The Cubs Are Looking For a Centerfielder

Well the season has been over for nearly two months now, and Milton Bradley is still a member of the Chicago Cubs.  A scenario in which neither the team, the player, or the fans are probably all that happy with at the moment.  The Cubs would like to make some changes this winter, but the fact is, they really can't do anything until they get rid of Bradley and his contract.

What they would like to do, however, according to Fox's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi is bring in a centerfielder.  Now while Cubs fans have floated the name Curtis Granderson around as someone they'd love to see playing at Wrigley, he's apparently not the only target on the Cubs wish list.

A left-handed hitter would fit best, which is why a trade for the Tigers' Curtis Granderson, a native of Chicago, at least will be explored. Among the free agents, Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel bat left-handed, while Coco Crisp is a switch-hitter.

From the right side, the free agents include Marlon Byrd — who played for new Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo with the Rangers — and Mike Cameron.

One agent who has spoken with the Cubs says the left-right issue is not as big a concern for the team as it was last offseason, when GM Jim Hendry was fixated on balancing his lineup with a left-handed or switch-hitter.

Now depending on what happens with Bradley, then we'll have a better idea of whom the Cubs can get.  Of course they'd love to get Granderson from the Tigers, but they won't be able to without parting ways with Bradley first.

Granderson is only due $5.5 million in 2010, but is also owed $31.25 million through 2013, though the 2013 year is a $13 million team option that can be bought out for only $2 million.  So ideally the Cubs would be able to include Bradley in any deal for Granderson, but that's not going to happen.

The only reason the Tigers are considering moving Curtis is to ease their payroll since they're feeling the effects of the Detroit economy.

Personally I don't know how I feel about the subject.  I mean, I absolutely love Curtis Granderson as a baseball player and just as a personality, so I'm not sure how I'd feel seeing him in a Cubs uniform.

Could I love someone in that jersey?

Anyway, unless Bradley gets moved, the best the Cubs should probably hope for would be a Scott Podsednik, who had a pretty good year with the White Sox in 2009 but won't command a long-term big-money deal on the market.

Though you do have to wonder whether or not he can get through another season healthy, and his defense in centerfield is not exactly stellar.  Put him out there between Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley and what an adventure that will be.

Which is why I think the Cubs should take a serious look at Coco Crisp.  I've never been a big fan of Crisp at the dish, especially as a lead-off hitter, but the man can flat out play centerfield.  So if I'm the Cubs and I have the corner outfielders I have, defense would be my main priority when looking for a centerfielder this winter.

If I can't get a Granderson, I could do a lot worse than a Crisp.