Based on his contract alone, he'll get another shot. He's still a left handed hitter, and the Cubs desperately need him to settle in next season.

I think he's nearly impossible to trade without making it so cost prohibitive (by eating millions of dollars each season for the remaining years on his deal, which, I believe, is backloaded) that you'd rather just keep him, and move him down to the 5th spot in the order.

That may be true from the other club's perspective, but I don't see the Cubs writing a check for $8-$9 million per season for about 5 years just to trade him.

The Cubs aren't being hamstrung by one deal alone. Soriano's contract, at $20 million per season, doesn't prevent them to pay Zambrano, Lilly, Harden, Lee, Ramirez, etc....

I'll clarify - they will curb spending when compared to the past few off-seasons. I expect they payroll to increase, but only modestly, and they will have to find ways (trades and free agent defections) to maximize their team for next season.

I think you are right. There will be a modest increase in salary, but not the kinds of jumps seen in the last couple years that guys like Soriano, Fukadome, DeRosa, Lilly, and Marquis brought about. They need to either re-sign Dempster, or go after another quality starter. But will Wood be back? Or do they insert Marmol in the closers role and promote Samardjia to the set up role. Perhaps Wood signs for a reasonable deal and is back. But with his injury history, Hendry may well decide not to match any long term deal. Most important is that they add a legit leadoff man. Last year the Cubs team salary level was 118,595,833.00. I expect that to go up to maybe 125,000,000. The best scenario would be one in which they are able to move a large salary or two that brings in a player that fills a need, while opening a spot for a young guy like Hoffpauir,that can produce well and has a low salary.

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I'm really struggling to see how both of these guys (Dempster/Wood) are both resigned, and I'm not even sure they can get one guy signed.

Even if they let these guys go, sure, they gain some flexibility, but only a bit because neither guy was making huge money.

In my opinion, I'd let both go. Dempster was great, but do you want to pay him around $13 million a season (at least) for the next 4-5 seasons? That's a lot of money to spend.

As for Wood, I wouldn't be surprised if they are to work out a 2 year deal, but again, if me, I'd let him go. I think they have some very good in-house options.

As for payroll, if they were at $118 million last year, then $125 million sounds about right this year. Saying that, if they increase payroll by about $10 million, resigning either of these guys puts you over that, and they still haven't made any other moves. I think if they let them go, they chop about $12-14 million off that $118 million, move Sean Marsahll into the rotation, Marmol to the closer role, and this team is still favored to win the division. They can then use their payroll flexibility, plus a trade of a guy like Lee, to shake up the offensive side, and maybe find another starter (due to the impending Rich Harden on/off starts next season).

This will be very interesting to watch.

It is really going to be interesting. They have already unloaded some salary, with the deal they made to trade Scott Eyre to the Phillies (where he goes on to get a WS ring!). Eyre was making 3.8 million. I think it's a pretty good bet that Howry is gone too. Howry made 4.5 Million last season. That's already 8.3 million off the books. They have to decide on Wood and Demster who made 4.2 million and 7.333.333 respectively. Then there is the matter of center field. Edmonds made 8 million last season, with San Diego paying the vast majority of it. I think all but 500,000 was paid by the Padres. Reed Johnson made just 1.3 million and was one of the best bargains in the league. But do they try to keep this duo, or will it finally be Pie? Or will they deal for a CF? Will they try to deal Derek Lee and his 13,250,000.00 contract? Thats a lot of dough for a guy that hit into the most double plays in the league, and had just 90 RBI, while batting third in the batting order. Hendry has a lot of decisions to make and the hot stove will be fun to follow. If the Orioles would make the deal, I would send DeRosa AND Lee to Baltimore, just to get Brian Roberts. That may seem like a lot to give up, but it would free up first base for Micah Hoffpaiur and give the Cubs a true leadoff man who is also a switch hitter. Plus it would free up a lot of money. In addition to Lee's 13.25 Million dollar salary, they would also be saving on DeRosa's 4.75 Million dollar deal. Roberts makes 6.3 Mil. so the overall savings (figure in 500,000 for Hoffpauir) would be about 11,200,000.00 That money would go a long way towards keeping/aquiring some more quality pitching.

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When the O's traded Bedard and Tejada last season did they get verterans with HUGE and expiring contracts or did they get young players who would be under the teams control for multiple years?? Think real hard.......

No way. That hurts too much....

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