The Cubs biggest flaw is clearly bullpen. No one on the team is ready to take the reigns of the closer position, Ryan Dempster being the latest pretender. So, where can they get a closer? There is a man on a last place team who is a pending free agent who is a premier closer. His team is about ready to unload a lot of their big players and re-tool. Who is this man?
Billy Wagner.
Wager is 33 years old. That's about his only flaw. His K/BB ratio is as good as ever. He?s only given up one run this year (Lee's dinger last week). He's coming off a year of light use. Sure, he'll be expensive to keep, but the Cubs will free over $35 million in salary in the off-season, so keeping him isn't an issue. The Phillies are going nowhere and will want to get something for Wagner. The Cubs have the currency (read: minor league talent) to win any biding war.
Cost Accounting
When you discuss acquiring a guy like Billy Wagner, a guy with an 8 figure price tag, you have to look at budgets. Clearly, the Cubs don't have to have a budget -- the Trib could afford anything they wanted. But stockholders have a tendancy to whine if you drop $44 million on a 3rd baseman with a balky back while circulation fraud is happening at your newspapers.
Looking to 2006, the Cubs are going to be freeing a ton of money. Here's the key list of expenses that they are incurring in 2005 that will likely be eliminated for 2006:
Moises Alou $2,000,000
Joe Borowski $2,300,000
Jeremy Burnitz $5,000,000
Nomar Garciaparra $8,250,000
Mark Grudzielanek $250,000
Jerry Hairston $1,800,000
Mike Remlinger $3,800,000
Sammy Sosa $16,150,000
Todd Walker $2,500,000
Total $42,050,000
Now, you have to account for certain increases in salary for guys who are already signed. They include:
Derrek Lee $1,000,000
Aramis Ramirez $1,500,000
Kerry Wood $2,500,000
Total $5,000,000
In short, the Cubs will have a net clearing of $37,050,000 in salaries. Now, that's before increases to players like Carlos Zambrano and doesn't include incentive bonuses for players like Mark Prior.
But don't take any crap from any source that tries to suggest that the Cubs budget could not handle a Billy Wagner.
Oh, and they clear another $9 million if Maddux doesn't get to 191 innings this year. Currently, Maddux is on pace to vest his $9 million option for 2006.
--Chuck
Billy Wagner.
Wager is 33 years old. That's about his only flaw. His K/BB ratio is as good as ever. He?s only given up one run this year (Lee's dinger last week). He's coming off a year of light use. Sure, he'll be expensive to keep, but the Cubs will free over $35 million in salary in the off-season, so keeping him isn't an issue. The Phillies are going nowhere and will want to get something for Wagner. The Cubs have the currency (read: minor league talent) to win any biding war.
Cost Accounting
When you discuss acquiring a guy like Billy Wagner, a guy with an 8 figure price tag, you have to look at budgets. Clearly, the Cubs don't have to have a budget -- the Trib could afford anything they wanted. But stockholders have a tendancy to whine if you drop $44 million on a 3rd baseman with a balky back while circulation fraud is happening at your newspapers.
Looking to 2006, the Cubs are going to be freeing a ton of money. Here's the key list of expenses that they are incurring in 2005 that will likely be eliminated for 2006:
Moises Alou $2,000,000
Joe Borowski $2,300,000
Jeremy Burnitz $5,000,000
Nomar Garciaparra $8,250,000
Mark Grudzielanek $250,000
Jerry Hairston $1,800,000
Mike Remlinger $3,800,000
Sammy Sosa $16,150,000
Todd Walker $2,500,000
Total $42,050,000
Now, you have to account for certain increases in salary for guys who are already signed. They include:
Derrek Lee $1,000,000
Aramis Ramirez $1,500,000
Kerry Wood $2,500,000
Total $5,000,000
In short, the Cubs will have a net clearing of $37,050,000 in salaries. Now, that's before increases to players like Carlos Zambrano and doesn't include incentive bonuses for players like Mark Prior.
But don't take any crap from any source that tries to suggest that the Cubs budget could not handle a Billy Wagner.
Oh, and they clear another $9 million if Maddux doesn't get to 191 innings this year. Currently, Maddux is on pace to vest his $9 million option for 2006.
--Chuck
