Reading some of the stuff in this thread makes my head hurt as a Cubs fan.
Bob Brenly?! Really?!? There is a reason he has been repeatedly passed over for managerial openings since he was fired in AZ. Keep him in the booth where he belongs. And don't go w/ the "but he won a WS in AZ!!!!" - he had Schilling and the Big Unit, with the Unit coming out of the pen in Game 7. I could have managed in that WS and won w/ those two.
Brandon Webb is done. He was with the Rangers last year, but his shoulder was still in AZ. If you're going to pay someone to be on the DL, you may as well bring Harden back. At least he will give you a start or two before getting hurt again.
The rotation will be a priority, as well it should be. Outside of Garza (who got bupkus for run support last year), the rotation is in shambles. Dempster is your innings eater, every rotation has one. It would be a great gift if Cashner secured a spot and remained healthy. Zambrano would be better off in another uniform, but few, if any, will want to take him off the Cubs hands. Wells belongs in Des Moines. I've never liked him. When his sinker isn't sinking, it is being hit for souvenirs.
Not knowing the financial parameters Jed and Theo will be afforded by Ricketts makes it difficult to know how they will attack the offseason. However, I'm guessing some of the following could (and very well may) happen:
1. One of the following is hired to be manager - Dale Sveum, Dave Martinez, Sandy Alomar, Mike Maddux. Personally, I'd like either Alomar or Maddux.
2. Address the rotation, pitching depth. It wouldn't surprise me to see CJ Wilson, Oswalt, Buehrle, Edwin Jackson in play. If they take a flyer, it may be on a guy like Harden, Scott Kazmir, Joel Piniero
3. Address 1b. They will more than likely kick the tires on Fielder. Introduce themselves to Pujols and tell him good luck getting paid, and advise him to leave the NL Central so they don't have to face him. Pena would like to come back, and Theo has a history with him, so don't be surprised to see him back in Wrigley next year. If Pena is gone, a lesser cost like DLee would be available.
4. Attempt to unload Soriano. (I, for one, would not touch Vernon Wells). Eat money, get whatever prospects you can in return, and move on. If not, support him and hope he continues to produce at the plate while acknowledging his defense will always be a liability. Hope to unload at trade deadline.
5. Figure out 3b. The Cubs don't have the minor league depth regarding prospects that it would take to deal for an already established 3b like Wright. Free agent class for 3b stinks, so you may be better off going w/ a platoon with the players currently in the system. LeMahieu isn't going to wow anyone, but he can make the plays there. Same with Flaherty. Only difference being Flaherty has more pop in his bat. Vitters is not ready, and will probably never be a 3b in the bigs.
6. Don't be shocked to see a bunch of minor league signings w/ invites to ST.
7. Move Marlon to RF (if he isn't dealt). Brett Jackson in CF next year. If Byrd is dealt and a signing is needed - please try to sign Josh Willingham. Sizemore may be young and still have a lot of upside, but he has the knees of a 60 year old.
8. I do agree with stormin that the rotation stinks. However, I think he is selling Garza short. Garza has the potential to be an ace. He was not bad for the most part last year. He got crap for run support in a lot of outings (and I fully acknowledge he imploded in others to the point where a 3rd grader could get a hit off him). But it was his first year in the NL. I think he will be much much better this season.
That's all I have time for right now. Feel free to tee off. I don't take it personally.
