It’s a tricky scenario, what with the backloaded deals + thin system, but I think there are some good opportunities to be creative. However, I don’t expect the Cubs to do so, as most of them would involve doing things that go against their trends.

1. Start looking to the future. We (yes i am a fan, and yes i think saying “we” is ok for fans- i understand i have no effect on the games…and if someone from the club would call me out on it i would say “well, then give me a job and i will help. they could use some help :)” ) could go for it all this year, and by that i mean ALL, but that doesn’t guarantee a thing. What is guaranteed is that going for it all would start to hurt bad in 2010, and by 2011-12 the Cubs would be awful. Unless payroll goes to 200+, in which case GM wouldn’t be so tough now would it? So how do I look to the future? Obviously it depends on how things fall in the FA/trade market for other teams, but I consider the following:

2. Since this is #2, it is appropriate- get rid of some second basemen. For those unaware, the Cubs LOVE 2B’s, to an unhealthy degree. There is no way they should ever think about picking up Roberts in a trade…unless he comes for hilariously cheap. If Cedeno(who is actually more of a 2B) has any value, I trade him to a rebuilding team as he’s out of options. B prospect or however much value i can get, if it’s less than having him in the 25th man spot, we’ll keep him there.

2A. Trade DeRosa. At 5.5M next year coming off his career year, he should have value to a team with a hole at 2B. He would have to net a decent return, like maybe a guy or two slated to be league average for cheap; or some lower-level upside guys, honestly I’m thinking something like the return in the harden deal, save for Gallagher as that is obviously absurd. But if we got like the younger equals for patterson/murt/donaldson for him, I’d take that (although the A’s apparently were unaware Patterson was terrible, so i am talking more in what they perceived than what they actually got) So anyone think we could get value for DeRo here that would make him worth a deal to build the system a bit? Note that DeRosa could potentially be a Type A at the end of next year, so there’s no reason just to dump him…how the market is on him makes my other suggestions flexible depending—

2B. If we trade DeRosa, I platoon Theriot and Fontenot at 2B. Yes, Theriot. This would give us a very good 2B combined, in addition to removing Theriot’s AWFUL (yeah it’s definitely that bad) defense from SS. Play Cedeno at SS if you have to, or sign a one-year for some .650 OPS glove guy; I honestly don’t care. Honestly Theriot’s D is so bad at SS, and so much improved (due to the fact that his weaknesses are arm, and range. thats all! ha.) by moving him to 2B, he actually increases a bit in value to the team. Problem is, they have 3 2Bs who have varying degrees and types of value. I like to combine Fonty and Riot to bring together the little-guy OBP AND little-guy SLG, into a solid platoon masher. Fontenot by himself, I think would be passable, but he’s a guy who can either give you a 900 ops in 300ish ABs, or a 750 in 600. As easy as it is to improve upon those other 300 AB’s, I prefer the former.

3. So what about SS? I know I am wordy, I apologize for my writing. I just get excited. So I’m not particularly excited about Furcal, although I’d take him. If I were GM, it would be very predicated on his health reports, and possibly an incentive-laden contract. Other options are just to let the hole back into the lineup, and play a pure glove SS which would be cheap for a one-year deal; or go after someone like Khalil Greene, who i am for as he should now be finally cheap. If he sucks especially bad against RHP, without looking up his platoon splits as i dont know for sure, this would also give us the option of cycling Theriot in at SS against RHP, as Fontenot would be at 2B.

4. Re-Sign Reed Johnson, he is a good 4th outfielder to have. I’d probably go for a two-year deal here, unless he was cheap on a one-year; maybe I’d go up to 2 for a total of 4-5M max.

5. Re-Sign Blanco, unless we really need the $$. If that’s the case, bring up Hill or whatever other cheap backup is available; if there’s a bench C FA that is someone who can hit as credible PH option, I’d sign that player. Since Soto is solid on D and will play a lot of games, we can have a weaker backup C defensively, getting somebody who can hit a bit but only from one side might help add a bench bat.

6. Let Pie play CF. If he still can’t hit LHP, then I platoon him with Johnson. If we don’t think he will be able to hit at all, then we must absolutely trade him now to get some value. I happen to think he’d be pretty solid, and if he got 1/2 the number of chances as Fukudome did this year, he’d be hitting at a level good enough to be a starter in CF; considering Pie is as good in CF as Dome is in RF, that is to say a way better overall defensive player and definitely plus CF, he should be given a full year of ABs before they think he can’t ever make it. with his D, I’d be OK with anything over 700 OPS. He can do this. If not, please get rid of him now, as we already have a defensive sub who is completely untradeable making $11+M next year.

7. Speaking of, I think Fukudome can maybe get it turned around. Ridiculously massive hole in his swing. That is to say, there isn’t really a swing there at this point. If he can fix it to produce ~800 OPS which I sort of expect, I like him in RF. If he can’t, he will get completely dominated as his 740ish OPS this year is due to his hot start…which is a statement i never thought I’d make about a player. If he sucks that bad, we’ll have to hide him in CF (or give away a ton of money. i also would hope for seppuku if push came to shove and his #s decrease next year) in a platoon with Johnson. This would open up a big hole in RF however, which would have to be filled by a good bat, who unfortunately would have to not be horrible on D(burrell/dunn) as Fukudome+Johnson, while solid in CF, are on the lower end range-wise.

8. Resign Wood if reasonable. Meaning ideally like 3/24 or 2/20 with an option, but this may be a bit of a fantasy number. I’d do 3/30. If it gets higher than that, I’d have to say thanks for the memories Kerry, and take the draft picks.

9. Likewise on Dempster. Sadly, “reasonable” for Demp would mean he’d be signing for around the same amount as other, far worse, pitchers have already signed for. I think he could, potentially, replicate this season. The probability is low though. more likely is that you’ll get one above-average year and two average ones in the next 3. Also he has the chance of reinjuring himself, or having a complete control breakdown like in the playoffs…but over many games. I am thinking maybe he really just did completely improve from the closer version of Dempster, as the full season of decent BB rate is good to see. I’ll sign him to a somewhat front-loaded deal, which would allow him to reconvert to the bullpen if he sucks bad 3 years down the road. With Lohse getting 4/41….this makes me scared for the market though. I’d try maybe like 15, 13, 11, 9 for some flexibility down the road? Maybe this is just weird, but I will be an open-minded GM. Anyhow, 4/48 is pretty much my top-end for Dempster. I’d also probably do 2/30 or 3/39. Chances he will sign for under my limits…hmm. Not great, although i am thinking we will get a sizable discount off the market as he loves it here.

10. I’d trade Lee if he could bring back a solid return. Obviously I’m not expecting the ridiculous report of Cain, but if we got a good prospect or two that are expected to definitely contribute in the majors and it’s more the “degree” of contribution that is uncertain, I’d do this. Also upside would be nice, especially starting pitcher upside.

11. Shark starts out in Iowa in the rotation; he would get at least the first half of the next two years to work on starting. Once he is needed in the pen, and or makes it clear he will not be an MLB starter, I would bring him up for the MLB 7th inning or so role. I’d think we could sign someone solid for this role for not too much $$, so I look at options on the FA pen market. Solid guys, and also I would not give out multi-year deals like candy as Hendry does. But hey, I’d take Howry before this season if we could get someone like that at a few million a year; just wouldn’t take him this year even if he PAID to play.

12. Marquis: dump him if you can. Probably wouldn’t send more than 4-5 mil in a deal though; as much salary relief as possible is all we want in a dump, as buying a decent prospect for 9.75 million would be likely a terrible deal, and i don’t see teams sending over top-100 prospects for Marquis. I’d expect to be able to get like 5M from someone for Marquis, and as a bonus we could give the worst prospect in their system the thrill of seeing their name on ESPN in the trade ticker…it’d be the best thing marquis has ever done.

13. SIgn a couple rehab projects to minor-league deals as someone mentioned above. Only top-end upside guys, we can get #5 starters anywhere.

14. hire either a psychological staff, a bunch of hot women for him, or anything really for Rich Hill. Hope he can return, have actual control, and be a solid ML starter. He would give a huge boost returning to the rotation.

15. If possible, sign Harden to ridiculous incentive-based extension. If not, keep a close eye on him and only use him wisely. If he made 20 starts, of full Harden pitching, that would be awesome. Play him only against good teams or something even.

16. Potentially trade Marmol. I’d like to see what people might think his value would be. Also, if we don’t trade him now, I’m pretty sure Lou (my opinion:Lou is pretty much an idiot.) will slaughter both his arm and the confidence of other pitchers by making him appear in 100 games next year. 50 of these games will be in very low-leverage situations. Several spots he was put in the game this year were just absolutely inexcusable, like Harden’s first start where the game was 7-0 and i think marmol was brought in with it 7-2 or so, and then blew up. Power pen arms are pretty much our only minor league strength, aside from Vitters.

CLIFF NOTES:
I get a bit crazy and make some moves. Overall, roster would be something like:
C: Soto, Blanco or lefty-hitting PH backup C FA.
1B: Lee, Hoffpauir
2B: Fontenot/Theriot platoon (or DeRosa)
SS: Greene, or Furcal if we keep loving to spend $$ , or Cedeno, Greene/Cedeno or Greene/Theriot or Cedeno/Theriot, with my 7th favorite option being a all-glove FA signing, and my 8th favorite option being RYAN THERIOT. God he is gritty though.
3B: Aramis
LF: Soriano. — Related Rant: “Leadoff”: I don’t care what he thinks, he’s not hitting 1st. Hell Lee would have been a way better leadoff option this year….I actually would really like them to put someone like Lee up there if his SLG stays down which it may as 2005 was a bit fluky. Screw the “leadoff guy” just put someone up there, if by some sad scenario Theriot is an everyday SS, or under one of my crazy platoons leading to nearly everyday play from the Riot, I’d put him up there. And NEVER let him steal. Awful baserunner who probably thinks his SB line is really good even at his awful rate.
CF: Pie, with Fukudome and Johnson in the backup plans depending on what happens with Pie.
RF: Fukudome if we have to….hope he gets it going. If we trade Pie, then Dome will move to center barring some Beltran trade miracle…
My top interest for RF would have to be Hermida, as toonster mentions. He’d be perfect, and hopefully rebound. As I mentioned, Burrell/Dunn are only realistic with Pie in CF and some massive payroll relief coming from somewhere else, like Marquis or a Kosuke seppuku. there is NO REASON to think about DeRosa or Hoffpauir as a RF starter. Emergency, yes, but full-time? No. DeRo although an ok outfielder, in this case instead of decreasing his bat’s value in RF, could be traded if we didnt want him for 2B; and Hoffpauir is awful in RF.

Rotation:
Zambrano
Harden
Lilly
Dempster or other FA (Lowe is my #1 option, but I doubt it) assuming we’ll get Dempster for more than is actually prudent.
RICH HILL
next, after Hill and also to replace Harden when he is on the DL or on a 9 day rest between unscheduled starts; I go with some combo of Marshall (solid 5 starter!), Gaudin, Mitch Atkins, Samardzjia, etc.
Marquis if can’t unload him is fine as a #5.

Under no circumstance do I sign Garland as a FA. That will be some costly contract for poor starting pitching, I expect he may even surpass Marquis as a terrible FA contract…so we prob will sign him.

Bullpen:
Wood
Marmol
FA- If we sign Wood and keep Marmol, I don’t sign much of a FA…but if we either don’t sign Wood for a reasonable amount, or could use Marmol as trade bait, I’d sign either 1 or 2 bullpen arms who are solid proven top-end bullpen guys. Not closers of course, but anyone in the <3.00 ERA projected area, and I set up my pen with these guys. Gaudin could also maybe be in the 7th+ (and Shark if needed)

Wuertz
Gaudin
Guzman
Cotts
Marshall
maybe Wells, Ascanio, Ceda, basically we are set in pen quantity.

CLIFF NOTES’ CLIFF NOTES:
why i should be made GM of the Cubs, or at least Assistant Assistant GM; my very tentative Plan/Ideas
1. Trade Marmol
2. Don’t overspend on Wood/Demp
3. If we need to replace Wood/Marmol, add the least-heralded options for these spots that are, by their peripherals and stuff, legit late-inning relievers.
4. RICH HILL!
5. Trade Marquis, never ever sign anyone like him again.
6. Theriot no longer starting at SS.
7. USE PEOPLE WISELY
8. Start selling high for once, aka the people on my list to look into trading: Marmol, DeRosa, Theriot.
9. Long-term, look to eventually sign an extreme GB Ace(a real one…not Zambrano’s sort-of GB nibbling) when one comes available; if we could get the next Webb/Halladay/Lowe locked up when they are signing a FA contract, it would be worth the risk of some sort of absurdly long albatross aka Zito/Soriano.

Some team might overpay drastically to add Marmol to their pen, so if the price is right they should consider it.

I think some fans have hope for him. A writer in Chicago commented that Hill might not be able to work well with Lou, or something like that.

Gut feeling is that they’ll hold onto him through spring and see if he can be utilized as an asset, whether it be in the pen or rotation. If not, then they may ship him off (Baltimore makes some sense, with their Cubs connections there)

I’m so glad I’m not the Cubs GM.

I would love for that to happen … no chance though. The whole Lee to Giants things picked up rumorville steam from Phil Rogers. Best case scenario with the Giants that I can imagine is Jon Sanchez being involved, but I don’t see the cubs moving Lee unless they have lined up an impact bat, and the whole process of such an action would be extremely tricky.

I think, for the Cubs fans that want to move Lee, the best team is still the Angels if Tex leaves.

you watch the NLCS?

They played like S***. This is a very good team, but that’s gotta be a troubling sign.

So, about your username…