I think it is difficult to believe this 2006 Cubs team is going anywhere. 25% of the way in, they will have to go 73-47 to win 90 games, which might not get you to the playoffs anyways. Do you see that taking place at all?

It is time to finally alleviate ourselves of bad contracts, players and dead weight, here is my OVERALL PLAN for the future:

Assuming THESE GUYS CAN BE HEALTHY FOR A FEW WEEKS

1) Kerry Wood. His future contract extension is NOT going to take place. If he pitches 'well enough' these next 6 weeks, trade him to a contender in the AL. (Yankees, LA Angels, Texas, Detroit) Possible return players:

A)Yanks: Robinson Cano and Tyler Clippard (AA - 21 yr. old P) and/or Phillip Hughes who is probably the best prospect they have as their #1 overall pick in 2004.
B)Detroit: Justin Verlander and A-baller Jair Jurrjens 20 yr old P. and/or AAA -Ryan Raburn 25 2B.
C) Texas - RP Francisco Cordero, Jake Blalock AA OF (Hank Blalock's brother) and Luke Grayson AA OF.

2)Michael Wuertz, Rich Hill, Roberto Novoa and/or Jerome Williams to Tampa Bay for OF Rocco Baldelli and OF Elijah Dukes. Basically, those 3/4 pitchers are to me failures for the Cubs. But Tampa Bay needs cheap pitching. They have a ton of OF talent - Young, Crawford, Gomes, Gathright to name a few. Really they have enough lefty SP, but Williams and Wuertz balance out that trade. Even with Baldelli recovering from an injury, I would rather get a possibly CF/RF that had success for Tampa than 3-4 mediocre players with limited upside.

3)Dump Glendon Rusch. He's not gonna win you a thing. Some team might need a left hand specialist or #5 spot starter - but the Cubs have to see the light on this one. Giving him a contract was a foolish endeavor.

4) Shop Hairston, Perez, Scott Williamson and Freddie Bynum for anything you can get. Whomever needs a utility INFIELDER(S) and/or can use them come playoff time, get back some mid-level minor league prospect for the infield.

5) Mark Prior. He wants to head WEST (from various reports.) He's done everything to get out of performing due, in part, to his father...(and freakish injuries...) He's coming up on FA soon. As MUCH as I like his stuff, I don't like his propensity to show up on the DL for the last three seasons. He may be a one-hit wonder with some ok tunes elsewhere.

A)Prior to Dodgers for SP Chad Billingsley (#1 in 2003 - now in AAA), OF Matt Kemp (AA), SP Scott Elbert (#1 Round in 2004) and/or OF Sergio Pedroza (A ball.) I'd even take Billingsley and just one of the other players. Fact is, let the Dodgers figure out what to do with Prior. At 26, Prior lack of toughness is not going to improve while playing on the Cubs.

6) New Manager. Dusty has done what he could. If anything, a new manager will get more time to shape up the Cubs to win by 2008-9.


2007 Lineup:
1) Ronny Cedeno SS- IF Pierre is continuing to struggle
2) Michael Barrett C - hit run is his best quality
3) Derrek Lee 1B - hopefully a .290, 30 HR season
4) Aramis Ramirez 3B - hopefully he turns it around
5) Rocco Baldelli RF - has pop enough for a #5 hitter
6) Robinson Cano 2B - can hit .300
7) Matt Murton LF - one more year to season
8) Juan Pierre CF - sink or swim.

Starting Pitchers:
Carlos Zambrano
Sean Marshall
Chad Billingsley
Wade Miller (assuming he's recovered) or FA
Greg Maddux - if he still can...pitch, I mean. Otherwise he's your next Pitching coach.

Bullpen: Scott Eyre,Bob Howry,Tyler Clippard, Adalberto Mendez and Ryan Dempster.

That's all on the Cubs front.