The Addition of Brian Giles, Rafael Furcal and AJ Burnett to any team would be a welcome addition. But most of all to my beloved losers: The Cubs.

They need speed and patience and another great arm to carry them to the 2006 World Series. (Yeah, we haven't played the 2005 one yet.)  But imagine, if you will, the lineup and rotation with these pieces fitting in:

1. Rafael Furcal - SS - speed (46 SBs), average (.280) and patience (.345 OBP) plus a decent glove

2. Ronny Cedeno - 2B - speed, youngster route to fill the 2B position. Bring him along slowly.

3. Derrek Lee - 1B - his numbers will come down - but still see .285, 30+HR, 100 RBIs

4. Brian Giles - RF - key acquisition of a patient hitter, .300 avg, 80+ walks and good power

5. Aramis Ramirez  - 3B - 30 HRs, .300 possible hitter, a little weak defensively, needs rest every 7th day

6. Matt Murton - LF - 2005 convinces me he can hit and field enough to not be a problem.

7. Michael Barrett - C - 15 HRs, .270 avg for a average fielding catcher, I'll take it.

8. Free agent CF or Felix Pie - so much has been made of this guy that I want to see him in the MLB.

Pitching staff:

With the resigning of Ryan Dempster for 3 years, you made up your mind he's your closer. The Cubs need AJ Burnett as an insurance against the calamities of the last two seasons. 

1. Mark Prior - can he win 20 games, if healthy?

2. Carlos Zambrano - His contract should coming up bigger in arb.

3. Kerry Wood - 11.5 million this year. Better win 15 games.

4. AJ Burnett - 10-11 million per for 4  years?  

5. Greg Maddux - last year of his contract, so 9 million available  for 2007.

Long (Spot) Starter - Rich Hill - LHP - he can be the insurance in the Bullpen to take the place of 1 starter in case of injury. Probably 2 years away - but MLB experience will help

Mike Timlin is a free agent middle relief guy that should draw some major interest of the Cubs. He can close; he's a veteran that shouldn't be too pricey (3-3.5 million per year); and he's pretty reliable. Cubs could sign him - if money desn't get out of hand.

Scott Williamson is keepable. Don't know his contract particulars, but he just had bad luck early on.

Possibles for BP:  Sergio Mitre, Will Ohman

Ryan Dempster  closes.

Off the Bench: Keep Todd Walker if financially doable. He plays 2B/1B in emergencies - but his lefthanded bat provides power.  Lifetime .290 hitters are hard to come by. Ben Grieve has just enough usefulness for a bench player.

Add in a couple of others, and you got your 25 man roster. That's my hope, but I KNOW the Cubs.

Too cheap to go ALL the WAY.