Chicago Cubs needs next year and payroll.

With rumors and news slowing down and everyone watching the crazy NL Central race I have decided to run down the contract obligations, the needs, payroll, and players the cubs might look at for next year.

First the Contract obligations-

1st- Lee 13m
2nd- Derosa 4.75m
3b- Aram 14m
SS- Theriot .5m
C- Soto .5m
OF- Pie .5m
OF- Soriano 13m
OF- Jones 5m

OF- Pagan .5m
OF- Murton .5m
IF- Font .365m
IF-Cedeno .5m
C- Blanco 5.25m

P- Zambrano 15m
P- Lilly 7m
P- Marquis 3.67m
P- Hill .5m
P- Marshall .5m

RP- Dempster 5.5m
RP- Howry 4m
RP- Ohman 1.6m
RP- Weurtz .5m
RP- Marmol .5m
RP-Gallahger .5m
RP- Hart .5m

PLAYERS WITH OPTIONS-
OF/1st- Ward 1.2m option/50,000 buy out
OF- Floyd mutual option 3m??
RP- Eyre 3.5 player option

PLAYERS OFF THE BOOKS-
RP- Wood
OF- Monroe( a non tender candidate)
SP- Trachsel
C- Kendall

Wild Card-
SP- Mark Prior 3.5m

If you add up all the guaranteed contracts before trades, arbitration, free agent signings, and add the contracts of Ward and Prior( who I think will be the only two back out of the impeding FA, DL, and Option players) you get a total of

102.835 million for next year

Now with not many players off the books with big contracts the cubs may be looking to get rid of bad/bloated contracts this winter. They also may be going the trade route this winter rather than the spending spree they took last winter. This free agent market looks ok but it doesn't match up with the cubs needs. The cubs could look at the Free Agent Market for a good player in RF, like a Kosuke Fukudome who just had surgery but will be ready to hit the FA market next year. The cubs do not need to much in the infield and could get by with the pitching staff they have especially if the can count on Prior being ready by openinig day (LMAO) or the could get one of there young kids a shot like Veal or Gallahger. The cubs could add another veteran pitcher via trade or get one threw the free agent market but with the price of pitchers and the cost they have spent on them this year I don't see that happening but they could surpise you and pick up a pitcher and reliever from Japan.

As far as the players with options that we currently have on this team, I see Eyre going somewhere else. He has struggled this year and needs a fresh start maybe back in a Sox uniform or in Detriot.

Floyd is an interesting option, the cubs or him could pick up his option just to have a veteran pinch hitter off the bench that can spell the corner outfielders once in a while so I cant tell you if is gonna be in a cubs uni next year.

Ward to me would be a steal for next year at 1.2million for a guy who can smash rightys and come off the bench to play 1st or the corner OF spots, he would be a steal. Im 90% sure that he will be a cubs next year.

Now for players like Monroe, Trachsel, Wood, and Kendall, they will all be in different uniforms next year. The most likely to come back would be Wood but I don't see that happening. Pitchers are getting big bucks on the FA market even if you have arm problems( like Adam Eaton and Wolf). The one player who I would love to bring back is Monroe. I guy who kills Leftys and can play all three OF positions would look good as the 4th OF on this team. I like him better than Murton. Having Pagan, Ward, and Monroe on the bench would be great for this team next year.

Players who have a good chance of being traded before opening day are as followed

Ohman- With the bad comments between him and the cubs staff, this is his last year as a cub.

Dempster- He is losing it on the mound, his performances vary each outing and you don't need that as a closer. Marmol will be the closer next year. Not to mention a 5.5m dollar contract for a closer who only has 20+ saves year. Jose Valverde of the Dbacks is making 2 million this year and Hoffman is making 6.5 million! enough said!

Jones- The cubs are going to go with Pie in CF next year and they need more production out of RF next year and with Jones lack of power and problems with cubbie fans.. He will likely be out before winter meeting are over.


If the cubs decide to pick up another utility guy or upgrade in the infield or acquire a pitcher you might see these guys in AAA-

Font
Cededno
Marshall
Gallagher
Hart
Murton

As far as the cubs needs I think they could go into next year just getting a utility infielder and a everyday right fielder with power and let young guys fill the holes in the pen. Of course everyone would love to see Arod at SS in cubbie blue even if it cost them 30+m a year but I just don't see that happening. I rather see them spend 30 million on a starting pitcher, RF, IF and maybe another reliever. Here is a list of some players that would be good additions to the team next year.

The Reliever-

Hitoki Iwase- This guy will be in a cubs uniform next year. He is the most dominate left handed closer in Japan and will be a great addition to the cubs for a small price. Here is his stats-

http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1065

here is video-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTUOipyLNHU

The Utility Guy-

IF- Mark Loretta- be a cheap good addition to the cubs adds versatility and would straighten the bench a great deal

The Righthanded Starters-

SP-Kenshin Kawakami- check out this guys stats he is 32 years old and could be the dark horse in the SP next year. Here is the link to his stats-

http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1026

SP- Carlos Silva- Another cheap good 4th/5th starter.. He is only 28 years old and has a record of 11 and 13 in 29 starts with a 4.34era. He is work horse already has 180 innings pitched and in the last for years he has made at least 27 starts with at least a 188 innigs pitched so he averages 7 innings pitched a game. Plus pitchers from the AL going to the NL always pitch better there first years.


SP-Koji Uehara- Another one of Japans great pitchers. Would be a great pick up as a #3 starter. Here is a link to his stats-

http://japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=uehara

The Right Fielders-

RF-Kosuke Fukudome- This guy should be the Cubs #1 priority this off season. He is a power lefty, and his glove is better than his bat and his bat is really good! He will be the next great thing! Here is a link to his stats-

http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=kfukudome

Here is a couple of videos of him-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yTPVo5KA20&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYllEVLkKdM&mode=related&search=

WOW!

RF-Bobby Abreu- would be a decent pick up, good lefty bat, good OBP would benefit being out of NY

Other OFer who the cubs could pick up but probably wont because of price etc-

Aaron Rowand
Mike Cameron
Tori Hunter
Adam Dunn
Andrew Jones

Here is my opening day 25 man roster, starting lineup, and payroll for next year-

1. Soriano LF 13m
2. Theriot SS .5m
3. Lee 1st 13m
4. Aram 3b 14m
5. Fukudome RF 14m
6. Derosa 2b 4.75m
7. Soto C .5m
8. Pie CF .5m

Bench-
Ward 1st/OF 1.2m
Loretta IF 2.5m
Pagan OF .5m
Font IF .5m
Blanco C 5.25m
Murton OF .5m

Starters-
1. Zambrano 15m
2.Lilly 7m
3.Kenshin Kawakami 9m
4. Hill .5m
5. Marquis 3.67m

Relievers-
CL- Marmol .5m
RP- Howry 4m
RP- Weurtz .5m
RP- Marshall .5m
RP- Gallagher .5m
RP- Hitoki Iwase 4m

DL- Pior-3.5m

Bring the payroll next year to a respectable 120-125 million for next year.

Cubs aquire Steve Trachsel.

Cubs got there long relief man today and maybe even a spot starter down the strech in Trachsel. The cubs sent Rocky Cherry and Scott Moore to the O's for the right hander. This is a good move becuase the cubs dont have a long reliever in there pen. Steve is 6-8 with a 4.48 era in 25 games. He will really help this team!

Coats sent to Reds, Rapada completes Monroe trade.

Thanks to cubs.com-

CHICAGO -- The Cubs sent outfielder Buck Coats to the Reds for a player to be named, and also announced the Tigers have claimed lefty Clay Rapada off waivers, which completes an earlier trade.
The transaction involving Rapada satisfies the Aug. 23 trade in which Chicago obtained outfielder Craig Monroe and cash considerations in exchange for a player to be named.
Coats, 25, was originally drafted by the Cubs in the 18th round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft. He hit .303 this year with Triple-A Iowa, with 21 doubles, 11 home runs and 59 RBIs.
Rapada, 26, was 7-2 with 17 saves and a 3.58 ERA in 55 relief appearances for Iowa.

Soriano will start against Brew Crew!

Thanks to cubs.com-

PHOENIX -- Manager Lou Piniella confirmed Sunday that left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who has been out since Aug. 5 with a right quad strain, will be activated and bat leadoff for the series opener against the Brewers on Tuesday.
That's big for the Cubs, who are being pursued by the second-place Brewers in the National League Central. The Cubs held a 1 1/2-game lead entering Sunday's series finale against the D-backs.
"He's going to play unless he slips coming off the airplane," joked Piniella. "He's ready to go. He's worked hard, and we could wait another week, but he's not going to get any better than he is."
The Cubs have an 8-11 record since Soriano got hurt.

Great news! Lets hope he is 100%! He will be a great boast to this team going into Miller Park. It should be intresting who will be sent to Iowa until Sept 1st. My guess is Murton.

Cubs get Monroe.

Thanks to cubs.com-

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Cubs, needing an experienced bat against left-handed pitching, acquired outfielder Craig Monroe from the Detroit Tigers on Thursday for a player to be named.
Monroe, 30, is expected to join the Cubs on Friday in Arizona.

"He's a good athlete, a good outfielder and he's got some pop," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said in announcing the move. "He's a good bat coming off the bench with experience. The teams we're playing here all have left-hand starters in the rotation. He'll be a valuable addition to us, and he gives us more experience."

This season, Monroe was batting .302 with five homers, eight doubles and a .542 slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers. He has played all three outfield positions.
Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell knows Monroe well from their days together in Detroit.
"To me, he's an above-average outfielder," Trammell said. "He can play all three positions. He's had some pretty productive years. I haven't talked to anybody over there as to how this came about."

A career .258 hitter who was batting .222 in 99 games this season with the Tigers, Monroe had been designated for assignment.

"As far as what type of person he is, he's a great guy and will fit in very well," Trammell said.

"He'll be a nice fit. He's produced at the Major League level."

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said he has been looking for a more experienced right-handed bat to deal with lefties.

"Our young players have played terrific, but I think going into September it would be nice to get a guy who's done it before and had a world class second half last year," Hendry said of Monroe, who hit five homers and had nine RBIs in the playoffs last season with the Tigers.

"He's 30 years old, so he has a lot left in the tank," Hendry said. "Our scouts feel he could add something to the table, especially against lefties."

The Cubs are batting .253 against left-handers this year compared to .273 against right-handers. They had Matt Murton and Jake Fox as right-handed options off the bench against southpaws, but Murton has shown more power against right-handers, and all four of his homers have come off them.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland complimented Monroe.

"He was certainly one of our big guys last year," Leyland said. "I'm very happy for him. He'll be in the thick of a pennant race. He's going to be playing in a good ballpark for him."
If the Tigers liked Monroe, why was he designated for assignment?

"It was just a situation where we felt here that, this year, it wasn't going to get better, and you have to start making decisions on what you want to do with people in the future," Leyland said.

"That's basically why that was handled that way."

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Cubs designated Buck Coats for assignment.

I like this move by the cubs. They get an experienced OF that can play all 3 positions, a guy who has playoff experience, has good power( especially against lefties), and we didn't have to give up hardly anything for him. He is a good fill in the corners rather than Murton or Fox and when Sori comes back he would fit well platooning with Jones and Floyd in RF or CF. The player to be looked at as the odd man out is Fox. I don't agree with it but he will probably be sent down to AAA but I wouldn't be surprised if he is called up when the roster is expanded. I am surprised Coats is DFA. He had a solid year in AAA hitting .303 with 11 homers and 59 rbi. I wouldn't be surprised if we get sumtin for him like a PTBNL, or maybe he will be sent to the Tigers.

Good roster moves!

In coordination with Cedeno being sent to AAA Iowa and Hill DFA the cubs have activated Floyd from the RL and activated Blanco from the 60 day DL list. I love this move for the cubs of course. Im a huge Hank White fan and I think with the duo of Kendall and Blanco you have a solid catching core. Another thing I am happy with is Cedeno sent to Iowa instead of Fox. Cedeno is nothing but a mediocre MLB player and Fox has good power and is just a hard nosed player. Good move Hendry!

I would like to also add that I think Ward should be in RF and Floyd in LF with Jones in CF against RHP( giving Murton, Fox, and Pie spot starts). That would put alot of Left handed pop in the line up and imagine facing Jones, Lee, Aram, Floyd, and Ward in the lineup back to back to back to back to back.. That is not a fun inning for a pitcher. I am also in favor for Fox to getting playing time over Murton. I'm tired of Murtons ABs.

ZAMBRANO AND CUBS AGREE TO 5 YEAR DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to MLBtraderumors.com-

Cubs Sign Carlos Zambrano To Extension
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs have inked Carlos Zambrano to a five-year, $91.5MM contract extension. The deal also has a $19.25MM player option for a sixth year, so you might as well call it 6/111.
By waiting, the Cubs cost themselves at least $11.5MM. It's unclear as to whether the original 5/80 deal Zambrano almost signed had a player option. The new contract carries Zambrano through his age 31 season.
This is a home team discount, but $18.3MM annually guaranteed is still pretty hefty. The discount is that the Cubs are on the hook for five or six years instead of seven or eight. And sure, Z probably could've gotten $20MM on the open market. The deal would look a lot better for the Cubs if the 2013 option was the club's. As a player option, Zambrano will basically only exercise it if he's in bad shape.
I've been back and forth on my opinion of a huge Zambrano extension, kind of like the pitcher's up and down season. Part of me says that the Cubs got a slight discount, Zambrano's been an injury-free horse, and he'll still be pretty young throughout the deal. The other side of me says that his best years are behind him, he's got a ton of mileage on his arm, and almost no free agent pitcher deal of this magnitude could possibly work out. I think you could make a legitimate case for either side - sorry for the cop out.
The free agent pitcher market is significantly worse for Zambrano's absence. The best option now appears to be Curt Schilling on a short-term deal, if you can get him.

Better now than never for the Cubs and Z to agree. I think this contract is a huge discount for the Cubs. With Z's rough start and yet he is still in line to win 18 games or more is beyond incredible. Zambrano was looking at 5 to 8 year deals worth 20-30 million a year on the open market( especially with teams like the Mets, Red Sox, and Yanks going after him). Now we can stop reading columns about " Zambrano would like it in NY" and " Zambrano will be the biggest FA on the market". Thank go we wont here that anymore! And teams in New York can finally talk about something besides all the money there are going to throw at Big Z. Big Z is a Cub and Im damn happy he is!

Cubs to take a strong look at Wily Mo!

Straight from the rumor mill and from my dedicated readers. Wily Mo Pena is expected to be DFA or traded in the next day or so. This is what the Boston Herald has to say-

The team has yet to announce Buchholz’ start because of the maneuvering required to add him to the 25-man roster. Indications point to underproductive outfielder Wily Mo Pena being traded or designated for assignment today or early tomorrow. Pena has cleared waivers and can be traded without restrictions.

The Cubs have expressed interest in Pena in the past. Jim tried to acquire him via trade before he was eventually traded to Boston for Arroyo. In the past 3 years Pena has draw interest from many teams but are hesitant because of his "lack to hit breaking pitches" and his lack of experience in the minor leagues before making the jump to the ML.

The Cubs ( who have had a full outfield until recently) have been bitten by the injury bug and other circumstances. Recently the cubs were looking to add Pods and Stewart via trade but they fell through. With Pagan and Soriano on the DL and having Fox and Murton splitting time in the outfield along with Jones, Pie, and Ward, the cubs are interested in picking up a bat. If the Cubs were to acquire Pena( which I don't hide, I would love that!) they would have a problem when Sori, Floyd and Pagan come back. I don't believe Pena can be sent down but if I had to pick between Murton and Pena. Ill take Pena! As far as who will go to Iowa if he is acquired, you gotta believe it would be Cedeno. He is not getting any PT with the way Derosa, Font, and Theriot are playing and personally he is nothing but a good AAA player.

Pena would come cheap especially if he is released. He is only making 1.875 million this year and would cost nothing to get the raw power righty. Now if we go the trade route it will likely be for a PTBNL or a minor leaguer not on the 40 man roster( so he doesn't have to pass waivers). Pena would be a great addition to this team and would really help them down the stretch especially when the Cubs extend the roster to 40 man on the 1st.

He can do nothing but help the Cubs. Come on Jim get it done!

Roster moves and the lineup they need out there

Cubs made some roster moves today once again-

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today selected left-handed pitcher Carmen Pignatiello and recalled infielder/outfielder Jake Fox from Triple-A Iowa. In corresponding moves, right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher and infielder Eric Patterson were optioned to Iowa. To make room for Pignatiello on the 40-man roster, catcher Henry Blanco has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

Lou is currently trying to find the right mix in his lineup with Sori and Floyd being out. Lou should listen to me on this and do this lineup.

Against RHP

Theriot SS
Jones RF
Dlee 1st
Aram 3b
Ward LF
Pie CF
Kendall/Hill C
Font 2nd

Against LHP

Therot SS
Kendall C
Dlee 1st
Aram 3b
Derosa 2b
Jones CF
Murton LF
Fox RF


Thats a solid lineup with some pop. To be honest I think Fox is better than Murton but thats just me.

Deals dead for Pods and Stewart??

According to MLBTR-

Cubs Deals For Podsednik, Stewart Dead
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs will not be acquiring Scott Podsednik, and in fact chances were slim from the beginning. I saw a recent poll where the majority of Cubs fans thought the Cubs should trade for an outfielder. I disagree - I can't see a waiver acquisition improving upon the in-house options. The one possible exception I can think of is Matt Stairs. Regardless of my opinion, the Cubs will apparently go with what they've got.
Similarly, the idea of acquiring Shannon Stewart should be dismissed. According to the Contra Costa Times, Stewart's continued presence in an A's uniform means the deadline has passed for a trade. Joe Stiglich notes that Stewart could net the A's a high draft pick if he leaves via free agency.

But according to Hendry he still has some live claims out there for a couple of players. Yet he says he is comfortable with how the team is. Personally I am not comfortable how the team is. Trotting Murton to bat clean and playing everyday I'm not comfortable with. I understand he is having a good series, but most people have a good series when there at Coors. So until he makes it constant Hendry should still be looking. I am also not comfortable with Cedeno coming off the bench to pinch hit or as a defensive replacement. Hopefully he gets sent down when Ward comes back. Why doesn't Hendry trade for Wily Mo Pena??? He has cleared waivers without a claim and I think he could help this team especially with Pagan out. He has raw power, OK glove and arm.. why not trade Ohman and Cedeno for him?? Some moves need to be made to help this team while Pagan and Sori are out and in case of an injury because we cant lose anymore key players!

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In other news, Lou has said that the Cubs are going to be doing closer by committee. They guys you will see closing out games for the cubs are Marmol, Dempster, and Howry. I wouldn't be surprised to see Woody get some opportunities too.