Time to blow up the cubs!

Yep, after last night i have given up on the team this year. This team just can't win. They are too far back and havent shown that they have the right make up to win. I have given up on getting to the playoffs this year. Its time to decide who can help you win next year and get what you can for people that dont fall into that category. Because i do think this team with some tweaks could win next year.

(Note - I wrote this before Z's blow up this weekend. more to come on that)

1. D-Lee. I love him as a cubs player but he is about the best trade bait you have. Plus, the cubs have guys they could plug in at 1b, be it soriano, vitters or Aram. Lee is a free agent this year and the cubs shouldnt want to lock him up longer term. He has a great glove and a good team leader but his slow starts have killed the cubs in 2 out of the last 3 seasons and he cant carry a team offensively. He is a good player but he is presence in the lineup is not irreplaceable. See what you can get for him and pull the trigger.

2. Fukudome. He has to go. Not only is he overpaid but the cubs have better players that need to play over him. He has this year and next year left on his contract at $12 million. Yes, he is overpaid but he can help a team in contention with defense and OBP. Colvin needs to play everyday and the cubs wont be sitting the 18 million man or byrd.

3. Carlos Silva. Yes he has been the cubs best pitcher which is why he needs to go. No other cubs pitcher has a higher trade value and im not sure anyone believes that Silva can pitch like this past this year(he is signed through next year). Plus if you trade him whatever you get back is just another bonus from trading Milton Bradley. A contender would love a groundball innnings eater like Silva.

4. Small parts - Xavier Nady could be a good pitch hitter/4th outfielder on a contending team. John Grabow could maybe be a lefty arm out of a bullpen. Teams are always looking for lefties.

Ryan Theriot - He is a solid baseball player and my favorite cub but if you can get something for him the cubs have a few middle infielders in the minors. Randy Wells - He is still young but he will never be better than a 4th starter and there are a lot of those guys. If you can get value, pull the trigger.

Guys who shouldnt be traded

Starlin Castro - the future, Ryan Dempster - great cub and man, heart of the team, Geo Soto - his a young catcher who is having a comeback year, hard to find, Alfonso Soriano - who would take his salary?, Marlon Byrd - Hard nosed player who is needed to win, Carlos Marmol - he has the best stuff in the majors not named Stratsburg, Sean Marshall - is there anything situation in which this guy cant pitch?, Ted Lilly - I know he is a free agent but he is a winner and the cubs need to resign him to win next year, Aramis Ramirez - Here's why you keep him and not DLee. He plays a tougher position to find a good player, 3B. He also could be moved to 1B very easily. The cubs also dont have any 3b in the pipeline besides Vitters and he is atleast a year away.

If the cubs can move these guys, they would free up money and hopefully get some value/prospects back. This could set up the cubs for a winning year next year by getting some young guys experience and let them sign some players in the offseason.