Potential Free Agents For The Cubs 2009

The Chicago Cubs once again imploded in the first round of the playoffs getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a very disappointing fashion. The Cubs appear bitten by the pressure that the media puts on them by constantly asking them about the "curse".

Obviously there is no such thing as a curse that wants to doom the Cubs, but there is such a thing of mental curse. Just as Steve Sax of the Dodgers all of the sudden one day couldn't throw a 10 foot toss to first base to save his life, or Rick Ankiel couldn't throw the ball within 10 feet of home plate, the Cubs appear to have have this mental block.

The Cubs need to find some players who are mentally strong and can focus through mental adversity. Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Dempster, Alphonso Soriano and many others could thrive during the regular season, but simply collapsed in the playoffs. Once again the long suffering Cub fans were left disappointed and it seems as if our hearts have gone cold to their losing ways.

So, what do the Cubs need? Its my belief that the Cubs need the type of players that seem to rise to the occasion. Remember Mark Grace in the 1989 playoffs? He tried to carry the entire team on his back (hitting nearly .600), but to no avail. Give me players with heart, rather than sheer talent.

Here is a list of some interesting and notable POTENTIAL free agents the Cubs could possibly persue. Please leave a comment on some of the potential free agents that you would like the Chicago Cubs to acquire and why you think the player/players could finally be the missing link the Cubs need to get past this 100 year nightmare! (Players in Italics Have A Team Option!)

Potential Free Agents The Cubs Could Have Interest In :

• First Baseman - Mark Teixera, Carlos Delgado, Jason Giambi, Jim Thome, Richie Sexson, Sean Casey
• Second Baseman - Ray Durham, Orlando Hudson, Mark Grudzielanek, Jeff Kent, Felipe Lopez, Mark Loretta, Jose Vidro
• Shortstops - Alex Cintron, Orlando Cabrera, David Eckstein, Rafael Furcal, Cristian Guzman, Omar Vizquel
  
• Third Base - Russ Branyan, Joe Credo, Pedro Feliz, Morgan Ensberg, Shea Hillenbrand, Corey Koskie, Chipper Jones, Hank Blalock
  
• Catchers - Johnny Estrada, Javey Lopez, Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Varitek, Vance Willson, Henry Blanco, Jason Kendall
  
• Outfield - Bobby Abreu, Moises Alou, Barry Bonds, Milton Bradley, Pat Burrell, Endy Chavez, Adam Dunn, Jim Edmonds, Luis Gonzalez, Shawn Green, Mark Kotsay, Kenny Lofton, Kevin Mench, Craig Monroe, Corey Patterson, Jay Payton, Juan Rivera, Brad Wilkerson, Ken Griffey Jr., Vladimir Guerrero, Cliff Floyd, Garrett Anderson, Carl Crawford, Brian Giles, Willy Mo Pena, Jason Michaels, Manny Ramirez, So Taguchi
• Starting Pitchers - Tony Armas Junior, Kris Benson, A.J. Burnett (may opt out of 2009 contract), Paul Byrd, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez, Jason Jennings, Brian Lawrence, Jon Lieber, Kyle Lohse, Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Eric Milton, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettite, Mark Prior, Mark Redman, C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Brett Tomko, Jeff Weaver, Dave Williams, Randy Wolf, Jaret Wright, Victor Zambrano, Brad Penny, John Lackey, John Smoltz, Mike Hampton, Matt Morris, Mark Mulder
  
• Relief Pitchers - Jeremy Affeldt, Joe Beimel, Armando Benitez, Shawn Chacon, Juan Cruz, Brendan Donnelly, Scott Eyre, Brian Fuentes, Eric Gagne, Eddie Guardado, Trevor Hoffman, Bobby Howry, Jason Isringhausen, Brad Lidge, Guillermo Mota, Joe Nathan, Chris Reitsma, Juan Rincon, Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Soriano, Jorge Sosa, Russ Springer, Derrick Turnbow, David Weathers, David Wheeler, Matt Wise, Kerry Wood, Hideki Okajima, Damaso Marte

Potential Free Agent Players in italics have a team option

There aren't many holes for the Cubs to have any interests in most of these free agents, but this if you could just pick and choose, who would you plug in and why?