Chasing Cubtober: Rumor Round-Up & More
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by LMedina86
For the 62nd straight year, the Chicago Cubs are not participating in the World Series, and that in itself is disappointing. So, with nothing better to do, Cubs fans usually gather around and play general manager in the fall and winter until spring rolls around.
After an 85-win division championship, the Cubs have a lot of room for improvement if they want to contend for a World Series title. As I said in the first installment of Chasing Cubtober, the moves made this off-season will likely depend on who buys the team.
However, if the ownership issue isn’t resolved this winter, I can see the Cubs spending $20-$30 million on improvements. But they won’t likely be in a Red Sox/Yankees arms race.
Speaking of which, a New York Times article recently asked the question “Are the Red Sox ready to become the Yankees?” Unlike some, I don’t see the Red Sox as the Yankees 2.0. Maybe they could be compared to the 1996-2000 Yankees, a team balanced with youngsters and high-priced veterans.
I wouldn’t compare them to the Yankees of the past few years. Other than this year’s squad, the Yankees look like they’re trying to put a fantasy baseball team together rather than a real baseball team. But that’s just a view from an outsider.
The way I see it, the Red Sox are the happy medium between the free spending Yankees and the Rockies, who built their team from the ground up. The Cubs should follow this model, especially seeing how it is working for the Red Sox.
And even though the World Series is in full swing, it doesn’t keep the Cubs rumor mill from stopping.
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reported that the Cubs are interested in the services of Japanese starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who Sullivan projects to be number three or four starter. Kuroda, 32, went 12-8 with a 3.56 ERA last season and unlike Daisuke Matsuzaka, would not require a posting fee.
The addition of Kuroda would likely mean the end of either left-handed starter Sean Marshall or right-handed starter Jason Marquis. After a rough second half, Marquis might find himself on the trading block, despite being only one year into his three-year $21 million contract. Marquis made the playoff roster, but Cubs manager Lou Piniella had no intent of using Marquis in any situation.
Gordon Wittenmyer insists that keeping Jacque Jones should be the Cubs number one priority. Jones will be entering the final year of a three-year deal signed before the 2006 season, and was on the trading block as recently as June.
Jones was more than serviceable in the second half, hitting a robust .332 while playing an above average center field. But top prospect Felix Pie is waiting in the wings, and after hitting .362 in Triple-A this year might get a shot.
I would not be surprised if either Jones or Pie was traded this off-season. Jones would likely be traded if the Cubs brass had full confidence in Pie’s ability to put up at least league average numbers in center field. However, I could see the Cubs trading Pie in a blockbuster move.
There is still a way that the Cubs could keep both Jones and Pie. Reports have Cliff Floyd interested in the Florida Marlins. Floyd’s homecoming was a bit disappointing, but when healthy could be a worthy platoon mate with a lefty-masher like Matt Murton.
A little more than 24-hours after the Cubs were swept out of the playoffs by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Barry Rozner of the Daily Herald jumped off the deep end by proposing a dumping of Aramis Ramirez and signing Alex Rodriguez.
The no-trade clause in the contract Ramirez signed last winter won’t allow that to happen though.
Rozner’s reasoning for adding Rodriguez and dumping Ramirez: “He's a better guy, better fielder and better hitter…plus he loves playing for Lou Piniella.”
“He’s a better guy,” really? I haven’t heard or read anything about Ramirez acting out in any way. Sounds like baseless accusations to me.
Here’s an idea, Barry: keep A-Ram and sign A-Rod to play shortstop. Swapping A-Rod for A-Ram doesn’t negate the hole at shortstop, center field or right field. Signing A-Rod wouldn’t solve all of those problems, but solving one is better than not solving any.
In September, a New York Post article cited a report that Rodriguez’s agent, Scott Boras, had spoken to a potential new owner of the Cubs about a deal that would eventually make A-Rod part owner. Boras would later deny that rumor.
Despite the potential of a 10-year $30 million deal for Rodriguez and the state of flux the Cubs ownership seems to be in, look for the Cubs to be mentioned in the Alex Rodriguez sweepstakes.
Rodriguez could be eligible for free-agency if he decides to exercise an out clause in his contract within 10 days of the end of the World Series. The clause would void the last three years of his record 10-year $252 million contract he signed in 2000 with the Texas Rangers.
More to come after the World Series.
