Chicago Cubs: C.J. Wilson & 10 Players the Cubs Should Attempt to Acquire

Despite what Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and manager Mike Quade believe, the Cubs are not contending in the National League Central division in 2011.  The Cubs are 13.5 games behind the leader, and they're trailing four teams.  In fact, the only thing the Cubs are contending for this year is the worst record in baseball. 

Hendry constructed a Cubs team in 2003 that came as close to a World Series appearance as any since 1945, but other than the 2003 season, the Cubs' regular season successes just haven't gone beyond the regular season.

The Cubs' 98 wins in 2008 were a National League best, but the club was swept by the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs that year.  The Cubs are now, arguably, as far away as they could be from contending for a World Series title.

Hendry has had the opportunity to hire three managers since he took over as GM in 2002, and there is no reason he should be allowed to hire a fourth.  When Quade is relieved of his duties, hopefully at the end of 2011, so should Jim Hendry.  Firing Hendry and Quade would be significant decisions in order for the Cubs to return to winning.

The GM and manager positions are not the only factors preventing the club from winning more than it loses.  There needs to be a completely different product on the field for the Cubs, with the exception of a few players.

Starlin Castro, Darwin Barney, Geovany Soto and Matt Garza are young enough and have played well enough, or have enough potential, to remain with the ball club for years to come.  Jeff Baker and D.J. LeMahieu are reserves who are certainly worth holding onto as well.

Other then the guys mentioned, the entire roster needs to be turned over by the time the 2014 season comes around.  It's time for the Cubs to give big money to players under 30 years of age, and then fill in the blanks with role players and leaders.  Here is a list of 10 players the Cubs should attempt to acquire over the next couple of years.

1. Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp, the 26-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder, is set to be a free agent in 2013.  His current two-year contract is paying him about $11 million, and he's eligible for arbitration at the end of the year.

Kemp is a potential MVP candidate who will have the opportunity to make Alfonso Soriano-type money when it comes time to sign his next contract.  The differences between Kemp and Soriano include Kemp's Gold Glove ability in the outfield, Kemp's athleticism, and that his Alfonso Soriano-esque contract will be given to him before he is 31 years old.

Marlon Byrd, the current Cubs center fielder, is signed through the 2012. However, he's one of the few players on the Cubs roster without trade protection who can help a contending ball club.  With the trade deadline approaching, it's uncertain how much longer Byrd may be a Cub.

Kemp should be the Cubs No. 1 outfield target over the next two years.

2. Denard Span

Denard Span is another center fielder the Cubs should consider acquiring within the next couple of years.  Span isn't a free agent until 2015, so the Cubs would have to acquire him via trade.  That may be difficult because the Minnesota Twins are likely to trade Span prior to this year's deadline to a team like the Washington Nationals.

Span's current five-year, $16.5 million contract is very affordable.

Span can be the leadoff hitter the organization will be seeking over the next two years, and he's a left-handed bat with a lot of speed; certainly an upgrade at the leadoff spot now that Kosuke Fukudome is a Cleveland Indian.

The 27-year-old has played center field for the Twins all year, but if the Cubs sign Matt Kemp, like I previously discussed, then Span can take over left field duties in order for Kemp to remain in center.  That is a studly two-thirds on an outfield that can cover plenty of ground.  These two in combination could do it all, offensively and defensively.

3. Michael Bourn

Michael Bourn isn't a free agent until 2013, but he's a talented player on the worst team in baseball, so it's very possible the Houston Astros will trade him prior to this year's deadline.  Bourn is in a similar situation as Denard Span and may be flipped to a team like the Washington Nationals who is attempting to rebuild.

Matt Kemp is definitely higher up on my Cubs wish-list, and Denard Span's defense has always impressed me, but if those two don't work out, Michael Bourn would be more than acceptable.  He's going to turn 29 in December, so he's not as young as the other two, but don't doubt that he still has plenty of juice left in his tank.

Bourn is a left-handed bat that is complemented with a lot of speed.  He tallied 113 steals between 2009 and 2010 with the Houston Astros, and he's swiped a league-leading 38 bags in 101 games in 2011.  Keep in mind, the Cubs are tied for last in MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals in stolen bases this season, and the team finished the 2009 and 2010 seasons last in the same category.

Bourn may not be as solid a defender as Kemp or Span, but his upside on offense and on the base paths make up for whatever he lacks defensively.

Bourn is worth being acquired by the Cubs, but there's no need to overpay for him.  He's currently making $4.4 million, and he's eligible for arbitration at the end of the year.  A three- or four-year contract that would pay him five, six, or maybe seven million dollars annually would be the right price for Bourn considering what he can bring to the table that the Cubs are currently lacking.

4. Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton turned 30 years old at the beginning of the 2011 season, but the reigning MVP still has plenty of talent to offer any team in baseball.

The current Texas Rangers outfielder's short five-year MLB career has been a successful one.  Hamilton is a career .310 hitter, four-time All Star, two-time Silver Slugger and, as I previously said, the reigning American League MVP.

Hamilton can play all positions in the outfield.  He has the range to quarterback the outfield in center field, he can certainly cover the left field territory, and he has the strong arm that is coveted among right fielders.

Yes, the Cubs need to sign young ball players, but Josh Hamilton could be one of the team's veteran leaders.  He is a left-handed bat that can be inserted into the meat of any lineup, and the guy has unlimited power in his bat.  The 30-year-old certainly isn't getting any younger, but he will provide any team—hopefully the Cubs—with valuable offensive production, experience, and leadership on and off the field.

Hamilton is set to be a free agent in 2013, and the Cubs are going to be in need of at least one outfielder then, barring any acquisitions to come.  His current two-year deal pays him $24 million.  If the Cubs were to sign him prior to the 2013 season, I'd be happy with a similar deal: three or four years for about $15 million annually.  The closer his contract would get the $20 million per year, the more I'd be wary of the return on investment.

The only thing that scares me about Hamilton is that he's going to be 32 years old at the beginning of the 2013 season.  Father Time catches up with everyone; it's just a matter of when.

5. Nick Swisher

Nick Swisher is making $9 million in 2011, and if the New York Yankees do not pick up his $10.25 million team option for 2012, then he's going to be a free agent heading into the '12 season.

The 30-year-old utility player would be a perfect acquisition for the Chicago Cubs.

Swisher's batting average would not demand a lot of money, but his switch hitting is something that would benefit the Cubs' lineup because of the team's lack of left-handed batters.  He can be inserted into the middle of the batting order on any day and be productive.  His flexibility defensively would be even more beneficial for the Cubs.

Much recent trade speculation has included Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena.  If Pena is indeed traded, the Cubs will most likely need a first baseman heading into the 2012 season.  Kosuke Fukudome, the Cubs' right fielder for the last three-plus seasons, was just traded to the Indians.  Swisher can play either first base or right field. 

If the Cubs retain Jeff Baker, then he can play at first base when Swisher has either a day off or plays in right. 

Swisher is also a great personality in the clubhouse.  He wants to win as much as any other guy in the league, but he's been known to keep the mood light and always has a good time on and off the field.

Swisher isn't the type of player who will, or can, demand a lot of money.  He's another guy who is getting older, but can still provide a Cubs organization with significant help on and off the field.  A three- or four-year contract that pays him $5 million to $8 million annually would be well worth it.

6. Pablo Sandoval

Pablo Sandoval's short MLB career has had many more ups than it's had downs.  His worst offensive season was last year (2010) when he batted a mere .268, but he and the San Francisco Giants were World Series Champions anyway.

Pablo's 2010 struggles encouraged him to drop about 40 pounds prior to this season, and he's been rewarded with better production numbers and his first All-Star selection.  So it seems like his MLB career is his top priority.

The 24-year-old utility player has plenty of potential to work with.  He's a switch hitter who could bat in the meat of any lineup and see production.  He plays a solid third base, and he has the ability to play first base. 

Sandoval is eligible for arbitration heading into the 2012 season, and if things don't pan out with the Giants, the Cubs should seriously consider signing him, as well.

If Jeff Baker is retained, he can replace Sandoval at either corner infield position when needed, barring any future signings.

Like I said before, if Pablo can stay in shape, there aren't many ball players out there that can provide more than what Sandoval has to offer, especially at such a young age.

7. Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels has had a very solid MLB career, and he's only 27 years old.  The Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher was once the team's ace, but his role became slightly less significant when the Phillies acquired Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee over the last couple of seasons.

In Hamels' six seasons in Philly, he's appeared in two All-Star Games (2007, 2011), won the 2008 World Series and was the World Series MVP that same year.

Hamels' current contract pays him $9.5 million in 2011.  He's eligible for arbitration at the end of the year and is set to be a free agent prior to the 2013 season.  If things don't work out with the Phillies, Hamels is a pitcher the Cubs should make an offer to.  His resume speaks volume, and he's a southpaw pitcher the Cubs' rotation has lacked for quite some time.

Don't disregard the significance of Hamels' experience and leadership, which can be invaluable in a young Cubs clubhouse.  Hamels is the Cubs potential ace, and at the worst he's the club's number two starter.

If the Cubs sign Hamels, at the latest, prior to the 2013 season he'll be just 29-year-old.  Unless some nightmare of an injury occurs, he would be worth $10-12 million annually for three years, or maybe a couple million more, but $15 million annually would be questionable considering the Cubs' contract history.

8. Matt Cain

Matt Cain has had a few solid seasons during his young MLB career, and he was a significant part of the Giants' World Series Championship last year.  The 26-year-old starting pitcher has definitely made a name for himself since entering The Show at 20 years of age.

Cain is set to earn $15 million in 2012, and then he's a free agent prior to the 2013 season.  Chances are he's only going to get stronger and better on the bump. 

Depending on how much success Cain achieves over the next year-and-a-half, the Cubs should consider bidding on Matt Cain at the end of the 2012 season.  A Matt Cain bidder is not going to be able to low-ball if it expects to be taken seriously.

In order for the Cubs to contend in the Cain sweepstakes prior to 2013, they're going to have to offer a minimum of $15 million annually for, probably, five years at the least.  In fact, Cain will probably end up getting $18-20 million from the team he signs with at that time.  Don't forget he's still only 26 years old and a World Series Champion. And when it comes time to sign a new contract, he'll already have eight years of MLB experience under his belt.

If that type of money is in the Cubs' budget, then they should offer it.  Otherwise, the logical move(s) to make would be to go after another pitcher, or two, of lesser demand.

9. C.J. Wilson

I've talked about C.J. Wilson before, and I'm going to do it again.  Wilson will be a free agent at the end of this season, barring a contract extension from the Texas Rangers in the near future, and the Cubs should not hesitate to acquire the 30-year-old southpaw.

Wilson is a left-handed starting pitcher the Cubs currently lack, and would be the ace of the Cubs staff if they signed him prior to the 2012 season, barring any other starting pitchers the organization acquires.

Wilson has postseason and World Series experience.  He'll be 31 years old at the beginning of the 2012 season, but he still has enough potential, and has pitched well enough the last two season, to earn a five-year contract that would pay him between $12 million and $16 million, annually.

10. Edwin Jackson

Edwin Jackson is scheduled to start for the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. It will be the sixth team he's pitched for following the sixth trade he's been a part of in his nine-year MLB career, and he's only 27 years old.

Jackson has enough talent that by the time 2014 comes around, if the Cubs have rebuilt the pitching staff, he'd be a viable option as a fifth starter.  If, and that's a big if, the Cubs' rotation consists of Cole Hamels, C.J. Wilson, Matt Garza, Andrew Cashner and Edwin Jackson, that is a starting rotation that could compete with the best in baseball.

Jackson wouldn't command a lot of money, and the Cubs will have dumped the contracts of Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano and, hopefully, Alfonso Soriano by the time 2014 is here.