With Aramis Ramirez now available to the highest bidder, the Cubs figure to have yet another vacancy to fill. Trying to win in 2007 with this core of players will be a huge challenge for Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella.
A Cubs source of mine tells me that Hendry offered the original six year, $90MM contract that agent Paul Kinzer wanted. Kinzer of course rejected it, as he feels his client is worth Beltran money now.
The Cubs camp is not happy with Kinzer after this situation as well as Rafael Furcal last winter. The strained relationship may stop the Cubs from chasing Vicente Padilla.
