A Look at Who the Cubs Should Trade in the Offseason...

These are players that could be traded:

1) Aaron Heilman: He has not help the Cubs at all and should be on his way out of town,

Teams that could be interested: Giants, Mets, White Sox, Angels and other teams desperate for bullpen help.

2) Mike Fontenot: He has put up crappy numbers since he was inserted into the starting roll at second base.

Teams that could be interested: Mets, Giants, Dodgers, Mariners, Tigers, Indians.

3) Milton Bradley: He has put up a bad average but his OBP is close to .400 and that is hard to replace. The bas part is the Cubs will have to pay most of his contract.

Teams that could be interested: White Sox, Red Sox, Angels, Tigers, Marlins.

4) Jeff Baker: His stock has gone up as he continues to hit but I see Fontenot being traded before him.

Teams that could be interested: Any team that needs a bench player or a fill in until there starter comes back.

5) Jake Fox: He can hit but can't feld, I see DH.

Teams that could be interested: Any team that needs a DH.

Those are some names I can think of that may be traded and who might be interested.

If I was Jim Hendry, What I Would do After the Season...

After the season I will:

Let Reed Johnson, Kevin Gregg and Chad Fox walk.

Sign Rich Harden to 3 years 30 million, 10 million per year.
Sign John Grabow to 3 years 12 million, 4 million per year.

Free agents:
Sign Marco Scutaro to 3 years 18 million, 6 million per year.
Sign Jose Valverde to 3 years 18 million, 6 million per year.

Trade:
Mike Fontenot for prospects.
Aaron Heilman for prospects.

DFA:
Aaron Miles and take on his 2.7 million left on his contract.

Try to get rid of Soriano but wont happen and will be on 2010 team.

After all that, now the lineup:
1) Marco Scutaro SS
2) Milton Bradley RF
3) Derrek lee 1B
4) Aramis Ramirez 3B
5) Kosuke Fukudome CF
6) Alfonso Soriano LF
7) Geovany Soto C
8) Ryan Theriot 2B
9) Pitcher P

Starting Rotation:
1) Carlos Zambrano
2) Rich Harden
3) Ted Lilly
4) Ryan Dempster
5) Randy Wells

Bullpen: Closer-Jose Valverde
Set-up Carlos Marmol
7th Angel Guzman
7th or lefty specialist John Grabow
Long reliever Sean Marshall
Long reliever Jeff Stevens
Reliever Tom Gorzelanny

Bench:
Jake Fox 3B, LF
Koyie Hill C
Sam Fuld OF
Jeff Baker 2B, 3B
Micah Hoffpauir 1B, RF

That is what I will do, any thoughts.

Tomorrow I will have the steps into why I would do that and besides that who else would also be interested.

Quick Hits...

Heyman talked to 2 GMs and said the Cubs could deal Bradley. One said they would have to eat his entire contract. The other stated the Cubs would only have to take on half of it.

Alfonso Soriano is going to get surgery after the season and he said if we are out I will get it done before the season is over.

Derrek Lee had a baby boy named Dylan and that is why he missed the last 2 games.

2 players the Cubs are going to go after this season are Mark Teahen and Chone Figgins.

I will keep you posted.

Cubs Acquire Minor Leaguer Thomas Diamond

Today the Cubs acquire minor league righty Thomas Diamond from the Texas Rangers. In 2004 Diamond was the 10 overall pick in the draft and in 2007 had Tommy John Surgery. He has not been the same and has been struggling with his command since the injury. He will head to Triple A Iowa Cubs.

In 55.2 innings in the minors Diamond is 2-3 with a 4.20 era and has give up 55 hits, 44 walks and struck out 58 batters. Not to mention he is 26 years old. the Cubs can only hope he can get his stuff back and really help the ball club.

I will keep you posted.

John Grabow wants to Resign...

John Grabow told Gordon Wittnymer that he loves Chicago and the team and wants to resign with the them after the season.

Grabow is expected to be a Type A free agent after the season and if the Cubs offer him arbitration and he declines the Cubs will get 2 draft picks if he signs elsewhere.

I would offer him arbitration, 3-5 million and if he declines the Cubs will at least get 2 draft picks but if he accepts I will try to give him an extension for about 2 years and 7-10 million in those 2 years.

After all that I hope he resigns because since joining the Cubs in 16 innings has not give up a run.

Offseason Notes

Lets start the offseason early:

Chone Figgins is going to be on the top of there list in the offseason, to sign.

The Cubs are expected to offer arbitration to lefty reliever John Grabow but not to Kevin Gregg.

Jim Hendry likes the idea of signing P Rich harden to a contract of more than 1 year but he is going to see how he holds up for the rest of the season.

The Cubs are looking to add a lefty starter or go in house for the lefty starter.

More to come but remember it is still early.

September Call Ups and Recap of Last Posts...

The Cubs are expected to call up:

OF/1B Micah Hoffpauir
P Justin Berg
Activate IF Andres Blanco off 15 day DL
Activate P David patton off 15 day DL
P Jeff Samardzija
P Jeff Stevens
P Esmailin Caridad
IF Bobby Scales

None are unexpected but I would want to see OF Brad Snyder and P Jon Gaub get call up as well.

Recent posts if you missed:

*Why Chone figgins will help the Cubs.
*A look at closers the Cubs should look at.
*What relief pitchers the Cubs should look at.
*Should the Cubs pursue Marco Scutaro.
*Should the Cubs let Reed Johnson walk.
*Should the Cubs resign Rich Harden.

I will keep you updated.