Manny Ramirez in Pinstripes? Or Just Phil Being Phil?

This past weekend, in the Chicago Tribune, nationally respected columnist Phil Rogers penned that there might be a chance Cubs GM Jim Hendry takes a shot at free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez. His rationale: The Cubs saw first hand what a clutch player means to an average lineup in October.

Could you imagine a lineup that has Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Geovany Soto, Mark DeRosa...and Manny?

Even more outrageous, can you imagine the number of unearned runs allowed by an outfield that had both Manny and Soriano? Carlos Zambrano might actually explode on the mound!

I appreciate that Rogers has seen Hendry make what have appeared to be very sound moves in each of the past three offseasons, as well as some great stealing at and after the trade deadline. Rogers believes that Hendry sees now as the time to go for broke, because the aging everyday lineup only has so many good chances in an improving division.

But Manny?

The Cubs need team speed and someone who plays good defense in right field. Or, if the opportunity to upgrade at second base presents itself (ahem, Brian Roberts, Part Deux), Mark DeRosa could offensively fill right field adequately and has shown an ability to play the position.

If the Cubs are going to break the bank (didn't the stock market do that already?), or mortgage their farm system (if there's anyone left to lend them anything), why wouldn't they approach their roster looking for something other than a 30-something outfielder with limited range, a questionable arm, and who has had his motivation questioned recently?

There are a number of fairly substantial names on the free-agent market this year, including Manny, CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, and others. The Yankees and Red Sox are going to throw a lot of money around, and with good reason. The bottom feeder, the annual doormat in their division is resting up before they play in the World Series.

But this year's postseason should have taught baseball fans that there is a difference between buying an expensive band-aid to compensate for a lack of success and having a quality organization that builds a winner.

Both Philadelphia and Tampa have struggled in the recent past, and both teams are largely built from within, with a few key components brought in when needed through solid trading (Matt Garza for Delmon Young?).

The Cubs have already spent a king's ransom building a good team...Good enough to win their division. But the fans have now seen that the division is all this roster appears to be appropriate to win. Now that he has a four-year extension, how Jim Hendry recruits or uncovers the missing link to the championship will define his legacy in the game.