CHICAGO CUBS - Major Needs, Minor Seeds

Left to Right: Jason McLeod, Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer (Photo by Stephen Green)

First of all, Cubs fans need to chill out about new GM Theo Epstein and his lovable band of baseball exec's.

Are they brilliant and baseball savvy?  Yes.

Will they turn the Cubs into an immediate contender?  Highly unlikely.

Will the Cubs win the World Series in the next 5 years?  I still say no, but at least there's reason for hope on the north side for the first time since 2003.

The guy on the right?  He's nuts.

MAJOR NEEDS:

• Get out of here, Carlos Zambrano!

If you did a study, you'd find that one in every 30 baseball players has a screw loose (approximately one for every team).  But the Cubs do the rest of baseball a favor by holding at least a few of these rare gems (Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, and Matt Garza - trust me, just watch him on the mound).

Zambrano takes the crazy cake for this team, and unlike Soriano and Garza, he's a clubhouse cancer.  After outrageous behavior in 2011 and a dismissal from the team around mid-season, there's no chance Big Z will be back with the Cubs in 2012.  It's crucial that Theo Epstein find a new home for this mad man.  Teams will hesitate to take on such a wild card, but here's an interesting thought: Zambrano was surrounded by aces Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Greg Maddux back in 2003, and he quietly took care of business.  The crazy only came out when he was forced to shoulder the load of being the Chicago Cubs ace.  Give Z a spot on the Red Sox rotation or Yankees rotation and the big guns at the top of the pile should help put him in line.  

• Pitching, pitching, pitching

We might hit this topic with every team in baseball, but it's a bigger concern for the Cubs than most.  There's reason to trust three starters in the Cubs pitching rotation.  Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster have B+ potential and Randy Wells - at his best - could make a solid fourth starter.  That means Theo Epstein's priority this offseason must be to find at least one reliable arm.  Here are a few names the Cubs should be thinking about: 

• Edwin Jackson (pitched in Chi-town with the Sox and now has World Series experience)
• Paul Maholm (former Pirate will want long-term big money)
• Mark Buehrle (hey, maybe Ozzie Guillen was the only thing keeping him on the south side)
• Roy Oswalt (risky, but could be just what the doctor ordered)

• Who's your Quade? 

Just like the Cardinals, the Cubs need a manager.  Theo Epstein fired Mike Quade faster than it takes Josh Beckett to chug a beer.

It's likely the Cubs will find their man in the next few days, as Dale Sveum (Brewers hitting coach) and Mike Maddux (Rangers pitching coach) are the front-runners.  Whoever gets the gig will have to be in it for the long haul because this Cubs team isn't going anywhere next year without a miracle.

• Speaking of Carlos...

Carlos Zambrano is undoubtedly the most troublesome Carlos on the north side.  But closer Carlos Marmol is a close second.

Seriously, what's wrong with this guy?  He had superstar stuff and was given every opportunity.  The problem is two-fold: declining velocity on a solid fastball and terrific slider (which both developed this year), and outrageously awful control (an issue he's always dealt with).

The solution is simple.  Sign another closer this off-season.  Perhaps a set-up role and a lighter workload is all Marmol needs to get back on track.  Closers who blow double-digit save opportunities don't last long in this game...it's time for Marmol to go.   

• Keeping up the with Red Sox 

On the surface, adding Theo Epstein as President of Baseball Operations is exciting.  But imagine what's going through Epstein's head right now.  "Okay, one curse down, one more to go."  Just like the rest of the baseball world, Theo will be holding himself to an exceptionally high standard.  Sometimes, knowing too much success sets you up for failure.  My concern is that Epstein's hire is driving unwarrated enthusiasm for a Cubs team that's most likely a few years out from legitimate contention.  Temper your expectations, Cubs nation.  You've waited 103 years...what's another 10?

MINOR SEEDS:

This is where the Cubs get interesting, at least when it comes to revamping their lineup.  They already sport an exciting young talent at SS in Starlin Castro.  Darwin Barney showed signs of life at second base, and minor league veterans Tyler Colvin and Bryan LaHair are on the verge of becoming regulars.  Here are a few names that you might not know as much about. 

Brett Jackson, CF of the future

• Brett Jackson (CF) - Even if he doesn't succeed in the big leagues, you'll love everything about Jackson.  Cal Berkeley surfer dude with an infectious personality and the perfect clubhouse make-up.  Flashy center fielder with great tools and work ethic and plenty of raw talent.  If he can hit major league pitching, he'll be a Cubs staple for years to come.  And he should get his chance this year.

• D.J. LeMahieu (SS) - LeMahieu saw some time with the Cubs in 2012 and hit just .250 over 60 AB's.  Still, he's got the bat to be a big contributor for a team needing help on the left side of the infield.  It's doubtful the Cubs would consider LeMahieu at third base if Aramis Ramirez doesn't resign, but it's nice to have him just in case. 

• Jeffrey Beliveau (LHP) - A guy who hasn't received the hype he deserves.  While AA closer Rafael Dolis captured scout's attention, Beliveau quietly turned in a better season, mastering the Southern League with a 1.89 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning.  Beliveau could end up a factor in the Cubs bullpen by next year.

• Greg Rohan (Utility) -  Notice the "Utility" position for this blossoming talent.  Rohan started in Low A, then moved to High A.  He shredded pitching at both levels, and has the flexibility to play practically every corner position on the field (1B, 3B, LF, RF).  Rohan, like many of the Cubs most promising prospects, is still a couple years out from contributing at the highest level.

 

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