Two Guys on the Block

by ilovepie on Jul 23, 2007 1:47 PM CDT Comment 27 comments

I hate off days so let's talk about some trade ideas. Both of these players are currently available, and I would love to see one, if not both, in Cubbie Blue.

One is a veteran who shores up our RF/RH hitting problems - the other would be an absolute dream in the bullpen for years to come.

our future RF?

our future Closer?

If Hendry could pull even one of these over, I would forgive him for the Maddux for a PTBNL trade. HA

Let me know what you think.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Gah.

Reggie Sanders is almost 40. Does he have anything left?

Octavio Dotel is Spanish for "LaTroy Hawkins" -- a guy who's always been better at setup than closing.

No thanks on both.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 23, 2007 1:41 PM CDT reply actions

_Spanish for "LaTroy Hawkins"_

That is absolute hilarity, Al - laugh out loud funny.

Pass on both? Really surprised.

I think they could help for the stretch run, but I also see where you are coming from. Thanks for the two cents.

"And Cubs fans: Play nice or go home." - Jeff Sackmann

by ilovepie on Jul 23, 2007 1:53 PM CDT reply actions

Dotel

Has been closing really well as of late. He Is really looking good.

PC load letter, what the f*** does that mean?

by cubfaninSTL on Jul 23, 2007 2:03 PM CDT reply actions

If add Dotel, Demp gone?

Would that be a plus move? I'm not sure as haven't seen enough of Dempster since his return from DL.

My instincts suggest Dotel is a little more reliable--lights out, and Demp is subject to occasional bad outings caused by lack of control.

I think Howry might be the short-term answer...

Like idea of a RH or LH masher in RF, but not Reggie S...let's go for Griffey, why not? What do we have to give up?? A starter? Leery of parting with Marshall after his last few outings...

by writerinwrigley on Jul 23, 2007 2:07 PM CDT reply actions

Maybe and no...

Maybe to Sanders. He'd be a nice RH pinch hit option off the bench and as a spot starter in RF. I'd gladly have him over Jake Fox down the stretch.

I'd say no to Dotel. The guy is 33 years old, and has battled arm injuries each of the past three years. He was terrific in 2001-2003 as a setup man, but he struggled some in 2004 as a closer. And as I mentioned, he's been on the DL in each of the past three years, with his DL stints in 2005 and 2006 being REALLY lengthy.

Plus, we have a pretty good closer this year (Dempster has better numbers than Dotel), and we have a pretty good option as our closer of the future (it's not close between Dotel and Marmol statistically this year).

by SouthernCub on Jul 23, 2007 2:14 PM CDT reply actions

I'd like Eric Byrnes

as a new outfielder. Seems like the sort of player we could do with. Don't know if he's available though.

by andysilv on Jul 23, 2007 2:24 PM CDT reply actions

I wish...

... the Cubs had signed him when he was let go twice in 2005 -- traded away for virtually nothing, then available in free agency after the 2005 season.

I can't imagine he's available now.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 23, 2007 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions

I love this guy...

I really do. And frankly, you might want to keep an eye out over the next week or so. Eric is a free agent after this season, and the extension dialogue is going nowhere. The D-Backs look in it, but you've got to wonder whether they feel it's really another year away, with the Dodgers and Padres really fighting out in the West this year. If I'm the GM, and I can't get that Byrnes deal done this week, I'd trade him. Especially if there is SP involved.

by Damen Jackson on Jul 23, 2007 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions

byrnes

negotiations have essentially broken off.

I agree, byrnes is one to keep an eye on. The d-backs are on the bubble and may try to make a run here, but they also may panic and trade away byrnes at the deadline. their window is in the near future and they'd probably prefer AAA, or AA prospects and not the draft picks.

by jacob on Jul 23, 2007 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Interesting.

Byrnes would look REAL good in RF for the Cubs.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 23, 2007 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

byrnes

i bet murton straight up would capture Byrnes. if i were Arizona i'd do that right now. Byrnes is playing over his head right now, and there is decent chance (though i wouldn't bet on it) that Murton matches Byrnes production over the next 60 games. If nothing else, the dropoff may be shallow enough to keep the d-backs in the race and set them up for the next few years at the same time.

the key will be, if in the next few days, the d-backs announce how much they offered byrnes. this is what the brewers did with carlos lee, they offered him something like 4/48, he declined, they took that public, and had little backlash dealing him away. fans were like, geez, if 12 million a year isn't good enough then good riddance.

by jacob on Jul 23, 2007 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow.

Except for his outlier year of 2005, Byrnes has been consistent since he became a regular in 2003.

If Murton would be all it would take to get him, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Byrnes is only five years older than Murton, and an established major league regular. He's 31 years old and could be a solid regular outfielder for three or four more years.

Would love this. Can't believe the D'backs would do it, though.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 23, 2007 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions

ONLY 5 years?

that's one-third of a solid major league career!

That's a big difference. Whereas Byrnes would be on the back-end of his prime (especially for a player of his style), Murton would be not quite even to is prime. And Murton will be cheap for a few more years, whereas Byrnes will be a free agent this year.

by SouthernCub on Jul 23, 2007 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions

no way with murton

The reason their not chasing after byrnes is because they have 3 very good outfeild prospects. I think All three are better than murton. I think maybe Ronnie C + Marshall might work but that starting to be expensive

When in doubt punch Barret in the face

by jds2 on Jul 23, 2007 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions

no way

id never trade marshall alone for a rental in bynres, hes good, but hes not a carlos beltran deadline deal

Big Z on Cuban: "Plus, I can be signed by him. You know, I know he has the money for me. Hopefully he can buy the Cubs."

by kylejo on Jul 23, 2007 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Why are people always so quick to trade Marshall?

From what I've seen he is young with a lot of upside. His W-L record is kind of shitty right now (but we all know that doesn't matter right?) because he gets NO run support. I think they mentioned last game that in his like 5 starts he only had a handful of runs (like 4) Doesn't matter how well you pitch if your team can't get any runs. That also affects your confidence as a pitcher I'd imagine. We have a good rotation (and if we can keep it together, will be good for a few more years) lets not mess it up.

by GoCubbies34 on Jul 24, 2007 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

murton

would be a great bridge for a year (maybe two) to upton, and i wouldn't write carlos gonzalez's ticket to the majors just yet.

young in CF, quentin in RF, murton in LF for '08, maybe '09 until upton bumps murton to 4th OF. If i were the diamondbacks, i'd be all over that.

by jacob on Jul 24, 2007 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Reginald Laverne Sanders

He seems to hit well regardless of his age, but he can't help us if he's missing time a'la Cliff Floyd. Doesnt seem like an upgrade and I dont think it's worth the gamble.

Dotel is fine if he's replacing an Ohman or Weurtz but I also don't think he'll be worth the gamble or cost to get him.

A couple players I'd like to see in a Cubs uniform: Chad Cordero, JC Romero. Or to have Renyel Pinto back.

"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees." -Jason Kidd

by tony412 on Jul 23, 2007 2:34 PM CDT reply actions

I hear

by mlbtraderumors.com that Ian Snell is on the block. I would love to have him as our 4th starter. Send Marshall and a top prospect for him.

PC load letter, what the f*** does that mean?

by cubfaninSTL on Jul 23, 2007 3:12 PM CDT reply actions

no way

There is no way that snell is on the block. that's too dumb even for littlefield. he's one of the top 10 pitchers in the NL right now and will cost less than half a million next year.

by jacob on Jul 23, 2007 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

I think

next year he is 1st year arb.

PC load letter, what the f*** does that mean?

by cubfaninSTL on Jul 23, 2007 3:29 PM CDT reply actions

Hahaha

I highly doubt Reggie Sanders is the answer. Let's think about this right now. Would we rather have Reggie Sanders and Octavio Dotel, or Jacque Jones and Ryan Dempster or Bob Howry...

I just don't feel like the Cubs would gain anything with this deal.

by GoCubsGo11 on Jul 23, 2007 4:06 PM CDT reply actions

Short sighted

Guys Reggie Sanders IS the answer. A short term answer to help us with our lack of right handed power off the bench.

He doesn't cost much and will come off the books soon. Won't clog up the outfield in years to come, either.

A veteran who has had 220 post season at bats.

He's the right guy for THIS YEAR.

by Chad on Jul 24, 2007 1:31 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed maybe...

assuming the price is right, Sanders is a perfect fit. He can be the RH platoon with Floyd, and be the RH pinch hitting option. And after the season, we can let him go. It's the perfect role for him.

As the everyday answer in RF, I'd pass. And if the price was too high in terms of prospects, I'd pass. But for a guy who'd only be expected to start ~30% of the games and be a pinch hitter otherwise, it's a pretty sound role.

It's Dotel that I'd definitely pass on.

by SouthernCub on Jul 24, 2007 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Ugh.

Sanders is 39 and just spent two months on the DL. He's a righthanded version of Cliff Floyd. Do we really need another one of those?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 24, 2007 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Again, at the right cost...

he's not meant to be an everyday player. We're talking about a pinch hitter and occasional starter in RF, that's all. He's now healthy again, and he's proven he can hit LHP when healthy.

When talking about a guy who's going to get less than 1/3 of the playing time at a position, looking for superstars is pointless.

If you're looking for a full-time solution in RF, then I agree that Sanders is not the answer. But I doubt the Cubs are looking for a full-time solution. I think they're looking for a complement to Floyd who will be professional, hit solidly, and won't mind playing 1/3 of the games for a contender.

by SouthernCub on Jul 24, 2007 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't get you?!?!?

Yes we NEED a right handed version of Cliff Floyd.

Dude, bottom of the ninth two outs and Billy Wagner is on the hill, who do you want to PH? Koyie Hill? Ronnie Cedeno? Hell no. Even Matt Murton is not the guy for that. You want an experienced power hitter off the bench right there, and that's why I would want him.

There are not that many options for a right handed power bench player. How about Jermaine Dye? Fine with me. But the list is short and Dye would cost us a ton. Sanders could probably be had for a song.

by Chad on Jul 24, 2007 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions