Rebuilding the Cubs

[jjbears6]

Hey guys, I am looking to start a Chicago Cubs franchise. I was wondering what moves you guys would make. I know they will not be a contender the first year, but in two or three years I would like them to be. I have a few ideas for trades and such, but I would like some recommendations.

1. Trade Soriano at the trading deadline to a contender for some young pitching prospects.

2. After the first year, trade Lahair for more pitching prospects and get Rizzo into the starting lineup.

3. Probably start Campana over Byrd.

4. Call up Brett Jackson after Soriano is traded.

Any other ideas would be very helpful!

[37]

Quote: Originally Posted by jjbears6

Hey guys, I am looking to start a Chicago Cubs franchise. I was wondering what moves you guys would make. I know they will not be a contender the first year, but in two or three years I would like them to be. I have a few ideas for trades and such, but I would like some recommendations. 1. Trade Soriano at the trading deadline to a contender for some young pitching prospects. 2. After the first year, trade Lahair for more pitching prospects and get Rizzo into the starting lineup. 3. Probably start Campana over Byrd. 4. Call up Brett Jackson after Soriano is traded. Any other ideas would be very helpful!

Trade Garza and Dempster....get whatever u can for DeJesus, Stewart, Byrd, Kerry Wood if he's healthy

[authentic]

Response to your ideas:

1. Good idea, trading Sori is smart.

2. Absolutely not. LaHair is under team control until 2018 I believe. LaHair can play outfield no problem, which is what they will do when they bring up Rizzo this season.

3. Trade Byrd, use Campana against righties.

4. Don't rush Jackson at all. If he isn't hitting .290 or above, or is struggling with strikeouts, any injuries, give him a year in AAA. He'll be up for sure next year.

My ideas:

1. Trade Dempster if he's pitching well.

2. Trade DeJesus if he's playing well.

3. Trade Soto if he's not playing well, mainly to a team that needs a back up catcher.

4. Trade Marmol.

5. Do not resign Kerry Wood. I love him, but this is his last contract with the Cubs.

6. Don't make any huge signings the first year, let your young talent develop before you make a huge signing. There will always be free agents to sign.

7. Don't trade Garza, Samardzija, or Travis Wood.

8. Resign Castro no matter what, and extend Garza.

[authentic]

Quote: Originally Posted by NoFatGirlz4Me37

Trade Garza and Dempster....get whatever u can for DeJesus, Stewart, Byrd, Kerry Wood if he's healthy

Garza is in extension talks, he's not getting traded.

Stewart won't be traded unless Vitters is raking in AAA, which he's not. Wood would probably refuse a trade in real life, unless it's to a big contender.

[jjbears6]

Quote: Originally Posted by authentic

Response to your ideas: 1. Good idea, trading Sori is smart. 2. Absolutely not. LaHair is under team control until 2018 I believe. LaHair can play outfield no problem, which is what they will do when they bring up Rizzo this season. 3. Trade Byrd, use Campana against righties. 4. Don't rush Jackson at all. If he isn't hitting .290 or above, or is struggling with strikeouts, any injuries, give him a year in AAA. He'll be up for sure next year. My ideas: 1. Trade Dempster if he's pitching well. 2. Trade DeJesus if he's playing well. 3. Trade Soto if he's not playing well, mainly to a team that needs a back up catcher. 4. Trade Marmol. 5. Do not resign Kerry Wood. I love him, but this is his last contract with the Cubs. 6. Don't make any huge signings the first year, let your young talent develop before you make a huge signing. There will always be free agents to sign. 7. Don't trade Garza, Samardzija, or Travis Wood. 8. Resign Castro no matter what, and extend Garza.

Who would you recommend me trading these players for? And I realized trading LaHair was a dumb idea after thinking about it.

[gubunko]

Quote: Originally Posted by jjbears6

Who would you recommend me trading these players for? And I realized trading LaHair was a dumb idea after thinking about it.

Go young. The thing about the Cubbies is that they have some good young players like Jackson, but you have contracts like Soriano just killing any chance of winning. I've played around with a Cubs 'chise before the patches, and I traded whoever I could at the major league level for cheap, controllable talent (i.e. players who haven't hit arbitration yet).

Trading Soriano was a must priority for me. I tried to get some young pitchers for him, but couldn't trade him at the deadline. Fortunately for me, he decided to retire after the '12 season.

[gubunko]

Oh, and when you're getting position players, make sure you get a righty or two to balance out the lefty brigade of Rizzo, LaHair and Jackson (if you decide to keep all three). I somehow ended up with 7 lefty hitters out of 8 positions in my 2014 season (Castro was my only hitter from the right side).

[PowerofRed25]

The simple answer is, trade who you can and go young. The prospects are there, for the most part, to become a solid ball club a few years down the line. First problem is obviously Soriano, do what you can to get rid of him. Then I'd be looking to trade Marmol and Byrd (if he's still there on your roster). Leave Jackson down, roll with Campana/Johnson and when Rizzo is ready, move DeJesus to center and LaHair to RF.

As much as I like Garza in real life and know he'll probably be extended, I would trade him for an A potential prospect (or more if you can get it) in the game. By the time you're a contender, you'll have wasted the prime of Garza's career. Trade Dempster as well. Bring the youth up in increments, Rizzo first. Jackson maybe not at all in 2012.

In terms of what you should target in trades: 1) Starting pitching prospects. I'd try to flip Garza for a couple solid prospects, look to Arizona or Seattle. Could add Marmol to the deal maybe. 2) 2nd Base. Probably best addressed through free agency. Howie Kendrick's will be a FA after this year I believe, he'd be a good target (and can play corner OF). 3) Bullpen. Get a true closer. An electric, Chapman-like arm. Not sure where you can find one, but try there.

You could also look at a more long term option at 3B and move Vitters to the OF. David Wright should be a FA at the end of 2012 although the real life Mets are looking to extend him.

You'll have some hard work ahead. I've thought about doing the same thing, not playing any of the games but just making the moves.