Would the fastest way to fix the Cubs be to....

[Gregg]

dump a whole lot of money on CC and Wilson? Then just fill in offensive holes with mid level talent?

Would this make more sense than going after a Fielder or Pujols?

[onejayhawk]

Dynamit or napalm?

J

[Hornsby]

dump a whole lot of money on CC and Wilson? Then just fill in offensive holes with mid level talent?

Would this make more sense than going after a Fielder or Pujols?

That was the Jim Hendry approach, and that simply didn't work. I think that they need to rebuild the farm system, concentrate on pitching, and be judicious about how they spend their money. Delayed gratification is probably the best to hope for in the long run...

[joncarlos]

I don't know if they're really going to be able to put up a $150mil payroll. If so, then yes. Although maybe if they have that much cash to throw around maybe they should just buy out Soriano and Big Z and send them on their merry way.

[TopChuckie]

If they are going to spend $200M+ this year, adding the two best pitchers on the market can't hurt. They are probably better off with CC and a mid-level 1B than Pujols and a mid-level SP. But not going after Pujols has a two-fold effect, it leaves almost no one to run up the price on Pujols, allowing their rival to not only retain him, but also retain him without over-extending themselves and sacrificing in other areas. Also, Pujols without the Yankees bidding could very well be a much better value than trying to outbid the Yankees for CC. I think the market out there will result in both the 1B's signing for a bit of a discount, while both the SP's will be overpriced.

[Gregg]

I don't know if they're really going to be able to put up a $150mil payroll. If so, then yes. Although maybe if they have that much cash to throw around maybe they should just buy out Soriano and Big Z and send them on their merry way.

Stuck with Soriano. Big Z will never pitch for the Cubs again.

Some interesting comments. Thank you.

[joncarlos]

Stuck with Soriano. Big Z will never pitch for the Cubs again.

Some interesting comments. Thank you.

Assuming they are still stuck with Z's contract on an annual basis, they've got:

Soriano 18m
Big Z 18m
Dempster 13.5m
Garza's last arb year - let's say 9m
Byrd 6.5m
Grabow 5m
Marmol 7m
Soto's 2nd arb year - let's say 6m
Marshall 3m

I don't see anything else significant but I might have missed one. Starlin isn't arb-eligible yet. Don't know what to make of Samardzija. Wells looks like he's still pre-arb. I am pretty sure they said Aramis is gone, he'd be $16mil if they exercised his option.

Those players listed above total $86mil. They have 3 SPs (Dempster, Wells, Garza), C, SS, 2B (assuming Barney is back), probably a full outfield (Colvin, Soriano, Byrd), and 3 expensive relievers. Figure another $9mil for all the various pre-arb guys and they're around $95mil.

If their budget is $130mil, which is admittedly optimistic, spending $40mil on CJ and CC puts over their max without a 1B. I assume Theo can fill the rest of the bullpen with cheap guys. But that's why I say they'd have to go to $150 to really sign those 2 guys.

[BuckyBuckner]

According to mlbtraderumors.com they have about $40M to spend on free agents. They will need two corner players and probably a starting pitcher or two. So yeah, they'd have to up their payroll to make a big splash.

I still don't see why they don't try Marshall in the rotation.

[Gregg]

It is my understanding that the Aramis option is mutual. The Cubs will offer it, he will elect Free Agency and the Cubs will get a draft pick.

So his salary will not be in the mix.

[cavebird]

It is my understanding that the Aramis option is mutual. The Cubs will offer it, he will elect Free Agency and the Cubs will get a draft pick.

So his salary will not be in the mix.

Why would Aramis decline? Nobody is going to pay him $16 million otherwise.

[Gregg]

Why would Aramis decline? Nobody is going to pay him $16 million otherwise.

Wants a longer deal.

[cavebird]

If he's smart, he'll take the $16 million and then take what he can get next year. Dangerous game for the Cubs to offer.

[BuckyBuckner]

I bet he can get a longer deal, third base is really thin these days.

[joncarlos]

Why would Aramis decline? Nobody is going to pay him $16 million otherwise.

He's 33. At this point in his career, getting 4/40 is a lot better than 1/16 and then hoping for 2/12 and 1/8 or something like that.

[GwynnInTheHall]

With Hoyer as GM and money to spend, look for the Cubs to be an active player in the FA market.