So, um, do you pick up his option?

Leading the majors among Third Basemen in OPS, Slugging, Average, 2nd in Home Runs.

16 million dollar club option.

I hate to say it, but with the amount of holes on this team, I think they need to.

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Team Cutler.

no

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He's my favorite player on the Cubs so I'd love to see him back but seeing that this is a contract
year and he is very injury prone the last few seasons, I think you need to let another team pay
him that kind of money and blow this thing up and start over. It sucks to think that way but
in a few years we'll be out from all the bad money and will have a chance to have something
again.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

2009 was his only year with less than 450 AB's since 2005. If they don't pick up his option, it will be a significant offensive downgrade.

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Team Cutler.

Hell no. I would rather watch DJ or Baker hold it down for a year than bring that dead ass back. You can not change the culture by bringing him back. Getting him far away from Castro would be a good thing.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

$16 million is pretty steep for a guy who only hits when it's all over.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

There is nothing else out there at 3B next year. It's him or nothing. It is a lot of $$$, but it's hard to field a competitive baseball team without a good 3B. Probably yes.

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This team is in no position to seriously compete next year. I will gladly sacrifice some offensive production next year for a better future in a few years.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Agreed.




You're better than that

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Team Cutler.

What does that mean?

Ramirez doesn't perform well when the expectations are high. He always starts hitting when the pressure is off, as in they're 10 games under .500 and going no where.

I'm no fan of his attitude. I don't like his approach to baseball. I don't like his lack of leadership. For $16M? No thanks. maybe 10. Maybe. Other than that, bring up vitters and see what he does. Nexst year is a throwaway anyway.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

He doesn't even want his option picked up. He wants a new contract. Who is going to pick the option up? Fucking Randy Bush?

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

This team will still be a a year or two away from being close to competitive again after this season. There's no need to keep him here.

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Because that's just not true. If their last two playoff seasons he posted .900 ops and was often referred to as the guy you want up to bat in clutch situations. Grand Slam against the Phillies in August of 08's comes to mind. We can get into a deeper breakdown of stats if you want, but to think this guy only hits during down years when the team is out of it is wrong



The problem is, I don't think Rickett's can allow it to be a throwaway year. The team needs to be kept competitive for obvious financial reasons. Can they do that with a Baker/LaHair combo at 3b and the .700 ops that'd bring? I don't think so. Vitters isn't ready for MLB yet, maybe September call ups next year/injury replacements. Cubs minor league people are talking about starting him next season in Iowa.

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Team Cutler.

Hell yes. Keep him away from Castro. If anyone believes Castro doesn't look up to him then they are crazy. Unless his being on the roster generates 16 millions dollars in ticket sale revenue then let him go. Vitters is continuing to improve but all he is ready for is AAA. The guy gets better but he takes forever to do so. Marquez Smith is not a terrible option for a year but for some reason Hendry hated him and buried him in AAA.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Didn't he have something like 2 HRs and 20 RBI in May? Sure he's been great lately, but when your #1 power guy is basically a non factor for the first 6-8 weeks of the season, it makes it pretty hard to field a competitive baseball team.


Any chance they could buy him out and then resign him on a 1 or 2 year deal for less $? I mean, nobody else is gonna offer him $14-15 million and the teams that could already have set at 3rd base (Arod, Youkilis, Morel, etc)

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We can argue about his stats when the team is winning vs. losing overall all night. Fars I know, you can't get those splits anywhere. But the last several years he's clearly completely unmotivated. This year was terrible until the Cubs were declared deceased.
And whether you think Ricketts can allow it or not, next year is already a wash. I think it will be until Z's money is gone, or he is, and Soriano as well. So forget about contending next year unless both Pujols and Fielder are gone and I really don't think they'll be anywhere other than where they are nest year. These "where will they go" things are no more than bargaining chips.
Why not bring in vitters this sept and put him there see what he does? What's the worst that can happen? A last place finish? A big losing streak? At least we'll know if he can compete.... that being said, I'm not that excited about having him under Quade, and in the same dugout as Ramirez.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

After working hard on his fielding during those playoff years he seems to have been falling into some
bad habits at the hot corner as well. I am sure there are stats to back me up regarding fielding but
I am too busy to look them up now. I'd keep him at 11 million but 16 million dollars is just way too steep.
Benefits of letting him go outweigh benefits of keeping him at this point.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

If I'm not mistaken....I believe he is on the roster this year and I would hardly call them competitive.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

$16M for a stop gap third baseman? That's all he is at this point because he won't/shouldn't be on this team when they have a chance to be competitive. It didn't work out using a stop gap at first base this year. They need to start developing and playing young players. If they don't have one in the organization then they should trade for one. No way in hell they pick up that option.

Another 10 mil on Pena would be worth it in the leadership he would provide for Castro. He needs good latin influences in that clubhouse and Pena is one of the best in the league.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I'm not saying he's a bad guy or had a bad year he's just not the type of player this team needs. A team going nowhere should be looking towards the future by playing young players. This team is stuck in mud just rolling out the same old veterans. They're in a position to take a few risks. Maybe they find a diamond in the rough.

First base is too important a position to have a guy strickly for his leadership. Get a backup catcher or utility infielder (Omar Vizquel?) for that.

The 16M option is mutual and per his agent, he is going to elect for free agency. He'll garner a 2-3 year deal somewhere so the Cubs would have to pony up 20-30M to keep him. And yes, he blows when it's cold and his apathetic attitude is not a good influence on young players. I say take the Type A draft pick and let him go.

Thats what I originally thought. He wants to be a free agent because he is too fucking lazy to try hard again next year.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

2011 was a player option and 2012 is a team option ($2M buyout). If they decline the option they get no compensation.

I don't believe that for a second. Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. Vizquel is credited with having a huge positive influence on Elvis Andrus and Alexei Ramirez. If the Cubs think Castro is going to be their long-term shortstop that is the kind of guy they should bring in to help his maturation process.

Now that's something we can agree on.

Castro needs a Latin, preferable Dominican positive influence. Pena already is that guy but I think Cassie made friends with Soriano and Aram before he arrived. 1M and a roster spot IMO would be worth it for next years wash of a season if it means Castro reaches his potential and doesn't devolve into Hanley Ramirez. I just don't think there is anyone out there that fits the leader/starter role at 3rd.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

He is a veteran and he sucks.

Probably a great fit for the Cubs

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Can anyone tell me where the 'ramirez is lazy' thing came from?

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Git on back there.

years of watching him play

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That's my purse! I don't know you!