The Chicago Cubs offseason plan is pretty simple: Bring back the players you have. Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood, and Jim Edmonds are all key free agents that the Cubs will try to resign. If they can get all of them back, which they will if my Top 50 Free Agents are correct, they will be pretty much done. It is possible they could look to shop Jason Marquis and move Jeff Samardzija into the rotation. If they do this, look for them to add a middle reliever. There payroll last year was 118 million. This year, if they bring back the vets, it could be in the high 130’s low 140’s next year. They’d have to throw in some money to move Marquis, but if they offer to pay 4 million of the 9 million left, it probably could be done. If a team is willing to sign Livan Hernandez to a 1 year, 5 million contract, why not trade for Marquis at 1 year, 5 million. Then they could sign a reliever for about the 5 million they would’ve used on Marquis and this team would be better than it’s already awesome 2008 team. If they miss out on Wood, they’ll probably keep Samardzija in the bullpen. If the lose out on Dempster, they’ll probably move Samardzija to the rotation. If they lose both (not likely at all) or sign both it is up for grabs what they’ll do. Bottom Line: If this team gets their pieces back, whatch out.