The 2010 Cubs Free Agent and Roster Moves Thread: SAVEENG OUR KUBBEEZ!!11

[Yeti]

Fork wants a $6.5MM fifth outfielder?

Yea, I didn't get it either, but I just moved on.

Hell, if people want to think of it this way, then they can imagine Byrd will earn is 2012 salary this year, then next year earn his 2011 salary, then in 2012, earn his 2010 salary. Backasswards way to look at it, but the point is that Byrd will be worth $15 mil over the next 3 years.

[Powdered Toast Man]

I'm just accepting that the Cubs will be pitiful next year.  That's how I'm approaching the 2010 baseball season.

[BH]

I'm just accepting that the Cubs will be pitiful next year.  That's how I'm approaching the 2010 baseball season.

We removed THE CANCER from the clubhouse. Think about it. After Lance Armstrong lost his cancernut, he went on to win 5 TOUR DE FRANCES! My 2010 Kubbeez are gonna be like that.

[Quality Start Machine]

I'm just accepting that the Cubs will be pitiful next year.  That's how I'm approaching the 2010 baseball season.

They will be, but so will everyone else in the NL Central. This will mean the Cubs will be in the "race" all season, and based upon their starting pitching (Gorzelanny and Wells would be top 3 starters anywhere else in the division), will win the fucking thing before going three-and-out in the playoffs yet again.

The 2010 season will be like surviving a terrible disease, only to get hit by a speeding ambulance on our way out of the hospital.

[Pre]

Fork wants a $6.5MM fifth outfielder?

Yea, I didn't get it either, but I just moved on.

Hell, if people want to think of it this way, then they can imagine Byrd will earn is 2012 salary this year, then next year earn his 2011 salary, then in 2012, earn his 2010 salary. Backasswards way to look at it, but the point is that Byrd will be worth $15 mil over the next 3 years.

A back loaded contract costs the team less money since future money is
not worth as much as present day money what with banks and the internet
and discount rates and prostitutes and what not.

3/5.5/6.5 is better than 6.5/5.5/3 as far as the team is financially concerned.

[PenFoe]

I'm just accepting that the Cubs will be pitiful next year.  That's how I'm approaching the 2010 baseball season.

They will be, but so will everyone else in the NL Central. This will mean the Cubs will be in the "race" all season, and based upon their starting pitching (Gorzelanny and Wells would be top 3 starters anywhere else in the division), will win the fucking thing before going three-and-out in the playoffs yet again.

The 2010 season will be like surviving a terrible disease, only to get hit by a speeding ambulance on our way out of the hospital.

I can't figure out if you make statements like this out of laziness, ignorance or instigation.

I'm going all in on "1 and 2" though.

[Yeti]

Fork wants a $6.5MM fifth outfielder?

Yea, I didn't get it either, but I just moved on.

Hell, if people want to think of it this way, then they can imagine Byrd will earn is 2012 salary this year, then next year earn his 2011 salary, then in 2012, earn his 2010 salary. Backasswards way to look at it, but the point is that Byrd will be worth $15 mil over the next 3 years.

A back loaded contract costs the team less money since future money is
not worth as much as present day money what with banks and the internet
and discount rates and prostitutes and what not.

3/5.5/6.5 is better than 6.5/5.5/3 as far as the team is financially concerned.

I'm not here for your logical statements about future tokens.

[CubFaninHydePark]

Isn't it nice that the Cubs now have to pass on legit good OF's like Bay and Holliday

I'd much rather have Byrd at 3/15 than Bay for 4/66.  Bay is Dunn-like in the outfield and it kills his value.

I'm saying that I wish the Cubs could sign FA's that were  entering their prime production years, rather than throwing money at looming albatrosses.

Bay and Holliday are in their prime--I have no problem throwing dump trucks of money at guys who have proven that they can rake and are still in their prime.  I'm not saying Byrd isn't a bad signing...I'm just saying I'd much rather be signing Bay or Holliday, or both.  It's not like we  have a terrible defensive left fielder now, or anything.

I don't think you're not. And since when has $15mm/3yr been an albatross? Let alone a looming one. That third year at $5mm is really going to kill Our Cubbies in 2012.

I was referring to Soriano.  I'd give both him up and all of his past seasons up to be signing either of Bay/Holliday + Byrd now.

Hindsight 20/20, I know--but the Cubs' should be in better shape than to have to sign a second-tier FA and a hitting coach as their major offseason splashes, especially when the defending NL champs already have a lineup that mashes and got Halladay.  But I suppose improving a team with the Phillies lurking makes any money spent wasted money.  Unless they eat an inordinate amount of serious injuries, the NL shouldn't be terribly intriguing in the long run.

[BH]

If this is at all true, Jimbo is still hard at work trying to get his overpaid 2nd baseman. 

"The Cubs signed Marlon Byrd last week and now the attention on the North side is focused getting on some starting pitching and relief help.

I've been making some calls over the past few days and there has been a quite underground tone to a constant general theme and that theme is Carlos Zambrano for 2B Luis Castillo, AAA OF Fernando Martinez and a AA prospect."

[CBStew]

I'm just accepting that the Cubs will be pitiful next year.  That's how I'm approaching the 2010 baseball season.

They will be, but so will everyone else in the NL Central.

Pujols, Holliday (presumably), Carpenter, Wainwright...I wouldn't call the Deadbirds pitiful.

[Pre]

If this is at all true, Jimbo is still hard at work trying to get his overpaid 2nd baseman. 

"The Cubs signed Marlon Byrd last week and now the attention on the North side is focused getting on some starting pitching and relief help.

I've been making some calls over the past few days and there has been a quite underground tone to a constant general theme and that theme is Carlos Zambrano for 2B Luis Castillo, AAA OF Fernando Martinez and a AA prospect."

That rumor is so dumb I assume that is the mets equivalent of that bleacher report site.

[Quality Start Machine]

I'm just accepting that the Cubs will be pitiful next year.  That's how I'm approaching the 2010 baseball season.

They will be, but so will everyone else in the NL Central. This will mean the Cubs will be in the "race" all season, and based upon their starting pitching (Gorzelanny and Wells would be top 3 starters anywhere else in the division), will win the fucking thing before going three-and-out in the playoffs yet again.

The 2010 season will be like surviving a terrible disease, only to get hit by a speeding ambulance on our way out of the hospital.

I can't figure out if you make statements like this out of laziness, ignorance or instigation.

I'm going all in on "1 and 2" though.

OK, maybe not top 3. But absolutely 3 and 4 on the Cardinals, and they're the second-best in the division when it comes to starting pitching. No kidding, this division is god-awful.

I'm talking 1973 NL East bad.

[Eli]

I'd give both him up and all of his past seasons up to be signing either of Bay/Holliday + Byrd now.

You need to stop using those two guys like they're interchangeable.  Holliday is a lot better than Bay.

[ChuckD]

Isn't it nice that the Cubs now have to pass on legit good OF's like Bay and Holliday

I'd much rather have Byrd at 3/15 than Bay for 4/66.  Bay is Dunn-like in the outfield and it kills his value.

I'm saying that I wish the Cubs could sign FA's that were  entering their prime production years, rather than throwing money at looming albatrosses.

Bay and Holliday are in their prime--I have no problem throwing dump trucks of money at guys who have proven that they can rake and are still in their prime.  I'm not saying Byrd isn't a bad signing...I'm just saying I'd much rather be signing Bay or Holliday, or both.  It's not like we  have a terrible defensive left fielder now, or anything.

I don't think you're not. And since when has $15mm/3yr been an albatross? Let alone a looming one. That third year at $5mm $6.5mm is really going to kill Our Cubbies in 2012.

Dammit, Slak'd

Oh yeah? Well, you just outed yourself as a moderately close follower of the 2009 Cubs offseason.

[CubFaninHydePark]

I'd give both him up and all of his past seasons up to be signing either of Bay/Holliday + Byrd now.

You need to stop using those two guys like they're interchangeable.  Holliday is a lot better than Bay.

Orly?  I'm not a statfag, but if you look at road OPS (to adjust for Coors and to a lesser extent new urinal cake) over the past four years--Bay wins '09 and '06, is .18 off in '08, and had a down year in '07--in a terrible Pittsburgh lineup that offered him zero protection.

Bay's ultimate zone rating is significantly worse--but it fluctuates a lot, as does Holliday's.  And this might be worth a read on the value of UZR:

http://metsmerizedonline.com/2009/12/what-the-uzr-disciples-wont-tell-you-about-jason-bay.html

Holliday is two years younger though, and he might be better than Bay, but by "a lot?"  I don't see the wide margin in the numbers.  I'd say that Holliday is a marginal upgrade, if anything.