Albert Pujols, for lack of a friendlier word, has imploded since he signed with Anaheim.Meanwhile, in America's Second City, Alfonso Soriano has faded from relevance and Ryan Dempster has struggled with adversity for years.The only thing in common for all three is that their contracts have proven to be giant albatrosses for all parties involved.Only one solution remains, and while crazy, it solves problems for all involved; trade Pujols, rid Soriano and Dempster of the neglect they've had as members of the Chicago Cubs, and begin to put people in the seats at Waveland and Sheffield again.Now, hear me out ...
Albert Pujols and the Chicago Cubs have been linked since spring training as a destination for the first baseman in free agency. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Theo Epstein has extended an offer to the former St. Louis Cardinals slugger.With the thought of Pujols mashing home runs at the Friendly Confines for the home team clouding fans' thoughts, it would be a move that could turn into Epstein's "Soriano Deal" for the franchise, putting the squad right back where it started—in a hole.Here's five reasons it's a huge mistake to sign Albert Pujols.Begin Slideshow
Ron Santo is finally a Hall of Fame member. Today, the Veteran's Committee elected Santo (with 15 out of a possible 16 votes in favor), and the longtime Cubs third baseman ended up where he belongs.This is a mistake that has been ongoing since Santo was first eligible. His production on the field cemented his case as one of baseball's immortals, and his contributions off the field made his induction a foregone conclusion for everyone except the Hall of Fame voters.While the Veteran's Committee has finally given Santo his due, it was done posthumously, which makes it seem like a ...
In January 2011, the Chicago Cubs acquired Matt Garza along with Fernando Perez and Zach Rosscup. Chicago sent Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Robinson Chirinos, Brandon Guyer and Sam Fuld to the Tampa Bay Rays in return. While the deal seemed steep at the time, after the season Garza had in 2011, he could be traded for even more this offseason.According to FanGraphs, Garza finished 2011 with career bests in ERA, xFIP and WAR. With a WAR of 5.0, Garza is among the elite in the National League and should attract trade offers comparable to what Kansas City got for Zack ...
Prince Fielder. Albert Pujols. Chicago Cubs. The three have been interchangeable since the beginning of free agency, and rumors have run rampant about which piece is a good fit for each other. Simply put, neither Pujols nor Fielder are a good fit for the Chicago Cubs.Albert Pujols is 32 going on 34 (supposedly), and he has never been a serious part of the Cubs' free-agent discussion. Fielder has been put under a microscope for weeks and no one can get a good read on what the future holds for the left-handed power hitter. With the big-spending teams (Yankees, Red Sox ...
With the hiring of Dale Sveum as manager of the Chicago Cubs, spell checks, along with Major League Baseball's "Hot Stove," have overheated. Free agency has revolved around the two biggest first basemen, Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols, so the question must be raised; could Dale Sveum's hiring give the Cubs the upper hand in acquiring Prince Fielder?Dale Sveum was brought on immediately following Fielder's best slugging season, where he hit 50 home runs and drove in 119 runs, finishing third in Most Valuable Player voting. Allowing a year for Sveum to understand Fielder's tendencies, while also improving the players ...
While Bob Nightengale of The USA Today has reported that every member of the Chicago Cubs roster is on the table for trade, this does not mean Starlin Castro is going to be traded. He is under Cubs control until 2017, and his future appears to be very bright. The amount of prospects it would take for the front office to even discuss trading the budding superstar would be prohibitive for any team to go through with.Three players should be moved if 2012 is a casualty of a massive rebuilding effort. The value of these players in a soft free ...
Aramis Ramirez has played his last game as a Chicago Cub. His agent, Paul Kinzer, stated "that ship has sailed." It's the right time for both sides to go their separate ways: Ramirez is searching for his last big deal at the age of 33, while the front office has an eye on the future.With a 2011 line of .306/.361/.510, Ramirez' numbers were higher than his career average. Expecting to find a player that will immediately step in and produce like Aramis Ramirez by way of free agency is unrealistic. The players available don't fit with the future of the ...
Shiraz Rehman was brought in with little fanfare this week, having been hired as the Assistant to the General Manager for the Chicago Cubs. His previous post was with the Arizona Diamondbacks as Director of Player Personnel. This hire is just as good as bringing in Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, and Jason McLeod.Epstein is developing a brain trust other front offices won't be able to touch. With a financial background, Rehman brings an interesting voice of reason to the Cubs fellow executives, especially when his role with the Diamondbacks was focused solely on roster management, something the Cubs haven't been ...
The Chicago Cubs have begun the rebuilding process. Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, and Jason McLeod reflect the new direction that the Ricketts family wants to take this franchise. While a front-office cleansing is a good place to start, in order to win quickly, free agency must be addressed.Pitching or hitting? Big bats or sabermetric-friendly players? The front office has a lot of choices to make, and here are the 10 most vital targets for Chicago to pursue, not only for the future, but the present.Begin Slideshow
