Potential Moves (Open Thread)
by The Jade Scorpion on Nov 8, 2008 12:12 PM CST
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PrintHey folks!
Just wanted to start an open thread - WIDE open thread - on any/all offseason moves, trade rumors, Free Agent news, wish lists, etc.
My Hopes:
1.) Jake Peavy - obviously. Not much to argue against here. Many praises for the dominant RH SP.
2.) Raul Ibanez - (or another lefty RBI man). ESPN says Cubs are giving him a good look in Seattle. Salary isn't that bad, I'm reading. Gives the Cubs time to solve the future OF with more developed youth. Solid OF, Good RBI man, splits Lee and Ramirez in the order.
3.) Keep Dempster - looking like he'll test FA waters, though I hope not. Zambrano/Lilly/Peavy/Harden would still be a formidable four without Ryan. With Ryan, best rotation around.
4.) Explore Furcal - I realize there's a budget, but he would make a nice addition and open up some players for trade. Solves two "problems" quickly. Still, there's a reason I have this fourth on the wish list to the other priorities.
5.) Just in general, Cubs Management, don't be satisfied fielding the same team. Even World Series champions are always looking to improve in the offseason, and should be.
My two cents! Plenty of room for yours!!!
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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1) I agree
2) Please no? He’s hardly the athlectic type that Lou likes
3) Dempster’s history if Peavy arrives
4) Mrs. Furcal might object
5) Hendry doesn’t look like he’s standing pat
2. But Hendry likes him and he is the LH RBI man Lou likes.
3. Not necessarily.
4. Furcal will not be 4th on Hendry’s list if he makes the open market.
5. While Hendry’s going to try a lot, we could end up looking very similar to 2008 when everything shakes out.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Bullpen
I think were all forgetting a key ingredient here. We cant continue to run marmol out there every single day. We need at least 2 more dependable options.
I BELIEVE!!!! GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!
You forget
Marmol thrives on overuse.
Seriously – you’re right about the ’pen. Hendry will get a top lefty.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
nah
I didnt forget but I dont think his arm will either. The overuse will catch up if we dont have a few reliable options. I like beimel even though he had a blow up and punched something in the dugout last year. Solid Solid Solid lefty. Nasty left at that.
I BELIEVE!!!! GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!
different approach
I’d let Peavy slide.-Re-Sign Dempster and Wood.Use the players we’d trade for Peavy and trade for Brian Roberts .Go after Abreau.Abreau for CF DeRose in RF and Roberts at 2nd
Lets stop talking about Roberts.
It’s not that I wouldn’t like him on the Cubs, rather he’s not on the trading block. McPhail is trying to resign him and has not dangled him out there at all. He’s not available and it’s not like we need a second baseman anyway.
What do you mean, "we don't need a 2B"?
Our 2B had only 6 SBs this year. Must. Do. Better.
[/sarcasm]
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
abreu in cf
come on with these ridiculous wishes. abreu cant play right more less center. roberts isnt going anywhere. no one in the world would take dempster over jake peavy if it were a choice. in a perfect world we can have both.
I BELIEVE!!!! GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!
If that is your lineup, put DeRo in CF. He would be passable; Abreu can't even handle RF.
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
Do you think Ibanez will be cheap?
The Mets are supposed to be after him. I think he’ll get a multi-year contract. Maybe I’m wrong.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Peavy deal should be soon
I read on one of these links yesterday, it might come as early as Monday. While I hold out hope, I’d be shocked if the Cubs won that derby, pleasantly shocked of course.
If it doesn’t involve Pie, I hope he gets a shot, afterall he his athletic, young, left handed, fast and an above avg defender.
If nothing else, please get a prototypical leadoff man.
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
It'd be disappointing
to lose Felix, but I can’t imagine any Peavy deal not including him.
"I love when they play that Go Cubs Win song."
Pie was traded last April, just when and where
No need hold back the Croc tears here, he had his shots. Now using him as part of a big front line starting pitcher who is still young and accomplished is great!
We got a couple of capable CF’ers and possibly one who could grow into a top one. We have a prospect in the minors. Pie is a resource not a second coming.
I think the loss of a possible top line catcher is worse….nothing like catchers who are real difference makers.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
When someone says about Felix Pie, "he had his shots,"
I can only imagine this is a medical statement, relevant in case he ran over a rusty nail in winter ball, and we were worried about tetanus. Thankfully, Pie has had those shots, although I’m not sure this affects his trade value.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 9, 2008 1:31 PM CST up reply actions
Regardless of whether...
…Pie got enouph playing time or not, I wouldn’t bat an eye if he can be used as a piece to bring in a proven player.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
At this point, Pie is much more valuable to us in a trade
than on roster.
That is, unless, you believe Dome will be the starting CF and fail. Then, Pie will have a good deal of value.
I don’t think Dome will fail.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
None of us thought Dome would fail a year ago, either.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Yes to Peavy, but no to the others.
1) Obviously, getting Peavy would be great. I don’t think he would be as good as some of the other aces in the NL, but he’s still a top five NL pitcher.
2) Ibanez isn’t a real good fit. Yeah he can hit, but he was awful in the field last year, about seventeen runs below average according to combined STATS and BIS Zone Ratings. He played left in Seattle, and moving to Wrigley’s right field shouldn’t make things any easier on him. If I were Hendry I would see what it would cost to get San Fransisco’s Randy Winn. HE can hit fairly well and is also a solid gloveman. He’s a switch hitter and would be better than Ibanez.
3) From what Ryan’s agent is saying it sounds like Ryan will be on the market until at least Mid-December. I would like to have him back but not only is signing him to the four or five year deal he is asking for risky but if the Cubs wait to sign him only to lose out to a more desperate team they could be stuck with no viable options. I would rather see Hendry sign Derek Lowe, AJ Burnett or Randy Johnson to less risky deals instead of waiting too long for Dempster and risk losing out on all the good free agents.
4) I wouldn’t fork over big money to Furcal. Too injury prone and not as good as he looked this year while he was healthy. As much as I would like to upgrade at SS it seems like the best option is to keep Ryan there and hope his stick stays hot and his defense doesn’t kill the team.
Some thoughts
First, on Peavy, the Cubs may really luck out on this one. The Dodgers likely will offer the most talent but the Pads do not want to see Peavy in the division, facing them 4 or 5 times a season. The Braves and Cubs seem to be the two remaining teams and the Braves have come out and said that their top two prospects are off limits. Samardzija’s no-trade clause makes him severly unlikely to be moved. I cannot see the Cubs going to him and asking him to give up his no-trade at risk that the trade could fall through and the Cubs then have a pissed off Samardzija. Mitch Adkins looks to be someone the Pads are after.
If a deal for Peavy happens it puts the Cubs in the power position when it comes to Dempster. I love the job he did last year but how often have we seen a guy (Pavano, Jaret Wright, to name two) go out and have one rock solid season, get a big deal, and then just fall apart. If Dempster is going to command a 4-year deal commanding more than $12M then they need to let him walk. If the Cubs can work out a deal that protects them and makes Dempster happy then I think we’re likely to see Harden dealt. The Cubs have a ton of dough tied up in their rotation, Soriano, Ramirez and others getting more expensive and still in need of improvement offensively.
As for Brian Roberts, the Orioles are working to make him a life long
Oriole, offering him a 4 year extension. If Roberts is ultimately dealt I imagine this will be after the Os exhaust their efforts to extend him, which could go on for a while.
Indeed.
Dealing with the Orioles about Roberts seems completely futile. I suspect Hendry should turn his attention elsewhere, if only for his own sanity.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Orioles/Roberts
This team may be in the midst of a rebuilding mode but there is no reason that Roberts shouldn’t be a part of the rebuilt Orioles if they can get him to agree to a 4 year contract extension. He is the rarity that everyone in MLB covets, a true leadoff hitter with good OBP and good speed. There is no reason for them to trade him if they feel like he can be resigned and that he has several good years in the tank.
MacPhail is a smart baseball man and more importantly Orioles owner Peter Angelos loves Roberts. If MacPhail wants to keep Roberts around then you better believe that Angelos is going to offer the dollars to make it happen. It will all come down to whether or not Roberts wants to remain in Baltimore. If he doesn’t then we’re going to see a trade and likely for less than he would have commanded last year. You get a one year rent-a-player and for the Cubs particularly, I think it will be tough to come up with the dollars to keep Roberts.
I actually think the price will not go down.
For one thing, we don’t know what the price was last year. It could have remained sky-high. But more importantly, there are many more teams looking to buy 2B this year. Last year it was us and Cleveland. This year many teams appear to be looking for 2B.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 8, 2008 3:53 PM CST up reply actions
MLBTR
was reporting that the O’s asked the Indians for Asdrubal Cabrera and Fausto Carmona. needless to say, Shapiro turned it down.
Methinks that the O’s will eventually extend Roberts, but not before checking to see if a team will be desperate enough to mortgage the ranch.
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
Typical MacPhail.
Ask for way too much, stretch out the negotiations interminably, and then have Peter Angelos veto the deal.
What a dysfunctional franchise.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Just curious
But when has that ever happened??? I mean, when has Angelos ever veto’ed a MacPhail deal?
MacPhail has dragged out some negotiations, and that got us Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, Geroge Sherrill and 2 other middling prospects for 2 years of Eric Bedard.
The Orioles have been dysfunctional, but that has absolutely nothing to do with MacPhail.
"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle
by BirdFanInPhilly on Nov 9, 2008 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
You didn't follow the Roberts intrigue last year, did you?
Apparently, MacPhail and Hendry had agreed on at least the framework on a deal for Roberts and Angelos told MacPhail not to trade him because he (Roberts) was his favorite player.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I follow the Orioles pretty closely
And that’s the first I heard of that, but I tend to try to ignore crazy rumors that I read on the internet. I know that Angelos vetoed a deal between Altanta and Baltimore for Andy LaRoche for Brian Roberts; but that was about 4 years ago when it was FlanniBeaty running the show. I also heard that Angelos vetoed the Bedard deal with Seattle, and we saw how reliable that rumor was.
Fact is the Orioles have been a fairly dysfunctional orgainization, but most of this has to do with our terrible drafts. And all of it was before MacPhail. I realize you guys have bad feelings with MacPhail; but everything he’s done with the O’s so far has worked out far better than expected (Bedard deal, Tejada deal, Wieters, Matsuz); so any dysfunctionality has absolutely nothing to do with Andy.
"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle
by BirdFanInPhilly on Nov 9, 2008 5:10 PM CST up reply actions
As goofy as the O's are...
…it probably didn’t happen quite like that. Certainly, if Angelos was completely against trading Roberts, he wouldn’t have let McPhail shop him for a few months. Now, when McPhail told Angelos what they were going to get for him, that is probably when Angelos said no.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I heard no names were actually exchanged
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Nov 9, 2008 8:59 PM CST up reply actions
*no names for a proposed trade were on the table
I didn’t mean players we never heard of were traded for each other . . .
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Nov 9, 2008 8:59 PM CST up reply actions
I'm not sure I believe that...
…because with a few days left in ST, Lou mysteriously moved Soriano out of the leadoff role for a couple of games. At that time, I think the trade may have almost been done, but than Angelos stepped in.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Possibly
Kaplan might have been the source. In which case . . . .
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Nov 9, 2008 9:28 PM CST up reply actions
thoughts
what if hendry was planning on going for all pitching??
starters—peavy,z,demp,lilly,harden
closer-wood
setup-marmol
relievers including beimel
same starters with a twist. maybe something like
theriot
lee
sori
rami
soto
dero
fontenot
dome/reed
add a few cheap bench pieces and letting blanco walk and having koyie backup catch?
dumping marquis to the highest bidder.
this is a scenario I’ve been thinking about all day. thoughts on this if it happened?
I BELIEVE!!!! GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!
Its certainly possible
Might not be a bad idea, depending what, if any, useful parts you can get for Marquis
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
i dont think
marquis is as untradable as people make it seem. and actually if Hendry can unload him and his contract he will look pretty smart for back loading that contract. i mean i think alot of teams later in the offseason when alot of pitchers are signed would love to have someone who will pitch 200 innings of a solid 4.5 era ball. There will be similar pitchers getting long term deals so i think some teams will like just having him for the one year.
Yep.
Hendry took a gamble on Marquis. It didn’t look like it had panned out. Now it does. For all the ragging on Hendry’s doling out bad contracts, so far (and let me emphasize so far) he’s gotten value fairly well through most of them. I’m having trouble thinking of a contract that was really lagging its last couple of years.
Ok, got one – Bob Howry.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 8, 2008 5:51 PM CST up reply actions
Eh
Howry wasn’t too bad of a contract. At least he was healthy and actually pitching. there is tons of middle relievers who sign multi year deals and either get hurt and dont pitch or simply just suck so bad. Hendry has gotten a lot of criticism for his deals but so far they haven’t been bad. I remember so many people being pissed about derosa getting a three year deal and look how that turned out.
Well, I'd be far from
disappointed if that were the case. Prolly slightly upset that we still don’t have an ideal leadoff hitter, but that rotation would definitely take some of the sting out of it.
"I love when they play that Go Cubs Win song."
Although
You listed Fontenot…he’s prolly shipped out to San Diego as part of da Peavy deal, right? I’d hope, unless there was a Roberts miracle, that DeRo is our Opening Day 2B and we still find that lefty bat for RF.
"I love when they play that Go Cubs Win song."
Bruce Miles
said Fontenot’s name has not come up in Peavy trades.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 8, 2008 5:51 PM CST up reply actions
I can really
see our lineup looking like that next year the more I think of it. hell who needs offense when you have the 1st 5 pitchers out of the nl all star team’s dugout.
I BELIEVE!!!! GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!
Another name to mention
anyone think the left handed bat of garret anderson could help the cubs out next year in the outfield?
His bat could help.
His glove might be worse than Dunn’s. He’s really a DH and a frequent DL visitor at this stage of his career.
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
Mr. Anderson
would probably be Plan D. He’ll probably be there for us if everything else falls through. Honestly, though, I’m not sure he’s an upgrade on Mike Fontenot beyond having a name and a lot of RBIs logged.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 8, 2008 9:37 PM CST up reply actions
Anderson is Plan Z.
He hasn’t played RF for more than a handful of games since 1998. He will be 37 years old in June, hasn’t hit more than 17 HR since 2003, has no speed, and has scored 100 runs exactly zero times in his career.
I can’t imagine why anyone would want him as a Cub.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I don't want him.
But I won’t be surprised if his Name carries him over other options, including Luke Scott.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 9, 2008 6:46 AM CST up reply actions
I'd much rather have Scott.
Given, of course, that you’d have to have a platoon partner for Scott.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
What's the difference
between needing a platoon partner for Scott and needing an injury caddy for Anderson? In both cases, you have to carry 5 OFs (or a 2B to sub for DeRo) to cover everything.
One other thing that we are forgetting: Anderson has spent his entire career in the AL, so he would likely need a longer adjustment period than Luke Scott. Randy Winn would only need to adjust to the concept of winning games once in a while.
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
The difference is in the Name.
The Cubs want a hitter who can break up the righties, which may include Soriano in 2009. To bat a LH before Soriano or Ramirez or Lee requires a career RBI total. This is what makes a platoon very unlikely. You don’t bat Alfonso All-Star Soriano 6th behind Luke Who? Scott.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Further, Garret Anderson is almost 38 years old.
Why would you want a guy in his decline phase — and to play essentially out of position in right field?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I don't want Garet Anderson.
I’m just explaining my impression that career RBI count will have a lot to do with the Cubs’ pursuit of a LH batter once you get past plans A & B. They have described what they are looking for as a “bat that scares the opposing pitcher.”
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 9, 2008 5:00 PM CST up reply actions
Anderson isn't one of my top choices either.....
but I think he’s ahead of luke scott in the eyes of the cubs. The cubs seem to be looking for a LH bat that they can throw in the middle of the lineup to drive in runs…..and scott hasn’t shown that he is that RBI guy the cubs want. Atleast Anderson has been a big RBI guy during his career, and knows the role.
What "role"?
If all they’re going to look at is a single stat — RBI — they’re making a big mistake.
And just wait till he starts striking out. I say, stay away.
I did get his age wrong above. He’ll be 37 next June, not 38. Still — DO NOT WANT.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
and luke scott?
I dont see how luke scott is any better than garret anderson…….and luke scott strikes out more than anderson!
Anderson 2008- 293/325/433, 15 hr, 84 rbi, 77 so, 577 ab.
Scott 2008- 257/336/472, 23 hr, 65 rbi, 102 so, 475 ab.
neither of these guys is probably what the cubs need.
Here's one difference:
Age. The significant factor in age is the risk of injury. The older a player is, the greater the risk of injury. Also, a player with the amount of service time Anderson has will require a significantly higher salary.
I kind of look at it as a per capita cost for home runs, RBIs, etc. Therefore, you get more bang for your buck with lower injury risk with a younger player.
I agree that neither player interests me.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Nov 11, 2008 11:54 PM CST up reply actions
Cant go wrong
If the Cubbies focus mainly on pitching and sign Demp Wood, nab Peavy, and come up witha dominant lefty for the pen they are golden. That would make an already solid rotation killer and make our good bullpen stellar.
When all else fails, shut em down with pitching
Dempster is bad news
Dempster is a 32 year old pitcher coming off a career year where he more than tripled his innings pitched from the previous season. He also cut his HR/FB % in half from the previous season. I wouldn’t count on him repeating that. He’s an injury risk with no proven track record as a starter. If we have to overpay to keep him (say >3 yrs/30 Mil), I’d honestly rather go with Marshall.
Peavy is a much better investment even if we lose Pie, Vitters and Samardzija (with no-trade).
Am I alone in thinking we should be looking for a way to trade Soriano before he turns into the poor man’s Vlad? The Yankees and Jays would take a look.
Vote Santo!
John Perotto reported
that the Cubs wanted to unload Soriano, but were having trouble finding takers. Once Manny comes off the market, the Cubs might find one of the losers there willing to take Sori.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 8, 2008 9:49 PM CST up reply actions
You have to pay to see it (BP.com)
But if you have a subscription, here it is.
Chicago Cubs: They want to re-sign right-hander Ryan Dempster and closer Kerry Wood, and will move quickly to do so. After that, they want to add a left-handed hitting outfielder and a left-handed reliever. They would be willing to offload the big contracts of outfielders Alfonso Soriano (six years, $106 million) and Kosuke Fukudome (three years, $38 million), but aren’t likely to find any takers.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 9, 2008 6:48 AM CST up reply actions
I like Sori, and I think he is a major reason why the Cubs won 97 games in 2008.
However, LF and 1B are the two easiest positions at which to put a LHB. It thus makes some baseball sense to trade either Sori or DLee. (Dunn would be much more palatable if LF were open for him.) Also, Sori has put up some very good numbers in his two years here, and will only be 32 next season. I’m sure he has value on the market, but not $27M per season value. I’d rather have the Cubs keep him than do what the Rangers did to A-Rod — paying the Yanks $7M per season to get an all-star caliber player.
I would hate to sell so low on Dome because he is a LHB, can play CF or RF, and is likely to improve a great deal from last season.
If the Cubs have payroll trouble (especially pursuing Demp and Peavy) it would make more sense to trade DLee or Lilly (assuming each one’s NTC could be bought out) because the Cubs could clear the entire salary — and, in Lilly’s case — get useful players in return. They could also get full value by trading DeRo, but he is harder to replace on the field and clearing $5.5M might not make a dent in the payroll problem.
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
DLee's not going anywhere. I believe Bruce Miles on that one.
But with Soriano, you don’t have to get a good player back so long as Dunn is still available. And if Dunn is really available for 3/36 or even 4/56 – he fits our team better than Soriano. With Soriano, all you have to get back is the $$$. I would trade Soriano for Maicer Izturis if I didn’t have to pay any of Sori’s contract.
Problem is, the way I think Hendry looks at this is that he wants to trade Soriano to open LF for Ibanez, not Dunn. In that case, the return for Soriano better be good to make this a winner for us.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Just one note...
Bruce Miles wrote that DLee wasn’t going anywhere before the Jake Peavy story broke. While I believe Bruce that the Cubs aren’t looking to “dump” DLee, trading DLee to open up payroll room for Peavy is an entirely different animal.
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
The impression I have received is
1) that the Cubs considered exploring a trade and Lou convinced the Cubs not to.
2) DLee doesn’t want to go anywhere anyway.
3) I think payroll for Peavy will be made by unloading or not signing other pitchers.
I could be wrong on all three.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
by DGU on Nov 9, 2008 1:35 PM CST up reply actions
The 3X IP is invalid — he moved from a reliever to a starter.
I think his endurance isn’t going to be an issue with his new conditioning. Since TJ surgery, he’s been fine health-wise.
This wasn’t his first year as a starter.
Having said all that, I do believe that 2008 was his career year. And trading Soriano would be ok by me.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Nov 9, 2008 7:48 AM CST up reply actions
Im mixed
Dempster is aging but the dude can pitch if he fades we know he can be a reliever. The price tag is high and given the choice between him and Peavy its a no brainer. But if we can have both that would be power.
Soriano aint going nowhere hes part of the curse.
I retract
What curse? There is no curse. I forgot that word is banned here. The Greeks are responsible for some great contributions to civilization like democracy, philosophy, greekstyle and so on and I appreciate it, but Ill never forgive the gyro eating bastards and their goats NEVER!
In no way am I a hate monger only war.
hmm... maybe you ought to consider retracting the retraction...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Yeah, no kidding, eh?
A lot of us here don’t buy curses, what of it? We should be mocked because we don’t believe a bar owner has supernatural powers????
Besides, as Josh noted last month, the curse itself is a myth — even if you believe in that sort thing. Which I don’t.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Nov 9, 2008 2:31 PM CST up reply actions
actually...
When I saw the time stamp I figured it was the Saturday night alcohol talking so I thought I’d hold off a bit and maybe he’d come back when he was sober and retract/explain/apologize for the gyro eating bastard comment. I suppose he was trying to be funny but still thought it inappropriate.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Good point
I completely glossed over that part of it . . . I didn’t realize how bigoted it comes off as. Yikes.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Nov 9, 2008 8:31 PM CST up reply actions
I think he was trying to be funny
In his mind, he was smiling and holding a beer, as were his readers. I don’t think he really hates Greek people.
My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.
Sorry
If I offended anyone.. Greeks are cool. I have many Greek friends. Sam Sianis is a stand up guy, good member of the business community. I’m sure the goat can be absolved of any wrongdoing here as well. I don’t believe in silly curses just making a joke. If you found it offensive I’m sorry. I meant for it to be light hearted however, after reading it back I realize it sounded quite harsh. Im not trying to offend anyone and being drunk is no excuse for my ignorance.
Ok
Stuff happens.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Nov 10, 2008 6:28 AM CST up reply actions
Sorry, hadn't read this far
My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.
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