Objectives

This team has about two days to decide if it wants to be a buy or seller in the market. And in those two days, they have to win, oh, two games.

My expectations are minimal.

If you look at this team objectively, there are 5 position spots at which the team is under performing: Second, short, right, center and left. Sammy Sosa has been a major disappointment, both offensively and defensively (anyone notice he's done nada since the swing-and-miss first pitch of the home run derby?). Moises Alou is not only just about done, but has brain cramped so much that he should be in a Midol ad. Korey Patterson is the most fundamentally unsound young player I've seen in years to be a regular. Alex Gonzalez (welcome back, get lost) is 125 strike outs and 2 walk off homers. Tork Walkzielanek? The Todd part is the better part, but he's just serviceable.

That's five guys who need to go. Left field and short stop open in about 10 weeks. Right field opens in 15 months. Center could open at any time as Korey still has trade value.

All that said, there are certain places on which this team should be a buyer. And that's for short stop and outfield.

Even if this team does not win a post-season birth this year, the Cubs should use the trading deadline to prepare for 2005. Players move at their cheapest and a team buys a 2 month window of exclusivity for negotitating a contract extnesion with the player.

Clement for Garciappara? Fine. Patterson for Beltran? Sure.

There are other moves you can make, too. Sosa to the Yankees for cash? I'm in. Alou for a bag of balls? OK, and keep the bag. With this pitching staff, it doesn't take a huge amount of offensive upgrades to make a contender. But it does take upgrades in several places.