remaining free agents

[TheBenjamin]

here is a list of remaining free agents (or at least most notable ones), seperated by position. We all know what we need. who would you want the Cubs to look at signing to fill in the gaps?

Catchers
Johnny Estrada (32)
Damian Miller (38)

First basemen
Sean Casey (34) - Type B
Tony Clark (36)
Ryan Klesko (37)
Doug Mientkiewicz (34)

Second basemen
Nothin' left.

Shortstops
Sorry, there's pretty much nothing here.

Third basemen
Morgan Ensberg (32)
Pedro Feliz (33) - Type B
Corey Koskie (35)
Dallas McPherson (27)

Left fielders
Barry Bonds (43) - Type A
Luis Gonzalez (40) - Type B
Kevin Mench (30)
Reggie Sanders (40)
Shannon Stewart (34) - Type B
Brad Wilkerson (31)

Center fielders
Kenny Lofton (41) - Type B
Corey Patterson (28)

Right fielders
Shawn Green (35) - Type B
Kevin Mench (30)
Trot Nixon (34)
Reggie Sanders (40)

DHs
Barry Bonds (43) - Type A
Mike Piazza (39) - Type B
Sammy Sosa (39)
Mike Sweeney (34)

Starting pitchers
Tony Armas Jr. (30)
Kris Benson (32)
Shawn Chacon (30)
Roger Clemens (45)
Bartolo Colon (35)
Josh Fogg (31)
Casey Fossum (30)
Freddy Garcia (32) - Type B
Livan Hernandez (33) - Type B
Byung-Hyun Kim (29)
Kyle Lohse (29)
Rodrigo Lopez (32)
Mike Maroth (30)
Eric Milton (32)
Tomo Ohka (32)
Russ Ortiz (34)
Odalis Perez (31)
John Thomson (34)
Steve Trachsel (37)
Jeff Weaver (31)
David Wells (45)

Closers
Armando Benitez (35)
Keith Foulke (35)
Bob Wickman (39)

Middle relievers
Antonio Alfonseca (36)
Shawn Chacon (30)
Jorge Julio (29) - Type B
Jose Mesa (42)
Trever Miller (35) - Type B
Akinori Otsuka (36)
Rudy Seanez (39)
Aaron Sele (38)
Ron Villone (38)

[BigZ38]

How about taking a chance on Freddy Garcia....When he's right he's a pretty darn good pitcher....although I think it'll take more than a one year deal to bring him in....I'm willing to take the risk.

[TheBenjamin]

I was thinking maybe Josh Fogg, Jarrett Wright, Kris Benson.... maybe catch they can find a way to return to pitch they did for one or two years they had success

[ryno4ever]

Isn't Garcia hurt pretty bad and recovering from surgery?

GO GET LOFTON!!!!

[TheBenjamin]

dont know.... have to look into it

[cubbie_kern]

I like Lofton as a security blanket in case Pie doesn't work out.

[Bockstock]

Does Type B mean the Cubs give up a draft pick??

Even if the Cubs sign Lofton, they will likely need to pick another OF.

Lofton hit a paltry 246/301/290 against LHP the last three years

[TheBenjamin]

type A free agents cost you 2 picks
type b free agents cost you 1 pick

[Bockstock]

type A free agents cost you 2 picks
type b free agents cost you 1 pick

Hmmm

This is where a good GM would do his homework. Howry, Dempster, Wood are all FA next year. Obviously you would expect the Wood to be the #1 priority if he has a great year. If Howry/Dempster performed like they have the past two years, Howry has a chance to be a Type A and Dempster a Type B (as long as he stays a closer where he will have more value than a starter)

Letting Howry and Dempster go would fetch the Cubs 2, possibly 3 draft picks, so any picks lost this year might be compensated in next year's draft.

[BigZ38]

Isn't Garcia hurt pretty bad and recovering from surgery?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2997866

Here's a link on his injury.....Looks like he hurt his labrum.....I'd still take a chance on him...He's only 31 and when he's right he's an all-star.

[TheBenjamin]

Big Game Freddy as the sux fans called him

[TheBenjamin]

jarret wright has been signed by the Pirates so i edited his name off the list

[taz57]

Isn't Garcia hurt pretty bad and recovering from surgery?

GO GET LOFTON!!!!

I like the way you think. Even at 40 years old, he is still a catalyst on the team. The Cubs need a backup plan for Pie, and I don't think Fuld is the answer just yet. During the 03 playoff push, Lofton was the spark at the top of the order that got the fire started. He might not be as skilled as he once was defensively, but with Soriano and Fukudome flanking him, they would be O.K.

I was pissed that the Cubs didn't extend him past 03. I know that he told Sosa where the bear sh!ts in the woods, and that did not sit well with management at the time.

[TheBenjamin]

my only prob. with loften is he lacs a good arm

[TrueBlueCubFan]

In my opinion, the Cubs should give Pie that best opportunity to win the starting CF,come opening day. He has the most upside. A Lofton signing would just put Pie on the bench or starting in Iowa. I think the Cubs would have signed a Lofton type already if they didn't think Pie or Fuld were ready to make an impact this year. If neither Pie,Fuld or Colvin, etc. work out by the trade deadline, they can always trade for a Lofton type.

The only FA I could see them after & have interest in is Alex Cintron ( switch hitting MI).

[Bockstock]

In my opinion, the Cubs should give Pie that best opportunity to win the starting CF,come opening day. He has the most upside. A Lofton signing would just put Pie on the bench or starting in Iowa. I think the Cubs would have signed a Lofton type already if they didn't think Pie or Fuld were ready to make an impact this year. If neither Pie,Fuld or Colvin, etc. work out by the trade deadline, they can always trade for a Lofton type.

The only FA I could see them after & have interest in is Alex Cintron ( switch hitting MI).

Ditto on Lofton

I don't think we'll see Colvin unless the wheels fall off early and hard

Cintron is absoulutely horrible, but if he replaces Mike Fontenot's spot, I guess I could live with that if the Cubs don't intend on getting Roberts or upgrading Theriot.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Cintron is absoulutely horrible, but if he replaces Mike Fontenot's spot, I guess I could live with that if the Cubs don't intend on getting Roberts or upgrading Theriot.
I agree

[LeeEila's/rant]

Lofton would be the best buy . Lofton and Fuld in center giving Lofton a rest in season so we could have his experiance in the play offs . Giving Pie a whole season in the minors to where he is fully ready next season when we will be grabbing every dime we can.

[Bockstock]

Lofton would be the best buy . Lofton and Fuld in center giving Lofton a rest in season so we could have his experiance in the play offs . Giving Pie a whole season in the minors to where he is fully ready next season when we will be grabbing every dime we can.

The Cubs would still need a RH hitting Of

Lofton is miserable against LHP and Fuld bats lefty.

Of course hanging onto Murton and going with a Murton/Soriano/Fukudome or Soriano/Fukudome/Murton OF against LHP would be awesome, that doesn't seem to be in the Cubs plans.

[HEYHEY]

None of these guys on the list jumps out at you. Nothing that we don't already have anyway. Garcia is interesting if he is healthy as is Colon,but who wants to take the chance on damaged goods? If thats the case they should have signed Prior.

[TheBenjamin]

I would have had no problem with signing Prior if he had backed off his stance of only wanting a one year deal