Chicago Cubs: 5 Transactions to Start the Cubs' Reloading Process

The Chicago Cubs have only gone backwards since their National League best 97 wins in 2008, and it seems like they're as far away from being World Series contenders as they can possibly be.

Blame the organization's failure on the General Manager, the players' production, the coaches or a curse, but no matter what you blame the team's failure on, it's known that changes need to be made in order for the Cubs to get out of the hole they're currently in.

The Cubs are not going to go from losers to contenders overnight, but the organization can make changes that will progressively turn this ship around quicker than other clubs because of the big market it resides in.

Here is a list of five potential signings and trades that can be done prior to the 2012 season.

Re-Sign Carlos Pena

There are, obviously, more productive first basemen (Albert Pujols & Prince Fielder) than Carlos Pena in the 2012 free agent class, but it's time for the Cubs to think logically.  The Cubs can't rely on offense to win them a World Series. It didn't work in 2008, and it's not going to work now.

The Cubs organization risked giving Alfonso Soriano a seven year/$136M contract, and they are paying the price in more ways than one.  Rather then handing out a 7-10 year contract to a superstar (Pujols, Fielder), save some money and give Carlos Pena a three year/$21-24M deal.

Rewarding Pena with a contract like that would be deserved, given his numbers, and it would leave the organization with additional resources for other areas of concern.

Pena provides the Cubs with power in the middle of the lineup, and he has an above average glove at first base.

Sign C.J. Wilson

C.J. Wilson is the starting pitcher the Cubs should sign heading into the 2012 season.  Wilson is a free agent at season's end, and he has the potential to be the ace of the Cubs staff for years to come.

Say the Cubs do re-sign Carlos Pena, the organization can save quite a few dollars by doing so, and a fraction of those dollars can be given to C.J. Wilson.  A four year/$60M deal is very reasonable for Wilson. Very few pitchers in the league are worth $20M annually, and C.J. is one of them.

Adding Wilson to the rotation would be taking a huge step in the right direction.  With Wilson as the ace and Garza as the third starter in the rotation, all the Cubs would need is a legitimate number two starter, in addition to a reliable bullpen.

Carlos Zambrano ($19M/year) and Ryan Dempster ($15M/year) are not the legitimate number two's the Cubs need considering the money they're making annually compared to their success on the mound.

If the Cubs have the guts to give Ryan Dempster a four year/$52M contract, there's no reason not to give C.J. a four year/$60M deal.

Trade Carlos Zambrano And/Or Ryan Dempster

Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster are set to make a combined $34M in 2012.  Both of these guys have underachieved when their best performance was needed.

At this point in the game, the organization needs to sacrifice some money and get rid of one, if not both, of the pitchers. 

Zambrano has been trying to yell his way out of Chicago for the last two seasons, and Dempster, who backed manager Mike Quade last year, recently exchanged words in the dugout after Quade pulled him.  Clearly, Dempster is not happy on the North Side and wouldn't mind playing for a contender.

Trading either one of these guys is easier said than done because of their hefty contracts, but the Cubs should take somewhat of a hit, trade one of them and eat part of their contract(s).

It's for the best of the team.

Trade Marlon Byrd

Ever since Marlon Byrd arrived in Chicago he's played every game to win, however, winning has not come easy on the North Side.

The Cubs need to clean house sooner then later, and moving guys like Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Zambrano will not be the easiest task considering the amount of money they're owed.

The Cubs need to start unloading somewhere, and Byrd could be that guy.  He signed a three year/$15M deal heading into the 2010 season, so $5M for each of the next two years is very affordable for a team in contention.

The Angels strike me as the team in contention most in need of a center-fielder.

Trade Carlos Marmol

The Cubs need to trade Carlos Marmol before he is no longer worth anything.

Marmol, at one point in his short career, was dominating on the mound.  His fastball was in the mid-90s and his slider was untouchable.

Now hitters can stand in the batter's box and not swing the bat, and they'll be awarded first base for doing so.  Marmol cannot find the strike zone with either his fastball or slider, and his fastball has been about 85 mph the last couple of weeks.

The Cubs are not going to need a closer of Marmol's status for the next few years, because they are not going to have many significant save opportunities.  Now is the time to trade Marmol before it is too late.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are 3.5 games behind the National League West leading Giants, and they are in need of a closer.  Send Carlos to Arizona in return for any help the Cubs can get.