The Must Get Guy - 2005

Now that Derrek Lee has cemented his name in MVP talk at least through the All Star break, the time has come to talk about the one player that is/will be available that the Cubs must acquire. Acquiring this person is paramount. If the Cubs miss this guy, they'll regret it. Just like the regret passing on Jim Thome, Scott Rolen, Carlos Beltran, Mike Lowell, and Miguel Tejada. It doesn't matter if the Cubs can't win this year. They must get this guy or else someone else the Cubs will eventually need to beat will get him. Either this year, or next.

The Cubs biggest flaw is clearly bullpen. No one on the team is ready to take the reigns of the closer position, Ryan Dempster being the latest pretender. So, where can they get a closer? There is a man on a last place team who is a pending free agent who is a premier closer. His team is about ready to unload a lot of their big players and re-tool. Who is this man?

Billy Wagner.

Wager is 33 years old. That's about his only flaw. His K/BB ratio is as good as ever. He’s only given up one run this year (Lee's dinger last week). He's coming off a year of light use. Sure, he'll be expensive to keep, but the Cubs will free over $35 million in salary in the off-season, so keeping him isn't an issue. The Phillies are going nowhere and will want to get something for Wagner. The Cubs have the currency (read: minor league talent) to win any biding war.

My biggest fear is that Jason Isringhausen will be out longer than we all think. The Cardinals will then go get Wagner and have not only a solid closer for this year, but a left-right closer situation for the next three years. With their new stadium opening, they will be able to afford both Izzy and Wagner. And if that happens, the division will be in the Cards favor for the foreseeable future.

The Cubs have to get Wagner, even if it's for setting up 2006. If they don't they'll regret it. Just like letting the Astros get Beltran. Just like letting the Cards get Rolen.