2010 is only a few months away. What should the Cubs do to improve? Let's not go the fantasy route here. Suggest realistic moves that the Cubs could make to be competitive in the Central next year. Or suggest fixes to the current players.

I think the pitching staff is fine. I'd like to see Chone Figgins in town.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I'm about the biggest Theriot fan you'll find... but I think the biggest thing they can do is move him to 2B and find a SS. Theriot is a perfect 2B, and has proven he can hit anywhere in the lineup, but his defense just isn't quite cutting it. I know some are pulling for Jeff Baker, but I think he's perfect coming off the bench.


That said, Chone would be a huge addition for the lineup.

Fire Jim Hendry.

Are we assuming that Bradley is gone?
Then you need a power corner outfielder. You might need another one in case Soriano is still having mental and physical problems, which he seems to have.
You'll need some late inning relief, since it looks like Marmol will be closing.
You'll need a long reliever or two since they blew last year.
You'll need a decent backup catcher. Or a decent Starter if Soto continues to lick anus this year.
You'll need a 2nd baseman to start, or, a shortstop and move Theriot to 2nd which is where he should be.
You'll need a CF who can actually hit.
You'll need another starter, maybe 2 4th and 5th guy.
That's about it. Pretty much an entire team except for starting 3b, 1b and possibly C.

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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

I'd like Chone in center, but that's just me. I'd put Fukodome in right and try to find a servicable shortstop.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

That's not a very long list ( ) but I think if some of the other lineup concerns are fixed, I'm fine w/ Hill at C if need be. And then still hope that Soto doesn't eat this winter.

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Screw that dude. Hill is going to hit 240? No thanks.
By the way, I've been saying all along, the Larry Himes days are coming back to the north side.

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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

Derrek Lee's trade value is pretty decent right now Fools

I'm just saying that if the rest of the lineup is strengthened, I'd be fine with the defense Hill brings. And you could still hold out hope that Soto comes back around.

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+1 If Soto is bad we can stick Hill down in the 8 hole and be well enough. Of all the problems we have, fixing our back up catcher situation is a luxury imo.


Move Riot to 2nd, find a SS. I love the idea of Figgins in Center with Fukudome in Right. Let me look at the FA prospects in the pen to see how we can solve the back end.

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Team Cutler.

Slogan

see, I lambasted people who wanted to get rid of him last season when his value was nill. Yes, they should think about trading him now. Especially if you can get a real shortstop in return.

And if Soto's not your starting catcher, you're screwed. Hill is a backup, period. He's not even the best catcher in their minor league system. If you're going to give up on Soto, re-train Jake Fox.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I honestly think you guys are nuts for thinking about FA's. This new owner will want to spend money on putting more shit in Wrigley, and will be cutting overall payroll.
You might get some old washed up "talent" but forget about those marquee FA's, nagannahappan.

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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

just get me Chone. Trade for what else you need. Empty your worthless minor league "prospects" before they get exposed.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

It really depends on the budget. I assume they already have guys (Ramirez, Soriano, Fukadome) who will be making more money than last year, so my first question would be, does that eat away the available room to acquire a free agent, or taking on salary in a trade?

I would expect a rather quiet off-season. I think the pitching staff is pretty much set, and there are so many guys locked into deals on the offensive side that what was here last year is likely to remain. I would expect minor tinkering unless the goal is to free up salary and making a big splash by trading a guy like Derek Lee, coming off of a great season.

+1 I don't think the Cubs will be bringing in any substantial talent to this roster. The best thing they could do would be to find a way to get Bradley out of town and hope that some of the other Cubs....Soto/Dempster/Zambrano have bounce back seasons. Addition by subtraction by showing Kevin Gregg the door.

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i hate to say it, but the time is about here to blow this mess up. this team has been cranking away with the same central cast of characters for a a number of years now, and it just isnt happening. i know that the cubs are stuck with some big salaries and it is going to be hard to get away from them, but this year i wouldnt put a nickel into free agency, and hope that some of your veterans have decent first halves, and have a fire sale. this nucleus is proving they just arent going to get it done. i dont hate derrek lee or ramirez or dempster or zambrano, but i dont know how many more years we have to go through this before it becomes clear the makeup of this team is wrong, and throwing money at it isnt going to work. if it were up to me, id cut milton bradley, because he is just a bad dude to have around. i know that doesnt make much financial sense, but he isnt a guy i want around the younger guys, thats for sure. it was a stupid signing.

if they get off to a slow start, they should pull the trigger on any offers that may come in on those guys, if there even are any. adding new guys through free agency with this cast of characters is folly, and postponing the inevitable. trade them and try to get some prospects in return. the dream is over with this current lineup and salary situation.

I said it last year and it's still true to me now...

I don't care who they trade away. There is not a single player on this team that I would miss if they traded for prospects. Ramirez, Lee, Soto, whoever. trade em. Who cares?

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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

If the Cubs kept the pitching staff intact,they could replace the starting 8 & still have a decent team. 3 new OF & a quality SS is what the CUBS need. Move Theriot to second,Baker as a super sub.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

i would be more excited for next season if they did blow it all up and we had a new cast of characters move up in the food chain from AA and AAA. yes, the team would suck, but i am having a hard time mustering up enthusiasm for these guys we have been watching for the past 5 years, especially since it seems that now they are much more than a single key ingredient away. the longer the organization tries to stopgap problems with random free agent signings, the less likely it is that we will ever see a long-term winning franchise. the window has closed on this group.

I could live with that, but they would still need to find some bullpen help.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I think offensively, the season hinges on Soto. If he comes back strong, I think the lineup combined with what we hope will still be an effective starting rotation; will keep us near the top all season. If he's still struggling next year it sets the Cub back big time. I think unfortunately with Soto, he carries his bat out to the field with him. Him being sub-par at the plate again will have big time reverberations on the entire team.

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Raoh: At this moment, I'm more powerful than you ever were. I am fist of the north star.
Ryûken: I don't agree and I never shall. Go and do what you must Raoh, but never set foot in this dojo again!

Signing Chone as a CF woud be a total luxury purchase for a team "one move away". This is not that team. Most of the contending clubs will be after Figgins as a 3b anyway....

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

I agree with DS and MoFO if not a complete blow up...gotta start going young. Devolop some of the talent while you wait out the bad contracts. Im sure Mr. Ricketts would be just fine with going "young"

Also, Hire Sammy Sosa as hitting coach.

Do you really want this? I know I tend to bang this drum quite frequently and annoyingly, but I still am not convinced the farm system can develop an all-star caliber player. I realize it is not their focus, but it would help avoid the mess of high salaries we are in right now.

As far as Chone? Watch how skillful this guy is after he gets his pay day with the Cubs.

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they can't build through their farm system until they get some actual talent in it.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I like Vitters and maybe Starlin Castro

i agree, a key ingredient would be to get some return on unloading some of the bigger name players and getting something in return. the farm system, as currently stocked, is not strong enough to create even a competitive team. however, if we can get some decent talent in return for the "big name" guys, MLB-ready or close to MLB-ready prospects, im pulling the pin on this team and blowing it up, and building it up again. In my opinion, this team is going nowhere as is, and it is pointless trying to add pieces to somehow get this team to the promised land.

I no longer "like" any Cubs talent until they actually prove themselves in the Majors.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Hendry started the 'blow up' process last season by trading DeRosa for 3 minor league pitchers. I wouldn't be the least surpised if he traded a few veterans for minor leaguers again this season.