Cubs Offseason Thus Far

DBacks · Post by **DBacks** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:06 pm

Dodgers trade 
Joe Saunders, Wily Mo Pena, Jeff Weaver, , , , , to Cubs for 
Aaron Fultz, Ted Lilly, , , , , ,

Cubs trade 
Garret Anderson, , , , , , , to Brewers for 
Gavin Floyd, , , , , , ,

Tigers trade 
Felipe Paulino Del Gui, John 5-Drennen, , , , , , to Cubs for 
David Weathers, , , , , , ,

RedSox trade 
Carlos Silva, , , , , , , to Cubs for 
David Eckstein, , , , , , ,

Cubs trade 
Gavin Floyd, , , , , , , to Angels for 
David DeJesus, , , , , , ,

Cubs trade 
John Grabow, , , , , , , to RedSox for 
Ronnie Belliard, , , , , , ,

Cubs trade 
2007 Draft, Pick 72, , , , , , , to Giants for 
Jorge Sosa, , , , , , ,

RedSox trade 
Brad Lidge, , , , , , , to Cubs for 
2007 Draft, Pick 12, , , , , , ,

8 trades since the end of the World Series. I'm rapidly pulling the trigger on any offers that I think benefit my squad. I play to my strengths and against my weaknesses. My weaknesses obviously lie in the prospect department, which is why I have moved two of my draft picks and am still trying to trade the other three. I am looking for MLB talent, because my strength seems to lie in my evaluation of borderline talent.

My philosophy as a GM has and always will be Major League Depth. I've avoided the prospect craze and instead focused on stocking my roster with guys who have shots at good projections and can then therefore step in at any time and perform. I'm not saying its the right way or the best way to run a team, I'm simply saying that it's my way and it has worked for me.

I look at MLB players who aren't high on anyone depth charts, and try to find the ones who could possibly break through with big years or solid projections. This is how I've games in my IBC career. In 2006, I won the championship because of a solid Geoff Jenkins projection and Odalis Perez sub 4 ERA projection. These are two guys that were easy for me to get. They cost virtually nothing, and the payoff was huge. I believe Jenkins hit around .470 in the postseason for me.

This year I'm doing the same thing. I've brought in guys who I believe could have some surprise projections and/or MLB seasons next year. The majority of them were cheap, and that's the way I like it. Some, if not most, will bust. But the ones that pay off more than make up the difference.

OUT:
John Grabow
Garret Anderson
David Weathers
David Eckstein
Aaron Fultz
Ted Lilly

IN:
Jorge Sosa
Brad Lidge
Carlos Silva
Wily Mo Pena
Jeff Weaver
Felipe Paulino
John Drennen
David Dejesus
Ronnie Belliard

The only person I hated to lose was Lilly, but I don't see another season like this one in his future. His numbers are misleading based upon a sick start to the season, in my opinion.

I love the group of guys we've added this offseason though. Luis Castillo has been and still will be on the block all offseason long, and the acquisition of Ronnie Belliard makes dealing him easier. Carlos Silva will slide into the back of the rotation and eat up innings. Again, this is a guy a lot of people don't like, but he's only 28 and he could turn out to be a great back-end rotation filler for seasons to come.

Dejesus was acquired essentially for Garret Anderson, which is just ridiculously beneficial for my team. CF was an area of need with Edmonds falling apart, but now Jimmy can slide into the role of power bench bat and I have young CF to stick into the lineup.

Sosa and Lidge I acquired for draft picks and could turn out to be huge for me in 2008.

So far, I'm liking my offseason.

DBacks · Post by **DBacks** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:38 pm

Potential Team in 2008

1) Luis Castillo 2B
2) David Dejesus CF
3) Alfonso Soriano LF
4) Dmitri Young 1B
5) Eric Chavez 3B
6) Wily Mo Pena RF
7) Ramon Hernandez C

Ronnie Belliard SS

Bronson Arroyo
Joe Saunders
Carlos Silva
Jason Marquis
Jorge Sosa

closer - Brad Lidge
randy messenger
scott eyre
doug brocail
darren oliver

could be much, much worse. one more bat and i'm all set. all I need is one more power bat to hit behind soriano and i'm confident i can surprise some people.

DBacks · Post by **DBacks** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:30 am

the new team would look something like this:

Lineup
David Dejesus CF
Shannon Stewart LF
Jeff Kent 2B
Dmitri Young 1B
JJ Hardy SS
Wily Mo Pena RF
Eric Chavez 3B
Ramon Hernandez C

Rotation
Bronson Arroyo
Joe Saunders
Jason Marquis
Carlos Silva
Collin Balester/Jurrjens/Danks

closer - Brad Lidge
randy messenger
scott eyre
doug brocail
darren oliver