08-21-2009, 05:38 PM
<!--quoteo(post=59320:date=Aug 21 2009, 01:22 PM:name=cherp)-->QUOTE (cherp @ Aug 21 2009, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=59272:date=Aug 21 2009, 11:30 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Aug 21 2009, 11:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->
I think you can balance it out where you semi-rebuild by restocking the farm system and shedding a few bad contracts, while still remaining competitive at the same time. I just can't see a full-on rebuilding process taking place, at least not yet.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
How would you go about doing that? Not saying it is impossible - just curious how you would suggest doing it with this roster/farm/organization.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Trade Lee, Bradley, and Lilly for prospects. They could get some very good players out of dealing such players. Try to get a young major league ready center fielder.
Throw Fox into the 1B hole, move Fukudome back to right field, and give Gorzelanny, Marshall, Samardzija, and Caridad an opportunity to take Lilly's and Harden's spots.
Offer Harden arbitration and wait for the draft pick to hit the system. Do NOT offer Gregg, Heilman, Cotts, Grabow (unless he's a B class FA), and Baker arbitration. Replace them with Blake Parker, John Gaub, Justin Berg, and Andres Blanco.
Pluck a middle infielder off the scrap heap. Nobody top tier, but maybe an older guy that can fill in for a year or two till Flaherty/Castro/Lee/Thomas/Barney etc. are ready. Think Jack Wilson, Marco Scutaro, Placido Polanco, or Mark DeRosa.
Next year's Cubs would look like:
C: Geovany Soto
1B Jake Fox
2B Ryan Theriot
SS: Marco Scutaro
3B Aramis Ramirez
LF: Alfonso Soriano
CF: Michael Saunders
RF: Kosuke Fukudome
SP1: Carlos Zambrano
SP2: Ryan Dempster:
SP3: Randy Wells
SP4: Tom Gorzelanny
SP5: Esmailin Caridad
Bench:
Koyie Hill
Mike Fontenot
Sam Fuld
Micah Hoffpauir
Aaron Miles
Bullpen:
Justin Berg
Blake Parker
John Gaub
Angel Guzman
Sean Marshall
Jeff Stevens
Carlos Marmol
That rotation sticks out like a sore thumb, but in another year or two guys like Andrew Cashner, Jay Jackson, and Chris Carpenter will be fillin up the rotation. I wouldn't say it's ideal, but given the first rounder we'll get for Harden and what Lee, Bradley, and Lilly would fetch, the Cubs would have a bright future. If Soriano was movable at all I would do it, it's just going to have to take the right team in the right situation. I think AL teams would be pretty happy to get Soriano, but I wouldn't count on it.
I think you can balance it out where you semi-rebuild by restocking the farm system and shedding a few bad contracts, while still remaining competitive at the same time. I just can't see a full-on rebuilding process taking place, at least not yet.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
How would you go about doing that? Not saying it is impossible - just curious how you would suggest doing it with this roster/farm/organization.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Trade Lee, Bradley, and Lilly for prospects. They could get some very good players out of dealing such players. Try to get a young major league ready center fielder.
Throw Fox into the 1B hole, move Fukudome back to right field, and give Gorzelanny, Marshall, Samardzija, and Caridad an opportunity to take Lilly's and Harden's spots.
Offer Harden arbitration and wait for the draft pick to hit the system. Do NOT offer Gregg, Heilman, Cotts, Grabow (unless he's a B class FA), and Baker arbitration. Replace them with Blake Parker, John Gaub, Justin Berg, and Andres Blanco.
Pluck a middle infielder off the scrap heap. Nobody top tier, but maybe an older guy that can fill in for a year or two till Flaherty/Castro/Lee/Thomas/Barney etc. are ready. Think Jack Wilson, Marco Scutaro, Placido Polanco, or Mark DeRosa.
Next year's Cubs would look like:
C: Geovany Soto
1B Jake Fox
2B Ryan Theriot
SS: Marco Scutaro
3B Aramis Ramirez
LF: Alfonso Soriano
CF: Michael Saunders
RF: Kosuke Fukudome
SP1: Carlos Zambrano
SP2: Ryan Dempster:
SP3: Randy Wells
SP4: Tom Gorzelanny
SP5: Esmailin Caridad
Bench:
Koyie Hill
Mike Fontenot
Sam Fuld
Micah Hoffpauir
Aaron Miles
Bullpen:
Justin Berg
Blake Parker
John Gaub
Angel Guzman
Sean Marshall
Jeff Stevens
Carlos Marmol
That rotation sticks out like a sore thumb, but in another year or two guys like Andrew Cashner, Jay Jackson, and Chris Carpenter will be fillin up the rotation. I wouldn't say it's ideal, but given the first rounder we'll get for Harden and what Lee, Bradley, and Lilly would fetch, the Cubs would have a bright future. If Soriano was movable at all I would do it, it's just going to have to take the right team in the right situation. I think AL teams would be pretty happy to get Soriano, but I wouldn't count on it.