Imagine Bright Futures

Come To Think Of It…Without Wood, Cubs May Turn To Big Unit

I know, it was a cheap and easy sexual reference. But since I’m rather cheap and easy myself, I figured why not? And anyway, tell me you don’t have a “We Got Wood” t-shirt hidden away in a shirt drawer somewhere?

Yes, Kerry Wood may be gone, as the Cubs figure to save the money they would have spent on the closer by filling the job between an in-house solution (Carlos Marmol) and a recent acquisition (Kevin Gregg). But that doesn’t mean you’ll be seeing the Cubs on any future Enzyte commercials.

While “Bob” may have a new-found “swelling of pride”, the Cubs may get theirs from a new-found acquisition named Randy Johnson, aka “The Big Unit”.

Both the Cubs and Randy’s agent are signing love songs about the possibility of Unit signing with the Cubs as a free agent. While this may simply be a hedge against the possibility of Ryan Dempster signing elsewhere, it does have its selling points.

For one, Johnson, when healthy, is still an effective pitcher. He was 11-10 with a respectable 3.91 ERA in 2008, but perhaps even more telling is the 44 walks compared with 173 strikeouts in 184 innings pitched.

Still, the 6′10″ left-hander turned 45 last September and has battled back problems. But that means he may be willing to take a one-year deal with someone for around $10 million, which may be attractive to the Cubs.

All things considered, the Cubs would rather re-sign Dempster. But in case they don’t, Randy Johnson may not be a bad alternative to fall back on. For his part, he will be motivated, at least for awhile, as the Big Unit only needs five more victories to total 300 for his career. The sure-fire first ballot hall-of-famer desperately wants to reach that goal.

Signing Johnson may be worth it just so that he Cubs won’t have to face him any more. He has never lost to the Cubs in his career.

With all of the available starting pitching on the market, it appears the Cubs will have no problem finding someone to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Dempster, if that should happen (though I still believe Dempster comes back).

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Now filling the needs for a leadoff hitter, more speed and a left-handed bat may not be quite so easy, come to think of it…

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