Updated Cubs Wish List
It's a slow Monday night. Let's generate some buzz, shall we?
Here's my Mostly Unreasonable But Not All That Crazy Offseason Wish List for the Cubs.
- We need a right-handed center fielder. My pick: Mike Cameron. I was kind of surprised to see that he was paid $10 million for 2009. I guess if that's what he's looking for next year he'll be out of our price range, but if he'd go for 1/7 or 2/12 I think I'd do it.
- We don't really need to upgrade our infield, and we especially don't need to add a long-term contract. But Felipe Lopez would really help. He's a switch hitter with a good on-base percentage from both sides of the plate -- and he's not bad on defense, either. Like a Milton Bradley for the infield, without the complete insanity.
- I still think Bradley has enough offensive skill and defensive non-suckitude to be a positive contributor in right field. But if we do move him, I hope it's for Kevin Millwood. I know Millwood is not an ace, but he does have a pretty decent ground ball rate. And not only would he be leaving the AL, he'd no longer have to pitch in Texas Stadium half the time.
- I'm still a big proponent of trading Ryan Theriot and Milton Bradley to the Tigers for Curtis Granderson and Dontrelle Willis. Again, tell me why that deal doesn't work!
Comments welcome.
Proposed Trade
There is absolutely no chance that the Tigers would take Milton and Theriot for Granderson and Willis. Granderson alone will net the Tigers a pretty good package. Do not over value Theriot, he is good but not that good that the Tigers would jump at this deal. In my opinion you would have to include Jake Fox and Hak-ju Lee to make this deal work.
I know this is a pipe dream but with all this talk about Miguel Cabrera being available, why not us. This is the type of guy you build your franchise around. He does have a few personal issues but he sure can handle that bat like the best of them. The package that it would take to land him would be huge but in my opinion worth it. If we can keep one of Starlin or Vitters I'd go for it.
Theriot's not a prospect --
Theriot's not a prospect -- he's a legitimate major league shortstop, years away from free agency. Whether or not he hits .270 for the rest of his career, he's valuable for the next few seasons as a relatively inexpensive and not totally crappy option at THE premium position on the diamond.
What other teams are willing to offer a sure thing major league shortstop who's owed just a couple million per year for the next short while?
Milton Bradley was born to DH, and relative to his ability to hit he's being paid at a pretty reasonable rate. Regardless of what he might be worth, though, let's assume he's only worth $10 million over the next two years, instead of the $20 million he's owed.
In that case, fine. Cubs management and fans seem to agree that getting rid of Bradley would be worth a few million bucks.
If we're going to be forking over cash anyway, why not get a nearly worthless baseball player back for our $12 million? Enter Dontrelle.
I don't think Hak-Ju is being traded anytime soon, but let's add Jake Fox to the picture. Any other mediocre veterans you wanna throw on, like Hoffpauir, Fontenot, or (I'd rather not, but) Andres Blanco?
The Tigers want to save money, and the Cubs are perhaps one of the best positioned teams to provide those savings because they have moderately effective cheap veterans along with a tiny bit of cash left over.
Granderson is...
...another whiff machine. He is a plus CF'er but a platoon player nonetheless at the plate. Pass-a dena on another less than complete outfielder. Hasn't Hendry got it yet?
Right -- less than complete
Right -- less than complete outfielders are OK, but we have those in our system already, for less than a zillion dollars. Soriano-Fukudome-Fox-Fuld gets you a long ways, doesn't it?
...do we need Reed Johnson back?