I stand corrected - if the Cubs are ready to eat that much salary and take out the garbage, they should be able to find a taker very soon. {Vecsey - what's not to like? Sinatra, Monroe, Elvis, Manfield? Should have had Hendrix in there somewhere, but hey nice break from the usual Bagwell bat insert. Besides, it's in my nature. I chose 8-track over cassette and Beta over VHS and Sportsflix over Topps - Not all my picks have been winners.}
Looks like McLane and Purpura have set a soft deadline date for Beltran's answer? http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2950045
Yeah...I saw that article this morning...I hope McClane isn't just blowing smoke because I truly believe that we need to shift our focus if Carlos and BorASS are going to sit around waiting for the Cubs to trade Sammy so that he can watch one of us bid against ourselves. I think we should start getting involved in the bidding on some of the available pitchers and perhaps some lesser (then Beltran) offense. If we go into the new year with no one signed, we are going to be in serious trouble and we will be staring a transition year right in the face.
Now that has a ring to it...I love Superman, but Drew and Clement don't take a backseat to many out there. This would be a reasonable fallback, considering you'd do the deal Miller (please in lieu of Backe) for Soriano to round out the team...
Clement supposeldy wants like 8 mil per yr and Drew wants 10...if we could get Drew for 8.5 - 9 (also a BorASS guy) and Clement for 7, then we would only be spending a few more mil per yr and landing 2 solid guys as opposed to one superstar. This is about the time where we start to miss Hunsicker
Who would play CF if that happened? Who would lead off? That'd be a good lineup whoever did. Soriano Everett Berkman Drew Bagwell Lane Ensberg Ausmus Bench: Biggio, Viz, Lamb, Burke, Orlando Rotation: Oswalt Pettitte Clement Miller (if it's Backe for Soriano) ?
I think we might have 1/2 a chance as having Clemens back if we landed Soriano, Drew and Clement...Soriano scares me as a leadoff hitter...he struck out a LOT with the Yanks...I didnt really follow what he did last year though. I guess Lane would have to play CF in that scenario
Actually...doesn't Soriano make a ton of money...I don't see how it would be possible to trade Backe for him unless the Rangers are willing to pay part of his salary. Think about that deal...if it happened, the Rangers would have, in essence, traded A Rod for Backe.
Yeah, he may not be worth it. I wouldn't be completely upset to go into the season with Biggio or Burke as your 2B and a rotation of Oswalt Pettitte Clement Miller Backe That'd be one of the best starting rotations in baseball. If Bagwell can tweak his swing this offseason, Berkman comeback healthy, and Lane takes full advantage of his first full-time starting role, then we could have a fairly exciting team. Certainly not a cellar dwellar.
Agreed.... all the doomsdayers out there who think that this team won't be competitive without a big-ticket FA power hitter are going to be mistaken. Pitching is still the #1 strength of this team... especially since most of these hitters can jack it out of this ballpark. Thus, the only offense we really need is players who hit for high average, and those with speed (which Beltran has... and why HE is the ideal fit, not Nancy Drew, Beltre, or any of the other FA hitters). I'll take my chances with a healthy Oswalt, Miller, Pettite and Backe... and I'd assume they'd add another decent pitcher, if Clemens/Beltran doesn't work out. Factor in Lights Out, and some more bullpen relief with the extra $$$, and this pitching staff will be just about where it was at the beginning of last year. (i'm trading Clemens' production for a full year of Pettite, Miller, and Backe). Berkman is a solid superstar who got overshadowed by Carlos' performance in the playoffs... but Lance's performance would have been amazing had he been on any other team. In fact, he single-handedly (in my opinion) carried us game 4 of the NLCS... but all we'll remember is Beltran hitting that ball off his shoetops. If they aren't able to sign Beltran, I would not be a fan of just spending that money on other lesser-offensive players. Get some pitching, give Roy and Lance their extensions, and keep some $$ intact so we'll have the flexibility to make a trade/move during the season if needed (and those always arise).
Who can blame him? We really need to rapp it up so we know were our teams stands. If he really dosnt want to sign w/ us, let us know so we can sign else where. Ether way i think our team is looking pretty damn good 4 next season. I CANT WAIT!
This is the quote from the article that bothers me: I know Boras is a clown, but you don't wait for the Carlos Beltrans of the world to throw themselves at you. I understand his point, that they've put their offer out there. But still.
