Which of these unlikely events might happen this week?

by cubzfan on Dec 6, 2009 12:27 PM CST

The offseason can be a little boring when your favorite team isn't expected to make many moves. The Cubs aren't expected to do much more than deal one or two unfavored players, maybe sign a low-cost free agent in January or February, and swap a few minor prospects to balance rosters.

But there's always a slim chance of a surprise. Rather than predicting specific moves, I'm interested in knowing which category of deal people think is actually possible. Please respond to the poll below.

Poll

Which of these types of moves do you think the Cubs might make this week?

Trade away a player making more than $10M a year

91 votes

Sign a free agent for an annual salary of > $10M

9 votes

Trade one of the top several prospects (Vitters, Castro, Cashner, J. Jackson)

37 votes

Deal for a big-name #1 or #2 starting pitcher

6 votes

Make any trade of major leaguers within their own division

8 votes

151 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

I just expecting Bradley to be traded.

I don’t think much else will happen on the Cubs’ side.

by Cubbiegoon on Dec 6, 2009 12:57 PM CST reply actions

After Bradley is traded, Cameron will be signed.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 6, 2009 3:10 PM CST up reply actions

That seems to be the recent shape of things

Wonder if Detroit is not really serious about trading Granderson or just asking more than the Cubs want to give – in players or contracts taken in return?

by ClarkFan on Dec 6, 2009 5:24 PM CST up reply actions

So, this is where we can "predict" really unlikely happenings?

I’ll play.

Tuesday the Cubs shock the nation trading Alfonso Soriano for Gary Matthews Jr. and Maicer Izturis.

Is he traded yet?

by DGU on Dec 6, 2009 1:12 PM CST reply actions

God I would

jump for joy. That would be a true shocker.

Tamia Lynn Davis:
Born: August 18, 2008

by Unique on Dec 6, 2009 1:13 PM CST up reply actions

But wait.

How much cash per year would the Cubs have to hand over?

Tamia Lynn Davis:
Born: August 18, 2008

by Unique on Dec 6, 2009 1:20 PM CST up reply actions

Zero

The Halos think they’re buying low.

Is he traded yet?

by DGU on Dec 6, 2009 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

I said it was unlikely.

Is he traded yet?

by DGU on Dec 6, 2009 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

Funny you mention Soriano

The other day I read on cubs.com that both Bradley and Soriano were potential big salary moves this offseason. I wondered whether she knew something that other people don’t.

by AboutTheCubs on Dec 6, 2009 5:01 PM CST up reply actions

It's not outside the realm of possibility

that Ricketts would want Soriano gone.

It is very unlikely that Soriano could get gone this offseason without eating way too much of the contract to make it a good idea to do.

Is he traded yet?

by DGU on Dec 6, 2009 5:29 PM CST up reply actions

Well, I have heard Soriano compared to Vlad Guerrero...

…so, who knows, maybe it will be “out with the old Vlad, in with the new” for the Angels.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Dec 7, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

I'm sure Ricketts...

…would be delighted if they could dump Soriano and his hefty salary. What he wouldn’t be delighted with is how much of the salary they would have to eat to get that done.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 7, 2009 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

Bradley and Fontenot will be trade to the same team

by cozmotaylor123 on Dec 6, 2009 1:26 PM CST reply actions

traded

by cozmotaylor123 on Dec 6, 2009 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

Cubs pull off a trade

for Halladay, then lock him up for 4 years.

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Dec 6, 2009 2:53 PM CST reply actions

Then trade for

Granderson and sign free agent Holliday …oh and sign Hudson for second base . Would be nice Cubbie – Tim

by CUBFANINAZ on Dec 6, 2009 4:35 PM CST up reply actions

Hudson and Holliday

sign for league min of course

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Dec 6, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

Dreaming

But could you imagine the lineup the Cubs would have and the starting pitching rotation the Cubs would have

by CUBFANINAZ on Dec 6, 2009 4:50 PM CST up reply actions

sometimes need to leave reality

and enjoy a good dream of “what ifs”

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Dec 6, 2009 4:56 PM CST up reply actions

I see I messed up the poll

I intended the first response to mean someone other than Bradley, since he is not making $10 M this year. But of course his average over the next two seasons is $10.5.

I would guess that’s why that item is getting the most votes. But do people really think it is possible that Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Fukudome, Lilly, Dempster, or Zambrano will be traded (at least more possible than the other answers)?

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Dec 6, 2009 4:39 PM CST reply actions

I actually kind of thought

Lilly was going to go last off-season. At this point, they need him to stay in the rotation…

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Dec 6, 2009 4:45 PM CST up reply actions

I woudln't be surprised to see Lilly signed to an extension before the ASG

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Dec 7, 2009 9:39 AM CST up reply actions

Soriano

I can’t see Soriano getting traded this off season. It would be the ultimate in selling low. I think we have to hope he goes into next season healthy and stays that way. If he does, his numbers will definitely go up. How much they improve will determine if we try to trade him next year or live with his bloated contract.

by CubbieFaninOhio on Dec 7, 2009 2:36 PM CST reply actions

NTC NTC NTC NTC NTC NTC NTC NTC NTC

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Dec 7, 2009 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

Nice Tractor Chains?

New Tennis Court?
Naugahyde Thimble Covers?
Noble Tugboat Crewmember?
Narcissistic Team Captain?
Nickle-plated Tea Cup?
Nonsensical Tribal Chant?
Nagging Teenage Cook?
Ninja Turtle Cartoon?

What are you trying to say?

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Dec 7, 2009 11:31 PM CST up reply actions