Not with No. 3, of course, but let’s not start that merry-go-round again. :)

Harden probably is a luxury the Cubs can’t afford right now. Although I’d like to see a little more from Wells before I’d pull the trigger on it. I think he’s the real deal, but …

I agree with all of this. Indeed you are the wind beneath my wings.

Number 1 needs to happen ASAP. I don’t see a DeRosa deal working out, but I can hope.

This Fukudome thing is going to become an issue again. I agree with leaving him in the 2-spot for a while and see if that helps. I just fear that he is becoming the black hole that he became last year. He may be destined to sit in the 8 hole.

I like the Aaron Miles idea, I feel Cubs nation is more than ready to let him go after talking to a lot of people at the game yesterday. Also, at the game yesterday it appeared to me that
Marmol was not falling off the mound towards 1st base during his follow – through, which is very good news. Al, Who is your some prospects for DRO? I think that is too general seeing that the Indians could be asking for top guys. It just doesn’t seem that simple. I would see them asking for a Guzman or Kevin Hart instead of Heilman. If they took Heilman they would be crazy. I COMPLETELY agree with the Milton statement. Yesterday looking in the Cubs dugout it was him who was up appearing to rally the troops before the 9th inning and he was the first one out of the dugout to mob theriot. I really think as the Cubs pick it up Milton will become a fan favorite. The guy has to much will to win hopefully he stays concentrated.

Agreed with each one 100%. Well done.

Roster moves need to be done here.

DeRosa is proving to be the glue that held everything together last year, when faced with injuries and adversity. We didn’t properly replace that versatility and production when we dealt him away.

Uh. well, I’d love to have DeRosa back, but do you really think Cleveland would take Heilman and prospects for him? I don’t know what prospects would be involved. How about Jeff Stevens as one of them? Getting DeRosa back should be a priority.

Dumping him for “prospects” at that? Why would a contending team salary dump an amazing player for prospects?

Oh….

3.Send prospects and Aaron Heilman to Cleveland for Mark DeRosa.

…so that Derosa can ride back in on his holy unicorn and save the day.

The A’s backed off because they felt Cleveland was asking too much for him. I’m not sure why a non-contending team would want Heilman, who has been terrible, is moderately expensive, and only club-controlled for 2 more years.

A few good starts doesnt signal he’s arrived, it certainly doesnt make him reliable building block for the future, nor does it make him a replacement for Harden.

He could simply be having a great six week stretch never to be repeated, it happens all the time

There’s no need for Move No. 3. And Move No. 2 is much more realistic, anyway.

Hate the Harden idea. The only reason this club isn’t out of it is our starting pitching, part of that is Harden. We did “okay” with Wells in instead, but I’m not convinced he’s that good over the long term, I am convinced that Harden is.

With 1 being somewhat realistic, but not likely.

although I don’t know why Cleveland would take that deal.

1. Concerning Miles, I wouldn’t mind if the Cubs released him. I cringed when they signed him, and I cringe every time I see him because I was right. He was a bad signing. Though I wouldn’t mind if Hendry lets him go, I doubt he will. I figure the Cubs are hoping he gets some sort of hot streaking going, swallow his money, and will use him as a 3rd – 4th player in a trade later in the season. I hoping this is the reason he is still around.
2. I’m cool with trading Harden… I just hope Hendry doesn’t blow it and give him away for nothing.
3. DeRosa will not be coming back to the Cubs. If we were going to get him, he’d be here now before Aram gets better. Still, Hendry let him go for a reason. His days with the Chicago Cubs are probably over. Hendry won’t bring him back because he want anybody to rub his deal from the offseason in his face.
4. Kosuke… I’m down with whatever works. I love watching him play when he’s on… but, I am slowly beginning to think he really isn’t MLB material. I hope I am wrong.
5. I am also a critic about Bradley’s signing. Regardless of the controversy he brings, he can’t stay healthy. That was the number one issue from the get go. I wanted Dunn… Anyway, you’re right with this one. Leave him alone. The Cubs do NEED Bradley to produce. Finger of Shame goes to Lou and Jim for making Bradley a "key ingredient" to us winning because he isn’t reliable. Still… Griping about it isn’t going to keep him healthy. One thing, I doubt this would happen, but I wouldn’t mind to see him traded if something good comes along. Bradley is better suited on an AL team. Maybe somebody… yankees?… .BoSox?…would be interested…
6. Sounds good.
7. Define "occasionally." Soriano does need a day off or two. But, I don’t think this needs to become like a catcher type deal where your main starts a bunch of days, then backup, etc… I have a feeling most or Soriano’s problems are because he is trying to hard to pick up the slack. I’m sure he’s feeling the pressure of his large contract, mix that together with the facts that come with getting older and his knee… well, I think Fonzie needs somebody to just come in and settle things down for him.

These is my thoughts on your opinions Al. Thanks.

trades involving some financial involvement will be approved by the current owner?

I think the thing that would help most is for the ownership situation to be resolved.

It’s ridiculous for the Cubs to essentially have no one with the authority to make any financial decisions that differ with the current budget. Only the Cubs would have an ownership change drag into a 3rd year. LOL

Miles must go, I believe that is a unamious decision here at BCB.
Even though I would love to have DeRosa back, I see another team making a big push to get him, the guy is having a good year and Cleveland will hold out and get a good return on him.
Dome in the 2 hole, great, just start hitting the ball. No one would take Dome in a trade.
Harden is our chip. He is the most likely to go so the Cubs can get a good bat in return.
I am not a Bradley guy, however as mentioned by many, we need him to hit for this team to win.
I hope this is Lou’s last year, that is my opinion.

may preclude more “Contract-eating” as you suggest in item 1.

Not that I don’t want to see Miles go, it’s just that the economics of the situation may prevent management from burning more dollar bills. Which means we’re stuck with Miles until Hendry can bamboozle some other team to pick up his absurd contract.

However, this can be solved by packaging Miles with Harden in a trade; in other words, use Harden to get rid of Miles and solve two problems at once.

and I’ll agree with all of these except Harden. Here’s why. I’m confident he’ll be in the rotation at least as much as out, if not say about 2/3rd’s of the season. With him in there and Wells doing so well, I’d really like to see Marshall come out of the bullpen instead of being in the rotation.

Of course there’s the “hope” factor with Rich’s health but he’s downright filthy when he’s on. And the intangeable to this is I believe he’s learning how to pitch, not just throw hard. It’s taken time but I believe he’s morphing into a true pitcher where he is learning how better to mix up the flame throws with the offspeed stuff, in an effort to save his arm/shoulder.

Marshall is the only lefty option in the bullpen now and can also be the long-relief guy, especially if (as you also stated), Heilman can be sent packing for DeRo.

I too am not sentimental, I really thought there was going to be a “2nd piece” of that trade puzzle after 12/31 when DeRo was dealt; it didn’t happen.

If the Cubs could pry Howie Kendrick from the Angels, since they’ve sent him down to Salt Lake.

At the least, in the event that the Cubs tried a trade with the Angels for something else, it’d be great if we could attach him as well. (Or Maicer Izturis, though he’s now starting in Kendrick’s absence).

If and when Harden has 3 straight decent starts than he might have value to high payroll contending teams but you won’t get that much for him. Heilman plus prospects to the Indians is a joke unless the “prospects” are named Marshall & Ascanio. Braves , A’s and other teams who have far better prospects than the Cubs have sniffed at DeRosa and found the price to high. We can’t offer our “junk” for good players.

but….for the sake of discussion….in a worse case scenario….the Cubs fall out of the race and become sellers….

what pieces do the Cubs give up to rebuild for next year and beyond?

And they are one of the 23 teams within 6 games, but I don’t think they really think they are in it..

DeRosa will not be availible. Cleveland will be in the mix for the AL Central. They are treading water and will get much better once Cabrera, Sizemore, Laffey, and Westbrook come back.