2011 Cubs

[Scarey]

Let me start out by saying <b>I am not giving up on the 2010 Cubs already.</b> I'm not thrilled with the team, but there's too much talent with this team that they can't be considered contenders next year. Personally, I think they have a pretty decent shot at it.

However, I have to come to terms with the facts here. There's no way we are going to have a lot of turn over to next year. Personally, when I get to the end of a sport season, I like to speculate what my team will do going into the following season. Given the amount of money tied up in contracts, the changing in ownership, and the lack of prospects in the upper levels of our minor league system, I am fairly confident we will have most of the 2009 Cubs back for 2010.

But, I still want to speculate. 2011 could be a year of much turn over for the Cubs. A couple of contracts will be running out, some of the minor leaguers will be coming of age, and the free agent pool will be more enticing. So, let's speculate. First of all, let's look at the expiring contracts from both this offseason and next offseason.

2010 Cub Free Agents
Reed Johnson
Rich Harden
John Grabow
Kevin Gregg

2011 Cub Free Agents
Derrek Lee
Aaron Miles
Ted Lilly
Neal Cotts
Aaron Heilman


Based on that, I would say the team makeup would be as follows. This isn't peftect, but I would say the team would look generally like this.

C Geovanny Soto
1B __________
2B __________
SS __________
3B Aramis Ramirez
LF Alfonso Soriano
CF Kosuke Fukudome
RF Milton Bradley

SP1 Carlos Zambrano
SP2 Ryan Dempster
SP3 Randy Wells
SP4 __________
SP5 __________

CL Carlos Marmol
RP1 Angel Guzman
RP2 Sean Marshall
RP3 __________
RP4 __________
RP5 __________
RP6 __________

Bench1 __________
Bench2 __________
Bench3 __________
Bench4 __________
Bench5 __________


So, let's piece together a team! I think it's tough to speculate players that we can trade for especially because it's hard to determine who we would have to trade away, so let's try to stick to our in house options, emerging prospects, and free agents.

In House Options (currently on the 40 man roster)
Koyie Hill
Jeff Baker
Andres Blanco
Mike Fontenot
Jake Fox
Micah Hoffpauir
Bobby Scales

Mitch Atkins
Justin Berg
Esmailin Caridad
Thomas Diamond
Chad Fox
Tom Gorzelanny
Marcos Mateo
David Patton
Jeff Samardzija
Jeff Stevens

This prospects list is based on who I think may possibly be ready to play with the big league club in 2011. Feel free to add in anyone not on the list to your 2011 Cubs, but these are a short list of suggestions that I think would be ready to contribute.

MLB Ready Prospects
SS Darwin Barney
SS Starlin Castro
C Steve Clevenger
OF Tyler Colvin
1B Blake Lalli
C Chris Robinson
3B Marquez Smith
2B Ryan Flaherty
2B Tony Thomas
1B Rebel Ridling
OF Brett Jackson

SP Andrew Cashner
SP Casey Coleman
RP John Gaub
SP Jay Jackson
RP Alex Maestri
SP Jeremy Papelbon
RP Blake Parker
RP Brian Schlitter
RP Chris Huseby

Finally, here's a list of potential free agents in 2011.

<b>2011 Free Agents</b>
The following players have contracts expiring or should have the six years of service necessary to become free agents after the 2010 season.

* - player whose current contract includes 2011 option

Player Club
First Basemen
Lance Berkman HOU *
Wes Helms FLA
Jason Giambi COL
Ross Gload FLA
Paul Konerko CWS
Derrek Lee CHC
David Ortiz BOS *
Lyle Overbay TOR
Carlos Pena TB
Albert Pujols STL *

Second Basemen
Eric Bruntlett PHI
Willie Bloomquist KC
Mark Ellis OAK *
Esteban German TEX
Akinori Iwamura TB
Jose Lopez SEA *
Kaz Matsui HOU
Aaron Miles CHC
Freddy Sanchez SF

Shortstops
Alex Gonzalez BOS
Christian Guzman WAS
J.J. Hardy MIL
Omar Infante ATL *
Cesar Izturis BAL
Derek Jeter NYY
Julio Lugo STL
Jhonny Peralta CLE *
Edgar Renteria SF
Jose Reyes NYM *
Jimmy Rollins PHI *
Ramon Santiago DET
Ramon Vazquez PIT
Jack Wilson SEA

Third Basemen
Garrett Atkins COL
Wilson Betemit CWS
Jorge Cantu FLA
Eric Chavez OAK *
Pedro Feliz PHI
Bill Hall SEA *
Brandon Inge DET
Maicer Izturis LAA
Mike Lowell BOS
Melvin Mora BAL
Nick Punto MIN *
Scott Rolen CIN
Ty Wigginton BAL

Catchers
Josh Bard BOS
John Buck KC
Ramon Hernandez CIN
Gerald Laird DET
Victor Martinez BOS
Joe Mauer MIN
Miguel Olivo KC
A.J. Pierzynski CWS
David Ross ATL
Yorvit Torrealba COL
Matt Treanor DET
Jason Varitek BOS
Gregg Zaun TB

Outfielders
Alfredo Amezaga FLA
Pat Burrell TB
Eric Byrnes ARI
Frank Catalanotto MIL
Carl Crawford TB
Coco Crisp KC
Michael Cuddyer MIN *
David DeJesus KC *
Adam Dunn WAS
Jermaine Dye CWS
Jody Gerut MIL
Jose Guillen KC
Willie Harris WAS
Brad Hawpe COL *
Geoff Jenkins PHI
Austin Kearns WAS
Jason Kubel MIN *
Magglio Ordonez DET *
Marcus Thames DET
Jayson Werth PHI

Starting Pitchers
Bronson Arroyo CIN *
Josh Beckett BOS
Joe Blanton PHI
Jeremy Bonderman DET
David Bush MIL
Daniel Cabrera ARZ
Matt Cain SF *
Jorge De La Rosa COL
Jeff Francis COL *
Jon Garland LAD
Roy Halladay TOR
Aaron Harang CIN *
Tim Hudson ATL
Cliff Lee PHI
Ted Lilly CHC
Braden Looper MIL
Noah Lowry SF
Kevin Millwood TEX
Jamie Moyer PHI
Vicente Padilla LAD
Tim Redding NYM
Nate Robertson DET
Ian Snell SEA *
Jeff Suppan MIL *
Willy Tavarez CIN
Javier Vazquez ATL
Brandon Webb ARI
Jake Westbrook CLE
Dontrelle Willis DET
Chris Young SD *

Relief Pitchers
Jeremy Affeldt SF
Grant Balfour TB
Doug Brocail HOU
Neal Cotts CHC
Jesse Crain MIN
Scott Downs TOR
Chad Durbin PHI
Alan Embree COL
Kyle Farnsworth KC *
Pedro Feliciano NYM
Jason Frasor TOR
Brian Fuentes LAA *
Chad Gaudin NYY
Geoff Geary HOU
Jimmy Gobble CWS
Matt Guerrier MIN
Aaron Heilman CHC
Mike Lincoln CIN
Javier Lopez BOS
Seth McClung MIL
Brian Moehler HOU
Scott Proctor FLA
J.J. Putz NYM
Chad Qualls ARZ
Jon Rauch MIN
Arthur Rhodes CIN
David Riske MIL *
Mariano Rivera NYY
J.C. Romero PHI *
B.J. Ryan CHC
Bobby Seay DET
Scott Shields LAA
Brian Shouse TB
Justin Speier LAA
Huston Street COL
Matt Thornton CWS *
Luis Vizcaino CLE
Tyler Yates PIT
Tyler Walker SEA
Kerry Wood CLE *


Please keep in mind, this is just supposed to be fun. I know it's completely unrealistic to predict what the team will look like a year and a half from now, but I need something to help get me through this Friday.

[jstraw]

All I know is that if our OF is still the same three guys in 2011 we are so fucked.

[rok]

I also have a feeling that Randy Wells won't be around in 2 years.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=63616:date=Sep 18 2009, 10:54 AM:name=jstraw)-->QUOTE (jstraw @ Sep 18 2009, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->All I know is that if our OF is still the same three guys in 2011 we are so fucked.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I don't see any way they will NOT be here.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=63621:date=Sep 18 2009, 11:26 AM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63616:date=Sep 18 2009, 10:54 AM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Sep 18 2009, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->All I know is that if our OF is still the same three guys in 2011 we are so fucked.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I don't see any way they will NOT be here.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We could easily trade Bradley and/or Fukudome if we pick up some of their salaries. I guess you could say the same for Alf, but there's a whole lot of time/money left on his deal...

[Scarey]

C Geovanny Soto
1B Jake Fox
2B Ryan Theriot
SS Starlin Castro
3B Aramis Ramirez
LF Alfonso Soriano
CF Kosuke Fukudome
RF Milton Bradley

SP1 Carlos Zambrano
SP2 Ryan Dempster
SP3 Randy Wells
SP4 Jay Jackson
SP5 Casey Coleman

CL Carlos Marmol
RP1 Angel Guzman
RP2 Sean Marshall
RP3 Jeff Stevens
RP4 John Gaub
RP5 Blake Parker
RP6 Tom Gorzelanny

Bench1 Steve Clevenger
Bench2 Darwin Barney
Bench3 Lyle Overbay
Bench4 Tyler Colvin
Bench5 Jeff Baker

This team offensively wouldn't be anything special, but should get on base. It will be up to Ramirez, Fox, and Soto to bring the runs in mostly. Overbay would be a nice player to throw in against tough RHP. The bench brings a lot of versatility. Fox, Baker, and Clevenger can play multiple positions and Colvin would be able to play any of the outfield spots.

The infield defense would be pretty decent. Theriot may not have the best range at second, but he's a much better defender on the right side of the infield. All reports are saying that Castro has the tools to be a major league shortstop and Barney is the perfect plus defensive sub for the middle infield.

The pitching would be such a wild card here. I think Jackson is going to be very good, but his first year he could hit a few speed bumps. Coleman I'm not as confident in, but he was the minor league player of the year for a reason. Wells will be a solid back end rotation pitcher, Dempster I think will be very mediocre, and Zambrano will not be an ace anymore (I know lots of you don't think he is at this point.) The rotation would have a lot of potential, but could be a reason for the team to struggle.

It could be an ugly team, but fun to watch at the same time.

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=63623:date=Sep 18 2009, 11:28 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 18 2009, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63621:date=Sep 18 2009, 11:26 AM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63616:date=Sep 18 2009, 10:54 AM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Sep 18 2009, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->All I know is that if our OF is still the same three guys in 2011 we are so fucked.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I don't see any way they will NOT be here.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We could easily trade Bradley and/or Fukudome if we pick up some of their salaries. I guess you could say the same for Alf, but there's a whole lot of time/money left on his deal...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I have to believe that Hendry always knew that with the Fuk and Alf deals, that a day would come when we'd have to pay someone to take them off our hands. The gray area is the question when that point would come. I just don't believe he ever thought either of those guys would play out those contracts in Chicago...they were just the contracts it took to get them here.

These guys are only going to get older and slower. Hence my shuddering at the thought of the same outfield 2 years from now.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=63626:date=Sep 18 2009, 12:01 PM:name=jstraw)-->QUOTE (jstraw @ Sep 18 2009, 12:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63623:date=Sep 18 2009, 11:28 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 18 2009, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63621:date=Sep 18 2009, 11:26 AM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63616:date=Sep 18 2009, 10:54 AM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Sep 18 2009, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->All I know is that if our OF is still the same three guys in 2011 we are so fucked.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I don't see any way they will NOT be here.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We could easily trade Bradley and/or Fukudome if we pick up some of their salaries. I guess you could say the same for Alf, but there's a whole lot of time/money left on his deal...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I have to believe that Hendry always knew that with the Fuk and Alf deals, that a day would come when we'd have to pay someone to take them off our hands. The gray area is the question when that point would come. I just don't believe he ever thought either of those guys would play out those contracts in Chicago...they were just the contracts it took to get them here.

These guys are only going to get older and slower. Hence my shuddering at the thought of the same outfield 2 years from now.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


The big problem here is that we don't currently have any long term solutions for the outfield if we wanted to replace any of those guys. They could sign a free agent, but you would likely have to do the same thing that put you in this situation. Colvin had a great year this year, but I still don't see him as anything other than a 4th outfielder. Brett Jackson and Kyler Burke could be the answer, but I don't think they'll be ready by 2011.

The only other outfielders with potential is Brandon Guyer and Logan Watkins. Guyer really struggled at AA this year and had to go back down to high A this year where he excelled. Logan Watkins was in Boise and is a middle infiedler first and outfielder second. Both of those guys are a long way off.

We don't really have anyone besides Fox that could play the outfield every day any better than Kosuke and Bradley can. Plus, both will be free agents going into 2012. I just don't see us getting rid of them unless we trade for a cheapish productive outfielder.

[veryzer]

i can't think of any reason not to bring lee back next year. without him, we'd be in third place now, hoping to be .500. lee has to at least start the season with the team and see where we are at the break.

and bradley can be traded. in fact, i think it's a certainty.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=63646:date=Sep 18 2009, 04:48 PM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ Sep 18 2009, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->i can't think of any reason not to bring lee back next year. without him, we'd be in third place now, hoping to be .500. lee has to at least start the season with the team and see where we are at the break.

and bradley can be traded. in fact, i think it's a certainty.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If we don't trade one of either Fuk or Bradley, I'm gonna be pissed. They've been essentially the same guy offensively this season, and you can't have 2/3 of your OF putting up sub .800 OPSs like that and expect to get much production out of your lineup.

[Coldneck]

True. I think Fuk is more marketable.

[Scarey]

Anyone care to let me know who our starting right fielder is next year after we trade Bradley?

[PcB]

<!--quoteo(post=63661:date=Sep 18 2009, 09:50 PM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 09:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Anyone care to let me know who our starting right fielder is next year after we trade Bradley?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sammy.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=63663:date=Sep 18 2009, 09:57 PM:name=PcB)-->QUOTE (PcB @ Sep 18 2009, 09:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63661:date=Sep 18 2009, 09:50 PM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 09:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Anyone care to let me know who our starting right fielder is next year after we trade Bradley?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sammy.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Why not just let the first jackass drunk that falls out of the bleachers and onto the field each day be the right fielder? At least he wouldn't yell at the media!

[Ace]

You've got to believe that *someone*, be it Brett Jackson or Burke or someone else (who knows, Vitters could get moved to a corner spot), will be pushing the outfield a bit in 2011.