What do the Cubs expect to do in the offseason?
I have been watching the remaining playoff games, and I’m still pissed off that the Cubs aren’t playing. Â Am I the only one? Â I wouldn’t think so but who knows lol.
I started thinking forward to the 2008 season, and what we might see out of the Chicago Cubs. Manager Lou Piniella will be back for his second season that is for sure. Will the team resign Kerry Wood? Wil Geovany Soto be the opening day catcher?  What do you do with Jacque Jones?  Will Cliff Floyd be back?
As far as the free agents on the Cubs roster, I would expect the team to sign Kerry Wood, Daryle Ward, and Cliff Floyd if he chooses to come back. Â Also, Scott Eyre does have a players option and has stressed that he would love to stay with the Cubs. Â Time will tell what they do with Eyre, but I would expect him to be in Cubbie Blue in 08 as well.
That leaves Steve Trachsel and Jason Kendell as the free agents that the team would let go. Â Neither player has a future with the Cubs team I don’t feel. Â Atleast I sure hope not.
Right now I think we can expect Geovany Soto to be the starting catcher, Aramis Ramirez at thirdbase, Ryan Theriot at shortstop (would love to upgrade), Mark DeRosa playing second base, Derrek Lee at first, Alfonso Soriano out in leftfield, Jacque Jones/Felix Pie in centerfield, and Matt Murton in rightfield.
Time will only tell what the Cubs will be able to do as far as signing free agents and trades this offseason.� With the team up for sale, and no owner in place as of right now, nothing to drastic is going to happen.� I’d love to pick up a right fielder and a shortstop, but I understand if nothing happens at those positions as well.
I think the Cubs will upgrade in RF and SS. Theriot is better served as a backup and the Cubs don’t like Murton although he should be given more of a starter’s chance. I don’t think Pie is ready either unfortunately. Sean Marshall and Jason Marquis are on the trade block probably.
An upgrade in the RF or CF would be nice, but don’t think we can afford a much better option then Theriot. Besides, I really like Theriot in our lineup. . . he’s the only true leadoff hitter we have (even though we hits 2nd).
I’m more worried about Dempster. He is a horrible starting pitcher, so I hope they don’t move him back there. When he’s not in a save situation, his ERA is terrible, so a setup role probably won’t work either. I’m didn’t think he was as bad of a closer as anyone else in the league – I just think Marmol may be a better answer.
I’d really like to see another Ace if money was no object. Most playoff teams have two aces (the RedSox have 3).
The Red Sox have a good pitching rotation but there’s no way they have 3 aces. Beckett is by far their best pitcher and Schilling is still solid but Matsuzaka is overrated big time and Wakefield is pretty inconsistent. If the Red Sox had 3 aces they wouldn’t be losing the ALCS right now.
I see your point, mikeak21, but we consider Zambrano our ace – and he isn’t exactly the model of consistency either.
How about picking up Bartolo Colon (if money were no object). Since money probably IS an object, I don’t think we’ll do anything very helpful. Our best bet, on another ace, would be to re-sign Prior and hope he can pull together something again. (I know, not a very exciting option)
Actually, never mind. Colon wouldn’t be an upgrade either. Guess we’ll just hope for Prior again.
Kenny Rogers. If money were no object, we could roll the dice on a Kenny Rogers come back. It would keep our rotation crazy left handed – but who cares.
Kenny Rogers? please no
[...] here No Comments so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI [...]