Free Agents

The Cubs are rapidly seeing some of their presumed free agent targets slip away. I thought Victor Martinez was a possible fit for 1B, but he has signed with the Tigers for probably more than he is worth. Aubrey Huff - not one of my favorite candidates - has predictably re-signed with the Giants.

That leaves Adam Dunn still on the market. Dunn is expensive and not a good fit for the Cubs. Also Carlos Pena, a cheaper alternative who gives you just as many if not more strikeouts, solid defense, home run power, and a batting average last year just south of the Mendoza line.

You really wonder what if any plan the Cubs and Hendry have devised. It certainly is a big secret so far. As for 1B, they are left with the acceptable options of trying Tyler Colvin there or trading for Adrian Gonzalez if he is really on the market. Gonzalez would likely cost them Colvin, Gorzelanny, and one or two lesser prospects. Plus a commitment of four more years at $15 million plus to wrap him up.

The Cubs have also been thought to be looking for a free agent pitcher. In earlier entries, I've made the case for going big and trying to land Cliff Lee. This would take a five or six year contract at $20 million plus. I don't think the Cubs are in this game, though pitchers like this do not come around very often and if you can get one, well, you should pull the trigger.

Putting Lee on the side, there isn't much around. Jon Garland, who might have been a decent fit, has signed with the Dodgers. That leaves a bunch of guys who were once good, but are coming off injuries or bad years. Chris Toman, in the Miami Herald, talks about five of these, namely, Brandon Webb, Eric Bedard, Jeff Francis, Chris Young, and Jeremy Bonderman. Any of the five would come cheap with an incentive-driven one-year plus option deal. I could see taking a chance on Webb, Bedard, or Bonderman, but they are not exactly guys you can count on big time.

Actually, I'm not entirely sure the Cubs need to take a chance on anyone who is not demonstrably better than the arms they have now. They finished the season with good pitching even though Silva and Gorzelanny were on the shelf. Zambrano and Dempster would have to return to their old form, but they pretty much did so last year. Wells slumped last year, but I still think he can be a reliable starter for them. Coleman also showed some ability as a starter. Coleman would likely fight it out with Gorzelanny and Silva for the remaining spots in the rotation if the roster were to remain unchanged.

Not the best situation to be sure. I've got no use for Gorzelanny at all and Silva is a major question mark. The Cubs might do well to sign Kerry Wood to share the setup role with Marshall, which would free up Cashner to possibly move into the rotation, a role he was being groomed for anyway until he was called upon for emergency duty last year.

Lets not forget that the Cubs have a wealth of pitching talent coming through the farm system, some of whom, like Chris Archer, for example, look to be special and not that far away from the big leagues. So unless you are going to go big for a Cliff Lee or trade young players or prospects for a pitcher like Zack Greinke, you might be better advised to play a waiting game.