's add CC since he sucks in the postseason.

[magicfan4life05]

no faith?


GO CUBS GO

it's not over till it's over and then it will be over....maybe

[SportsWorld]

No it's really over.

[magicfan4life05]

OH CRAP


i just found out it's best of 5

NOT 7

which i thought it was

[MickeyDavis]

Well you guys have a better offseason to look forward to than Brewers fans do. This was our one shot for awhile. We are already taking a step back next year. You guys resign Dempster, add a couple more free agents and you're good to go.

[Rodanlee]

Quite frankly.... I would've said that this is over last year, and I feel like **** right now, but w/ Harden and Lilly going for some reason I just feel really confident, I don't know why but I do... It was different last year b/c of Brandon Webb but there is nothing that scares me enough to think that our bats can wake up in LA and just start hitting like crazy

[SportsWorld]

If it makes you feel any better...Kuroda in 2 starts has a 0.59 ERA against us.

[Jo Jo English]

Well you guys have a better offseason to look forward to than Brewers fans do. This was our one shot for awhile. We are already taking a step back next year. You guys resign Dempster, add a couple more free agents and you're good to go.

Do you guys (Brewer fans) want to organize some sort of mass suicide? I'm thinking something reminiscent of the Jonestown "drink the kool-aid" thing. Maybe all of us can meet up at the Brat Stop to end it all.

[GYBE]

Well, re-signing Dempster is a big priority. Isn't Wood a free agent too?

We need to find a way to get Fontenot's bat into the lineup regularly. And hopefully Lou doesn't let Fukudome's contract force him to play the guy.

As far as free agents go, buy a few reasonably priced middle relievers and hope at least one becomes a good option.

[DanTown8587]

Step 1 Trades
Trade Alfonso Soriano to New York Mets for Daniel Murphy, two prospects (one top 10 and top 20)
Why: The Cubs do a Major shakeup. They get rid of a guy just killing this team in small ways (Soriano and his inability to do the small things at the leadoff spot. The Mets get a HR hitter in the middle of the lineup and a guy to play 2B for them.

Free Agents:
Sign Rafael Furcal to a 4 year deal
Why? He is the type of player you need at the top of a lineup and a guy with a strong arm at SS. Moves Theriot to the bench, a good spot and is good insurance for him.

Sign Milton Bradley to a 3 year deal
Why? Had a great year in Texas, but he has power and can play the LF spot with good defense and can stroke the ball off the bat

Sign Bobby Abreu to a 2 year deal
Why? He can hit from the left side with Lee type power and play good defense in RF. I believe Koskue moves to CF where he can hit eighth.

Sign CC Sabathia to a 6 year deal
Why? Instead of signing Ryan Dempster, you sign a guy who dominates and has CY Young stuff. I think Ryan Dempster is this years' Carl Pavano and will be a VERY bad player to give long term money too.

Sign Kerry Wood to a 2 year deal
Why? Keep your closer.

Sign Arthur Rhodes to a 1 year deal
Why? Best lefthander Cubs would have out of the pen in years.

Sign Juan Cruz to a 3 year deal
Why? Has great stuff and would be a perfect guy to pair with Marmol from the right hand side of the bullpen

Projected Lineup
1. Furcal SS
2. Bradley LF
3. Lee 1B
4. Ramirez 3B
5. Abreu RF
6. Soto C
7. DeRosa 2B
8. Fukudome CF

Bench
C Blanco
IF Theriot
IF Fotenot
IF/OF Hofpauir
OF Johnson

SP Sabathia
SP Zambrano
SP Harden
SP Lilly
SP Marquis

CL Wood
SU Marmol
SU Rhodes
SU Cruz
MR Wuertz
MR Gaudin
LR Marshall

Pie, Samardzija (as starter) start season in AAA

[GYBE]

I'm down with the Rhodes and Cruz signings.

But the rest of the plan is way too unrealistic. With the team being sold, I doubt Hendry has the ability to add the massive amounts of payroll needed to get CC, Furcal, Abreu and Bradley. Bradley's defense is suspect since his injury as well, he's an AL guy now. Furcal and CC are both too risky because of injuries for my liking, especially for the years and dollars they'll command. I like Abreu and would love to add him, but I'm not sure how much the payroll can grow.

Soriano's contract is untradeable. No one will take on the next 5 years for huge dollars. The only way to move him would be to pay almost the whole thing, which they'd never do.

[IbreakNeckZ101]

Well you guys have a better offseason to look forward to than Brewers fans do. This was our one shot for awhile. We are already taking a step back next year. You guys resign Dempster, add a couple more free agents and you're good to go.

Psychologically the cubs are heading into the offseason worse than any other team in the major leagues.. let's be honest.. we were expected to atleast go to the world series this year.. that isn't going to happen.. we've been swept back to back years in the NLDS... what's more demoralizing than that?? IMO we aren't going to recover from this next year or maybe for a long time.. i honestly don't expect us to make the playoffs next year because of this choke job.

[IbreakNeckZ101]

i'm sorry to say this, but we're pretty much stuck with this team for a while. IMO the only way we can get back to the top is by scouting and drafting well..(like the yankees in the 90's) and hopefully a little luck.

[SportsWorld]

Cubs and luck?

[IbreakNeckZ101]

Cubs and luck?

We're due for luck.. i'm sick of this goat ****.. it;s this dumb organization throughout these years.

[Gordon Bombay]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4054tuyH3oM&feature=related

thats right...we're turning to europe songs to turn this thing around

[SportsWorld]

I think this song is more appropriate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZkllM8znx4

[IlliniNRG]

This thread and its very existence is ****ing pathetic.

Go root for the Yankees, you effing quitters.

[SportsWorld]

Okay fine I'll lock this up until we finally get eliminated.

[SportsWorld]

Doubt we can do it now. Offseason thread open for business.