Free Agency

If it was during the season or playoffs, which I completely by passed unfortunately, I'd be doing the nice date header, opponent, pics of the starting pitchers, etc., but instead during the off season, I try to write longer articles as opposed to fancy work.

Free Agency is a wonderful thing. This year, however, it may be a secret agent working against the Cubs. Scott Eyre, Cliff Floyd, Jason Kendall, Wade Miller, Steve Trachsel, Daryle Ward, and Kerry Wood all became free agents this year.

Ward had his option accepted, Floyd had his declined, and so did a Steve-O, who had a horrendous '07 campaign in blue. The Ward deal was a move of genius, meaning that only an idiot wouldn't have exercised his option.

Woody and Scott could be harmful to the friendly confines next year, as Eyre has been a huge piece to the 'pen the past 2 seasons. He and Wood are valuable. If Wood and Eyre leave, and Marquis gets traded (please!! any takers?), the Cubbies are in deep "doo-doo".

That would potentially and most likely result in Dempster to the rotation, Bobby Howry as the closer, maybe Marmolade. That means that the Cubs have 5 starters, 1 closer, and 4 relievers. The 2 out of the puzzle were 2 of the best last year, cutting out Eyre's first half. Still, they are both very talented from the bullpen.

If this happens as I have described it, assuming Sean Marshall gets fed to the dogs, as he well should, there are a good many options:

1. Get Neal Cotts up here for the first month or so to see if he can re-claim a spot in the pen and sign a reliever,
2. OR sign a pair of relievers as if it was 2006 and we were talking about Howry and Eyre.

Those relievers could be any of the following:

1. Alfonseca, the former Cub
2. A. Benitez
3. S. Chacon?? Also could start if Dempster doesn't mesh well as an SP
4. F. Cordero, maybe keep Howry and Marmol as set up men?
5. E. Gagne
6. former cub Latroy Hawkins
7. Todd Jones, who could close and keep Howry and Marmol in da 'pen
8. Jorge Julio
9. Ray King
10. former cub Ron Mahay, pretty amazing in '07
11. Linebrink
12. Jose Mesa
13. Percival, who could close (duh)
14. Mariano Rivera, closer
15. Bob Wickman
16. 2006 Cubbie Scott Williamson

There are tons more, too, and I guarantee that if Hendry isn't hibernating like from the dawn of time until 2007, then we should sign at least one of those hand-picked, cut above the rest (mostly) relievers.

Until tomorrow,

Ryan