Idea

[NextyearisHERE]

I've heard the Cubs have 26 mil. left to spend this offseason. And I've heard Soriano demanded to hit leadoff, which I believe takes Matthews Jr. out of the picture.
1. Sign Schmidt-39/ 3 years.
2. Sign JD Drew- 52/ 4 years
3. Trade Jaque Jones in a package deal to Cleveland for Westbrook.

[DLee25]

Why does everyone want Drew so bad, i understand we need another OF but he is injury prone, and not worth 52

[Zamby38]

Why does that take Mathews out?
did he want to hit leadoff?

[NextyearisHERE]

yeah matthews jr. is a leadoff hitter.

[DLee25]

i would like to see him as a cub again, but i doubt its gonna happen

[Zamby38]

If we could get him, all our offensive pieces to the puzzle would fit. A CF and also a number 2 hitter if he was willing to cooperate with what was best for the team. You think that maybe he would realize, hey this team has some potential and opt to bat second.
Who knows.

[Brutus T Manstrength]

Why does everyone want to trade jones so bad? I don't think we need another outfielder.. Murton batted great last year, and he's only got up to go.. jones didn't bat too shabby either.. his arm is weak, but if that's his biggest knock.. who cares?

[Zamby38]

Well who will play center field?
Soriano is certainly going to play left, and IF Jones is in right, then who will play center?
Murton does have good enough range to be a center fielder.
just my opinion

[DLee25]

Soriano isn't at a certain OF position yet. It all depends on who we pick up. I think Soriano is well capable of playing CF. They put him in LF last year.

@ Brutus, Jones doesn't have a weak arm, it's just innaccurate. Juan Pierre on the other hand, is both. Jones' biggest knock is all of his strike outs.

[Brutus T Manstrength]

Soriano isn't at a certain OF position yet. It all depends on who we pick up. I think Soriano is well capable of playing CF. They put him in LF last year.

@ Brutus, Jones doesn't have a weak arm, it's just innaccurate. Juan Pierre on the other hand, is both. Jones' biggest knock is all of his strike outs.

Good call.. how many times last year did we see him spike it into the ground before it made it to the infield? haha..

[John]

I would just like to say again that i think all we need is carl crawford to patrol cf, problem solved. Then Hendry wouldnt have to call for pitching, pitching would come to us. LOL

[Zamby38]

Yeah, that is true.
But at least that is something that he can work on and try to fix.
He would be a great defensive player if he worked on that.
As I have said, I am neutral on trading him/keeping him.

[Zamby38]

Is Carl Crawford even a free agent?

[scuba]

No, Crawford isn't a FA. You would be hearing a whole lot about him if he was. There is no way we are getting Crawford. The D-Rays want so much for him I doubt any team would look into doing a trade for him.

[John]

I think tampa is looking for prospects, which we really dont have what they would want but im sure Hendry can come up with something. He has proven in the past that he can get what he wants. Not too often but its happened.

[ChiCubs1984]

I dont think we need to trade Jones. I personally not a big fan of his but he did hit .285/27/81 in the 1st year of being in the National League. So I say give him another year and see what he can do.

[Brutus T Manstrength]

You know.. I like jones.. and I've stuck up for him before.. but if trading him got us crawford.. sweet jesus, I'd be all for it.. I just don't see it happening..

[NextyearisHERE]

its not everyone wants to trade jaque so bad, its giving up him for a pitcher in westbrook that we need, and signing another OF, becuase we have the money.

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

SIGN NEIFI NOW AND END THE MADNESS!!!! Ill go out on a limb and say he will command at LEAST 4 years at 42 million! Your thoughts

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

oh and drive in 98 rbi and steal 84 bases

[Zamby38]

I would do the Jones for Crawford deal in an INSTANT!
but thats just me.
and I would have a better chance finding a quarter in a well than seeing that trade.

[righthookbarrett]

I see Murt going before Jones if a trade does happen with Cleveland. Murt's got more value than Jones.

[Zamby38]

You really think so?
Has Murton proved himself or is he seen as more potential?
Also, Murton doesnt SO as much.
So I see what you mean.

[righthookbarrett]

You really think so?
Has Murton proved himself or is he seen as more potential?
Also, Murton doesnt SO as much.
So I see what you mean.

I think it's more of a potential thing. Murt is younger and is showing a lot of promise. Jones could go back to his 05' numbers next season for all we know. I think something along the lines of Murt and Eyre (with a third player) could net us Westbrook easily.

[Zamby38]

Well that's good.
But is it worth giving up a highly talented outfielder that could play in your franchise for 10 years for a pitcher who could have elbow problems and end his career?
Now I know I am speculating on the negatives, which I shouldnt do, but is there any other player we could offer in the Westbrook package?

[righthookbarrett]

Well that's good.
But is it worth giving up a highly talented outfielder that could play in your franchise for 10 years for a pitcher who could have elbow problems and end his career?
Now I know I am speculating on the negatives, which I shouldnt do, but is there any other player we could offer in the Westbrook package?

Well, definie highly talented. He's shown a lot of offensive promise, yes, but his defense could use a lot of work, and there's better base runners out there. He could play in our franchise 10 years, but then so could Theriot and Pie, you know? Somewhere along the line you've got to be reasonable, especially if you want to win now. Right now we can't win. We've got no pitchers. If we want to compete next year, we've got to make some moves. If that means getting rid of Murton or Theriot or Pie, so be it. These are players that as of right now are very expendable. I just want a world series as soon as possible.

[Zamby38]

And I agree with you 100%
I would LOVE to win the WS right now, as would any other cub fan.
If trading murton,theriot,pie is what it takes to get some starting pitching, then im all for it!
I just dont want to give too much and not get enough.
That would put us under even more.

[righthookbarrett]

And I agree with you 100%
I would LOVE to win the WS right now, as would any other cub fan.
If trading murton,theriot,pie is what it takes to get some starting pitching, then im all for it!
I just dont want to give too much and not get enough.
That would put us under even more.

Oh, I hear ya man. I'm all for getting rid of maybe one, POSSIBLY two if we get something really nasty in return, but I also want some of these young guys around (especially Pie).

[Zamby38]

Yes, if it would take two, to get something "nasty", lol, then I would agree with hendry, but giving up two for a vicente padilla would be idiotic!
Yes, I agree with you again, keep one or two of the young stars around!

[irishcubsfan]

how many times do you have to be told that soriano is gonna lead off and play center field pineela has said it like20 damn times already and so has henry so stop looking for a center fielder

[Webgem]

Hendry has already said he's looking for another bat and has mentioned Soriano will play one of the three outfielder positions. He wasn't guaranteed CF. He was guaranteed the leadoff though.:)

[newt07]

take a chill. You sound like you just came from the other board. We've heard that he is also going to play a corner OF spot. this is a discussion as to what we think could happen which we all know holds no weight in the real world.

[Webgem]

how many times do you have to be told that soriano is gonna lead off and play center field pineela has said it like20 damn times already and so has henry so stop looking for a center fielder


Soriano has not been guaranteed the CF spot


'We basically told him we wanted him to be our leadoff hitter,'' general manager Jim Hendry said Monday after Soriano, 30, passed a physical to complete the eight-year, $136 million deal. ''We feel he can do the most damage in that spot. He was very glad to hear that. We didn't know that was his preference, but he was pleased with that.''

Hendry and new manager Lou Piniella also promised Soriano -- a converted second baseman who led the National League in outfield assists last season -- that he will play one outfield position, though that spot has yet to be determined.

[LeeEila's/rant]

SIGN NEIFI NOW AND END THE MADNESS!!!! Ill go out on a limb and say he will command at LEAST 4 years at 42 million! Your thoughts

I don't think Neifi will be availiable , I believe Dusty and him are out on the road doing big tent revivals. Dusty is the barker singing his praises while Neifi is busy healing the sick , making blind men see, the lame walk , and touching midgets . ( the touching midgets is just for his own personal pleasures but , hey a guy has to do something for himself he can't be all giving all the time )

[newt07]

I don't think Neifi will be availiable , I believe Dusty and him are out on the road doing big tent revivals. Dusty is the barker singing his praises while Neifi is busy healing the sick , making blind men see, the lame walk , and touching midgets . ( the touching midgets is just for his own personal pleasures but , hey a guy has to do something for himself he can't be all giving all the time )

LMFAO that's good!

[HEYHEY]

Pie needs to be brought up.Hes the obvious choice right now.If he sucks the put Soriano in there.