Question: untradeable players?

by nickler on Jul 30, 2011 3:38 PM CDT

This is from Jayson Stark's article, published earlier today.

Citation:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/rumblings110730/atlanta-braves-shopping-outfield-bat

"The Braves feel as if they need a bat -- preferably one who hits right-handed, plays center field and can lead off. But do they HAVE to trade for a bat to win the World Series? No -- because they still run out there a pitching staff that can shut down any team's offense, in October or any other month.

So teams that have spoken with Atlanta, even in the wake of the disappointment in losing out in the Pence bid-a-thon Friday, say the Braves have no plans to do something this weekend that they wouldn't have done last week or last month -- just because Rumor Central readers everywhere think they need to make a deal.

Are they frustrated over seeing Pence go to their division nemesis, the Phillies? Oh, yeah.

Are they aggravated that the price tag Houston asked them for -- reportedly four of their top pitching prospects, two from their "untouchable" tier and two from the next tier down -- seemed as if it was steeper than what the Phillies paid? You bet.

Would they love to find exactly the right fit at exactly the right, affordable price before this deadline? No doubt about it.

But as the deadline draws closer, teams that have spoken with the Braves don't have the feeling they're close to any deal for any of the bats on their list.

They took a run at Marlon Byrd of the Cubs. Not going to be traded."

I am sure I am just ignorant and poorly educated when it comes to such matters, and I apologize if this has been discussed here already. As always, I appreciate all of your input.

Why on earth would Marlon Byrd be untradeable? Isn't this exactly who you would WANT to trade if you are the Cubs? The team is terrible, and is unlikely to be a contender next year. This is one of the few players who has any value, and the Braves have an excellent farm system. I would think this would be one of the few players who might yield something useful in a trade.

I am sure I am missing something here, but I just don't understand.

Thanks again in advance for all of your input.

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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Comments

It depends

what was being offered. JH might not want to trade one of the few non-embarrassments we have for minor league filler.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Jul 30, 2011 3:50 PM CDT reply actions

JH should be gone

by August 20th. Fired or resigned, either one.

But not until the 17th.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Jul 30, 2011 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes he should be ,

He also answers or should answer to some one at the top of this club . I wonder if they are blind also ?

by cubs north on Jul 30, 2011 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions

There is nobody at the top

I just vented in a Fanpost.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Jul 30, 2011 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions

I have no idea what the Cubs are thinking.

I also just read that the Pirates asked about Carlos Pena, and Hendry told them he wasn’t interested in moving Pena.

I just don’t get it. Why not? Pena’s deal only runs through the end of this year.

As for Byrd…. yeah, Byrd should be traded. He’s been a nice piece, but that ~$6MM salary next year is just high enough to be annoying.

Unfortunately, I think that our current GM has a whole lot of personal capital invested in the “Our Roster Is Designed to Compete for the Title” fiction, and to cut bait on this “core” now would be to admit error. We don’t admit error around here. No matter what.

On the plus side, Hendry is 0-for-his career in acquiring useful prospects at the deadline for veterans. So it’s not like we’re missing out on much.

MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown

by D98 on Jul 30, 2011 3:50 PM CDT reply actions

Hopefully this is posturing or a result of teams offering bad deals for Pena and Byrd

If all this team ends up doing by the end of the waiver trade deadline is move Fukudome, that would be pathetic.

by Outshined_One on Jul 30, 2011 4:03 PM CDT reply actions

Cubs

fans are the worst. You would think we should all be used to the BS we have to watch each season. Yet we all complain about Hendry, Ricketts and the batboy. I say keep Hendry as well. We finally have a GM that has stuck around for a few years.

In those years there will be ups and downs. Don’t we all recall what a hero he was for bringing us Garciaparra? ARAM? Getting rid of Hundley?

Cubs 2011 59-103

by wild bill on Jul 30, 2011 6:28 PM CDT reply actions

Do you trust Jim Hendry now?

I don’t. If Ricketts keeps Hendry, he will sell the Cubs in 6 years at a loss.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Jul 30, 2011 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually

I do. The promblem with Chicago teams in general, it the turn over of xects. This town is so quick to run them out. I am glad to see Williams and Angelo stick around for a bit. I will take heat for this, but someone has to say it.

Cubs 2011 59-103

by wild bill on Jul 30, 2011 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Let me

add that the Cubs have seen the playoffs what, two three times in the last ten years. I grew up when just making the playoffs was a pipe dream.

Cubs 2011 59-103

by wild bill on Jul 30, 2011 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions

The past is the past.

Is there any reason that you think a second-in-command from Tampa or Boston (with the presumed ability to fire a friend) wouldn’t do better in the future at trading/signing free agents to good contracts.

Jim Hendry. Nice guy. Very loyal. As good of a GM as we’ve had. Doesn’t prospect well for the future.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Jul 30, 2011 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I say give

him another shot.

Cubs 2011 59-103

by wild bill on Jul 30, 2011 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions

what are you

Jim hendrys mother? Because I can’t think of anyone else who would think he deserves to keep his job

by nickler on Jul 30, 2011 8:40 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

No

I am his fathers brothers sisters second cousin’s long lost uncle.

Cubs 2011 59-103

by wild bill on Jul 31, 2011 6:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Further more

I am sure like yourself many want him gone.

Cubs 2011 59-103

by wild bill on Jul 30, 2011 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions

No one on this team should be untradeable

We are in a re-building mode. I don’t care if Castro/Barney/Colvin are traded -- they all are part of a potential 100 loss season.

Anyone involved with the 2011 Cubs organization from a player/manager standpoint should be embarrassed and scared for their job every day.

by ak123 on Jul 30, 2011 7:10 PM CDT reply actions

alas

they aren’t. Soriano gets paid anyway.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Jul 30, 2011 7:12 PM CDT up reply actions

some really stinkin thinkin

your comment “I don’t care if Castro/Barney/Colvin are traded — they all are part of a potential 100 loss season” makes no sense. Not every player on a bad team is bad and not worth keeping.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jul 31, 2011 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Right.

What if someone had said this in 1966?

“I don’t care if Santo/Williams/Jenkins are traded — they all are part of a potential 100 loss season.”

That would have been dumb. So is the other statement.

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by Al Yellon on Jul 31, 2011 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

plenty of examples

unfortunately many are from Cubs’ history

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jul 31, 2011 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Absiolutely no reason why a player like Byrd would be untradeable ... NONE

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jul 31, 2011 9:29 AM CDT reply actions