Once the CC sweepstakes geared up, seemed like there was lots of noise about Harden as a possible plan B. Or are you not counting the BCB wonks?

Gordon Wittenmayer raises some red flags about Peavy: His injury history and his home-road splits. Living in San Diego, I’ve followed him a bit more closely than Chicago fans, and I’d second that view.

Be careful what you wish for.

… He’s good for 100 ab, right and he can start against lefties. It just feels good to know he’s there…

Then again, we could keep that 3 mil, use Koyie Hill as a backup and use it to sign Marte to two years at 8mil or something.

Fred McGriff for that reason alone. I understand that there is more to life than just playing baseball, and I won’t question anyone’s motives but this day in age (sports salaries, air travel, etc), choosing to stay on a non-2008 Tampa team instead of a Cubs team in the hunt should’ve sent up red flags.

The Cubs were 60-43 when McGriff came and ended the season 88-73. That’s 28-30 with McGriff.

Has anyone read anything about the Cubs offering Howry arbitration? He’s surprisingly a “Type A” Free Agent based on his 2007 season and the fact that the formula might skew towards appearances. Would the Cubs risk him accepting it on a one-year deal? Would it detract the Giants enough to sign him anyway? I think if the Giants got him, they’d still keep their first round pick, but they’d lose their 2nd round pick to the Cubs.

I would hope the Cubs offer him arbitration, and see if he signs elsewhere. At worst bring him to Mesa and see what’s left. Someone will always need an arm and I think he could be traded then for anything you can get.

With the larger park, some of the bombs he gave up last year might be caught…

Best news of the week! I’ve got a fever and the only prescription is more Hank White.

…..who’s the Brewers closer now? Kind of a shocker there.

I’ve searched around and find nothing wrt if he is fully recovered from his unfortunate encounter with the dumpster. When that deal first happened I thought we really came out ahead getting both those guys but if he never plays again then maybe it was a wash. I think we will be glad we have Harden in 2009 in any event.

With the exception of the Harden trade, which there was some buzzing about, all of those trades happened 5+ years ago. I’d argue that now, with blogs and extreme competition between networks to “out-scoop” each other, there’s way more information ahead of time about trades than ever before.

Not to mention that these are completely different teams we’re talking about. Towers is infamously loose-lipped, it shouldn’t be surprising that this is a more public debacle than we’re used to. My take: he’s trying to use the press to leverage the Braves into giving up more players, and the Cubs are just in it as a decoy.

Smoke screens are part of the whole picture.

But what is clear is LF handed bats, lead off bat and possibly another starter.

that every report has indicated the Cubs interest, and that Peavy is almost a lock to be moved. Seems arrogant to simply dismiss the deal due to a small handful of past Cubs trades. Ultimately, I agree with you that Peavy will end up with the Braves. Yet, given Peavy’s odd quotes about being on a contender, I would almost guarantee him to become a Cub if the Cubs had a few more tradeable parts in the minors. A third team makes things much more difficult.

Henry will be back. I want to see Howry in anything but a Cubs uniform.

I think that plays into all of the hype and speculation regarding potential trades, b/c every team has multiple blogs, with thousands of readers with thousand of opinions and people who claim to have “inside sources”

So people flock to these sites to get in on the action, and pretty soon, reputable news sources partake in the rumor mongoring, so its self perpetuating….but its fun to speculate, so I dont see the harm.

For all we know, the Cubs might have very well had a deal for Roberts last year, but it couldve been nixed at the 11th hour by Angelos

if the Cubs lose out on Peavy or Dempster “or both”.

If Sheets is in on a 2-year deal, I think I may prefer him to both Peavy and Dempster.

The Ramirez trade in 2003 was in the rumor mill about a week before it happened. I remember hearing it on being talked about while getting ready to go to Trixiecamp which would have been July 16th,

Lou Piniella was named manager of the year for the NL. Joe Madddon for the AL.

First of all, I’m not sure that he is available, but the Rangers have a glut of OFs.

He is a LHB, and was a 1st round pick by the BoSox in 2003. He was blocked, and didn’t emerge until the Sox traded him to the Rangers.

He has a better than passable CF glove (certainly good enough for Wrigley) and some power (28 2Bs and 15 HRs in 415 ABs). His BB/K rate was not good, but 2008 was his first year of regular playing time. I don’t think he is a leadoff batter, and probably isn’t ready for #5, but might make a good #6 hitter with some room to grow. In limited action, he has held his own against LHP.

The Rangers are always looking for pitching; would they be interested in Sean Marshall?

B-R page

don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you

And I have the perfect solution. Sign Will White. There is no denying this workhorse…

Frank Wren and Kevin Towers are the main dance partners. Jim Hendry doesn’t have a real shot of cutting in. Besides the only reason he is trying to cut in is to make his date Ryan Dempster jealous.

I’m done talking Peavy to the Cubs. It simply is not going to happen. But DGU, don’t stop with the updates on how Atlanta is impatient. That’s good stuff.

It didn’t ultimately work out, but at the time, it was a killer, killer deal.

I wouldn’t trade for Peavy and I wouldn’t resign Dempster. I’d just sign Jacques Jones for the money we would’ve used on Demp, and then see if he can play RF and pitch at the same time.

I see no downside to this plan.

This one has only been going on for two weeks, the Roberts one I believe started in late December and wasn’t declared dead until March. That was an AWFUL long time

They both can play RF, LHB that Lou wants, and can hit a good number of HRS. I’d prefer neither, but I have a hunch