Gameday Open Thread / Cubs @ Padres

Reed Johnson = good candidate for 5th OF?

Jason Werth would be a good back-up OF who can play all 3 spots and hits RH

Pie and Fuld were not both going to make the team anyway. They've said several times this spring that the loser of the battle will play everyday at AAA.

I'd nab Johnson if he's open to coming here because he can play all 3 outfield spots, is a righty bat, and he mashes lefties over his career. Plus he won't cost anything other than cash, unlike Coco Crisp.

My guess for the final 25 man is something like this:

Soto
Blanco

DLee
DeRosa
Theriot
ARam
Fontenot

Soriano
Pie
Fukudome
Murton
Ward

Zambrano
Lilly
Dempster
Hill or Marshall
Marquis (if they don't deal him I think he starts over Lieber because he pitches well early, he could be showcased, and he might cause trouble if he's in the bullpen)

Lieber (pretty much useless to have him in the pen, but he's not going to be cut. He's probably edged out Marquis for the rotation but politics might cost him the job for now)
Hart
Weurtz
Eyre
Marmol
Howry
Wood

That's a 24 man roster, leaving room for Reed Johnson or, god forbid, Cedeno.

Johnson would give the team three righty bats on the bench when Pie starts - Murton, Johnson, Blanco
and two lefty bats - Ward, Fontenot

If Cedeno made the team the bench sucks, only Murton is a righty pinch hitter of any real value. I can't picture Cedeno making the team. Maybe the Roberts deal finally goes down soon, if so, and they pick up a righty OF like Johnson or someone else, Fontenot probably goes to the minors to start the year and Roberts takes his roster spot.

I wouldn't expect Hill to be sent down, but who knows. And unless Marquis and/or Marshall are traded, I don't see Marshall starting the season in the majors, just too many pieces and knock on wood, everyone is healthy right now.

Denver Post reports this morning that Cubs have given up on Pie, and wiil likely include him in a Roberts deal.

Interesting rumors from middle to bottom of page..must read

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2008/03/cubs...

More Brian Roberts rumors

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Cubs-Oriol...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-tigers-ca...

Miggy to be Tiger, albeit a very rich Tiger, for many years.

152 mil 8 year. Actually a bargain if you ask me.

I meant to post this link regarding Brian Robert's meeting which he had his agent accompany him to meet with Andy McFail...look for a trade this week.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp...

Interesting..Derosa voicing if Roberts deal gets done wants to compete for the shortstop position.
seems like their source is Buster O.

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/3/23/318240/if...

Chris Capuano has been diagnosed with a torn UCL. May need TJ surgery and will definitely miss some extended time.

Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

wsox/royals (oh joy) on WGN...cubs on the interwebs radio

I have a question, probably for Ariz Phil, but if anyone knows the answer, great. I know a player on a one year contract gets a prorated portion of the contract if they are released before a given date. I think once the season begins they get the entire contract once they are released.

But my question is, what about multiyear contracts. For example, ARod. He's signed for something like $275 million over 900 years. If a team wanted to cut a player with a long term deal, is only the first season pro-rated if they are cut before the season begins, and the additional years are all guaranteed?

I'm just curious because the NFL draft is coming up and free agency has me looking at salary cap figures, and also thinking about which sports have 100% guaranteed contracts.

cubs hitting mad ducks early...2 runs, 0 outs.

-edit-

yow...6 runs in (theriot with a 3 run double in the 8 slot...madducks served up a 80-something mph fastball down the middle). marquis knocks in theriot with a single. ha.

btw...tcr chat exists.

only 2 people in there right now and we're both randomly in/out it seems.

see most of you regular season...