The Offseason Outlook – Part I

Off-Season already? We’re not even into the post season yet. I understand, but I thought it would be fun to see how the team shapes up for next year, before the off-season begins. Last season we went out so quickly that most fans, myself included, mourned a few days and didn’t care to read about the Cubs, let alone the off-season. I thought I would get a jump on that and show you what this team will look like assuming no one that is eligible for free agency returns.

C - Bloodline release Geovany Soto / Koyie Hill

1b – Derrek Lee / Micah Hoffpauir

2b – Mark DeRosa / Mike Fontenot

SS - Ryan Theriot / Ronny Cedeno

3B – Aramis Ramirez

– Alfonso Soriano

CF – Felix Pie / Sam Fuld

RF - Kosuke Fukudome

SP – Carlos Zambrano

SP - Ted Lilly

SP - Jason Marquis

SP – Sean Marshall

SP - ? (Potential options are Rich Hill, Jeff Samardzija, Kevin Hart, Chad Gaudin)

MR – Angel Guzman

MR – Michael Wuertz

– Neal Cotts

MR – ? (Potentials – Billy Petrick, Jose Ascanio, Jose Ceda, Randy Wells)

MR – ?

CL – Carlos Marmol

Obviously, I don’t truly believe that the Cubs will bring back no one and go with in house options, but it’s important to take a look at what we have in house before going out into the market to fill the needs. Tomorrow, I’ll take a look at the free agents and give my take on which should be brought back and which should be let go. Until then, bask in the wonderful team that could be yours.

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Jonathan S.

I may be mistaken, but isn’t Rich Harden also under contract for next season?
chicagoburke

No Wood? Not a chance they don’t sign him…in my opinion
Rhett

Harden is under contract, so he should be the #3 spot.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=8401936178 Joe Aiello

The Cubs have a club option on Harden
cubbiedude

Joe, this looks like a pretty good starting point from which to build another great team for another great year.
http://www.mindfulmission.com dave l

There is almost no way that Sam Fuld makes this team next year.

The Cubs have a club option on Harden, AND he can demand a trade if he wants, based on being traded from the A’s.
Brad

Our rotation will be back. Dempster loves the city, team, and the front office. There is no way Hendry is letting Harden get away and he isn’t the type of guy to demand a trade. This will likely move Marshall to the pen/insurance for Harden and Samardija to the pen or AAA. I think you could see Woody back, but I think Dempster is much more likely. Additionally, I think the Cubs will go with a Pie/Reed Johnson in CF with Johnson spelling Fukudome in RF as well. we need to find more at-bats for Fontenot next year. He is second on the team in OPS and 4th in slugging. He could be the lefty with some pop this team has been searching for.
http://www.mindfulmission.com dave l

Dempster loves the city, team, and the front office.

Well, Kyle Loshe just got 4 years, 41 million. That is the bare minimum that Dempster will be offered, but Dempster will probably see much more money that than that. Hendry may simply not be able to afford that.

There is no way Hendry is letting Harden get away and he isn’t the type of guy to demand a trade.

I also don’t expect Harden to leave, but he could. And for the most part it is our of Hendry’s hands. If Harden wants out, he can get out, or at least use it to force the Cubs to pay him more.

we need to find more at-bats for Fontenot next year.

I am not sure that Fontenot should see more at-bats. He is not really an every day player, and his defense is pretty awful. Fontenot continues to surprise me with the bat, but I am pretty content with the amount of playing time that he saw this year.
http://www.viewfromthebleachers.com/meetmatt.php Matt Jacobs

Hendry was quoted as saying he is already getting things in motion to keep Dempster.

I’d like to see Reed Johnson back. I love Edmonds but I think it’s time to get Pie up here, and platoon him at least.

I like Font as a sub.
http://www.mindfulmission.com dave l

Yea Matt, I don’t doubt that Hendry will do what he can to keep Dempster. But Dempster will have to be tempted when teams may be willing to throw 50+ million at him. And I just don’t know if the Cubs can afford that kind of contract.
http://www.viewfromthebleachers.com/meetmatt.php Matt Jacobs

I’m hoping he’ll take a Kerry Wood discount to stay. There’s only so many cities a guy can go out dressed up as Captain America, and people still think he’s awesome.
Hernan

I haven’t seen anything on the playoff roster… any info? Big questions regarding Hoffpauir, Fukudome, Gaudin, Samardzija, et al.
http://www.mindfulmission.com dave

There is a big question regarding Fukudome?
http://VIEWFROMTHEBLEACHERS.COM MICHAEL

Team still looks cery solid for next year. What would it take to keep Edmonds? His veteran presence would be great.
Jeff Pico

RE: Harden, we have a $7 mil option, and he can demand a trade, however there is virtually no chance of that happening. He would still have to play out that option, and would hurt his value signing with another team. There has also been zero about Harden that would indicate to me he would ask for that. In fact, he seems to like it here.

Reed Johnson is technically not under contract, but is arb-eligible, and that is probably a no-brainer to offer him arbitration.

Most baseball people think Wood and Dempster will re-up with Cubs. I personally think Wood is more likely, since he will be much cheaper, and has a great relationship with Hendry.

Cotts is arb-eligible, and I think we will offer it, as he’s been OK, and he’ll be cheap. Daryl Ward will definitely not be back (Hoffpauir taking his spot), and Blanco is 50-50. I think Blanco can still play, but he is getting along in years. I think he’s back on a 1-year contract.

Who knows what deals Hendry will pull this offseason. We really need a solid LHRP, and if Dempster goes, a very good starter. We also need a plan in CF, as Edmonds may retire, and at any rate is old.

Pie is my vote for most likely to be traded, followed by Sean Marshall. Marshall has been good, which is why other teams will pay for him. He really should be a #4 starter on a good team.

The Offseason Outlook – Part I

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