Will the Cubs be able to get a valuable player on the cheap?

[CCwinwssoon]

There are still so many players out there in free agency that might be able to help the Cubs. Prices are going down for many of these players. I'm hoping the Cubs can snag someone valuable to the club such as Orlando Hudson or Ben Sheets. If these players price goes down for smaller markets why can't swoop in and get one of these guys. Whatdaya think?

[The Dude]

I would love it if the Cubs could pick up the O-Dog, mainly so I could cheer for someone called O-Dog.

[phan]

something tells me sheets isn't going anywhere cheap.

[Coldneck]

That's one reason I hope the ownership situation is resolved quickly. I'd almost rather sign Sheets to a one year with incentives and an option than trade a bunch of prospects for Peavy. I am way concerned Peavy is a walking time bomb. If he were to blow out his arm we'd be on the hook for some serious money with nothing in return. There are quite a few people that think he was nursing an injury for most of last year.

[Butcher]

I wish we could go back in time and rethink the contract that Dempster just signed.

[Fella]

<!--quoteo(post=13852:date=Jan 26 2009, 01:10 PM:name=phan)-->QUOTE (phan @ Jan 26 2009, 01:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->something tells me sheets isn't going anywhere cheap.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Well if the Rangers won't even take him, I don't know who will, you don't get much more desperate for pitching than they are. That said his flexor tendor might be torn I was reading, so I'm not sure we would want him, even for cheap.

[Fella]

<!--quoteo(post=13854:date=Jan 26 2009, 01:20 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Jan 26 2009, 01:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I wish we could go back in time and rethink the contract that Dempster just signed.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah, I mean it was nice to get it done early, but the market sure bombed afterward, had we waited we probably could have got him much cheaper, or at the very worst signed Lowe or someone instead.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=13864:date=Jan 26 2009, 03:04 PM:name=Fella)-->QUOTE (Fella @ Jan 26 2009, 03:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13854:date=Jan 26 2009, 01:20 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Jan 26 2009, 01:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I wish we could go back in time and rethink the contract that Dempster just signed.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah, I mean it was nice to get it done early, but the market sure bombed afterward, had we waited we probably could have got him much cheaper, or at the very worst signed Lowe or someone instead.
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Maybe, or we also might have given up on Dempster and signed Sheets [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img] to a 3 year deal. I think we need to stop overthinking this and just move on to the team's other needs, which aren't many.

[CCwinwssoon]

<!--quoteo(post=13866:date=Jan 26 2009, 03:15 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Jan 26 2009, 03:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13864:date=Jan 26 2009, 03:04 PM:name=Fella)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fella @ Jan 26 2009, 03:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=13854:date=Jan 26 2009, 01:20 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Jan 26 2009, 01:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I wish we could go back in time and rethink the contract that Dempster just signed.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah, I mean it was nice to get it done early, but the market sure bombed afterward, had we waited we probably could have got him much cheaper, or at the very worst signed Lowe or someone instead.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe, or we also might have given up on Dempster and signed Sheets [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img] to a 3 year deal. I think we need to stop overthinking this and just move on to the team's other needs, which aren't many.
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I like this team but am starting to worry about the bullpen. Marmol has been used so much over the past couple of years. The rest of the pen is kinda suspect. Gregg should be good which is why I never bothered to complain about trading Ceda for him.

[bz]

Our bullpen should be fine. We have plenty of options. Dempster won't repeat last year but should do well and probably just below allstar level (even if it's less than his contract is valued).

As for the original point, I'm fairly certain Hendry will get us a undervalued 24th/25th man.

[Destined]

<!--quoteo(post=13876:date=Jan 26 2009, 02:51 PM:name=bz)-->QUOTE (bz @ Jan 26 2009, 02:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Our bullpen should be fine. We have plenty of options. Dempster won't repeat last year but should do well and probably just below allstar level (even if it's less than his contract is valued).

As for the original point, I'm fairly certain Hendry will get us a undervalued 24th/25th man.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You're exactly right. Can't expect the dominance of Dempster but I'd look for 16-10, 3.60 ERA year from him.

As for the bench guy, I would love Eric Hinske.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=13854:date=Jan 26 2009, 01:20 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Jan 26 2009, 01:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I wish we could go back in time and rethink the contract that Dempster just signed.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Yanks would've offered him a huge deal and probably signed him then.

[Googly]

Also, some people value this, some don't, but Dempster seems to bring more to the table that just his pitching ability... by all accounts he's got a great work ethic, he's a funny guy, a team guy, and he LOVES being a Cub. You don't need everyone to be like that, but I think it's important to have <i>some </i>of that around - keep things light.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=13884:date=Jan 26 2009, 04:43 PM:name=Googly)-->QUOTE (Googly @ Jan 26 2009, 04:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Also, some people value this, some don't, but Dempster seems to bring more to the table that just his pitching ability... by all accounts he's got a great work ethic, he's a funny guy, a team guy, and he LOVES being a Cub. You don't need everyone to be like that, but I think it's important to have <i>some </i>of that around - keep things light.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Absolutely.

[rok]

I'm more worried about Marmol than I am about Gregg. He's been overworked and hopefully being the closer will help keep his innings low, but he still is new to the job. That said, I think the rest of the pen will sort itself out and if we really need another arm (lefty specialist), Hendry should have enough bullets in the chamber to go get one.