tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216094732716939655.post3803410050515742844..comments2012-04-04T09:09:14.045-05:00Comments on NL Central Stage: FA FA FA: Chicago CubsDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10535450896576751111noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216094732716939655.post-76635368770694458732008-11-05T21:05:00.000-06:002008-11-05T21:05:00.000-06:00He may not be a big name, but Henry Blanco is also...He may not be a big name, but Henry Blanco is also a free agent this year, and although Geovany Soto is, as my mother would say, "the shit," the Cubs need to make sure they have a backup catcher available. Blanco isn't much of a hitter, but he's a solid defensive backstop, and let's face it: teams don't carry backup catchers for their bats.<BR/><BR/>The Cubs do have options (Koyie Hill, for one) at the position, but having a veteran around to work with Soto, already a fantastic defensive catcher in his own right, would be nice for another year or two. Still, if the Cubs have to decide between making Blanco an offer and making Dempster, Wood, or Edmonds an offer, the choice should be obvious.<BR/><BR/>You're dead-on with regards to the Cubbies' priorities, by the way. Dempster won't be an ace every year, but particularly after Rich Hill's disappointing (see: non-existant) 2008, the Cubs need to keep their rotation intact if possible. And because a great deal of Dempster's 2008 success has been attributed (rightly or not) to his new glove-waggling delivery, there is a distinct possibility that he'll continue to outperform his seasons as a starter with the Marlins and Reds.<BR/><BR/>Wood is, as you say, a franchise player, and with Marmol proving that his dominant 2007 numbers were no fluke (and Jeff Samardzija hopefully poised to do the same in '09), keeping Wood in the closer slot would give the Cubs one of, if not the, most lights-out 7-8-9 inning combos in the bigs. I agree that closers come and go, but if the Cubs have the opportunity to play 6-inning games, they should sign the checks they need to take advantage of that opportunity, particularly if Wood wants to stay in Chicago (as he has always indicated).<BR/><BR/>Edmonds is a bit of a tough call. Picking him up in 2008 was a no-brainer, since San Diego basically paid Edmonds to play for Chicago, but due to his age it's likely the Cubs could sign Edmonds to an incentive-based contract for next to nothing, and with the question marks surrounding Fukudome, such a contract would (like in '08) be worth the minimal risk. <BR/><BR/>Personally, I think Fukudome will bounce back next year, but between Edmonds and Johnson, the Cubs would have a solid insurance policy. If they lose Edmonds, the Cubs will once again be in the market for a (preferably left-handed) power hitter to protect Ramirez, assuming they don't simply move Soto into the 5-slot.<BR/><BR/>If the Cubs wrangle Brian Roberts away from the Orioles, however, they'd be wise to let Edmonds go and instead shift Fukudome into center and DeRosa into right, with Reed Johnson backing up all three outfield positions. Of course, if they snag Roberts, they'd also be wise to bat him leadoff and move Soriano into the 2-slot, but who knows whether or not Soriano would be willing to accomodate such a move?<BR/><BR/>I think I've put the cart sufficiently ahead of the horse, don't you?Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535450896576751111noreply@blogger.com