Lots of guessing surrounds Cubs at winter meetings

The only clue Jim Hendry has revealed about his Las Vegas game plan is the well-known fact that the Cubs are searching for a left-handed hitter, preferably for right field.

[John Anthony]

And then the next big question still remains, how will the cubs choke again in 2009? I love reading how they are concerned about their payroll, why? You haven't won in 100 years, rarely is the big money you spend spent wisely, nothing jives with these guys anymore. You would think a franchise that consistently chokes and collapses would do anything and everything to get the best players. Peavy should've been in a Cubs uniform weeks ago. Give up whoever for whatever and just get it done. Other teams can get it done, but not the Cubs. It's amazing yet comical at the same time. Remember, Soriano says Cubs fans need to be patient. He says you guys need to chill and relax. Meanwhile, he's done nothing in big game after big game as a Cub. 1908 folks, 1908. 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008.

[Leo]

Why all the panic about a left-handed hitting right fielder when you have a low-cost option in front of your face named Micah Hoffpauir? I'll take his mediocre defense (did cubs send him to winter league to have him play right field and get better? who knows? no info, just rumors from Paul Sullivan) in exchange for a minimum-salary player who could hit 25 hr /80-90rbi hitting seventh. Will Hoffpauir ever get the chance to show what he can do? Or does Hendry have to spend $10 million to get similar numbers from a "veteran" that his genius manager prefers? I'm guessing it's the latter.

[Seattle Mike]

J.Hendry said "We're in a good spot because....the team that's on our wall right now you can line up with and contend." Agreed, but is a team that can win a championship with 1 or 2 more mediocre pieces? I think not! Trading for J.Peavy and/or B.Roberts would definitely make the Cubs favorites for the NL Pennant. Git'R Done Jim!

[Point is]

John Anthony wrote:

And then the next big question still remains, how will the cubs choke again in 2009? I love reading how they are concerned about their payroll, why? You haven't won in 100 years, rarely is the big money you spend spent wisely, nothing jives with these guys anymore. You would think a franchise that consistently chokes and collapses would do anything and everything to get the best players. Peavy should've been in a Cubs uniform weeks ago. Give up whoever for whatever and just get it done. Other teams can get it done, but not the Cubs. It's amazing yet comical at the same time. Remember, Soriano says Cubs fans need to be patient. He says you guys need to chill and relax. Meanwhile, he's done nothing in big game after big game as a Cub. 1908 folks, 1908. 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008.

I'd bet anyone anything this guy has never seen a baseball game before.

[GA CUBS fan]

I hope they dont give up a bunch of young guys for veterans on the down hill slope.

[Craig]

I'm still not over the Cubs blowing it. They can make any change they want. You can argue all night about players. But they have to show up during playoff time. Period. Cubs haven't shown up two years in a row. Unforgivable. I've been a fan since 1977 and will not fully support the Cubs until they are in the playoffs and actually score runs, showing life.

[Sonny Von Bewlo Liston]

Pass on Peavy, sign Beimel and Roberts. Bat Soriano fifth. If Fukudome doesn't snap out of it by the end of spring training, leave him in the minors and platoon Hoffpauir and DeRosa in right --- and pray they can catch the ball consistenly. Marmol's your closer. Trade Marquis for a gross of jockstraps and hope for the best.

[Mr Baseball]

I would go after Jeremy Hermida. This guy can be for real. We did have Josh Hamilton for a few hours at the winter meetings two years ago. That trade Hendry regrets. Hermida and Wrigley are made for each other. Good arm, good speed, good bat.

Marquis should be in that Peavy deal. He has one year left. San Diego should take on his contract. Peavy will be with the Cubs until 2012. Last year contract is at $22 million.

Need a LH relief pitcher. That is a must.

[32dutch]

The Cubs will get Peavy simply because he will not sign anywhere else. And the Cubs should win the weak NL Central for the third straight year. But remember, as Steve Stone said, they didn't win a game in the playoffs because they didn't pitch well; they didn't win a game in the playoffs because they did't hit a lick.

[Doug]

Mr Baseball wrote:

I would go after Jeremy Hermida. This guy can be for real. We did have Josh Hamilton for a few hours at the winter meetings two years ago. That trade Hendry regrets. Hermida and Wrigley are made for each other. Good arm, good speed, good bat.
Marquis should be in that Peavy deal. He has one year left. San Diego should take on his contract. Peavy will be with the Cubs until 2012. Last year contract is at $22 million.
Need a LH relief pitcher. That is a must.

Hamilton was a Rule 5 pick. The Cubs, who had the first pick of the Rule 5 draft that year, agreed to select a player for the Reds and then trade that player to the Reds for cash. When the draft started, the Reds told the Cubs which player to pick and the deal was done. The Cubs never had control of Hamilton and never had the option of keeping Hamilton and probably never would have picked Hamilton for themselves.

And why would the Padres take Jason Marquis when they are trying to dump salary? This isn't the NBA and you don't have to match salary to make a trade. There is no salary cap in the MLB. If they do trade Marquis, it will be to a team that has money to spend or the Cubs will end up paying most of his salary anyway.

I do agree with you about the lefty reliever. Cotts is not good enough by himself and Marshall is either a starter or on his way out in a trade for Peavy or Roberts.

[ryan]

we need bobby and peavy to win it all. we will be complete. lets get this done

[ceez]

Same stuff every winter. We are some sad fans and one sad franchise. Let's get real.

[Wenalway]

I still remember the 2006 season when Paul Sullivan and Phil Rogers kept making predictions that either never came true or came to fruition only after months of ultra-dull, repetitive columns.

The best part of that season: "Phil Nevin doesn't fit this team!" Weeks pass. "Phil Nevin doesn't fit this team!" Months pass. Finally Nevin is gone.

The Tribune baseball writers' motto should be: "It might be! It could be! It's ... not!"

Before long, we'll start reading the usual crazy trade predictions, like how the Cubs will trade Marquis and the newly acquired rights to Kent Mercker for Brian Roberts. Except Baltimore might actually be dumb enough to pull the trigger on something like that.

[david james]

Why are we so woried about getting hitters. I don't know about you but the play-off games I watched we were hurting for better pitching. We only lost game 3 by a few runs but the other two were pitching disasters. Jake Peavy and an improved hitting approach is all we need in the play-offs. I sure would like to still land Kerry Wood. I would take him over Ibreau and Ibanez they are just dead weight.

[Bart Burgoo]

Here we go again with the hyped-up trades that will do nothing but give Cubs fans high expectations only to see them dashed by another choke and collapse. Onward to 200 years without a World Series title.

[Betty]

It doesnlt matter what the Cubs do they will never win anything.

They are the ultimate losers and CUb fans are the ultimate fools.

The White Sox will win it all again this year while Cub fans dream about more trades.

[Rick]

White Sox fans just can't help it.Their hatred and insecurities run so deep. It's sad.

[rgpnb23]

We should trade Theriot, Marshall, for Hermida. Then make the deal for Peavy-Marquis, K Hart, Vitters, and Cedeno ,Pie plus 4 million cash. sign Rafael Furcal.
Furcal
Johnson
Hermida
Ramirez
Soriano
Lee
Soto
Derosa

[Delusional Cubs Fan]

The Cubs should sign Teixeira, Rafael Furcal, CC Sabathia and Manny Ramirez, then trade for Brian Roberts and Jake Peavy. It's that easy right?

People are crazy. None of these things will happen. Let it go people. The Cubs are for sale, the company that owns them is going bankrupt and the economy is going so far south that even the Yankees won't risk offering their own players arbitration. The Cubs are restricted by multiple long term back loaded contracts, a huge ownership question and sinking revenues because MLB is not going to make as much this year as last, as any real baseball executive will tell you. Also they don't really have much of anything to offer other teams in trade other than benchwarmers and 2nd rate prospects who have proved nothing in the major leagues. Only a retard would trade Peavy for Marquis or Brian Roberts for Ronny Cedeno. It won't happen.

Everyone has been spoiled by the big offseason signings of the past couple years. It WON'T happen this year. The Cubs will go into 2009 with a very similar team to last year, which by the way, had the best record in the National League, so don't get too panicked.

And Sox fans, please just stay away, we know you hate the Cubs already. I know the Cubs losing gives you more pleasure than the Sox winning but get a life.

[In the Know]

Peavy is overrated. Pass on him.