Isn’t the whole purpose of getting this LH OF for power? Who’s more likely to provide that power? We’re talking equally shitty fielding abilities here, so give me Dunn and give the ballhawks on Sheffield Ave something to do next summer.

Seeing as Dunn is a terrific hitter, still relatively young, and won’t cost anyone a draft pick, I’ll aver that interest in him will pick up soon and drive his salary out of the range the Cubs could afford. As for Ibanez, count me as one of the folks who think his performance last year is an aberration, and it’s not hard to imagine his numbers taking a nosedive in ‘09 (especially when one considers his age). That’s not the sort of guy I’d want the Cubs to spend millions of dollars and a first-round draft pick to get, thank you very much. Abreu isn’t a perfect solution, but it doesn’t seem like there’s gonna be much competition to sign him (even after the Yankees declined to offer arbitration) and, at 35, he probably has some reasonably productive years ahead of him. (Of course, to afford Abreu, the Cubs may need to trade Marquis.)

As for the rumored trade targets (Teahen et al) most of them don’t, in my mind, offer much of an upgrade over what the Cubs already have in Pie and Fukudome. If the Cubs are gonna spend the money (or players) to upgrade RF, I’d rather they bring in a REAL hitter – this is a purely win-now move, so there’s little point in making some half-ass trade for a league-average player.

Hermida/Kubel/Teahen camp as I don’t want to see years and dollars tied up. I prefer the idea of a stop gap which should give Pie a partial chance.

As stated, the position could be upgraded at the deadline.

Dunn takes Wood deep out onto Sheffield…

…and the fans go crazy!!!!

more athletic, better defender, great avg and power. I know the risks- injury- he’ll miss time, and attitude. I’m also aware of his contract demands, but I’m thinking the risks + the economic woes will make him more affordable. If he and Dunn come at the same price, I’m fine with either, but I think they’re both better and Abreu/Ibanez.

If the Cubs trade for one, I’m starting to get interested in Aubrey Huff. I think he has one yr. @ 8 mil left on his deal. Then recoop the picks when he leaves. He put up great numbers last year in the AL east, and would likely do well coming to the NL

Kubel’s the only one with 0 votes, and here I think he’s one of the best options.

Yes, he had major knee problems – this is the one big reason against him.

However, note he has played the field in Minnesota, despite a crowded OF, with plus defenders as options. I also wouldn’t be counting on him to play everday. He’d sit v. LHP and some RHP in a job sharing arrangement that had Pie and Dome fighting for playing time.

Of the Hermida/Teahen types, his SLG has been one of the more consistently high. Plus, getting him away from the Twins and under Gerald Perry might bring back some of the patience he showed in the minor leagues.

Finally, with Kubel, you still have the possibility that he could become a star level LH slugger. If he stays at his current level, he looks like an Ibanez-level hitter. If moving farther from the knee-injuries helps him, or a different hitting coach helps him, he could be much, much more.

Long term. Losing two picks plus trading our best prospect, all in one offseason, isnt the best baseball decision.

If Abreu can be had for less than three years, then I say go for it. But if youre going to commit long term money to any of them, go for Dunn, you can always shift him to first when Lee’s deal is up.

and the two things that truly give me pause are that 1) the Cubs went out and spent big to get a Abreu clone in Fukudome, but should not at least kick the tires on the real thing? And that 2) people would honestly put Dunn and Abreu in the same breath defensively. I certainly realize that Abreu may be declining in right field, but at least he can play it.

Have you actually watched these guys play recently, and with any frequency? Dunn can barely cover left field, and has neither the quickness to cover the gaps, nor the athleticism to play the corners. If I were shopping for a DH, first baseman, or maybe a left fielder, he could be a fit situationally. But as a right fielder, he’s the worst of the three, and by a bunch in my opinion.

That said, I don’t think any of them fit what the Cubs really want to do. I see Hendry continuing to look.

is probably not on their radar if they can get a full time job somewhere else. If there are no offers then sure you take the money and security. But, who thinks these players would lower themselves to a platoon?

All three are expensive, and all three are worse RFs than I am. If the Cubs genuinely have budget issues, adding what is likely to be a bad contract is not going to help. If I had to choose one of the three I would take Ibañez, but I don’t think he would be worth it if we have to trade Harden or DeRo to create payroll space.

In a perfect world Lou would give Pie a full chance, but the world is not perfect.

My second choice would be Edmonds, but I guess Lou doesn’t want him back after he slumped at the end of the year.

Of the “cheap” options (Scott, Teahen, Church, etc.) I would choose Scott, but any of them are going to need a RHB platoon-mate. Since RJ is supposed to platoon with Dome, who would that be?

My compromise choice is Randy Winn. He isn’t a classic middle-of-the-order hitter, but he is a very good hitter, doesn’t need a platoon-mate, and is a good defensive CF — leaving Dome in RF. He is probably also available for something less than Josh Vitters.

he doesn’t cost a damn thing, his hitting was improved when he was called up late in the season, and it lets us fix the mistake of not signing Wood.

A guy can dream.

most people here want Dunn?? I guess it makes sense. That way the Cubs would have bookend hacks in the outfield who both strikeout alot. Makes perfect sense.

What not Abreu. At least Abreu can run..

That would leave some payroll flexibility AND keep him around longer, since he’s younger.

Hermidia
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS
142 502 74 125 22 3 17 61 48 138 6 1 .249 .323 .406 .729

Kubel
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS
141 463 74 126 22 5 20 78 47 91 0 1 .272 .335 .471 .805

cost appears to be light in that Kubel is arb eligible and the Cubs could probably trade Wuertz and McGhee for him where he might be due $3-4M.

Hermida appears to cost the Cubs in talent more than they are willing to spend even though Hermida is a full time RF’er. Hermida might have more athleticism and his 2007 numbers indicate a bigger potential but what do the Marlins want?

the idea of watching him play RF at wrigley terrifies me, but I wouldn’t mind seeing his bat in the lineup between ramirez and lee.

not being funny

St. Louis was rumored to be open to dealing Ludwick or Ankiel to open up a spot for Rasmus, save some money, and fill another hole. I know Hendry would not want to deal directly with the Cards, but what about finding a middleman? Someone who has a LH outfielder who would be happier with Ludwick or Ankiel?

For example, maybe Minnesota could trade a pitcher for Ludwick, then deal us Kubel for infield help.

Just a thought.

Twins will try to create a stir at the Winter Meetings

Heading into this winter, the Twins have made it clear that there are two areas that they must address: the infield and bullpen. Those needs haven’t changed as the club approaches the Winter Meetings.

So far, Minnesota’s only tangible pursuit has been free-agent third baseman Casey Blake. The Twins and Blake’s agent, Jim McDowell, have had many discussions that has included talk of the “framework of a deal.” But as of last week, no official offer had been made to Blake by the Twins.

…With a surplus of outfielders, the Twins could afford to move Young if he could net them a significant talent for either third base or shortstop.

Now your estimation that a deal for Kubel might be in line where the Cubs could offer Cedeno & Wuertz for Kubel and a minor leaguer.

Hoffpauir has shown a lot of potential at the plate, and is a cheaper more athletic option than Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, and Raul Ibanez.

With DeRosa showing us his best impersonation of Manny Trillo with his ability to play anywhere, we are not dead in the water without signing a RF.

When DLee is done grounding into inning ending DP’s in a Cubs uniform, we can move Hoff to his natural position, where he is not going to win any gold gloves, but he will not make any of us long for Matt Stairs at the same time.

This allows us to spend the needed money on the bullpen or lead off hitter which is a glaring need when looking at the current roster. Fukudome “could” win RF still in Spring Training. Which would be the best fix since we are paying him too much to platoon in my opnion. Word is he has changed his off season training, to be more Americanized going into 2009.

If we do not give Hoff the chance to prove or disprove? Keeping him at AAA or on the bench only allows us to ponder “what if”

Soto was not proven after a few weeks of 2007, and that seemed to work just fine. Cedeno was the defensive SS we were in great need of who could hit when he came up, and he proved the opposite.

I am not hanging on Hoff’s jock thinking he is going to be the second coming, but he has shown the ability and deserves a chance.