The Cubs Rub

[DOUGHBOYS]

I feel for Chicago baseball fans. They're great fans. They love good baseball. And it's doubtful they see much of that this year. Both teams in their own way are in a rebuilding mode. Adept GM's can rebuild and re-load at the same time if given enough material to work with.
An impossibility for Theo Epstein. An improbability for Ken Williams.

The signing of Prince Fielder could trigger that the Cubs are willing to spend money on youth as well as build that way.
But more likely, the Cubs will be taking notes from The A's in becoming Oakland Midwest. The difference being that the A's are not tethered to long, expensive contracts.

For the Cubs, they've been generally mis-managed by Jim Hendry. Last year, to assist a lineup of number six hitters and Starlin Castro, he signed Carlos Pena to a one year contract worth 10 million dollars. A deal to nowhere. This year, besides Castro, the Cubs best players are all pieces that Epstein would like to move. Matt Garza, Carlos Marmol, Carlos Zambrano, Marlon Byrd, and Alfonso Soriano.
Sad.
No, not sad that they need to be moved, sad that those are the best pieces from the Hendry era.
Sean Marshall was the Cubs easiest player to move and has already been traded. Garza is a good piece for other teams as well. He should bring a very good package of prospects.
Marmol, Zambrano, Byrd, and Soriano will be the tough nuts for Epstein. All have contracts worth more than the players abilities. Marmol comes closest to matching his contract. He still has good stuff, sometimes he just doesn't know where it is going. It's hard to imagine a team making a run for the pennant wanting him as a closer. The implosions are legendary. Still, the stuff maybe enticing enough for another team to bite and give up a couple of lower grade prospects.
Zambrano and Soriano cannot be dealt without eating salary. A possibility for Zambrano. He can still be a good third or fourth rotation guy with the right team. Soriano is a Barry Zito-like albatross. Any deal can be made if finding the right partner, but clearing the books of Soriano will be a herculean task. Hendry was fooled by Byrd's contract year in Texas and signed him to $$$ Byrd's talent is closer to Ryan Sweeney than other outfielders with his contract.
I'm guessing Soriano and Byrd stay. Without other changes or a Major League ready position player in exchange for Garza, here is a look at the Cubs lineup for 2012:
1. DeJesus
2. Castro
3. Byrd
4. LaHair
5. Soriano
6. Soto
7. Stewart
8. Barney
Benign as a lineup can be.
Interesting only in that they have two players with capital letters in the middle of their names.
DeJesus and Byrd play the outfield, but have 2b offense.
The Cubs could go through a year without an intentional walk.
Zambrano has more sting in his bat than Barney.
Not one player who'll put fannies in the seats.
No prospect to root for.
LaHair has been at AAA for the last six years and is 29 years old. He is a clean up hitter by default. Default of Jim Hendry.
Now, the rebuilding begins.
The Cubs can only hope that one of the chips that need to be moved has an exceptional year. If Marmol, Zambrano, Soriano, Byrd, or even LaHair plays above expectations, the trade deadline could be a tool for Epstein to rid the Cubs of the excessive contacts or get a few prospects and turbo charge the rebuilding process.
More likely though, is that it'll be a slow churning.
A process that'll test even Cubs fans resolve to fill seats at Wrigley Field in 2012.

A follow-up will be later on the White Sox.

[Gekko]

How much does Garza's value improve if he goes to Yankees, Red Sox or Tigers? Heck, I'd even take him on the Marlins over the Cubbies. 100% he's getting moved. 99% he's going earlier in March drafts than he is now.

[KJ Duke]

Dan, Cub fans know how to root for underdogs. Rooting for overpaid underachievers was tough the last few years.
This year will be better.

[Winston's Empire]

I agree with KJ here Dough. Its been hard to watch the Cubs try to use the Yankee's formula for success the past 7 years or so. If they can make a few trades to get some chips and start to build this club from the farm up, people will be excited to watch it from the start. We might be 3 - 5 years from competing for the NL Central, but you know as a Cubs fan it will be worth the ride - BEER IN HAND OF COURSE!!!! I for one will be at Wrigley again this year a few times no matter what, but would prefer if Dempster is pitching... Love it when he shakes his glove.