By now, it is well documented that the Cubs are actively searching for a left-handed outfielder this offseason. The two biggest names being floated are Carl Crawford and Kosuke Fukudome. Crawford, currently signed with Tampa Bay, would cost — according to rumors — something along the lines of a prospect (in the Cubs case, Felix Pie) and either a starting pitcher (Rich Hill), a relief pitcher (Carlos Marmol) or both.
Fukodome isn’t going to command Matsuzaka-type money, but he is figured to sign for roughly $10-15 million a year for five-to-six years.
Whom to choose? With Crawford, you know what you’re getting because he’s proven himself, at a young age, as a capable major league all-star. Fukudome, even though most Japanese players have done admirably, could very well be a bust. There is that risk. He’ll also command more salary than Crawford. On the flipside, you can obtain Fukudome without losing other players in return. With Crawford, trading pitching would leave at least one other hole to plug.
It is thought by some that the reason the Cubs are trying to sign Kaz Matsui is two-fold. One, he could be the true lead-off hitter so many fans crave and, two, he would provide some friendly company for Fukudome.
There is also the possibility, since the Cubs have openly stated they intend on increasing the payroll, that the team will sign Matsui, Fukudome and still trade for Crawford, though it is unknown who the Cubs would use to replace Hill in the rotation (assuming Hill is part of the deal), as the team has not been attached to any free agent pitchers. Right now, the team already is planning on life without Jason Marquis, moving Ryan Dempster to the rotation. Technically, Mark Prior could replace Hill in the rotation if Hill were to be traded, but … yeah.
The scenario of obtaining all three is small, but since it’s the hot stove league and doing this stuff is just fun, let’s take a look at how it could happen.
First, the Cubs’ 2007 payroll was right at the $110 mark. Assuming the Cubs increased payroll means a 10- to 15-percent markup, that will give the Cubs in the neighborhood of $120-125 in salary to work with for next year. Not including last year’s contracts of Michael Barrett, Cliff Floyd, Cesar Izturis, Jacque Jones, Wade Miller and Kerry Wood, which total $20 million, one could reasonably assume the team has roughly $35 million in money with which to shop this offseason. If Fukudome commands $15 million, Matsui signs for $4 million per year and the team can obtain Crawford ($5 million), that leaves about $11 million to do whatever with. Finding a starting pitcher on the free-agent market is essentially a lost cause at this point, so filling that void would have to be done through trade or the farm system.
Here’s how the Cubs’ 2008 roster would look under the Crawford-Fukudome-Matsui scenario, assuming Pie, Hill and Marmol are traded to Tampa Bay and Wood signs elsewhere (Remember, I’m taking some liberties here. Again, this is just make-believe hot stove stuff):

• RF Fukudome ($15)
• LF Soriano ($12)
• CF Crawford ($4.2)
• 3B Ramirez ($15)
• 1B Lee ($13.3)
• C Soto (400K)
• SS Matsui ($4)
• 2B DeRosa ($2.75)

• OFs - Murton, Pagan (415K)
• IFs - Cedeno (400K), Infante ($1.3), Theriot (400K)
• C - Blanco ($1.8)

• SP: Zambrano ($16), Lilly ($9), Marshall (400K), Dempster (5.3), Guzman/Prior/Gallagher/O’Malley/me (400K)
• Closer: Bob Howry ($4.5)
• RP (RHP): Wuertz (415K), Cherry/Hart/Gallagher/Guzman (two, 400K each)
• RP (LHP): Eyre ($3.8), Ohman/Rapada/Cotts/Pignatiello (one, 750K average)

(Eaten contract: Jason Marquis ($7))
(Total salary: about $120-125 million)

Final thought: The Cubs lose a bit in the way of pitching in this scenario, as that rotation looks very mediocre after Zambrano-Lilly and if an injury were to arise … ewww, but isn’t that a SCARY good lineup? I also think that lineup would make the Cubs possibly the best defensive team in the National League not including Colorado.

What do you think?