Alex Rodriguez

A few weeks ago i was in the middle of a post on how the Cubs could land Alex Rodriguez. But in the end decided not to post it because it was just a crazy idea in my head. But in the last few days things have changed a bit. Alex Rodriguez is upset down in Texas and i think this crazy idea i had a few weeks ago can actually work.

When thinking of getting Alex Rodriguez you immediatly look to his enormous contract. He is due $94 million over the next 4 seasons and $81 million in options the 3 seasons after that. His total contract by year is as followed...

Alex Rodriguez SS TEX Signed Dec 2000 - 10 years/$252M
2001: $21.0M^ (+$10.0M signing bonus paid between 2001-5)
2002: $21.0M*
2003: $21.0M~
2004: $21.0M~
2005: $25.0M*
2006: $25.0M*
2007: $27.0M*
2008: $27.0M~
2009: $27.0M~
2010: $27.0M~
-Deferred salary: ^$5M *$4M ~$3M deferred at 3% to 2011-2020
-Can void deal after 2007, 8 or 9. Guaranteed salary increase for 2009&10
-Numurous bonuses for MVP awards, All Star appearances, Gold Glove etc.

Forget restructering A-rods contract i am gonna show you how the Cubs can afford him. The Cubs right now according to The Cub Reporter have a payroll roughly around $88 million. Thats including Bakers salary and our two new pick ups Ramirez and Lofton.

To achieve a 2004 opening day payroll of under $90 million with an addition of Alex Rodriguez a few things need to happen....

1. Dont resign Mark Grudzielank, $5.5 million gone
2. Dont resign Eric Karros, $8.375 million gone
3. Dont resign Antonio Alfonseca, $4.0 million gone
4. Dont resign Shawn Estes, $3.0 million gone
5. Dump Lenny Harris (already done), $800k gone
6. Dump Troy O'Leary, $750k gone
7. Dont resign Kenny Lofton, $1 million gone
8. Trade Alex Gonzales (preferably in the deal to Texas), $5.75 million gone

In total thats $29.17 million chopped off our payroll in dead weight. So the payroll stands at $58.83 million.
Add in Ramirez's extra $3 million next year and Alex Rodriguez at $25 million and you have a payroll of $86.83 million. About $1.2 million less than what we currently have now.
The wild card in all of this is Kerry Wood. What is he gonna be signed for? So for now i am just using his $6 million salary.

If the Cubs wanted to bump thier payroll to $95 million they could add another bat like a Luis Castillo, or Ivan Rodriguez. Or go spend the $10 million filling out the bullpen with some younger more lively arms. I think the Cubs can fill out thier bullpen thru the minors. We are supposed to have all these great arms down thier and if they want to pitch in the majors for the Cubs it looks like the only place they can go is to the bullpen.

Overall the team would be adding 1 player but a player that is worth twice as much in terms of production than the group of 8 we are currently paying. If your gonna spend stupid money like that why dont you get your moneys worth in the best SS to ever play the game?

The Cubs 2004 roster could look as followed....

1) Patterson (would like him at the 2 slot but 2nd base is up in the air)
2) Choi (put his OBP too work)
3) Sosa
4) A-rod
5) Alou
6) Ramirez
7) Hill, Brendon Harris, or FA? Who knows
8) Miller

Rotation
1) Wood
2) Prior
3) Clement
4) Zambrano
5) Cruz

Bullpen
1) Borowski
2) Farnsworth
3) Veres
4) Guthrie
5) Remlinger
6) Beltran etc.

Now thats a major league roster that could compete for the division and possibly a WS. The weak point is obviously the bullpen but like i said before money could be invested in bullpen help, possibly a closer and be around $95 million.

Texas needs to get thier payroll down to the $70 to $75 million mark for next year and they cant do it with Alex Rodriguez on thier payroll, according to The Sporting News. The Cubs are a perfect fit in my opinion as we can offer them some good arms and maybe get Blaylock or Teixera in exchange for taking on such a huge salary. But i would be more than happy with just A-rod.