Posted 28 September 2012 - 12:55 AM
Man what a garbage season. Looks like the Cubs have the #2 pick all but locked up after this series with the Rockies. That obviously will give them the second highest cap for amateur talent next year. It will be the third straight year the Cubs pick in the top 10. They currently have three of the top 100 prospects in baseball (at least one top 30 and probably 2 top 50) at the top of the system, and only one of those players has even reached High A ball. After that there is a massive pool of developmental talent in the system built up from the past 2-3 drafts. In the past two drafts the Cubs have spent 20 million dollars, and overall their two year total in amateur spending is over 60 million in bonus money and the Soler deal. Basically, we're talking a farm system that is on the verge of jumping into one of the best in the game.
It's not just spending. The FO managed to turned Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson into the Braves' 3rd best SP prospect and former Yankees farmhand Arodys Vizcaino, a guy who was considered a top 50 prospect by Baseball America last year. Ryan Dempster landed the Cubs their current top 3B prospect, Christian Villanueva, who is not Josh Vitters. He's a 2013 breakout candidate in AA. Hell, the old FO turned AAA junk, a future closer (Chris Archer will walk people eventually - it's what he does), and a decent A ball SS prospect into Matt Garza, who will be one of the top arms on the trade market from ST into July next year.
I don't expect a very good team next year, but I do expect them to aggressively pursue young, maybe struggling but talented arms from teams who might be wiling to sell off. I'm thinking someone like a Justin Masterson, Rick Porcello, Brian Matusz, Phil Hughes (yes, Phil Hughes - the AL East to NL Central transition has been kind to pitchers), Andrew Miller, Wade Davis...Someone who an adjustment here or there could become a very good starting pitcher for the next 4-5 years. Take a look at Liriano, Marcum, McCarthy, and Matsuzaka amongst the other FA SPs who can be bought a little low on. Pursue BJ Upton in FA to lock up CF for a few years while Almora works his way through the minors. Try to trade DeJesus to someone like the Nationals who need a solid CF and OBP guy, then turn around and sign Shane Victorino for a year or two to plug the OF up. Try to pry Nolan Arenado from the Rockies.
Just because it's gotten this bad I've actually...roughly something like this:
C: Possibly a FA (Russell Martin) for a year or two if Wellington Castillo is traded, which is a possibility
1B - Rizzo
2B - Barney
SS - Castro
3B - Arenado
RF - Victorino
CF - Upton
LF - Soriano
Garza
Samardzija
Masterson/Porcello
Liriano
McCarthy/Matsuzaka/Wood/Hopefully more depth is there
We sick an' tired of-a your ism-skism game. Dyin' 'n' goin' to heaven in-a Jesus' name, Lord. We know when we understand:<br />
Almighty God is a living man. - Bob Marley "Get up Stand up"
