Extemely early on the offseason part I know but I like this kind of stuff. You'll notice with the moves I'm not signing everyone and their dog. I'm going realistically off how much the Cubs will be able to spend. I didn't include moves for the bench because I don't know who will be available yet. Here it is:
Catcher: Overall C-
Paul Bako and Damian Miller combined to hit .231 for the Cubs this year with 9 HR's and 53 RBI's. Both played well defensively this year but the Cubs need more production from the catcher spot. That's something they haven't had for a long time. I'd try and make a move to get A.J. Pierzynski. He hit .312 this year with 11 HR's and 74 runs batted in. He's a good left handed bat that won't cost much and he has a very solid glove.
1st Base: Overall B-
Eric Karros was an excellent addition this year. He hit 12 home runs and knocked in 40 runs in 114 games. Choi started off nice and was playing decent until he got hurt against the Yankees. After that, he struggled. He finished off the year with 8 home runs, 28 runs batted in and a .218 average. I still believe he's their first baseman of the future. Randall Simon came over late in the season and was a huge boost to the team. As a Cub he hit .282 with 6 HR's and 21 RBI's in 33 games (overall .276 with 16 HR's, 72 RBI's). I'd like him back next year but it's either him or Choi and Choi is the future. Karros is gone (frees up $8 million plus). I'd look to sign a veteran for a decent price that swings from the right side and has a decent glove.
2nd Base: Overall B+
Bobby Hill was thought to be the second baseman of the future, Now he's in Pittsburgh (in the Ramirez, Lofton trade). Grudzielanek had a very good season with the Cubs (.314, 3 HR's, 38 RBI's, 38 2B's). I'd buyout the final year of his contract for the $500,000 and use the $5.5 million that opens up from the buyout on Luis Castillo. He had a very similar year to Grudzielanek (.314, 6 HR's, 39 RBI's, 19 2B's). Castillo gives them a switch-hitting bat in the lineup which the Cubs could really use. He can bunt, steal bases, and is very solid defensively.
3rd Base: Overall a C (D- prior to Ramirez trade, B afterwards)
The Cubs were dreadful at third prior to the Ramirez trade. Mark Bellhorn hit .209 as a Cub this season before he was traded. Lenny Harris hit .183. before he was released. Aramis Ramirez came over and hit 15 HR's as a Cub during the regular season. A big improvement over the 3 HR's that Bellhorn and Harris provided. Ramirez is the 3rd baseman of the future. He's going to be great for the Cubs.
Shortstop: Overall a C+
Alex Gonzalez hit .228 with 20 HR's and 58 RBI's. He had a great year defensively. The batting average and strikeouts need to improve but I think he's a decent #7 hitter. I'd look at possibly upgrading the position with a good contact hitter and someone that could hit 15 HR's during the year (I'm not sure who will be available). If nobody is out there for a reasonable price, Alex can be brought back for another year.
Centerfield: Overall B+
Corey Patterson and Kenny Lofton (as a Cub) combined to hit .313 for the Cubs this season with 16 HR's, 75 RBI's, and 28 SB's. Lofton is gone. Patterson will be back next season for the Cubs and will be a boost to the offense in the home run and RBI departments.
Right Field: Overall: A-
Sammy will be back out there in right for the Cubs in 2004. He missed 25 games due to injury and the suspension, but he still managed to hit .279 with 40 HR's and 103 RBI's.
Left Field: Overall B
Moises Alou hit .280 with 22 HR's and 80 RBI's. He's a Cub for one more year. He brings very good power and great contact ability to the table. I'd like to see the Cubs bring up a Nic Jackson or a David Kelton for the bench next year so they could see major league pitches everyday. Then in 2004, one of those guys could move in the starting lineup.
Starting Pitching: Overall B+
This should be a great rotation in 2004. Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, and Matt Clement will be back. Estes is gone. The rotation was a little inconsistent this year but overall I think they did an outstanding job considering how young they were (average age was 25.2 years old at the start of the season). Wood, Prior, Zambrano, and Clement overall had a 3.21 ERA. That's pretty damn good considering the average age for those four was 24 at the start of the season. I think Juan Cruz should take over as the #5 starter next year with Estes gone. Cruz fared much better as a starter than he did as a reliever. I think Cruz can be a dominating pitcher in the major leagues. He needs to get a few more starts under his belt. I think he would come into his own by the end of the 2004 season and carry it over into the 2005 season.
Bullpen: Overall a B-, some would argue C+
They did ok this year (ranked 16th in the majors in ERA). They were definitely an improvement over the bullpen from 2002. Some work needs to be done here though. I'd start off by getting rid of Mark Guthrie, Dave Veres, and Antonio Alfonseca. Right there that frees up $7.6 million from this year. One of the top priorities is to get another good left hander to help Remlinger out. I'm not sure who's going to be out there so I can't name anyone specific. Joe Borowski did a great job this season, but this team needs a legit closer. Keith Foulke and Ugueth Urbina will be out there. I'd work to sign either one. Maybe also add another right handed middle relief pitcher, someone like Tim Worrell.
Financial Situation: Getting rid of Estes, Alfonseca, Guthrie, Veres, Karros, Grudzielanek, Miller, and Bako gives the Cubs $27,925,000 to pick up Pierzynski, Castillo, a good lefty for the pen, and Foulke or Urbina. When you factor in the Aramis Ramirez's pay increase from $3 million to $6 million that gives the Cubs close to $25 million to spend on those guys. That's not factoring in how much money becomes available to spend with Lofton, Glanville, Simon, and Womack leaving (I didn't do that because I'm not sure how much of the contracts the Cubs picked up). Plus another $4.5 million is involved if they decide to move Alex Gonzalez.
In the end the Cubs team would look like this:
Starters
1B: Hee Seop Choi - Left Handed
2B: Luis Castillo - Switch Hitter
3B: Aramis Ramirez - Right Handed
SS: Alex Gonzalez - Right Handed - For now...Like I said, I would look at other options
C: A.J. Pierzynski - Left Handed
CF: Corey Patterson - Left Handed
RF: Sammy Sosa - Right Handed
LF: Moises Alou - Right Handed
Starting Rotation (not in any particular order)
1. Kerry Wood
2. Mark Prior
3. Carlos Zambrano
4. Matt Clement
5. Juan Cruz
Bullpen
1. Mike Remlinger - Left Handed
2. Joe Borowski - Right Handed
3. Kyle Farnsworth - Right Handed
4. Good Left Hander - Like I said, I'm not sure who's out there yet...
5. Keith Foulke or Ugueth Urbina - Right Handed
Catcher: Overall C-
Paul Bako and Damian Miller combined to hit .231 for the Cubs this year with 9 HR's and 53 RBI's. Both played well defensively this year but the Cubs need more production from the catcher spot. That's something they haven't had for a long time. I'd try and make a move to get A.J. Pierzynski. He hit .312 this year with 11 HR's and 74 runs batted in. He's a good left handed bat that won't cost much and he has a very solid glove.
1st Base: Overall B-
Eric Karros was an excellent addition this year. He hit 12 home runs and knocked in 40 runs in 114 games. Choi started off nice and was playing decent until he got hurt against the Yankees. After that, he struggled. He finished off the year with 8 home runs, 28 runs batted in and a .218 average. I still believe he's their first baseman of the future. Randall Simon came over late in the season and was a huge boost to the team. As a Cub he hit .282 with 6 HR's and 21 RBI's in 33 games (overall .276 with 16 HR's, 72 RBI's). I'd like him back next year but it's either him or Choi and Choi is the future. Karros is gone (frees up $8 million plus). I'd look to sign a veteran for a decent price that swings from the right side and has a decent glove.
2nd Base: Overall B+
Bobby Hill was thought to be the second baseman of the future, Now he's in Pittsburgh (in the Ramirez, Lofton trade). Grudzielanek had a very good season with the Cubs (.314, 3 HR's, 38 RBI's, 38 2B's). I'd buyout the final year of his contract for the $500,000 and use the $5.5 million that opens up from the buyout on Luis Castillo. He had a very similar year to Grudzielanek (.314, 6 HR's, 39 RBI's, 19 2B's). Castillo gives them a switch-hitting bat in the lineup which the Cubs could really use. He can bunt, steal bases, and is very solid defensively.
3rd Base: Overall a C (D- prior to Ramirez trade, B afterwards)
The Cubs were dreadful at third prior to the Ramirez trade. Mark Bellhorn hit .209 as a Cub this season before he was traded. Lenny Harris hit .183. before he was released. Aramis Ramirez came over and hit 15 HR's as a Cub during the regular season. A big improvement over the 3 HR's that Bellhorn and Harris provided. Ramirez is the 3rd baseman of the future. He's going to be great for the Cubs.
Shortstop: Overall a C+
Alex Gonzalez hit .228 with 20 HR's and 58 RBI's. He had a great year defensively. The batting average and strikeouts need to improve but I think he's a decent #7 hitter. I'd look at possibly upgrading the position with a good contact hitter and someone that could hit 15 HR's during the year (I'm not sure who will be available). If nobody is out there for a reasonable price, Alex can be brought back for another year.
Centerfield: Overall B+
Corey Patterson and Kenny Lofton (as a Cub) combined to hit .313 for the Cubs this season with 16 HR's, 75 RBI's, and 28 SB's. Lofton is gone. Patterson will be back next season for the Cubs and will be a boost to the offense in the home run and RBI departments.
Right Field: Overall: A-
Sammy will be back out there in right for the Cubs in 2004. He missed 25 games due to injury and the suspension, but he still managed to hit .279 with 40 HR's and 103 RBI's.
Left Field: Overall B
Moises Alou hit .280 with 22 HR's and 80 RBI's. He's a Cub for one more year. He brings very good power and great contact ability to the table. I'd like to see the Cubs bring up a Nic Jackson or a David Kelton for the bench next year so they could see major league pitches everyday. Then in 2004, one of those guys could move in the starting lineup.
Starting Pitching: Overall B+
This should be a great rotation in 2004. Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, and Matt Clement will be back. Estes is gone. The rotation was a little inconsistent this year but overall I think they did an outstanding job considering how young they were (average age was 25.2 years old at the start of the season). Wood, Prior, Zambrano, and Clement overall had a 3.21 ERA. That's pretty damn good considering the average age for those four was 24 at the start of the season. I think Juan Cruz should take over as the #5 starter next year with Estes gone. Cruz fared much better as a starter than he did as a reliever. I think Cruz can be a dominating pitcher in the major leagues. He needs to get a few more starts under his belt. I think he would come into his own by the end of the 2004 season and carry it over into the 2005 season.
Bullpen: Overall a B-, some would argue C+
They did ok this year (ranked 16th in the majors in ERA). They were definitely an improvement over the bullpen from 2002. Some work needs to be done here though. I'd start off by getting rid of Mark Guthrie, Dave Veres, and Antonio Alfonseca. Right there that frees up $7.6 million from this year. One of the top priorities is to get another good left hander to help Remlinger out. I'm not sure who's going to be out there so I can't name anyone specific. Joe Borowski did a great job this season, but this team needs a legit closer. Keith Foulke and Ugueth Urbina will be out there. I'd work to sign either one. Maybe also add another right handed middle relief pitcher, someone like Tim Worrell.
Financial Situation: Getting rid of Estes, Alfonseca, Guthrie, Veres, Karros, Grudzielanek, Miller, and Bako gives the Cubs $27,925,000 to pick up Pierzynski, Castillo, a good lefty for the pen, and Foulke or Urbina. When you factor in the Aramis Ramirez's pay increase from $3 million to $6 million that gives the Cubs close to $25 million to spend on those guys. That's not factoring in how much money becomes available to spend with Lofton, Glanville, Simon, and Womack leaving (I didn't do that because I'm not sure how much of the contracts the Cubs picked up). Plus another $4.5 million is involved if they decide to move Alex Gonzalez.
In the end the Cubs team would look like this:
Starters
1B: Hee Seop Choi - Left Handed
2B: Luis Castillo - Switch Hitter
3B: Aramis Ramirez - Right Handed
SS: Alex Gonzalez - Right Handed - For now...Like I said, I would look at other options
C: A.J. Pierzynski - Left Handed
CF: Corey Patterson - Left Handed
RF: Sammy Sosa - Right Handed
LF: Moises Alou - Right Handed
Starting Rotation (not in any particular order)
1. Kerry Wood
2. Mark Prior
3. Carlos Zambrano
4. Matt Clement
5. Juan Cruz
Bullpen
1. Mike Remlinger - Left Handed
2. Joe Borowski - Right Handed
3. Kyle Farnsworth - Right Handed
4. Good Left Hander - Like I said, I'm not sure who's out there yet...
5. Keith Foulke or Ugueth Urbina - Right Handed
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