what to address first?

[Firehawk]

If you were Epstein what would you address first with the Cubs this upcoming season.whats the most pressing need to fix first?

[Lou Do]

If you were Epstein what would you address first with the Cubs this upcoming season.whats the most pressing need to fix first?

So many problems and so little time. 
 
I think meet with Rammy has to come early.  Can you get a 2-3 year extension at a reasonable price.  It would help bringing in either of the big hitting first basemen to have another big bat in the lineup. 
 
Does that happen before meeting with the Marlins regarding Z?  I say yes Talking to Rammy happens first. 

[Firehawk]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-1013-first-steps-gm-cubs-chicago--20111013,0,6153029.story

[BYS]

I think ARAM will end up taking his $16M option. No one is going to give him that much. That's ok because it's only one year. Hopefully, Vitters is ready to take over in 2013.

If they go with Wizz's plan to sign Aram for more than 2 years, then Vitters is trade bait, IMO.

But....they have to do something with Z first. That drives all other decisions, IMO. If you can dump 30% of his salary and Pena's $10M, that leaves room to work.

[ErvinSmallFanClub]

Sounds like Ramirez is going to decline his option and test the free agent market, but at least this quote shows there's still hope the Cubs can resign him:

"I'll head to free agency if they don't give me a contract of several years," Ramirez said. "I'm going to wait and see what the team does. Otherwise, I'm going to leave Chicago."

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/10/ramirez-demands-multi-year-deal-from-cubs.html

I'd put Ramirez as the top off-season priority, because there aren't any other good 3B available on the market, and without Ramirez, there's no chance we land either big-name free agent 1B.

[Lou Do]

I think ARAM will end up taking his $16M option. No one is going to give him that much. That's ok because it's only one year. Hopefully, Vitters is ready to take over in 2013.

If they go with Wizz's plan to sign Aram for more than 2 years, then Vitters is trade bait, IMO.

But....they have to do something with Z first. That drives all other decisions, IMO. If you can dump 30% of his salary and Pena's $10M, that leaves room to work.

The Rammy options is mutual right? 
 So if Rammy opts out it is over.  Signs somewhere as a FA and since he is a class A type we get two picks. 
 If he does not opt out the Cubs have the option.  Let him walk and the Cubs are on the hook for 2 million.  Exercise the option and have to pay him 16 mill for the year.
 
I would be cool with Vitters if his minor league stats were better and he had not dropped down our top propects list.  Aside Rammy the FA list for third basemen is really bad this year.  You may end up with Baker or LaMahieu as a position holder.  LaMahieu could pull a Ryno and give us a year at third before settling in at second base.  Not saying he is a Hall of Famer, but the kids body has room to put on some power. 
 
 
 

[BYS]

Don't you have to offer arbitration to get picks?

according to roto world, the 2012 option is the Cubs only.

[Firehawk]

i'd take the picks !

[ErvinSmallFanClub]

Don't you have to offer arbitration to get picks?

according to roto world, the 2012 option is the Cubs only.

Really?  Everywhere else I've read about it, it's been called a mutual option.

Yes, you do have to offer arbitration to get draft picks.  But if it gets to the point where the Cubs are having to decide whether or not to offer arbitration to Ramirez, that means he's already declined the 2012 option and wants to test the free agent market.  So the Cubs have nothing to lose by offering him arbitration, since he wouldn't agree to it because he wants a multi-year deal.  In which case he signs with the Cubs, or he leaves and the Cubs get the draft picks.

[BYS]

i'd take the picks !

I would to, but if you offer arb and he accepts he's going to get paid $$$$$

Confirmed his $16M option belongs to the Cubs, so I don't know what he is talking about when he says he will test FA. It's not his choice.