...that any ARod to the Cubs deal would be a deal where Aramis Ramirez goes the other way and the Yankees toss A-Ram (some uncreative nickname symmetry) a contract extension similar to what he'd get on the open market, and the Cubs would throw in a live arm or three.

The Cubs system is way down from where it's been in the past (or where it's been percieved to have been since when you look at the actual results, it's been kinda paltry outside of Zambrano), but I don't know if I would condemn it to the dustbin of uselessness.

That all being said, ARod would have to be completely off his meds to accept a trade to an organization as dysfunction as the Cubs. It just doesn't seem to be a smart move as far as I'm concerned. Ownership has little committment to winning consistantly, management is dysfunctional, and the roster is an extreme example of stars and scrubs, except that half of the "stars" they're counting on (Wood/Prior) come in a box of packing peanuts and a big "FRAGILE" sign on the outside. I think the ceiling of their aspirations are a middle of the pack finish, just ahead of or just behind the Brewers. If I'm ARod, that's not where I'm going. I'd rather stay in the Bronx or force my way to Chavez Ravine or Orange County.