Cubs Offseason Moves to Date!!!

a) I didn’t like the Grabow deal either. I understood why Hendry did it, but I didn’t like it.

b) Individually, all the other moves are, imo, justifiable or wins.

   i) I still don’t understand why so much typing was done over Fox and Miles for Gray, Spencer Morla. Too often, we make too much of the replacement roles. We make too much of a 5th starter. We make too much of a big bench bat. We make too much of pen arms. These are useful players, but as I noted then, had the trade simply been Fox for Gray, Spencer, Morla, I would’ve been fine with it. It addressed one need (adding a power arm for the pen) while adding two very intriguing assets (Morla moreso than Spencer). As I noted, keep in mind, this isn’t the Cubs pen of old, where we trotted out several power arms. Sure, we’re hoping for a bit of development and luck with Gray, but we at least could have a role for him that’s beyond big bat off bench, spot starter. Add in the Miles savings, and I’m very pleased with that deal.

  ii) The fact that Heilman was traded for someone that even has a shot at being borderline useful this year (Scott Maine) was a win in my book, no disrespect to Heilman. I’m not expecting much from White, but Maine could fit into the picture this year, depending on health and performance.

  iii) In the sense that the decision had been made that having Milton would be more detrimental than not, the Milton trade is a good thing that lets the team move on. On talent, there’s no doubt the Mariners are winners. Milton adds to their focus on adding OBP this offseason. I mean … a Ichiro/Chone Figgins/Milton 1-3 could get on base so much that the rest of the lineup simply has to slap them around (okay, exaggerating a bit). Add in that we saved more money than I expected, and I’m pleased.

iv) I still believe that the Harden decision was made for financial reasons, as much as it was made for health reasons. I would’ve loved to have him back, but I am fine with that move.

c) This isn’t to say that the offseason is a “win” as of now. That said, the most important thing to keep in mind is that, amidst all these discussions about moves that we should make, should’ve made, one simple fact was always true this offseason. There weren’t many ideal fits this offseason, and it’s debatable that there was any player that could dramatically change the offense by themselves, outside of maybe Figgins. The reason I made a case all offseason that Fuld/Baker might be better than whatever we could get on the market, when all factors are considered, is partly due to said external circumstances (financial reasons), but also due to the fact that the combination of fit, talent, and need in this offseason, for where our club was currently at, was not ideal. I mean, we essentially, on the positional side, had 3 needs (CF range, top of the order bat, a guy with some pop that could protect the lower pop of the lineup)but only 2 spots to look for those fits (again, I’ll ask, when you factor everything in… is Fuld/Baker really that much worse than whatever we could end up with)?

d) None of this should imply that

i) I am throwing in the towel on 2010.
ii) That I am somehow really gung ho on 2010 and defending Hendry.

I’m not doing either. If he forks over a multi-year deal to a CF, I will be quite annoyed. With the savings he’s made on MB, if he doesn’t add a cheap arm to compete with Parisi/Gorzelanny/Samardzija/Marshall (I am noticeably leaving Silva off), I’ll be disappointed. If he doesn’t try to add some more pen help, I’ll be frustrated (would’ve said disappointed, but used that already, and variety is always nice).

Simply stating the realities as I see them. The main thing that I was always felt about this offseason and 2010 is that internal improvement was going to be the main way for this club could improve. I think people that write this club off as of right now are more frustrated with the past than the present. There simply aren’t that many clubs in the NL that scream playoff caliber right now. This isn’t to say I believe we’re a playoff caliber club, but to say that the ending hasn’t been written, and a little luck, and who knows. That said, since I am placing so much for this year’s success on a little luck, I would also be unwilling to trade key talent away right now. Hence why my statement on 2010 has repeatedly been to this core play out the string.