Half way through the 2011 season, Cubs fans had already given up on any hopes of appearing in the playoffs, even as a wildcard team. The team that commentator Bob Brenly referred to as "dead-ass" was well out of contention, and the 2012 season was already a hot topic on the north side. Not only was prospect Brett Jackson nearing his arrival, but the two men most responsible for terrorizing the Friendly Confines were about to hit the open market.
The late October arrival of Theo Epstein caused a great deal of excitement among Cubs fans, but put a significant damper on the idea of singing sluggers such as Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder. Epstein favors the "Moneyball" approach, building through drafts, and acquiring prospects, as opposed to spending top dollar for already prime players. Epstein was quoted as saying he pays for the future, not the past. Hence, Pujols and Fielder do not fit the query of Epstein and co.
Another twist in the road occurred recently, as the new bargaining agreement restricted the spending limit on amateur free agents. Instead of paying players substantially not to attend college, such was the case with recent signee Dillon Maples, teams will need to seek a different approach. Rebuilding through the draft just became much more difficult.
Which road does Epstein take now? His theory of building through the draft has taken a large blow, and he already denounced the method of free agent splurging.
According to a variety of sources, Epstein has had a change of heart. Realizing the financial resources of Chicago, as well as the weakness of future free agent classes, Epstein has contacted Dan Lozano, the agent of Pujols. Details of an offer have yet to be released, but chances are that the length of the contract would be a decade.
Ironically, there are no reports of Fielder receiving a call from the Friendly Confines. Fielder played under new Cubs manager Dale Sveum in Milwaukee, and the two had a strong relationship. Fielder is five years younger than Pujols, and might make more sense for a long term deal. Or at least, he would make more sense if not for his weight.
It is no secret that teams are concerned about the girth of the Brewers' slugger. Players of his size frequently drop off the table after several years of dominance, something that is no secret to his suitors. His weight is problematic to the extent that his agent, Scott Boras, has been handing out packets of information about the likelihood of Fielder's power dropping. Teams are more likely to pay Fielder enormous money on a short deal.
The Cubs are rumored to be interested in Pujols not necessarily for his hitting, but for his fielding. Just another factor affected by Fielder's weight. Not that Fielder is an elite defender as of now, but down the road his defensive abilities are expected to decrease rapidly. A 10 year deal for Pujols would mean that he would be fielding ground balls at the age of 42.
Well Theo, the choice is yours: Take the arsenic, or take the cyanide. Either way, you're in trouble.
No comments:
Post a Comment