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Thankfully this miserable season is finally starting to approach the end. Hendry's off-season leading up to the 2009 season will go down in the books as one of the worst in franchise history. Not so much because of the result (it was the same result as the previous 101 years) but because of the expectations leading up the obligatory failure. The problem areas are easy to pinpoint, but how many of them can actually be addressed? Let's take a look:

Kevin Gregg -- Will go down in Cubbie lore along with Latoya Hawkins and numerous others who couldn't handle the pressure of playing in Chicago. Back to back blown saves against the Marlins was a defining moment for our team in the season. GONE.

Aaron Miles -- An absolutely embarrassing pickup. Hendry should be completely embarrassed. At no point did he look anything remotely like a big league ball player. GONE.

Home-Run Heilman -- Another complete failure. He was absolutely miserable. GONE.

Fontenot -- Not anywhere close to an every day play. Maybe he'll land on some other team as a utility player but I don't want to see him on our roster ever again. GONE.

Harden -- Harden has an amazing fast ball, prolific change-up, and good slider. When he's on he's electric. Problem is, he was not on much this year. His start against the Phillies was good but that was not the norm for him in 09. He got rocked a lot this year. Too much. Plus the injury history and us being totally capped out. Goodbye. GONE.

And now is where things get tricky. No team in their right mind would take Alfonso Soriano, Milton Bradley, or Fukudome. That is $40M a year for the least productive outfield in baseball history. We have no choice but to keep them. Bradley and Fukudome both have OBP's of .400 (which is amazing) but I find it hard to believe anybody would take either of them unless we take back an even worse contract. Sadly enough, they stay.

Dempster has basically been terrible all year but at $65M, he's unmovable. It's extremely unlikely that his season with the Cubs in 08 or his previous All-Star year with the Marlins will be reproduced. We're stuck. Ugh. Stays.

Derrek Lee had an incredible year. Possibly his second best ever. I personally think he's in the twilight of his career and this will be his last really good year. If the right deal is on the table, I would move him in a second. However, I doubt Hendry does this. Stays.

Aramis Ramirez is clearly the heart and soul of the offense. Without him we can't hit for jack. Losing him hurt us. If we expect to make the playoffs in 2010, he has to stay healthy. Stays.

Theriot was our best hitter this year but he lacks heart. I think it was Brenley who went absolutely crazy when Theriot failed to hustle around the bases recently and nearly was thrown out at the plate. That play epitomizes our team. Talent but no heart. I've always liked Theriot but I would trade him for equal value. Unacceptable. Even for a one-time thing. But regardless, Theriot isn't going to be traded. Stays.

It appears like the core 2009 roster will remain intact only because we have no other option. Tinkering (ie replacing Heilman, Gregg, Miles, Fontenot, Harden) appear to be the extent of what we can do. Unfortunately 2008 appears to have been our best shot at winning a World Series with the current core group of players.

Thoughts on who should stay and who should go?

It all depends on the ownership situation, if Zell doesn't sell team by offseason Hendry has his hands tied behind his back and will most likely replace the guys you mentioned with farm players or cheap veterans

I think the outfield situation will stay the same. Soriano can't be moved, Fukudome is a great option in center, and I don't know who would take Bradley even though he's bound to have a better 2010. If Fukudome is moved it will be after next season or in-season 2011 in his final year.

Derrek would be a good piece to trade since his trade value is probably at the highest point it will ever be. However he as a no trade clause.

Ramirez is obviously staying

I would like to see Theriot play second where he doesn't have to cover as much ground as short. That would mean shortstop would have to be solved.

Lilly is in his final year, stays.

Dempster has 2 years left and I think an option in 2012 so if he doesn't pitch like he did last season then the Cubs will not sign that option. Stays.

Z's contract is f'in terrible, no one will take him. Stays.

The bullpen is a mess. Get rid of everyone but Guzman and Marmol.

Gregg- Maybe. He hasn't been great but certainly could have been better. The two blown saves weren't good but Spinnin house has been overreacting about everything. Wood stunk against Brewers and I don't remember horrible, angry, hating reactions toward him. But seeing as how Valverde and Soriano are on market, he would be an upgrade and if Marmol and Valverde/Soriano are on, that's one of the nastiest setup crews in baseball. Maybe gone/maybe stays.
Harden- Great stuff, been pretty durable, and good of late. Great pitcher when healthy. But a lot of options like Tim Hudson or Millwood that could be cheaper. Maybe stays/ maybe gone.
Miles- had "Larussa/STL effect" this year. Ok defender but just not good hitter. Gone
Fontenot- Definitely got to be gone. The guy has really just not hit this year and he's not a great defender so there's not much reason to keep him around anymore. Dero, Lopez, Imamura, Sanchez, Polanco, Hudson are all options. Gone
Theriot- I know a lot of crap will be thrown at me. But all the guy can do is hit for contact and sucks at SS. Like I said above, adding Tejada, Figgins, Wilson, and Scutaro to mix a lot of middle infield options at play. Ideally gone but if Hendry/Lou are still here he stays.
Hoffpauir- Has been a disappointment and need new big LH bat off bench.
This is my ideal 2010 Cubs.
1. SS- Figgins/Scutaro
2. 2B- Hudson
3. 1B- Lee
4. 3B- Ramirez
5. RF- Bradley
6. CF- Fuku
7. LF- Soriano (nothing we can do with his contract, I think)
8. C- Soto
9. P
Rotation
1. Zambrano
2. Lilly
3. Dempster
4. Harden/ Hudson/ Millwood/ Bedard?
5. Wells/Myers/Wolf? (a bit concerned that Wells's stuff won't hold up but probably wrong)
Bullpen
LHP Marshall
RHP Escobar (would be nasty option out of pen if healthy and could toss some innings)
LHP Grabow
RHP Baez/ Dotel/ Springer (all add another stable SU option of pen if Marmol gets shaky)
RHP Guzman
RHP Marmol
RHP CP Valverde/Soriano
Bench
IF Baker
OF Johnson
C Varitek/ Pudge (if they're willing to be backup, they would be great veteran presence and could help Soto out)
OF Hinske/Stairs
IF I'm not sure who to put here but it would be nice to have a young, energy player here, barely any young players in free agency yet
I think this team could do major damage. A great leadoff presence, production from middle infield, help a lot.
Managers
I'm not sure what to do here since I don't know everyone who is a manager free agent but.
Manager Cito Gaston?
Pitching Coach Brad Arnsberg?
Hitting Coach ?
Bench Coach ?
Bullpen Coach Strode would be ok but if Cito came over I'm not sure he would keep him.

Tinkering (ie replacing Heilman, Gregg, Miles, Fontenot, Harden) appear to be the extent of what we can do.

Keep Harden - I know he has been up and down this year but last year I thought he pitched very well. He has great stuff and as long he is not the #1 or #2 starter I think he is a very good option to fill out the rotation. When he is on he can be one of the best. Keep Harden.

I think we need to find away to move one of the outfielders - way to much money for that trio.

We really need to upgrade our bullpen next season. That should be our #1 goal. A bullpen consisting of Carlos Marmol, Kevin Gregg, Aaron Heilman, etc isn't going to cut it in October.

If we can keep Harden for a 1 or 2 year deal I see nothing wrong with that.

I agree with the bullpen and our overpaid OF .. we just need to execute better. If we can get value for DLee I'm all for it.

If the Cubs struggle out of the gate next season then I would see what we could get for Aramis in terms of prospects.

Aramis' final year is 2011 and he has an option for 2012. If we ever want to trade him it would be at the deadline in 2011 or 2012. He has a no trade clause through next season. But he has not showed any signs of slowing down offensively.

Fontenot isn't going anywhere. If Hendry gets a better option for 2nd in the offseason, he'll just go back to the bench. He could very well thrive again in a part-time role like he did in 2008. On a team full of huge contracts, I'm not throwing away a guy who makes $400,000 and was our best hitter a season ago. That's insane.

I don't think Rich Harden will be back next year. The Cubs will probably offer him arbitration and he won't accept that giving us a draft pick. Our payroll is going to be hell next season with all the increasing contracts.

cold5 wrote:Gregg- Maybe. He hasn't been great but certainly could have been better. The two blown saves weren't good but Spinnin house has been overreacting about everything.

yeah okay bro....clearly i'm over-reacting about kevin "sling blade" gregg....he has given up more HR's than any other RP in all of baseball.

That was before the epic fail that was last night. If you read posts in the gregg thread, I was defending him because he somehow had two successful seasons as closer and I thought that maybe he could still get it together but he really has for no reason at all sucked this year.