Last Minute Waiver Trades

by neifiisgreat on Aug 30, 2010 3:11 PM CDT

All of the internet trade rumor sites have been quiet for the Cubs, is trader Jim finished after his big move with Atlanta? There are a few pieces that many of us thought were waiver trade fodder that have hung around; namely Xavier Nady, and a few players we had hoped were salary dumps; Z, Fukudome, Silva, and perhaps Aramis. Does anyone see any potential trades out there in the 11th hour?

I still think that Nady could find a home, and with the way Fukudome has been playing lately, he could be moved with less salary being eaten.

Minnesota & San Francisco were the only two destinations that I thought Aramis had even a chance of being moved to, but they have either added bats or gotten enough in house production to head for the playoffs as is.

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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Aramis Ramirez ain't going anywhere

No offense, but I’m stunned that it even continues to be a point of speculation. If the Cubs trade him, his 2012 option automatically kicks in.

Say it with me: “Ramirez is going nowhere.”

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 30, 2010 3:14 PM CDT reply actions

Why would we want to move him?

I think he still has a decent season in him next year. Probably be very good cause it’s a contract year. Moving him next year MIGHT be an option if he plays like he is playing now all next season.

"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
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"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor

by Section 312 on Aug 30, 2010 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed.

He’s still got a shot at finishing up with decent numbers.

Would love to see Nady gone, but I can’t see a team who would need him.

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

by Al Yellon on Aug 30, 2010 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know if anyone can explain

what happened to Ramirez this year, but the guy has basically had an OPS of 900+ every year he has been with the Cubs. I don’t expect Aramis to have decent numbers next year, I expect him to have a typical fantastic season like he has had the last 7 or so years. Unless he has lied about his age by 4 or more years, the guy should still have very productive seasons ahead.

by Luis on Aug 30, 2010 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it was the hand/thumb injury.

by DudeVf11 on Aug 30, 2010 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed.

Note — Aramis’ OPS is now .742. There’s a pretty good chance he can get it over .800 by the end of the season. He’s been hitting basically at his previous level since he returned from the DL on June 25.

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

by Al Yellon on Aug 31, 2010 7:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Nady has been hot lately and could be a good pick up for someone,

but I doubt it.

Aram has to start fielding his position better if he is going to be our every day 3rd baseman next year. Brenley said he hasn’t gotten in front of a ball all season and as I watched the last few games he doesn’t. It’s like he’s afraid to field it any more.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Aug 30, 2010 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree/Disagree

I certainly agree that Aramis is very unlikely to be traded, but I still find it in the realm of posibilty:
1. If you eat enough money any contract is moveable.
2. The no-trade clause is a non-issue for me, he has a huge incentive to accepting a move: his vesting option. After his production/injury troubles an extra guaranteed year is an excellent option for him.
3. He STILL has high intrinsic value. He is a top third of the league offensive third baseman. He is probably a bottom third defensive 3B, but has shown the capacity of being adequate in the past. As long as guys like Danny Valencia, Omar Vizquel, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Alberto Callaspo have starting spots, A-Ram has some value as an improvement for someone. Obviously his contract is a huge hinderance, and the more the Cubs eat the better the return, but somewhere on the spectrum of salary relief to a decent prospect is a deal.

by neifiisgreat on Aug 30, 2010 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions

You must have a big appetite

Here is Ramirez’s contract. Just how hungry are you to eat up that $16M in 2012?

5 years/$75M (2007-11), plus 2012 club option

re-signed by Cubs as a free agent 11/06
$5M signing bonus
07:$8M, 08:$14M, 09:$15.65M, 10:$15.75M, 11:$14.6M player option, 12:$16M club option ($2M buyout)
full no-trade clause 2007-10, $1M assignment bonus if traded

Ramirez has right to void contract after 2010 & become a free agent
award bonuses: $75,000 each for Gold Glove or All Star selection, $0.25M for LCS MVP, $0.3M for MVP,$0.35M for WS MVP

Ramirez may void 2012 option, but doing so forfeits $2M buyout

2012 option becomes guaranteed if Ramirez:
  wins one MVP in 2007-11, or
  places 2nd or 3rd in MVP vote twice in 2007-11, or wins LCS MVP once in 2007-11, or
  is an All Star 3 times in 2007-11, or
is traded & Ramirez exercises 2011 option

"They come to see me strike out, hit a home run, or run into a fence. I try to accommodate them at least one way every game." - Gorman Thomas

by RiskyBusiness on Aug 30, 2010 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions

You

don’t have to eat the entire contract, he has value on the field. Like I said above, the more you eat, the better the return players. It doesn’t mean we have to pay him 16M to play for another team.

by neifiisgreat on Aug 30, 2010 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions

You are missing the point

If the Cubs don’t trade him they don’t have to pay anything for 2012. No one is going to give the Cubs enough of a return on Ramirez to make eating part of the 2012 season worthwhile.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Aug 30, 2010 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly

If the Cubs were to trade Ramirez today, he would be owed ~$30MM for 2011 and 2012. Unless you were taking back a bad contract, ala Milton Bradley/Carlos Silva, the starting point is probably $15MM to eat. Maybe more, maybe less depening on the deal.

In today’s market, teams are not drooling on 33/34 year old third baseman.

"They come to see me strike out, hit a home run, or run into a fence. I try to accommodate them at least one way every game." - Gorman Thomas

by RiskyBusiness on Aug 31, 2010 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions

this isnt complicated. His contract make him unmovable

furthermore, the Cubs need somebody to play 3B. I assure you that the 2011 #B for the Chicago Cubs is Aramis Ramirez. Next subject….

by holy mackeral on Sep 1, 2010 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Speaking of waiver trades

How about Manny in Chicago? If White Sox ever acquired Zambrano can you imagine both of them an Ozzie? That spells controversy every game!

by ak123 on Aug 30, 2010 4:20 PM CDT reply actions

People suggesting the Cubs should...

trade Ramirez really frustrate me.

Fact: since coming off the DL, Ramirez has put up a 922 OPS, which includes 15 HR’s in 53 games. You can do the math and spread that over a 162 game season.

Something was obviously wrong with him early in the season. Now that he’s healthy, he’s hitting exactly as you’d expect him to (or better). Trading him would be incredibly dumb.

by kanderber on Aug 30, 2010 5:43 PM CDT reply actions

He is an excellent hitter

when he is healthy, which is becoming a smaller and smaller portion of each season. The fact is you can’t spread it across a 162 game season. I doubt we could get anything better on the FA market, but perhaps a combination of young talent and salary relief would make moving him worth it. I don’t think trading him would be “incredibly dumb”, his defense and health are clearly declining, while his contract is increasing. Some other team may find him to be an improvement, and if so the Cubs should try to maximize return.

by neifiisgreat on Aug 30, 2010 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions

but perhaps a combination of young talent

what young 3b talent?

by jesus christos on Aug 30, 2010 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions

No chance Silva gets moved right now.

Most teams probably think his performance is a fluke anyway, but with him on the DL, nobody is going to trade for him and hope he comes off the DL strong.

The offseason is a different story.

Shut up Joe Morgan.

by fsuapollo on Aug 30, 2010 6:05 PM CDT reply actions

Who is the "we"?

I had zero expectation that Ramirez, Zambrano, Silva or Fukudome were going to be moved.

I thought Nady might go to a contender for some AA Grade B or C prospect.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Aug 30, 2010 6:41 PM CDT reply actions

Having...

…“hope” (as the OP put it) and an “expectation” (as you said) that they’d be moved are clearly different things. We all HOPED Z, Silva, and Fukudome would be moved, but I don’t think too many people expected it.

I said that the Cubs should dump Silva to anyone willing to take the majority of the contract around the ASB. That ship has sailed, unfortunately.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Aug 30, 2010 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess I wasn't hoping because I thought the chance was zero of it happening

I think the Cubs would have traded Silva if there would have been takers that would pay the salary. I don’t think there was any interest. I guess we’ll never know for sure.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Aug 30, 2010 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Aramis would look good in a Phillies uniform

What an infield that would be for Philadelphia. Howard, Utley, Rollins and Ramirez.

by jeffmills1972 on Aug 30, 2010 7:37 PM CDT reply actions

Placido Polanco

by Dcr18 on Aug 30, 2010 8:32 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Something tells me the Phillies wouldn't mind the upgrade

by Outshined_One on Aug 31, 2010 12:43 AM CDT up reply actions

the cubs would have to eat an asston amount of money for the phillies to be able to afford ramirez

by jesus christos on Sep 1, 2010 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I imagine Jim is done

Nady would be a decent, relatively cheap bat to pick up. But, the need doesn’t seem to be there for anyone.
One interesting thing is a few weeks ago everyone was saying Z was done as a Cub. Well, he’s actually pitching well. He’s happy, so I don’t see him waiving the NTC right now. No way Ramirez goes anywhere. That 2012 option is a poison pill with his history of injuries and sporadic interest in playing defense.

by Nibbles on Aug 30, 2010 9:51 PM CDT reply actions

On Zambrano

I know it is just speculation now but for those who thought moving him to the bullpen early in the season was a good move, any second thoughts? At the time I thought it was a stupid, panic move because of the poor bullpen construction and I still do.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Aug 30, 2010 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions

In a season full of incredibly stupid panic moves...

That was the dumbest of all.

by Outshined_One on Aug 31, 2010 12:42 AM CDT up reply actions

I will say that I eat crow

based on how the season turned out – had we been succesful elsewhere and been in contention with Russell becoming a legit bullpen guy we could have acquired someone at the deadline and put Z back in the rotation then much more rested for a pennant chase

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by hansman1982 on Aug 31, 2010 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

It amazes me...

… that anyone thought the bad contracts of Fukudome, Silva and Zambrano would be “dumped” on anyone. What team in their right minds would make such a trade with the Cubs? The Internets, I tell ya………..

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Aug 31, 2010 4:19 PM CDT reply actions