DeLuca's sources say Cubs pushing Rays on Bradley-for-Burrell trade

According to Sun-Times reporter Chris DeLuca's sources, the Cubs are pushing the Rays to make a quick and easy swap of Bradley for Burrell. DeLuca suggests Burrell could play right field at Wrigley Field. That seems highly dubious given Burrell's awful career UZR numbers in LEFT field.

But what about platooning Burrell and Kosuke in right field? Dome would get most of the starts vs. RHP, and Burrell's career splits vs. LHP are pretty impressive - .916 OPS. Otherwise, he'd be a power bat off the bench. How badly am I reaching here?

about 1 month ago dat cubfan daver 98 comments 0 recs |

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Not excited

But I’d take his career .838 OPS in exchange for Bradley. We could probably do a lot worse. I just hope Hendry properly explores his options before pulling the trigger. Burrell’s defense is probably bad, but I’m kinda willing to take a hit in that regard after all this Bradley nonsense. Abreu or Dunn would have looked pretty good this year in Cubbie blue, despise their lacking defensive capabilities.

by WiscCubsFan on Oct 8, 2009 3:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd take a bucket of baseballs and a yard of kielbasa even up for Bradley.

Of course, we’d still have to eat $18 million of his salary too…

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 8, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

...and the kielbasa

by Gurbal on Oct 8, 2009 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well played.

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 9, 2009 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take it for Bradley in a heart beat

I just don’t know what we’d do with him..

I'm a lefty, maybe Lou should give me a shot for a position in the bullpen!!

by Chanman25 on Oct 8, 2009 3:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Have him

sling Pat the Bat shirts on Shefffield?

"All I want is food and creative love" - Rusted Root

by TheRiot Police on Oct 8, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always thought of that as something he liked to do in his downtime

Rather than a nickname, per se.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Oct 9, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Midnight Mayor...

doesn’t need to do it himself.

by Damen Jackson on Oct 9, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excited

He can sell peanuts for all I care – just move him so jimbo can move on to other needs – and please no more woulda, couldas about last year – it’s time to look forward!

by doofus cubs guy on Oct 8, 2009 3:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Classic internet gossip crap

This is nothing but speculation here. These writers are trying a common sense approach to what seems likely or what might happen. Their adding in “according to my sources” so that if it does happen they can claim to be the 1st to report it.

Here’s my common sense approach— No team will want Milton Bradley at any price other than a garage sell price! Meaning Hendry can try all he wants but he’s gonna eat this contract period. Why in the heck would any gm wanna disrupt his entire team?

My prediction- Were either gonna eat most or all of this contract after being held hostage by this all winter or were gonna take a horrible contract back!

I would sleep with Blou if it meant the Cubs would win a WS. by Doggie Stalker on Aug 22, 2009 4:11 PM EDT

by cubsluver22 on Oct 8, 2009 3:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So you think DeLuca is lying and no one actually told him this?

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's more than speculation.

I have heard this deal has been on and off the table since July, or some variation of it.

Pat Burrell would be nearly as bad as Adam Dunn in RF, and not as good a hitter. If the Cubs did do this deal, they’d almost have to try to flip Burrell to an AL team where he can DH.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 8, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least Burrell has/had a strong arm...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/playerScouting?categoryId=85725

He may not have much/any range, but he’s not nearly in the same category as Adam Dunn defensively. Actually, prior to this year, Burrell had been consistently a slightly more productive player than Dunn.

I’m not saying he’d be a great fit. But he’d be better defensively than Dunn. The question would be whether he’s closer to the the terrific hitter he was from 2004-2008 (wOBA of .350-.390 every year) or the atrocious hitter he was last year (.304 wOBA).

He wouldn’t be the first 33 year old to have a resurgent year, after all.

by SouthernCub on Oct 8, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is Tropicana Field considered a pitcher's park?

I’m wondering if Burrell just never got comfortable there after hitting in what I believe is a hitter-friendly Citizen’s Bank Park. Maybe the dome made him uncomfortable.

Hm, well, having asked that I see he actually hit worse on the road this season than at home: .602 OPS (256 PAs) on the road vs. .777 (220 PAs) at home.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's had a down year before

and he’s the type of hitter you’d expect to have bad years, but I also wonder if he’s a NL hitter

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 9, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say Burrell is better than Dunn in the field...

but agree he’s worse at the plate. On balance, they’re probably roughly equal in value. Dunn may be a little bit more valuable, if for no other reason you’d be able to trade him to an AL team and get more in return.

But I wouldn’t want either as my starting RF heading into next season.

by shawndgoldman on Oct 9, 2009 2:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can do worse than Burrell

and Burrell is also flippable, but I think he’s more than just a platoon partner for Dome.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 8, 2009 3:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Even in right field?

I’m looking for a way to minimize his defensive liabilities.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

UZR link

here
So, he was as bad as it gets in 2007, and awfully bad in 2008, but not so bad in the other years. If you buy UZR and he can do what he did in ‘08, he wouldn’t be as bad as some other options we might consider, say Vlad Guerrero.

And Burrell’s a bounceback candidate; he’s had a bad year before in 2003 and come back.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 8, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant to say

“awfully bad in 2006”

In 2008, he was just a little bad.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 8, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right, but that's all in left field.

Wouldn’t those numbers likely be even worse in right field, where he’d presumably be playing?

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you mean because RF in Wrigley is so difficult?

Sure, his #s might be worse, but then every RF’s #s would be worse while in Wrigley. The only question is whether he has the arm for it.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 8, 2009 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I guess I mean mainly at Wrigley.

But I’m under the impression right field is generally considered a more difficult position to play anywhere than left field, where Burrell has struggled since his younger days.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought it was just more difficult because it requires a stronger arm,

Does anyone know where more balls are hit? Is there data on that somewhere?

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 8, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please excuse my ignorance here

but I have always been confused by this argument that right field requires a stronger arm or is more difficult to play. I understand this is in part because the throw to third is longer, but are there other reasons why right fielders require a stronger arm and is generally regarded as more difficult to play? The distance to home plate is generally the same whether it is left field or right field. Thank you in advance for the help.

"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg

by gwood on Oct 8, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The throw to 3B is the difference...

While OF have different dimensions, I there isn’t a substantive difference in the size of RF compared to LF across MLB. The difference is that RF frequently have to make throws to 3B to hold runners at 2B, whereas a throw to 1B from LF is exceedingly rare and not necessary from a holding runners perspective. The throws to 2B and home are not substantially different in quality between LF and RF.

But because of that throw to 3B, RF is a more demanding position than LF in general, because it requires a stronger arm. If you have a strong arm and can cover the ground in LF, there’s no reason you can’t be capable in RF.

by SouthernCub on Oct 8, 2009 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

That’s what I have always thought, but with the frequency with which it is used as a differentiator led me to think that something else may be involved.

"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg

by gwood on Oct 9, 2009 7:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd do it...

But Burrell is probably just an older Jake Fox at this point, possibly worse defensively.

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Oct 8, 2009 3:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's underselling a guy who has a career line of .254/.363/.475

and 265 HRs.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 8, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And who can't play outfield.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 8, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

'cause Jake Fox is a lot more established than Pat Burrell as an OF?

Burrell’s not good, but his career numbers aren’t as bad as others who play OF.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 8, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I agree.

I’m not suggesting that Fox is any better — he’s not.

But I wouldn’t want to go into 2010 with Pat Burrell as the Cubs regular right fielder.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 8, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pat Burrell wouldn't be my first, second, or third choice.

But somewhere down the list, if we’re definitely trying to get “an RBI guy” there are a lot worse options.

In the end, I think your “flip-him” scenario seems most realistic. Jim probably wants to get Bradley gone ASAP without paying any money. The Rays have a known interest. If nothing else, daver is right, we can use Burrell as an overpriced platoon mate for Dome.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 8, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I find it instructive that...

… Pat Burrell has played exactly one game in RF in his major league career. Oddly enough, that was THIS year, in an interleague game in Colorado on June 17.

He had a terrible offensive season. Today is his 33rd birthday. He might recover offensively, but it won’t be in right field for the Cubs.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 8, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops.

Got ahead of myself. Burrell turns 33 on Saturday, not today.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 8, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you get him anything Al? He's counting on it...

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 8, 2009 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

I don’t know about Burrell’s arm strength. But if he has a strong arm, he wouldn’t be substantially worse in RF than in LF. The arm strength is the question.

I wouldn’t be excited about having Burrell in RF, but I can think of worse scenarios. And I completely agree that Burrell would be flippable if need be. It’d be an incremental trading approach, but it could work.

by SouthernCub on Oct 8, 2009 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure I agree with this

In the end, I think your "flip-him" scenario seems most realistic.

I would think if the Rays could get something of value for Burrell they’d just trade him for something of value. It wouldn’t make much sense to take Burrell’s contract in return, along with eating some of Bradley’s, to turn around and eat some of Burrell’s contract by flipping him.

by Wreckard on Oct 9, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Point taken.

But maybe:

they think they can do something with Bradley, or

they don’t match up with any other teams contract-wise.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 9, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I must admit, this thought has crossed my mind, too.

If the Rays want to lose Burrell and another AL team wants him as a DH, why wouldn’t Tampa Bay make that deal straight up and avoid the Bradley brouhaha?

But, as Al points out, maybe someone in Tampa Bay really thinks Bradley could succeed there. I guess, if anything, there’d be fewer people in the stands to try and push Milton’s buttons.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tampa was the other public suitor of Bradley.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 9, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But that does play into the idea

that Hendry is pushing it and it hasn’t happened yet.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 9, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know...

And his ‘07 numbers were great, but last year may have been the beginning of a steep decline for Burrell. He’s also hitting that magical age of 33 were players’ declines usually accelerate.

I’m fairly confident that Fox could hit 30HRs and hit .250 and play comparable defense in RF to Burrell, if he played everyday.

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Oct 8, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd love it if Fox could do that

but I’m not convinced. It’s possible, but it’s also possible he goes Jason Dubois on us.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 9, 2009 8:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not convinced Fox can hit 30 home runs.

20? Proooobably. But Jake left me skeptical that he could ever lay off breaking balls enough to hit that consistently.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jake went on a Cerrano-esque run at the end of the year.

I’m optimistic that he can focus on it and work on hitting the breaking ball in the offseason, but I wouldn’t count on him to deliver a .260/25 HR season just yet.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Oct 9, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but that guy is on the downside of his career...

and is coming off a poor season. I think Fox and Burrell will project similarly next season.

by shawndgoldman on Oct 9, 2009 2:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh jeebus christ

Geovany Soto is the new 2008 Derrek Lee

by jesus christos on Oct 8, 2009 3:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe you should have made that your user name.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would rather keep Bradley

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 8, 2009 3:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You don't think Burrell might bounce back at Wrigley?

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You don't think Bradley might bounce back at Wrigley?

by Kansas25 on Oct 8, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not under the circumstances he left, no.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 8, 2009 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Milton Bradley is physically/athletically capable...

…of having a better season at Wrigley Field playing for the Cubs next year, yes. However, his employment situation with the Cubs organization will more than likely prevent him from setting foot in the Cubs clubhouse.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would rather

have a shot at winning the division then Bradley having a better year. I am convinced he just does not belong here and is bad for the morale of the team. Go to a small market team.

2009 Cubs Record: 12-6 (11-6 home, 1-0 road)

by AndHart120 on Oct 9, 2009 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, it would seem most people are convinced of that.

And I would venture to say Jim Hendry agrees with you.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a doorstop?

Cause, he won’t see the field again in a Cubs uni…

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 8, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read the piece this morning...

then did some more research. It’s utter garbage. There are no sources; he simply floated the idea. Only in his world is sticking a crappy left fielder coming off a .215 average season — and whole still parties too damn much — in right field at Wrigley a good idea.

by Damen Jackson on Oct 8, 2009 4:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You don't find Al's take believable

that the Cubs would flip Burrell, while talking about keeping him in the meantime? It seems to me that the Cubs are probably set on moving Dome to RF, so Burrell’s probably not in the long-term plans, but he’s not the worst fit if we don’t pay any of Bradley’s salary.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 8, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Flip him?

Sure. Seriously consider playing him a day in RF? I don’t believe that.

And by research, I mean I went back and looked at his defensive stats, checked a couple of recent games from this season to see if things had changed, and reached out to pro source who could speak to the possibility. The gist is still you’d have to be pretty desperate to use Burrell in right. Ever.

And I’ll let the Phillie fans speak better to the lifestyle. But the Burrell stories are the stuff of legend, including a few after he got married.

by Damen Jackson on Oct 8, 2009 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand and appreciate what you're saying.

But looking at defensive stats and asking one pro source (whom I’m assuming isn’t affiliated with the Rays or the Cubs) still doesn’t prove that DeLuca has “no sources.” I know I sound like a DeLuca defender here, and I’m really not, but based on what Al has said and the fact that DeLuca is indeed a professinal journalist, I don’t think it’s fair to just dismiss what he’s reporting as BS.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Using Burrell in RF...

…would be a bit desperate, but the Cubs are even more desperate to trade Bradley.

I think you’ll see a decent amount of initial interest for Bradley in hopes the Cubs will eat most of his contract and maybe even take on a bad contract on the other end. Teams aren’t stupid, and they know the Cubs have no choice in the matter here.

This may end up dragging on (like the Sosa deal did) as teams try to milk the Cubs for the best deal possible.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 9, 2009 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think I need to leave the conversation here....

but I’ll say that I’m a touch more inclined to believe that this is more a misdirection piece than anything else.

by Damen Jackson on Oct 9, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're obviously free to leave the conversation...

…but I’d be curious to know what you mean by “misdirection piece.”

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll hazard a guess in case DJ doesn't come back to the conversation

either Tampa wants to see if anyone else comes to them seeking Burrell or the Cubs want a different team to up their offer for Bradley. I’m convinced that a good bit of the rumors we read are part of front office efforts to manipulate the perspectives of other front offices. In today’s media world, it’s very easy to do.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 9, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gotcha - I suppose that is a possibility.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How did your research prove DeLuca has no sources?

That’s quite an indictment of his journalistic ethics. And what’s this about Burrell partying too much?

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

♪Burr-ell wants to . . . ♫

♫Party all the time, party all the time, party all the tiiiiiime♪

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 8, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still remember that video.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

With all due respect, Damen...

… you’re wrong. This deal has been on and off the table since July — I confirmed that.

However, I agree that Burrell in RF at Wrigley is not a good idea. If they do make this deal they have to make it with the idea of flipping him to another AL team as a DH.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 8, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would definitely be the ideal route.

I’m not crazy about the idea of putting Burrell in right field, though I would go into the season with an open mind if the deal did go down. Like I said, perhaps platooning him could take some of the edge off his defensive shortcomings. Or maybe give Soriano more regular time off and put Burrell in left.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

daver...

… Burrell has played ONE GAME in RF in his major league career. The idea of him as a regular RF is nuts.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 8, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, let's hope the Cubs realize that...

…if they truly are pushing for this trade, assuming Hendry doesn’t already have a “flip target” in mind.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 8, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

what if it came down to Bradley or Burrell as your RFer - which one is nuttier?

Most folks seem to be of the opinion that the Cubs must get rid of Bradley no matter what it takes.

Well, getting Burrell is an example of what it might take. Obviously that’s not even close to an ideal solution, but if it’s the best the Cubs can do, do you still do it? I say yes.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 8, 2009 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True.....

You can’t expect to get somebody off a good year for bradley………I think burrell is an interesting idea because there is a chance of him having a bounce back in 2010.

by cubsmania on Oct 8, 2009 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meh

"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver

by wrigleyrocker12 on Oct 8, 2009 5:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I get the

desire to dump Bradley quickly, but I don’t see how trading him AND money for someone worse offensively and defensively helps us in any way.

If we are going to eat his contract, why not send Bradley and more cash and prospects for Crawford? Then we don’t have to flip Burrell.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Oct 8, 2009 5:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Crawford has a option

If he didn’t want to come back, he’d become a free agent, which in that case, if the Cubs wanted him, they could just sign him.

"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver

by wrigleyrocker12 on Oct 8, 2009 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crawford as a CLUB option...

he doesn’t get to decide to become a free agent. If the Rays want him for 2010, they have him.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/tampa-bay-devil-rays_112131227267025321.html

by SouthernCub on Oct 8, 2009 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is a club option you're right

My bad. Same thing though, if Tampa wanted to get rid of him, they wouldn’t take the option.

"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver

by wrigleyrocker12 on Oct 8, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, not necessarily...

The option is not terribly expensive. It’s definitely not cheap, but not that expensive either. The Rays could very well decide to take the option on Crawford and then trade him.

by SouthernCub on Oct 8, 2009 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least we'll get to prove we're definitely not racist

We’re gonna HATE Pat Burrell. That guy sucks hard.

by Mulhollandmania on Oct 8, 2009 5:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but the nickname Pat the Bat is awesome.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 8, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OH HELL TO THE YES.

BAT HIM 6TH

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Oct 8, 2009 6:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Take what you can get, for the love of God

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.

by bren on Oct 8, 2009 6:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

maybe we can trade bradley to the cardinals

it seems they need a big lefthanded bat…

"hey

by jesus christos on Oct 8, 2009 9:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I really like this...

not because I like Burrell, who I think is a bad fit. But I think he’s a much more move-able commodity than Bradley. All the AL teams suddenly become options for a Burrell deal.

by shawndgoldman on Oct 9, 2009 2:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, all of them except the Rays.

I wonder if the White Sox would want Burrell. He might do pretty well in that launching pad.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 9, 2009 7:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Burrell's not a bad option for any team that doesn't plan to contend

and doesn’t have a corner OF he’d block. The odds are decent that he ups your offense in the short-term and gives you trade return at the deadline.

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 9, 2009 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's a risk but a good one

If Bradley comes back, he won’t play much, which is the same as Burrell if he puts up last years numbers. We all know what Burrell can do, and he possibly could have just jad a bad year last year.

"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver

by wrigleyrocker12 on Oct 9, 2009 7:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If Bradley comes back where?

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Pat

We Got This!

by cubbiebear316 on Oct 9, 2009 9:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Who doesn't?

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by dat cubfan daver on Oct 9, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

She doesn't

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 9, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

fwiw

Olney says longshot. I don’t pay for Insider, but mlbtr links that stuff, and they have a blurb on it there.

by toonsterwu on Oct 9, 2009 1:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Olney's been wrong before. Many times.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 9, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rob Neyer weighs in

I agree with his take.

by Jody Jody Davis on Oct 9, 2009 3:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the rays

would love to dump burrell. as huge a dissapointment as bradley.but burrell had a lot of neck problems this year. he could not stay healthy. the rays are too smart to take bradley after seeing all the problems he caused. i love how bradley blames chicago when he has been a problem everywhere he,s been. baseball needs to wake up and wash their hands of this guy. and bad news milton,they will eventually.

by NOMAR on Oct 11, 2009 6:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs