The Cubs haven't won the pennant in almost a century and they've only won their division once in the past 17 seasons. Last year, they finished with the worst record in the NL. But Cubs management did something very un-Cubs management-like -- they spent a ton of money. They dropped $300 million to help improve this team from a cellar dweller to one that could possibly contend for a wild card.
Alfonso Soriano and manager Lou Piniella are the biggest reasons why Wrigleyville is smiling again. Soriano is coming off a career season in pitcher-friendly Washington and he'll now have the hitter-friendly wind to help him hit homers over the ivy-covered wallls. Can he expound -- or even duplicate -- his numbers from a year ago? Statistics say it's highly unlikely, but even a step back to just 90 percent of what he did last season would give him this batting line: 277-41-85-108-37.
Piniella loves to steal bases also, so Rotisserie owners should be happy with a number of Cubs. Players like Soriano, Derrek Lee, Ryan Theriot and Jacque Jones should benefit from green lights on the basepaths.
While Ted Lilly might have come to the north side a little overpriced, he is back from injury and the Cubs should provide him enough offense for a possible 15-win repeat season.
The once-promising arms or Mark Prior and Kerry Wood are officially in the bargain bins of Fantasy leagues. Prior's shoulder limited him to his fewest starts of his career (nine), but look at the half-full glass: He's fresh from throwing less than 45 innings! Some are pointing at Wood as the future at closer because of his salary and bulldog tenacity. He'll need some movement on his pitches too. That helps. The wheels came off Ryan Dempster last season (especially late, when he had a 7.15 Sept. ERA), but he returns to anchor the bullpen. If he falters again, it could be Wood or Bobby Howry that rescues the Cubs.
Spring position battles
Outfield --
Cliff Floyd joins the Cubs as a reserve outfielder, but if he can stay healthy (yeah, I know, big if), he can push
Matt Murton into a platoon in left field. Also, on the other side of the outfield, if the Cubs move Jones in a trade, they could get Soriano over to right and finally bring up super-prospect
Felix Pie for center field. Grab Pie late in NL-only drafts and hope for a miracle.
Utility player -- Ronny Cedeno vs. Ryan Theriot
With Cesar Izturis and Mark DeRosa entrenched in the middle infield spots, either Cedeno or Theriot will work as their backup and as a set of speedy legs off the bench. Only consider them in NL-only Rotisserie formats for steals.
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