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Analysis, News & Rumors
Archives
November 2006 Headlines
Cubs Making Offers? - 11/30/06 11:15pm
Cubs Land Soriano - 11/19/06 3:43pm
Why DeRosa? - 11/18/06 12:23am
Cubs Should Focus on Igawa - 11/12/06 5:56pm
Ramirez and Wood Stay Loyal - 11/12/06 5:15pm
Dear Cubs: Save Your Money - 11/10/06 5:28pm
Cubs Convention Tickets on Sale Monday - 11/3/06 10:23pm
11/30/06 11:15pm - Cubs Making Offers?
Rumors are already floating around about the next addition to the Chicago
Cubs.
Did the Cubs make an offer to Jason Schmidt? Though the Cubs deny it, the
rumor is
that the Cubs made a 3-year offer worth a reported $45 million.
It appears unlikely that Schmidt would take that offer as he seems to be
more interested
in a longer contract. If something is worked out with Schmidt, it will
likely be after
the winter meetings when the Cubs and Schmidt can gague what the pitcher
may be worth.
ESPN also reported on Wednesday that the Cubs made an offer to Julio Lugo,
though
there has not been any other reports by other sources on this offer.
If the Cubs are still looking for bats, Lugo would be a top choice.
Getting Lugo
also means that Soriano would likely be a starting left fielder instead of
playing in
center field.
Lugo could play in center field or shortstop, which would give the Cubs
many more options.
He would also be a great #2 hitter.
The bigger need at this point is pitching. Losing out on the bidding for
Igawa, the
Cubs need to focus on at least one starting pitcher. Acquiring two
starting pitchers
is more likely.
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11/19/06 3:43pm - Cubs Land Soriano
The Cubs landed the biggest free-agent of the season by signing Alfonso Soriano to a reported 8-year deal. The
deal is worth approximately $136 million and will be the richest deal in the history of the Cubs.
Soriano brings much needed power, speed, and versatility to the Cubs lineup. The team will expect him to
play centerfield and bat lead-off. This deal will mean the Cubs do not have an intention of
re-sign Juan Pierre and instead, focus on Soriano at the top of the order.
Last year, Soriano hit .277 with 46 homers and 41 stolen bases. He had a .351 on-base percentage last year.
Soriano may also be used at second base if the Cubs decide to get experimental. He could fill in at second and the
Cubs could put Mark DeRosa in right field when the Cubs play against lefty pitchers. Jacque Jones had a terrible
year against lefty pitchers last year so the Cubs may be interested in protecting him in the lineup.
Its too early to tell if Soriano will have any objections to playing in centerfield. Last year, he voiced his
displeasure playing in leftfield, but quickly adjusted and was one of the top outfielders in baseball leading all
in assists.
The Cubs will now focus on the starting pitching since the offense and bullpen looks to be set. The last
pieces of the puzzle will be two pitchers to add to the starting rotation.
With Soriano setting the table ahead of Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, the Cubs look to be one of the best offensive teams
in the league.
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11/18/06 12:23am - Why DeRosa?
Why were the Cubs so willing to give DeRosa a three-year $13 million contract?
Don't get us wrong. DeRosa seems to be improving yearly and looks to be a decent addition to the roster. Last
year he batted .296 with 13 homers and 74 RBIs, but that was only his first year as a fulltime player.
DeRosa signed with the Cubs not only because of the good contact, but also because he was
promised the starting position at second base. With this promise, the Cubs must have quite a bit of
faith in him.
Looking at the Cubs previous second baseman, its slightly confusing with they would offer DeRosa such a nice contract compared
to how they have treated last year's second baseman, Todd Walker. Last year, the Cubs couldn't get rid of
Todd Walker fast enough, though his career offensive numbers have almost certainly been better than DeRosa's. The knock
on Walker was that his defense wasn't great. DeRosa's defense is decent, though his range isn't great.
Do the Cubs know something we don't? Jim Hendry already indicated they were very impressed with DeRosa.
Scouts expect DeRosa to continue to improve. Maybe the best part about the DeRosa signing is that he can play multiple
positions. Some experts think he could easily play in right field to offset Jacque Jones when lefties are pitching. This could give
Ronny Cedeno or Ryan Theriot some valuable starts.
Those who are drooling at the thought of Soriano shouldn't give up just yet. Soriano played in left field last year and proved to be
a very good outfielder. The Cubs will almost certainly expect Soriano to play in left field if he is offered a contract with the Cubs.
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11/12/06 5:56pm - Cubs Should Focus on Igawa
Though the Cubs have locked up Ramirez and Wood, there are still plenty of holes to fill.
A few holes still remain in the starting rotation. Only Zambrano and Hill seem like sure-things.
Wood will likely be in the bullpen next year, potentially as a setup man or closer. Mark Prior,
Wade Miller, and Sean Marshall could fill starter spots, but both Prior and Miller are injury prone
and Marshall still needs to develop.
If the Cubs didn't do anything to patch up the rotation, it would look as follows:
1. Zambrano
2. Hill
3. Prior
4. Marshall
5. Miller
The top two free-agent starters are Jason Schmidt and Barry Zito. Though the Cubs have plenty of
cash to spend, can they land one of these two free-agents? Other starters who could
end up with the Cubs would include Vincent Padilla, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, or Japanese
star, Kei Igawa.
Igawa may be the most likely candidate since the Red Sox won the bidding war for the other big
Japanese ace, Daisuke Matsuzaka. Experts expect the Cubs to be aggressive in bidding for Igawa, who
is one of the top pitchers in Japan's Nippon Pro Baseball.
If the Cubs can land Igawa and either Zito or Schmidt, the rotation should be the best in the league.
1. Zambrano
2. Zito or Schmidt
3. Igawa
4. Hill
5. Prior
SP Miller
SP Marshall
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11/12/06 5:15pm - Ramirez and Wood Stay Loyal
Aramis Ramirez may have lucked out by asking for an out-clause in his contract when he re-signed in 2005.
Things have worked out for him since he signed a new contract today worth $73 million over
5 years. He is now signed through 2011 with a mutual option for 2012.
Though the Cubs ended up paying more for Ramirez, they can rest knowing that he likely signed for much
less than he could have got. The same can be said for Kerry Wood who also re-signed with the Cubs for a
small paycheck.
Ramirez could have made close to what Carlos Beltran is making with the Mets. Experts estimate he could have
easily took $100 million with a 7 year deal. Instead, he chose to stay with the Cubs. Kerry Wood could have made
between $2 and $5 million this year, but signed for a much smaller amount at $1.75 million to stay with his
team.
Wood hopes to stay healthy and show that he can regain the dominance he once displayed. He will likely
work as a setup man or closer, but could jump back into the starting rotation if he stays healthy.
Keeping Wood and Ramirez will make Lou Piniella and Chicago fans very happy. It may also sway some of the
other free-agents towards the Cubs since they see players want to stay in Chicago.
With Ramirez and Wood taken care of, the Cubs will now shift their focus to the free-agent pool. Rumors have
circulated that the Cubs will be increasing their payroll to nearly $115 million compared to the $100 million
payroll they had last year. Depending on what that figure is, the Cubs could have between
$20 million and $35 million left to spend.
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11/10/06 5:28pm - Dear Cubs: Save Your Money
Tribune Company, save your money.. Well, save it for current list of free-agent players and not for the right to
bid on a potential star from Japan.
The rumor around baseball is that the top bid for Japan's pitching phenom, Daisuke Matsuzaka, has
hit nearly $40 million. While the Cubs were rumored to have placed a bid, it appears the Boston Red
Sox may have won the bidding war.
Though the Cubs need pitching, maybe they can take that $40 million and add it to the additional money
they planned to put towards free-agents this year to get both Jason Schmidt AND Barry Zito. It just sounds
like a safer bet to get top pitchers who have already proven themselves. Matsuzaka could very well be
the real-deal, but $40 million is a big gamble.
With a payroll that already tops $100 million, why would a team even consider paying $40 million just
for the right to negotiate with a player. Yes, the team would get the money back if they didn't sign
him and the money wouldn't count towards the luxury tax, but is it really worth it?
Cubs fans can only hope they put their bid dollars towards Schmidt, Zito, Soriano, or some of the other
top free-agents on the market.
If that is their plan, they may want to hurry. Gary Sheffield already dropped off the board.
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11/3/06 10:23pm - Cubs Convention Tickets on Sale Monday
Join the Cubs for the 2007 Cubs Convention Friday, January 19th through Sunday, January 21st, 2007. The
Cubs Convention will again be held at the Chicago Hilton located at 720 South Michigan Avenue.
Tickets for the convention will go on sale, Monday, November 6th for $50 for the entire weekend. Cubs fans
will again have the opportunity to mingle with current and former Cubs stars, get autographs, and
listen to question and answer sessions.
Fans who choose to stay at the Hilton for the weekend will have the opportunity to get weekend passes
to the convention for $10 each. For more information, contact the Chicago Hilton at 312-922-4400.
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