Luvofthegame
10-20-2006, 10:41 PM
By Paul Sullivan
Chicago Tribune staff reporter
October 19, 2006, 11:40 PM CDT
General manager Jim Hendry said at the end of the season he would try to "move expediently in the next couple of weeks" on getting Aramis Ramirez's contract reworked.
But 18 days have passed and no deal appears imminent.
The Cubs must come up with an extension for Ramirez within 14 days after the end of the World Series, which begins Saturday, or risk losing him to free agency.
Hendry is confident Ramirez will stay, and because there's plenty of time to meet the mid-November deadline, it's too early to panic. On the other hand, the longer negotiations go on, the more likely it is Ramirez will use his considerable leverage to squeeze every last Benjamin out of the Cubs.
It is Ramirez's right to ask for as much as he believes he deserves, and because the Cubs agreed to the opt-out clause in the first place, it's really no surprise. Business is business.
Although the Cubs can't force him to sign at their price, they can, and already have, let him know they have a contingency plan in case he decides to leave.
"It's like dominoes," one Cubs source said. "If you lose a bat like that, and you don't put a bat nearly as good [in place] of him, then you're going to get some offense from a couple of different places."
One of those dominoes could be at shortstop, and no, it's not Alex Rodriguez. Industry sources say Hendry once again will explore the possibility of trading for Baltimore's Miguel Tejada, who has three years and $38 million remaining on his six-year, $72 million contract, including a $12 million salary in 2007 and $13 million the two following years.
A deal for Tejada involving Mark Prior was discussed last December, but never came to fruition. Houston believed it had struck a deal for Tejada last summer, dangling Roy Oswalt, shortstop Adam Everett and another player. But Orioles owner Peter Angelos is said to have vetoed the trade at the last minute, and Oswalt eventually signed a five-year, $73 million extension with the Astros.
Tejada may be back on the market, although it certainly would take more than Prior to land him this time. Carlos Zambrano is considered an untouchable, but when asked to name his untouchables this week, Hendry mentioned only Derrek Lee.
If the Cubs can't get Tejada and opt for defensive-minded shortstop Cesar Izturis, the offensive upgrade would have to be in the outfield. New manager Lou Piniella doesn't want a power-hitting outfielder who's also a butcher on defense.
"You'd think in a ballpark like this, you'd need a lot of power," Piniella said. "What you need is athleticism. If the conditions are right, anyone can hit a home run. If they're not, not even Babe Ruth can hit one out."
Three of Piniella's former players could be available, and all three have leadoff experience and fit Piniella's definition of an "athletic" outfielder.
San Diego has a $7 million option on center fielder Mike Cameron, who was a catalyst on Piniella's teams in Seattle. Cameron had career highs in doubles (34) and triples (nine) and drove in 49 runs after the All-Star break. He also has a strong arm and great range. Cameron turns 34 in January, and the Padres are likely to pick up his option.
Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford, who led the American League with 58 steals and hit .348 with runners in scoring position in 2006, has $9.25 million due him over the next two years, with club options for 2009 and 2010. The Cubs would have to come up with a significant package of prospects to pry him loose.
Another alternative is Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, who led the AL in hits (224) and scored 110 runs. He receives $11 million in 2007 in the final year of his contract. Suzuki loves Seattle, but may be tired of receiving more attention in Japan than he does in the United States, playing on a West Coast team with no national following.
If Suzuki joined Piniella in Chicago, that certainly would change in a hurry.
Chicago Tribune staff reporter
October 19, 2006, 11:40 PM CDT
General manager Jim Hendry said at the end of the season he would try to "move expediently in the next couple of weeks" on getting Aramis Ramirez's contract reworked.
But 18 days have passed and no deal appears imminent.
The Cubs must come up with an extension for Ramirez within 14 days after the end of the World Series, which begins Saturday, or risk losing him to free agency.
Hendry is confident Ramirez will stay, and because there's plenty of time to meet the mid-November deadline, it's too early to panic. On the other hand, the longer negotiations go on, the more likely it is Ramirez will use his considerable leverage to squeeze every last Benjamin out of the Cubs.
It is Ramirez's right to ask for as much as he believes he deserves, and because the Cubs agreed to the opt-out clause in the first place, it's really no surprise. Business is business.
Although the Cubs can't force him to sign at their price, they can, and already have, let him know they have a contingency plan in case he decides to leave.
"It's like dominoes," one Cubs source said. "If you lose a bat like that, and you don't put a bat nearly as good [in place] of him, then you're going to get some offense from a couple of different places."
One of those dominoes could be at shortstop, and no, it's not Alex Rodriguez. Industry sources say Hendry once again will explore the possibility of trading for Baltimore's Miguel Tejada, who has three years and $38 million remaining on his six-year, $72 million contract, including a $12 million salary in 2007 and $13 million the two following years.
A deal for Tejada involving Mark Prior was discussed last December, but never came to fruition. Houston believed it had struck a deal for Tejada last summer, dangling Roy Oswalt, shortstop Adam Everett and another player. But Orioles owner Peter Angelos is said to have vetoed the trade at the last minute, and Oswalt eventually signed a five-year, $73 million extension with the Astros.
Tejada may be back on the market, although it certainly would take more than Prior to land him this time. Carlos Zambrano is considered an untouchable, but when asked to name his untouchables this week, Hendry mentioned only Derrek Lee.
If the Cubs can't get Tejada and opt for defensive-minded shortstop Cesar Izturis, the offensive upgrade would have to be in the outfield. New manager Lou Piniella doesn't want a power-hitting outfielder who's also a butcher on defense.
"You'd think in a ballpark like this, you'd need a lot of power," Piniella said. "What you need is athleticism. If the conditions are right, anyone can hit a home run. If they're not, not even Babe Ruth can hit one out."
Three of Piniella's former players could be available, and all three have leadoff experience and fit Piniella's definition of an "athletic" outfielder.
San Diego has a $7 million option on center fielder Mike Cameron, who was a catalyst on Piniella's teams in Seattle. Cameron had career highs in doubles (34) and triples (nine) and drove in 49 runs after the All-Star break. He also has a strong arm and great range. Cameron turns 34 in January, and the Padres are likely to pick up his option.
Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford, who led the American League with 58 steals and hit .348 with runners in scoring position in 2006, has $9.25 million due him over the next two years, with club options for 2009 and 2010. The Cubs would have to come up with a significant package of prospects to pry him loose.
Another alternative is Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, who led the AL in hits (224) and scored 110 runs. He receives $11 million in 2007 in the final year of his contract. Suzuki loves Seattle, but may be tired of receiving more attention in Japan than he does in the United States, playing on a West Coast team with no national following.
If Suzuki joined Piniella in Chicago, that certainly would change in a hurry.