Speculation or Possibilities

post from ChicagoCubsOnline.com on 13 October 2008 02:05:00 AM. © ChicagoCubsOnline.com

The organizational meetings in Mesa begin in less than a week, October 19th, but the rumors continued to flow over the weekend in relation to possible moves the Cubs could make this off-season. The one reoccurring theme over the last week has been the Cubs' desire to add a left-handed bat or bats to a lineup dominated by right-handed hitters.

Until the meetings get underway in Mesa next Sunday and the Cubs' brass determines not only the futures of Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood with the team, but the budget the Cubs will have to work with for next season, a lot of the whispers heard out of the offices at 1060 West Addison could end up being nothing more than educated guesses or wishful thinking.

The first line of business for Crane Kenney next week should be to determine the future of Jim Hendry. Hendry has an option he can exercise for 2009 by December 30th, but the entire organization is in limbo while the sale of the team has been delayed further, and whether Jim Hendry has done a good job or not is a debate for another day, but the bottom line is the Cubs cannot go into the off-season without the front office in place for at least next season.

Here is the latest rumblings on Orlando Hudson, Derrek Lee, Adam Dunn, Raul Ibanez, Rafael Furcal and, of course, Brian Roberts.....